Effects of chronic cold exposure on murine central nervous system.
Recently, cold-adaptation medicine has gotten more and more attention because of its specific significance to health care, military activities, sports performance, and so on. Although numerous studies have focused on respiratory, immune, and circulatory systems as well as skin damage upon cold exposure, the impacts on central nervous system are not well understood. This study explores the effects of chronic cold exposure on the murine central nervous system. To establish a chronic cold-exposure animal model, adult male mice from postnatal days 40-50 (P40-50) were housed at 0-4°C for 20 days. During the study period, estrogen receptors were labeled via immunohistochemistry, the dendritic spines of visual cortical pyramidal cells were labeled with DiI diolistic assay, and synaptic ultrastructure was observed by transmission electron microscopy. The results showed that cold exposure could inhibit neural proliferation significantly, with an increase of G-protein-coupled receptor 30 (GPR30) expression. Chronic cold exposure could also induce a decrease in the dendritic spines of pyramidal cells in visual cortex, along with a decrease in the number of synaptic formations. The ultrastructure of synapses after cold exposure was observed. It was found that pre- and postsynaptic membranes were fused, with a vague synaptic cleft. Furthermore, neuronal cytoplasmic and organelle swellings were also observed, along with microtubule disintegration. In conclusion, chronic cold exposure can cause structural and functional changes in the mouse central nervous system, possibly by direct participation of estrogen and its receptor, GPR30, in response to chronic cold exposure.
Institute of Neurobiology of Henan University, Kaifeng, People's Republic of China; Medical College of Henan University, Kaifeng, People's Republic of China.
Zhan-Jun
ZJ
Cui
Jie-Xin
JX
Deng
Kai-Bing
KB
Zhao
Dong-Ming
DM
Yu
Sang
S
Hu
Shu-Qin
SQ
Shi
Jin-Bo
JB
Deng
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D003080:Cold Temperature; D049229:Dendritic Spines / Q000502:physiology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000378:metabolism; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology
C532507:GPER1 protein, mouse; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine
DiI diolistic assay; cold exposure; dendritic spine; ultrastructure; visual cortex