L’exposition à un mélange de contaminants durant la grossesse et la période post-partum contribue à des problèmes de santé neurologiques chez les nouveau-nés. Que ce soit les biphényles polychlorés, le méthylmercure ou les composées organochlorées, ils ont tous des effets néfastes lors d’une exposition individuelle. Notre étude s’intéresse à un mélange qui correspond aux concentrations de quelques contaminants présents dans le sang maternel des populations nordiques. Dans les études concernant ce mélange de contaminant, les auteurs ont démontré des altérations au niveau de la croissance ainsi qu’un changement du poids des organes chez les nourrissons. Par contre, les effets de l’exposition à un tel mélange lors de la période périnatale sur la structure cérébrale des mères post-partum ne sont pas connus. L'objectif de ce travail est donc d’évaluer les changements morphologiques associés à la grossesse, suite à l’exposition chronique à un mélange de contaminants environnementaux lors de la grossesse dans un modèle animal et d’explorer les effets de ceux-ci sur la plasticité du cerveau post-partum. Les rats femelles de souche Sprague–Dawley ont été accouplés avec un mâle pour obtenir au moins 10 portées par traitement. Dès la détection de grossesse, ces rats ont été assignés aléatoirement à un groupe de traitement : Dose élevée ou basse du mélange, dose élevée ou basse du méthylmercure ou le groupe témoin L’administration de la dose des contaminants des femelles s’est fait avec un biscuit Teddy Graham. Celui-ci a commencé la première journée de gestation jusqu’à la journée 21 postnatale. Au 21 ième jour, les mères ont été sacrifiées et leurs cerveaux fixés et coupés pour ensuite subir soit une coloration NISSL ou immunohistochimie pour lemarqueur de protéine acide fibrillaire gliale (GFAP). Ceci nous a permis d’étudier le nombre de neurones et de cellules gliales dans les régions du cerveau important au comportement maternel. Une augmentation significative du nombre de cellules gliales a été observée au niveau de CA3 avec l’exposition aux doses élevées du méthylmercure, et les deux doses du mélange ainsi qu’au niveau de l’aire préoptique médiane (MPOA) uniquement avec la dose élevée du mélange de contaminants. Quant aux neurones, une augmentation a uniquement été observée au CA3 avec la dose élevée du méthylmercure, et les deux doses du mélange. Malgré que plus de recherches soient nécessaires pour mieux comprendre les effets d’une telle exposition sur le comportement maternel, ces découvertes suggèrent que le mélange de contaminant est capable d’affecter le cerveau maternel.

Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic injury (HI) is the direct complication to severe choking and may cause brain damage. HI may be found in different stages and clinical manifestations contributing to neonatal morbidity and mortality. The neuropathology of neonatal HI insult is multi-factorial and complex. Hypoxic-ischemic brain damage begins during the insult and extends during the recovery period after reperfusion, thus, it is an evolutionary process. Adenosine deaminase (ADA) is an aminohidrolase actively involved in the metabolism of purines catalyzing irreversibly adenosine and 2'desoxiadenosine into inosine and 2'desoxinosine, respectively. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the activity of ADA in the cortex of rats subjected to neonatal HI at different post-insult time points. Effects of thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) levels were also assessed in cortex. The histological analysis was evaluated using hematoxylin eosin (HE) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in the cortex of these animals. The ADA activity was significantly increased 8 days after the insult in the left hemisphere in the cortex. In this period, TBARS levels were significantly increased in the cortex of these animals. HE revealed the presence of ischemic area in the cerebral cortex 8 days after HI. A moderate lymphocytic infiltration was also evidenced in the cortex during this period. A proliferation and an increase in the expression of GFAP in the periphery of the ischemic area was observed, resulting in astrocytosis in the cortex of these animals. In conclusion, an activation of the immune system was observed due to the inflammatory process caused by the HI insult that may be correlated with astrocytosis and lymphocytic infiltration observed in the cerebral cortex of animals that suffered insult 8 days after neonatal HI. / A lesão hipóxico-isquêmica (HI) neonatal é a complicação imediata à asfixia grave e pode causar dano cerebral. A HI pode apresentar-se em diferentes estágios e manifestações clínicas contribuindo assim intensamente na morbidade e mortalidade neonatal. A neuropatologia do insulto HI neonatal