Article
Biology
Zane Kliesmete, Lucas Esteban Wange, Beate Vieth, Miriam Esgleas, Jessica Radmer, Matthias Huelsmann, Johanna Geuder, Daniel Richter, Mari Ohnuki, Magdelena Goetz, Ines Hellmann, Wolfgang Enard
Summary: This study investigates the role of TRNP1 protein in brain size and cortical folding in mammals. The results show a significant correlation between the evolution rate of TRNP1 protein and brain size, indicating that TRNP1 activity is likely affecting these traits. Additionally, the study finds a specific regulatory element of TRNP1 that co-evolves with cortical folding in Old World monkeys and apes. These findings provide insights into the evolutionary mechanisms of brain development.
Article
Neurosciences
Dirk Jan Ardesch, Lianne H. Scholtens, Siemon C. de Lange, Lea Roumazeilles, Alexandre A. Khrapitchev, Todd M. Preuss, James K. Rilling, Rogier B. Mars, Martijn P. van den Heuvel
Summary: The study found that as brain size increases, there are restrictions on macroscopic connectivity, leading to lower overall connectedness, sparser long-range connectivity, and longer communication paths. Additionally, there were asymmetries in connectivity patterns between homologous areas across the left and right hemispheres in larger brains.
Article
Cell Biology
Jodie H. K. Man, Charlotte A. G. H. van Gelder, Marjolein Breur, Daniel Okkes, Douwe Molenaar, Sophie van der Sluis, Truus Abbink, Maarten Altelaar, Marjo S. van der Knaap, Marianna Bugiani
Summary: This study comprehensively analyzed the cortex of vanishing white matter (VWM) patients using high-resolution mass spectrometry-based proteomics and immunohistochemistry. The findings revealed a large number of differentially expressed proteins in the VWM cortex, forming a major protein interaction network. Gene ontology analysis further indicated enrichment for cellular metabolism, particularly mitochondrial activity. Importantly, the study identified astrocytic involvement in the cortical pathology of VWM, with morphological changes and decreased complexity observed in VWM cortical astrocytes compared to control cells. These astrocytes were found to be immature and non-reactive. These insights into cortical involvement in VWM have significant implications for the development of therapeutic strategies.
Article
Neurosciences
Allysa Warling, Cassidy L. McDermott, Siyuan Liu, Jakob Seidlitz, Amanda L. Rodrigue, Ajay Nadig, Ruben C. Gur, Raquel E. Gur, David Roalf, Tyler M. Moore, David Glahn, Theodore D. Satterthwaite, Edward T. Bullmore, Armin Raznahan
Summary: In this study, the authors found that regional white matter volume (WMV) scales with individual brain size in a regionally heterogeneous manner. They also discovered that regions of positive WMV scaling tend to connect previously-defined regions of positive gray matter scaling in the cortex, indicating a coordinated coupling of regional gray and white matter organization. Additionally, two commonly studied measures of white matter microstructure, fractional anisotropy (FA) and magnetization transfer (MT), were found to scale negatively with brain size, in a manner spatially unlike WMV scaling.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Yuki Oi, Masakazu Hirose, Hiroki Togo, Kenji Yoshinaga, Thai Akasaka, Tomohisa Okada, Toshihiko Aso, Ryosuke Takahashi, Matthew F. Glasser, Takuya Hayashi, Takashi Hanakawa
Summary: The study examined the application of surface-based brain MRI analysis technique in the older population and proposed a possible solution to the adverse effects of white matter hyperintensities on estimating cortical surfaces. The findings are important for identifying appropriate cortical surface biomarkers for aging and age-related neuropsychiatric disorders.
Article
Neurosciences
Mikael Noven, Hampus Olsson, Gunther Helms, Merle Horne, Markus Nilsson, Mikael Roll
Summary: The study found that language learning aptitude is related to cortical morphology and white matter microstructure, with vocabulary learning possibly correlated with cortical surface area in the left posterior-inferior precuneus. Phonetic memory, on the other hand, may be associated with the white matter tracts connecting cortical areas important for phonological working memory such as the left arcuate fasciculus and left superior longitudinal fasciculus III.
