Article
Neurosciences
George Zacharopoulos, Uzay Emir, Roi Cohen Kadosh
Summary: The study revealed developmental trajectories of neurochemicals in key brain regions over childhood to adulthood, showing both similar and region-specific paths. Crucially, the study demonstrated that glutamate concentration in the IPS modulates connectivity with other brain regions in age-dependent ways. Higher glutamate was associated with more negative connectivity in mature participants, while younger participants showed the opposite pattern.
HUMAN BRAIN MAPPING
(2021)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Ana Carolina P. Campos, Christopher Pople, Esther Silk, Shanan Surendrakumar, Thallita K. Rabelo, Ying Meng, Flavia Venetucci Gouveia, Nir Lipsman, Peter Giacobbe, Clement Hamani
Summary: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a neuromodulation therapy used for treatment-resistant depression, but its actual efficacy and mechanisms of action are still unclear. Changes in neurochemical transmission play a significant role in the antidepressant-like effects of DBS. Preclinical studies have shown that DBS in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) induces serotonin release and increases 5-HT1B receptor expression, while DBS in other regions such as the medial forebrain bundle (MFB), nucleus accumbens (NAcc), and lateral habenula (LHb) affects the levels of dopamine and catecholamines in different brain regions. Additionally, subthalamic nucleus (STN) DBS reduces serotonergic transmission, potentially mediated by 5-HT1A receptors, leading to depression-like responses.
EUROPEAN NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Syed Salman Shahid, Gregory G. Grecco, Brady K. Atwood, Yu-Chien Wu
Summary: This study investigates the impact of prenatal methadone exposure on cerebral biochemistry and microstructural organization in offspring. The findings suggest that prenatal opioid exposure can lead to abnormal brain development in mice, which may persist into adolescence and early adulthood.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Sahel Motaghi, Hossein Jonaidi, Hadis Talebifard, Mohammadamin Chavoshizadeh
Summary: This study found that in the avian brain, alpha estrogen receptors are involved in food intake behavior, and their effects are stimulatory, similar to rodents.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY AND ANIMAL NUTRITION
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Quintino Giorgio D'Alessandris, Grazia Menna, Alessandro Izzo, Manuela D'Ercole, Giuseppe Maria Della Pepa, Liverana Lauretti, Roberto Pallini, Alessandro Olivi, Nicola Montano
Summary: In recent years, research on brain cancers has focused on understanding the interactions between the tumor and the normal brain. The influence of neuronal activity on brain tumor development, especially gliomas, has been discovered, including direct electrochemical synapses between neurons and glioma cells. This new field of research, known as cancer neuroscience, has opened up new approaches for the treatment of brain cancers. This review explores the latest findings and therapeutic perspectives in cancer neuroscience, including traditional oncologic approaches and cutting-edge electric stimulation proposals.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
QingQing Wang, Sonia Garcia Caraballo, Grigori Rychkov, Alice E. McGovern, Stuart B. Mazzone, Stuart M. Brierley, Andrea M. Harrington
Summary: This study compared the central circuits of vagal and spinal afferent pathways in the transmission of colorectal nociceptive information. The results showed differences in the projections and activation of neurons between the two pathways, as well as differences in their response to pressure intensity.
JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Review
Neurosciences
Toshiyuki Fujita, Naoya Aoki, Chihiro Mori, Koichi J. J. Homma, Shinji Yamaguchi
Summary: This review summarizes the anatomical organization and molecular features of the avian central serotonergic system and briefly reviews the key functions of serotonin. Gene association studies have shown that the serotonergic system is involved in regulating behavior in birds, similar to mammals. The chicken brain, as a model bird, is widely used in developmental biology, breeding, and research on cognitive, behavioral, and emotional processes. The similarities between avian and mammalian brains provide an interesting opportunity for detailed comparative studies of the function of serotonergic systems in mammals.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Claudia Pinelli, Anna Scandurra, Kazuyoshi Tsutsui, Sara Falvo, Biagio 'Aniello
Summary: This paper provides an overview of the existing knowledge on the neuroanatomical distribution of GnIH-like peptides in fish and amphibians. The study found significant differences in the distribution of GnIH-like neuropeptides among species, regardless of their evolutionary closeness. The topology of the olfactory bulbs can influence the distribution of neurons producing GnIH-like peptides. GnIH expression was detected early during development and showed an increasing trend in neuroanatomical distribution.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Uwe Homberg, Michelle Kirchner, Kevin Kowalewski, Vanessa Pitz, Michiyo Kinoshita, Martina Kern, Jutta Seyfarth
Summary: Serotonin functions as a neuromodulator in both vertebrate and invertebrate nervous systems. In insects, it affects feeding, olfactory sensitivity, aggressive behavior, and sleep homeostasis in the central complex. This study analyzed the distribution and identity of serotonin-immunoreactive neurons in various insect species, revealing taxon-specific differences in their targets and indicating distinct evolutionary changes in the composition of these neurons in the central complex.
JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Philippe De Deurwaerdere, Maurizio Casarrubea, Daniel Cassar, Manuela Radic, Emilie Puginier, Abdeslam Chagraoui, Giuseppe Crescimanno, Vincenzo Crunelli, Giuseppe Di Giovanni
Summary: Childhood absence epilepsy is often accompanied by neuropsychological comorbidities such as anxiety. This study found that the synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist WIN 55,212-2 had strain-dependent effects on anxiety-like and motor behavior in rats with absence epilepsy. The study also revealed alterations in cerebral monoaminergic levels in these rats, suggesting a role of endocannabinoids and monoamines in the comorbidities.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Neurosciences
Adejoke Y. Onaolapo, Olakunle J. Onaolapo
Summary: This article discusses the potential role of glutamate in neurodegenerative diseases, particularly its association with hepatic encephalopathy and Alzheimer's disease, as well as the importance of glutamate in neurodegenerative diseases.