é multi-fatorial e complexa. O dano cerebral hipóxicoisquêmico inicia durante o insulto e estende-se no período de recuperação após a reperfusão, portanto é um processo evolutivo. A adenosina deaminase (ADA) é uma aminohidrolase que participa ativamente do metabolismo das purinas catalisando irreversivelmente a adenosina e 2 desoxiadenosina em inosina e 2 desoxinosina, respectivamente. Os objetivos deste estudo foram avaliar em ratos submetidos à HI neonatal a atividade da ADA no córtex destes animais em diferentes tempos pós-insulto. Também foram avaliados em córtex os efeitos dos níveis de espécies reativas ao ácido tiobarbitúrico (TBARS). A análise histológica foi avaliada através da hematoxilina eosina (HE) e proteína glial fibrilar ácida (GFAP) no córtex destes animais. A atividade da ADA aumentou significativamente 8 dias após o insulto no hemisfério esquerdo no córtex. Neste período os níveis de TBARS mostraram-se significativamente aumentados no córtex destes animais. A HE revelou presença de área isquêmica no córtex cerebral 8 dias após a HI. Também evidenciou uma moderada infiltração linfocitária no córtex neste período. Houve proliferação e aumento na expressão da GFAP na periferia da área isquêmica, resultando em astrocitose no córtex dos animais submetidos à HI. Conclui-se que houve uma ativação do sistema imune em decorrência do processo inflamatório causado pelo insulto HI que pode estar correlacionada com a astrocitose e a infiltração linfocitária observada no córtex cerebral dos animais que sofreram o insulto 8 dias após a HI neonatal.

Brain stem remyelination following demyelination induced by ethidium bromide (EB) is carried out by oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells that invade the central nervous system when astrocytes are lost. Although oligodendrocyte remyelination is detected from 13 days onward within the lesions, the origin of the remyelinating cells is not known. To clarify oligodendrocyte origin as well as to observe astrocytic behaviour in normal (n=22) as well as immunosuppressed animals (n=22) adult Wistar rats were injected with EB in the basal cisterna. Wistar rats had an EB injection while treated with cyclophosphamide (astrocyte investigation, n=12) or cyclosporine A (oligodendrocyte study, n=10). Control animals had a single injection of 10 μl of 0.9% saline (n=16). For the investigation on astrocytes, the rats were killed at 1, 2, 3, 7, 14 and 21 days a.i. GFAP labelled astrocytes were conspicuous within the lesions and isomorphic gliosis was detected, more marked in those rats immunosuppressed with CY. Nonetheless a significant difference among the groups could not be established because of the mean deviations detected by the image studies. For the oligodendrocyte investigation the rats were killed at 15, 21 and 31 days a.i. Lesions of EB injected in normal and cyclosporine A-treated Wistar rats labelled positive for OSP (oligodendrocytes specific protein). This result points to mature oligodendrocytes as a source of remyelinating cells to restore the lost myelin sheaths after EB injection. The EB model of demyelination allowed the observation of the neuroglia in lesions where remyelination is made up by mature cells of the oligodendroglial lineage and where astrocytes respond selectively to immunosuppressive drugs that modify the inflammatory reaction induced by EB / Remielinização após desmielinização com brometo de etídio (BE) no tronco encefálico de ratos é realizada por oligodendrócitos e células de Schwann que invadem o tecido após a morte dos astrócitos. Embora a remielinização por oligodendrócitos seja detectada a partir dos 13 dias pós-intoxicação, a origem das células remielinizantes não é conhecida. Para esclarecer essa origem bem como o comportamento astrocitário em lesões induzidas pelo BE em ratos adultos normais (n=22) ou sob terapia imunomoduladora (n=22), ratos Wistar adultos receberam uma injeção de 10 μl de BE na cisterna basal. Ratos Wistar receberam a injeção de BE enquanto sob terapia imunossupressora com ciclofosfamida (estudo astrocitário) (n=12) ou ciclosporina-A (n=10) (estudo da oligodendróglia). Os animais controle receberam uma injeção de 10 μl 0.9% de solução salina (n=16). Para o estudo astrocitário, os animais foram sacrificados aos 1, 2, 3, 7, 14 e 21 dias pós-injeção de BE. Astrócitos foram marcados com GFAP (proteína glial fibrilar ácida) e foi detectada gliose isomórfica nas lesões, mais marcada naqueles animais tratados com ciclofosfamida (CY). Embora existisse diferença entre a marcação por GFAP nos ratos que receberam somente BE e os que receberam BE e CY, os desvios das médias obtidas através da análise de imagem, não permitiram uma conclusão sobre a significância dessa diferença. Os ratos do experimento sobre a oligodendróglia