HUMAN BRAIN MAPPING
(2021)
Article
Pediatrics
Olivia R. White, Kylie A. Corry, Daniel H. Moralejo, Janessa B. Law, Jessica M. Snyder, Ulrike Mietzsch, Sandra E. Juul, Thomas R. Wood
Summary: Neonatal encephalopathy (NE) is a common cause of infant morbidity and mortality. Spontaneous hypothermia (SH) may serve as an early biomarker of injury severity, as it has been observed in both preclinical models and clinical cases of NE. A study on ferrets showed that rectal temperature (RT) measured 1 hour after insult could predict long-term neuropathological outcomes.
PEDIATRIC RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Cell Biology
Goran Sedmak, Milos Judas
Summary: White matter interstitial neurons (WMIN) are an important but underestimated population in the adult brain, with diverse morphology and molecular diversity similar to cortical neurons. While previously considered functionally insignificant, current research demonstrates that WMIN play crucial roles in regulating cerebral blood flow, sleep, and information flow within the cortex.
Article
Neurosciences
Feng Sang, Yaojing Chen, Kewei Chen, Mingxi Dang, Shudan Gao, Zhanjun Zhang
Summary: The study found that both male and female brains show age-related decreases in gray and white matter volumes, with females experiencing a greater volume reduction. Additionally, stronger associations between brain structures and cognition were identified in males compared to females.
Article
Neurosciences
Onyebuchi Okeke, Aziz Elbasheir, Sierra E. Carter, Abigail Powers, Yara Mekawi, Charles F. Gillespie, Ann C. Schwartz, Bekh Bradley, Negar Fani
Summary: This study investigated the indirect effects of racial discrimination on health outcomes in Black women. The results showed that racial discrimination can affect the microstructural integrity of stress-sensitive prefrontal white matter tracts, leading to increased risk for medical disorders.
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY-COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING
(2022)
Article
Biology
Ali Abdollahzadeh, Ilya Belevich, Eija Jokitalo, Alejandra Sierra, Jussi Tohka
Summary: DeepACSON is a segmentation software based on deep learning that allows for efficient tracking and segmentation of ultrastructures in brain tissues, providing excellent analysis and evaluation results. By combining existing semantic segmentation methods with a novel shape decomposition technique, DeepACSON achieves effective instance segmentation and white matter morphology quantification in low-resolution 3D-EM datasets.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Elliott Capek, Tiago L. Ribeiro, Patrick Kells, Keshav Srinivasan, Stephanie R. Miller, Elias Geist, Mitchell Victor, Ali Vakili, Sinisa Pajevic, Dante R. Chialvo, Dietmar Plenz
Summary: The study reveals that synchronized neuronal groups exhibit a scale-invariant quadratic growth in the form of parabolic avalanches, which are primarily driven by critical neurons in the cortex. The diversity of these synchronized cell assemblies poses a challenge for brain theories.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Elisabeth Burnor, Dora Cserbik, Devyn L. Cotter, Clare E. Palmer, Hedyeh Ahmadi, Sandrah P. Eckel, Kiros Berhane, Rob McConnell, Jiu-Chiuan Chen, Joel Schwartz, Raymond Jackson, Megan M. Herting
Summary: The study suggests that annual exposure to PM2.5 during childhood is associated with increased restricted isotropic diffusion and decreased mean diffusivity of specific white matter tracts, potentially reflecting differences in the composition of white matter microarchitecture.
Article
Neurosciences
Shima Safaiyan, Simon Besson-Girard, Tugberk Kaya, Ludovico Cantuti-Castelvetri, Lu Liu, Hao Ji, Martina Schifferer, Garyfallia Gouna, Fumere Usifo, Nirmal Kannaiyan, Dirk Fitzner, Xianyuan Xiang, Moritz J. Rossner, Matthias Brendel, Ozgun Gokce, Mikael Simons
Summary: Research has identified white matter-associated microglia (WAMs) as a protective response during aging, characterized by phagocytic activity and lipid metabolism gene activation. WAMs depend on triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) signaling and are independent of apolipoprotein E (APOE) in contrast to mouse models of Alzheimer's disease.
Article
Neurosciences
Valentinos Zachariou, Christopher E. Bauer, Colleen Pappas, Brian T. Gold
Summary: This study found that brain iron concentration is associated with the disruption of white matter microstructure in cognitive brain networks, with high iron concentration being linked to lower neurite density.