CURRENT NEUROPHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Anatomy & Morphology
Mohammad Tufazzal Hussan, Akiko Sakai, Hideaki Matsui
Summary: Glutamate is an important neurotransmitter in the brain and plays a key role in both physiological and pathological neuronal functions. This article discusses the neuroprotective strategies used by the anoxia-tolerant freshwater turtle to maintain low levels of glutamate and investigates the potential application of these strategies in finding therapeutics for glutamatergic neurological disorders in humans. The glutamatergic circuits in the turtle brain are less described compared to mammalian and avian brains, but several candidate circuits have been identified. The integrated knowledge of glutamatergic pathways provides a fundamental basis for further functional studies in the turtle brain and offers insights into glutamate regulation and neural circuits in different species.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROANATOMY
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Alessandra Caruso, Laura Ricceri, Angela Caruso, Ferdinando Nicoletti, Alessandra Gaetano, Sergio Scaccianoce
Summary: Adolescence is a critical period for brain development, and disturbances during this time can increase the risk of neuropsychiatric disorders. This study compared the effects of postweaning social isolation (PWSI) on inbred C57BL/6 N mice and BTBR mice, which are a model for autism spectrum disorders. The results showed that both PWSI mice and BTBR mice exhibited reduced social responsiveness and altered levels of certain receptors in the brain, suggesting that absence of social stimuli during adolescence can induce a phenotype similar to autism spectrum disorders.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Panagiotis Perdikaris, Catherine R. Dermon
Summary: The study developed a zebrafish pharmacological model demonstrating social withdrawal behavior and elevated anxiety levels following treatment with MK-801, suggesting a possible link between anxiety and aberrant social behavior. The findings highlight the importance of catecholaminergic neurotransmission in ASD-like behavior and potential interventions for amelioration of symptoms.
PROGRESS IN NEURO-PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY & BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Psychiatry
Cornelia Carey, Nisha Singh, Joel T. Dunn, Teresa Sementa, Maria Andreina Mendez, Hester Velthuis, Andreia C. Pereira, Charlotte Marie Pretzsch, Jamie Horder, Stefan Hader, David J. Lythgoe, Diana-Georgina Rotaru, Anthony Gee, Diana Cash, Mattia Veronese, Declan Murphy, Grainne McAlonan
Summary: This study directly examined the relationship between the metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) and glutamate or GABA in the human brain of autistic individuals. The results showed that autistic individuals had significantly higher mGluR5 binding in a specific region, and there was a strong negative correlation between GABA and mGluR5 density. These findings suggest that an increase in mGluR5 in autism may relate to GABAergic interneuron abnormalities.
TRANSLATIONAL PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Yang He, Jun Tang, Meng Zhang, Junjie Ying, Dezhi Mu
Summary: This study investigated the protective effects and mechanisms of human placenta derived mesenchymal stem cells (hPMSCs) transplantation in a rat model of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). The results showed that hPMSCs transplantation reduced apoptosis and improved long-term neurological prognosis. Furthermore, the downregulation of Sema 3A/NRP-1 expression and activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway played a key role in the protective effects of hPMSCs.
Article
Neurosciences
Emily L. Isenstein, Edward G. Freedman, Jiayi Xu, Ian A. DeAndrea-Lazarus, John J. Foxe
Summary: This study evaluated electrophysiological discrimination of parametric somatosensory stimuli in healthy young adults to understand how the brain processes the duration of tactile information. The results showed that participants did not electrophysiologically discriminate between 100 and 115 ms, but they exhibited distinct electrophysiological responses when the deviant stimuli were 130, 145, and 160 ms. These findings contribute to a better understanding of tactile sensitivity in different clinical conditions.
Article
Neurosciences
Juliana R. Souza, Ludmila Lima-Silveira, Daniela Accorsi-Mendonca, Benedito H. Machado
Summary: This study demonstrates that A2A receptors play a crucial role in modulating synaptic transmission in the NTS neurons and are required for the enhancement of glutamatergic transmission observed under short-term sustained hypoxia conditions.
Article
Neurosciences
Miki Hashizume, Rina Ito, Rie Suge, Yasushi Hojo, Gen Murakami, Takayuki Murakoshi
Summary: The basolateral amygdaloid complex (BLA) is closely involved in the formation of emotional memories, including both aversive memory and contextual fear memory. Acute sleep deprivation (SD) disrupts the acquisition of tone-associated fear memory in juvenile rats, but has no significant effect on contextual fear memory. Slow network oscillation in the amygdala contributes to the formation of amygdala-dependent fear memory in relation to sleep.
Article
Neurosciences
Qunxian Wang, Shipeng Guo, Dongjie Hu, Xiangjun Dong, Zijun Meng, Yanshuang Jiang, Zijuan Feng, Weihui Zhou, Weihong Song
Summary: GSDME plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease by regulating the switch from apoptosis to pyroptosis and participating in neuroinflammatory response. Knockdown of GSDME has been shown to improve cognitive impairments, indicating that GSDME could be a therapeutic target for Alzheimer's disease.