foram sacrificados aos 15, 21 e 31 dias p.i. do BE. Tecidos de ratos normais injetados com BE e ratos injetados e tratados com ciclosporina foram marcados com imunofluorescência (IF) para OSP (proteína específica do oligodendrócito) que marca células maduras da linhagem oligodendroglial. O resultado foi a marcação de células maduras que remielinizavam em áreas próximas ao tecido normal, mostrando oligodendrócitos maduros como fonte celular na reparação das bainhas perdidas. O modelo de desmielinização do BE permitiu estudar a atividade da neuróglia em lesões que foram remielinizadas por oligodendrócitos maduros e nas que os astrócitos responderam seletivamente a imunossupressores que interferem com a reação inflamatória dentro do tecido

No description available.

<p>Medulloblastoma is a highly malignant cerebellar childhood tumor. As in many other brain tumors, expression of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and its receptors has been shown in medulloblastoma. To reveal the importance of this growth factor in cerebellar development and tumorigenesis, analyses were performed on human medulloblastoma cell lines and on tissue from normal mouse brain at different stages of development. The <i>in vivo</i> effect of a forced expression of PDGF-B in the cerebellar primordium was examined in transgenic mice. </p><p>In the normal mouse embryo, we found PDGF receptor-α-positive cells in the early neuroepithelium and on neuronal precursors. In the postnatal cerebellum, cells in the external germinal layer and Purkinje cells expressed the receptor. In the medulloblastoma cells, expression of all the three PDGF isoforms and PDGF receptors was seen and correlated to neuronal differentiation. Endogenously activated, <i>i.e.</i> tyrosine phosphorylated, PDGF receptors were identified. To reveal the role of PDGF in normal cerebellar development, we established transgenic mice where a PDGF-B cDNA was introduced via homologous recombination into the engrailed-1 gene. Engrailed-1 is specifically expressed at the mid-/hindbrain boundary of the early neural tube, <i>i.e.</i> in an area from which the cerebellar primordium develops. The ectopic expression of PDGF-B caused a disturbance of cerebellar development. Midline fusion of the cerebellar primordium did not occur properly, which resulted in cerebellar dysplasia in the adult mouse.</p><p>In a parallel study, the expression pattern of a glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-<i>lacZ</i> transgene was followed in the embryonic mouse central nervous system. It was shown that the human GFAP promoter was already active by embryonic day 9.5 and as development proceeded, expression occured in different, independent cell populations. Among these cell populations were the radial glial cells in the neocortex.</p>

Medulloblastoma is a highly malignant cerebellar childhood tumor. As in many other brain tumors, expression of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and its receptors has been shown in medulloblastoma. To reveal the importance of this growth factor in cerebellar development and tumorigenesis, analyses were performed on human medulloblastoma cell lines and on tissue from normal mouse brain at different stages of development. The in vivo effect of a forced expression of PDGF-B in the cerebellar primordium was examined in transgenic mice. In the normal mouse embryo, we found PDGF receptor-α-positive cells in the early neuroepithelium and on neuronal precursors. In the postnatal cerebellum, cells in the external germinal layer and Purkinje cells expressed the receptor. In the medulloblastoma cells, expression of all the three PDGF isoforms and PDGF receptors was seen and correlated to neuronal differentiation. Endogenously activated, i.e. tyrosine phosphorylated, PDGF receptors were identified. To reveal the role of PDGF in normal cerebellar development, we established transgenic mice where a PDGF-B cDNA was introduced via homologous recombination into the engrailed-1 gene. Engrailed-1 is specifically expressed at the mid-/hindbrain boundary of the early neural tube, i.e. in an area from which the cerebellar primordium develops. The ectopic expression of PDGF-B caused a disturbance of cerebellar development. Midline fusion of the cerebellar primordium did not occur properly, which resulted in cerebellar dysplasia in the adult mouse. In a parallel study, the expression pattern of a glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-lacZ transgene was followed in the embryonic mouse central nervous system. It was shown that the human GFAP promoter was already active by embryonic day 9.5 and as development proceeded, expression occured in different, independent cell populations. Among these cell populations were the radial glial cells in the neocortex.