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Victoria M. Williams, Adhil Bhagwandin, Jordan Swiegers, Mads F. Bertelsen, Therese Hard, Thomas C. Thannickal, Jerome M. Siegel, Chet C. Sherwood, Paul R. Manger
Summary: Using orexin-A immunohistochemical staining, the nuclear parcellation of orexinergic neurons in the hypothalami of a lar gibbon and a chimpanzee was described, revealing similarities to patterns observed in other mammals. The distribution of orexinergic neurons in the ape hypothalamus appears broader than in other primate species, with some differences observed in specific clusters. High density terminal networks were found within certain regions of the brain, typical for mammals, indicating a potentially significant role for orexinergic neurons in these areas.
ANATOMICAL RECORD-ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Lea Roumazeilles, Frederik J. Lange, R. Austin Benn, Jesper L. R. Andersson, Mads F. Bertelsen, Paul R. Manger, Edmund Flach, Alexandre A. Khrapitchev, Katherine L. Bryant, Jerome Sallet, Rogier B. Mars
Summary: Comparative neuroimaging of ring-tailed lemurs, black-capped squirrel monkeys, and rhesus macaques revealed differences in frontal projections and white matter architecture. The results suggest that squirrel monkeys and rhesus macaques have expanded frontal projections compared to ring-tailed lemurs, while ring-tailed lemurs have reduced connectivity in the parietal region. Furthermore, squirrel monkeys have a specific occipito-parietal anatomy.
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Victoria M. Williams, Adhil Bhagwandin, Jordan Swiegers, Mads F. Bertelsen, Therese Hard, Chet C. Sherwood, Paul R. Manger
Summary: Using choline acetyltransferase immunohistochemistry, the study describes the nuclear parcellation of the cholinergic system in the brains of a lar gibbon and a chimpanzee, showing similarities and differences compared to humans. Notable variations of cholinergic neuronal distribution in apes compared to other primates may relate to the differing modes of locomotion. Additionally, soma volume differences in specific nuclei suggest a relationship with the adult derivatives of the alar and basal plate across mammalian species.
ANATOMICAL RECORD-ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Victoria M. Williams, Adhil Bhagwandin, Jordan Swiegers, Mads F. Bertelsen, Therese Hard, Chet C. Sherwood, Paul R. Manger
Summary: Using tyrosine hydroxylase immunohistochemistry, this study describes the nuclear parcellation of the catecholaminergic system in the brains of a lar gibbon and a chimpanzee. The parcellation in both apes is almost identical to that in humans and shows strong similarities to other mammals, particularly primates. Specific variations in the apes studied include an unusual high-density cluster of A10dc neurons, an enlarged A8 nucleus related to increased use of communicative facial expressions, and an expanded distribution of neurons forming the dorsolateral division of the locus coeruleus (A4).
ANATOMICAL RECORD-ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Victoria M. Williams, Adhil Bhagwandin, Jordan Swiegers, Mads F. Bertelsen, Therese Hard, Chet C. Sherwood, Paul R. Manger
Summary: Through the analysis of immunohistochemically stained sections, the study details the morphology and nuclear parcellation of serotonergic neurons in the brainstem of a lar gibbon and a chimpanzee. While the neuronal morphology and nuclear organization of the serotonergic system in these apes closely resemble that of other primates, a unique expansion in the lateral division of the dorsal raphe nucleus was observed in the chimpanzee.
ANATOMICAL RECORD-ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Christina Lynggaard, Mads Frost Bertelsen, Casper Jensen, Matthew S. Johnson, Tobias Guldberg Froslev, Morten Tange Olsen, Kristine Bohmann
Summary: Biodiversity monitoring at the community scale is critical for understanding the impacts of environmental and human activities on natural ecosystems. This study demonstrates that airborne environmental DNA (eDNA) can be a powerful tool for studying and monitoring terrestrial vertebrate communities. The researchers collected air samples from different locations in a zoo and used eDNA analysis to detect diverse vertebrate species. They found that the distance to the sampling device and animal biomass influenced the detection probability.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Henrik H. Petersen, Rikke Stenbak, Camilla Blaabjerg, Anne K. H. Krogh, Mads F. Bertelsen, Peter Buss, Peter M. H. Heegaard
Summary: Objective disease markers are in high demand for southern white rhinoceros. The study developed an ELISA to quantify haptoglobin in white rhinoceros serum, which can serve as a reliable biomarker of disease. The assay demonstrated precision, sensitivity to free hemoglobin, and significant increase in inflammatory disease.