Les précurseurs neuraux adultes possèdent une plasticité cellulaire suggérant un rôle dans l'apparition de pathologies mais aussi un potentiel curatif inespéré. Cependant, l'emploi clinique de ces cellules nécessite une connaissance des mécanismes biologiques contrôlant leur prolifération, maturation ou spécification cellulaire. Dans cette thèse, nous avons étudié l'expression des protéines S100 A1 et B dans les cellules progénitrices d'oligodendrocytes (OPC) et les cellules souches astrocytaires. Nous avons démontré que <br />1) toutes les cellules gliales expriment précocement la S100A1 alors que la S100B est liée à leur maturation <br />2) la S100B régule la maturation des OPC <br />3) les cellules souches astrocytaires adultes sont maintenues dans un stade de développement immature (S100B-) grâce à l'EGF, afin de conserver leurs propriétés germinales.<br />Ces résultats démontrent un lien entre les protéines S100A1/B, la maturation des cellules gliales et leurs propriétés de différenciation cellulaire.

The RNA-binding protein Quaking (QKI) plays a fundamental role in post-transcriptional gene regulation during mammalian nervous system development. QKI is well known for advancing oligodendroglia differentiation and myelination, however, its functions in astrocytes and embryonic central nervous system (CNS) development remain poorly understood. Uncovering the complete spectrum of QKI molecular and functional repertoire is of additional importance in light of growing evidence linking QKI dysfunction with human disease, including schizophrenia and glioma. This thesis summarizes my contribution to fill this gap of knowledge.         In a first attempt to identify the QKI-mediated molecular pathways in astroglia, we studied the effects of QKI depletion on global gene expression in the human astrocytoma cell line. This work revealed a previously unknown role of QKI in regulating immune-related pathways. In particular, we identified several putative mRNA targets of QKI involved in interferon signaling, with possible implications in innate cellular antiviral defense, as well as tumor suppression. We next extended these investigations to human primary astrocytes, in order to more accurately model normal brain astrocytes. One of the most interesting outcomes of this analysis was that QKI regulates expression of transcripts encoding the Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein, an intermediate filament protein that mediates diverse biological functions of astrocytes and is implicated in numerous CNS pathologies. We also characterized QKI splice variant composition and subcellular expression of encoded protein isoforms in human astrocytes. Finally, we explored the potential use of zebrafish as a model system to study neurodevelopmental functions of QKI in vivo. Two zebrafish orthologs, qkib and qki2, were identified and found to be widely expressed in the CNS neural progenitor cell domains. Furthermore, we showed that a knockdown of qkib perturbs the development of both neuronal and glial populations, and propose neural progenitor dysfunction as the primary cause of the observed phenotypes.        To conclude, the work presented in this thesis provides the first insight into understanding the functional significance of the human QKI in astroglia, and introduces zebrafish as a novel tool with which to further investigate the importance of this gene in neural development.

Astrozyten erfüllen unverzichtbare Aufgaben im ZNS. Sie sorgen im Normalfall unter anderem für eine ausgewogene K+/H2O-Clearence, regulieren den Gefäßdurchmesser, bilden die Blut-/Hirnschranke, betreiben “Transmitter-Recycling” und modulieren die interneuronale Signalweitergabe durch prä- und postsynaptische Mechanismen. Die Funktionen und Einflüsse dieser zentralnervösen Gliazellen unter pathologischen Bedingungen im ZNS sind bei weitem nicht so gut untersucht, aber ebenso vielfältig. Eine ganz entscheidende Frage stellt sowohl unter physiologischen wie auch pathologischen Bedingungen das Vorliegen eines Überlappungsfaktors des von benachbarten Astrozyten okkupierten Areals dar. Betrüge ein solcher Faktor ! 1, könnten mehrere Gliazellen das gleiche Areal auch unter pathologischen Bedingungen durch ihre vielfältigen Funktionen unterstützen. Dahingegen würde das Ausbleiben eines Überlappungsgrades ! 1 bedeuten, dass bestimmte Gebiete im Neuropil anfälliger gegen Noxen oder degenerative Veränderungen wären. Um diesen Überlappungsgrad zu untersuchen, wurden Hirnschnitte von Labormäusen mittels einer geeigneten Methodenkombination untersucht. Dabei wurde das durchschnittliche Volumen der Astrozyten im motorischen Kortex durch Golgi- Färbung, sowie deren Zellzahl pro Volumeneinheit durch immunhistochemische Färbungen untersucht und mittels konfokaler Laserscanning-Mikroskopie dokumentiert. Aus diesen Parametern ließ sich ferner der durchschnittliche Überlappungsfaktor im beschriebenen Areal berechnen. Im Interesse dieser Arbeit standen dabei neben dem Unterschied im Überlappungsfaktor der Astrozyten zwischen Wildtyp- und GFAP-/- VIM-/- Knockout- Mäusen, als Beispiel für ein genetisch bedingtes Fehlen dieser Intermediärfilamente, auch der Einfluss des fortschreitenden Lebensalters, so dass für beide Genotypen sowohl junge- als auch alte Tiere untersucht wurden. Folgende Ergebnisse lassen sich zusammenfassen: 1. Das Vorhandensein der Intermediärfilamente GFAP und Vimentin scheint keinen Einfluss auf das Volumen der Astrozyten im motorischen Kortex zu haben. 2. Das Lebensalter der V ersuchstiere steht mit dem V olumen der Astrozyten signifikant in Zusammenhang. Das von Astrozytenfortsätzen der knapp zwei Jahre alten Tiere okkupierte Volumen betrug mit durchschnittlich ca. 61.000 !m3 gut das Doppelte des Volumens in jungen Mäusen (ca. 28.000 !m3). 3. Die Zellzahl der Astrozyten im motorischen Kortex wird offenbar weder vom Lebensalter, noch vom Vorhandensein der Intermediärfilamente GFAP und Vimentin signifikant beeinflusst. 4. Der Überlappungsfaktor der Astrozyten im motorischen Kortex lag bei den jungen Kontroll-Tieren bei 0,87 und bei den jungen DKO-Tieren bei 0,96. 5. Der Überlappungsfaktor der Astrozyten im motorischen Kortex lag bei den alten Kontroll-Tieren bei 2,22 und bei den alten DKO-Tieren bei 2,10. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass das Fehlen der Intermediärfilamente GFAP und Vimentin keinen Einfluss auf den Überlappungsgrad der Astrozyten im motorischen Kortex hat. Die Ursache für phänotypisch manifeste Erkrankungen, wie z.B. der Alexander Krankheit, welche durch ein fehlerhaft exprimiertes GFAP in Astrozyten hervorgerufen wird, ist demnach in anderen Mechanismen zu suchen. Großen Einfluss auf den Überlappungsfaktor der Astrozyten hatte dagegen das Lebensalter der Versuchstiere, was sich mit neueren Erkenntnissen zur Funktion der Astrozyten im Hinblick auf Lernvorgänge, aber auch auf degenerative Prozesse, in Zusammenhang bringen lässt.