JOURNAL OF ZOO AND WILDLIFE MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Illke B. Malungo, Reabetswe Mokale, Mads F. Bertelsen, Paul R. Manger
Summary: This study provides an analysis of the cholinergic, catecholaminergic, serotonergic, and orexinergic neuronal populations in the brain of the lesser hedgehog tenrec. The cholinergic system shows the most variation, while the other systems are broadly similar to those observed in other mammals. The lesser hedgehog tenrec has a significant mesencephalic flexure in its brain, which is not present in the greater otter shrew. This suggests either complex parallel evolution or a need to re-examine the classification of the Potomogalidae lineage.
ANATOMICAL RECORD-ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Eric R. Schuppe, Lindsey Cantin, Mukta Chakraborty, Matthew T. Biegler, Electra R. Jarvis, Chun-Chun Chen, Erina Hara, Mads F. Bertelsen, Christopher C. Witt, Erich D. Jarvis, Matthew J. Fuxjager
Summary: A study found that except for woodpeckers, there is little evidence of gene expression specializations related to vocal learning in the brains of other non-learning bird lineages. Woodpeckers have forebrain regions similar to the song nuclei of vocal learning birds. These brain nuclei in male woodpeckers show increased expression of immediate early genes during their elaborate bill-hammering behavior.
Article
Neurosciences
Demi Oddes, Ayanda Ngwenya, Illke B. Malungo, Anita Burkevica, Therese Hard, Mads F. Bertelsen, Muhammad A. Spocter, D. Michael Scantlebury, Paul R. Manger
Summary: Using orexin-A immunohistochemistry, the distribution, morphology, and nuclear parcellation of orexinergic neurons in the hypothalami of Asiatic lions, African lions, and Southeast African cheetahs were studied. The clustering and distribution of orexinergic neurons in these felids appear to be more complex than in other mammals.
JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kleber Neves, Pedro B. Tan, Olavo B. Amaral
Summary: This study investigates the impact of selective publication, bias, low statistical power, and unlikely hypotheses on research results using a simulation model. The results show that these factors consistently lead to a high proportion of false-positive results and may result in errors in estimating the direction and magnitude of the effect size.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Line Kristensen, Juliana Q. Zardo, Sofie M. Hansen, Mads F. Bertelsen, Aage K. O. Alstrup, Tobias Wang, Catherine J. A. Williams
Summary: Giving turtles atropine reduces the minimum anaesthetic concentration of isoflurane, and propofol can also reduce the required concentration of inhaled anaesthesia. These findings are important for the control of inhalant anaesthesia.
VETERINARY ANAESTHESIA AND ANALGESIA
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Natalija Katic, Rodrigo Kazu Siqueira, Luke Cleland, Nicholas Strzalkowski, Leah Bent, Stanisa Raspopovic, Hannes Saal
Summary: The FootSim model replicates mechanoreceptor activation in the lower limb and provides insights into neural spiking responses in dynamic conditions. It is valuable for neuroscientific research and overcomes the limitations of current recording techniques. Additionally, neuroengineers can use the model for neuroprosthetic applications and designing biomimetic stimulation patterns.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lucie A. Bergeron, Soren Besenbacher, Jiao Zheng, Panyi Li, Mads Frost Bertelsen, Benoit Quintard, Joseph I. Hoffman, Zhipeng Li, Judy St Leger, Changwei Shao, Josefin Stiller, M. Thomas P. Gilbert, Mikkel H. Schierup, Guojie Zhang
Summary: We sequenced and compared high-coverage genomes of 151 parent-offspring trios from 68 species of vertebrates and found that the per-generation mutation rate varies greatly among species, with males having higher rates than females in mammals and birds. We identified generation time, age at maturity, and species-level fecundity as key factors influencing this variation. Species with larger long-term effective population sizes tend to have lower mutation rates, supporting the drift barrier hypothesis. Domesticated animals with shorter generation times display exceptionally high yearly mutation rates, emphasizing the importance of generation time in mutation rate evolution.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Anita Wittwer, Marco Roller, Dennis W. H. Mueller, Mads F. Bertelsen, Laurie Bingaman Lackey, Beatrice Steck, Rebecca Biddle, Lars Versteege, Marcus Clauss
Summary: Zoo animal husbandry is a skill that needs constant development to improve animal survivorship. Species at higher risk of extinction in the wild may face greater difficulties in zoo conditions. This study found that the survival rates of black, greater one-horned, and white rhinos in zoos were consistent with their extinction risk status. The survivorship of black and white rhinos has significantly improved over time, while the greater one-horned rhino's survivorship stagnated.