Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Fabrizio Sanna, Maria Antonietta De Luca
Summary: Oxytocin plays a role in regulating various centrally-mediated functions, including socio-sexual behavior, maternal care, affiliation, fear, stress, and anxiety. Research has shown that oxytocin modulates reward-related neural substrates, potentially offering therapeutic benefits for addiction, with the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis highlighted as a key structure in rebalancing altered neurochemical processes associated with dependence and relapse.
CURRENT OPINION IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
James R. Melchior, Rafael E. Perez, Gregory J. Salimando, Joseph R. Luchsinger, Aakash Basu, Danny G. Winder
Summary: This study reveals a dopamine-mediated cellular inhibition mechanism in the dBNST, suggesting that dopamine terminal autoreceptor activation and dopamine transporter blockade can affect the duration of catecholamine signals. Furthermore, cocaine enhances cellular inhibition in the dBNST in a drug reinforcement paradigm.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Review
Behavioral Sciences
Vladimir P. Grinevich, Evgeny M. Krupitsky, Raul R. Gainetdinov, Evgeny A. Budygin
Summary: Research utilizing various animal models has identified neurochemical targets that may contribute to the development of alcohol addiction, with recent advancements in optogenetic approaches helping to reveal the neurobiological basis of ethanol addictive behaviors.
FRONTIERS IN BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Review
Neurosciences
Claire Emily Young, Qingchun Tong
Summary: The bed nuclei of the stria terminalis (BST) is a crucial brain region involved in anxiety processing and HPA axis activation. Research has found that BST CRH neurons in rodents can induce both anxiogenic and anxiolytic effects, interacting with other neurons to influence anxiety responses and substance-seeking behavior. Further studies into BST CRH signaling pathways are essential for addressing the societal and economic burdens of anxiety, mood, and substance use disorders.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Peripheral Vascular Disease
Jody L. Greaney, Ashley M. Darling, Jacqueline Mogle, Erika F. H. Saunders
Summary: Beta-adrenergic receptor-mediated microvascular vasodilation is impaired in adults with major depressive disorder (MDD), resulting in exaggerated adrenergic vasoconstriction. The loss of the vasoprotective effect of beta-adrenergic receptor-mediated vasodilation may contribute to the development of hypertension in individuals with MDD.
Review
Cell Biology
Roy A. Wise, Chloe J. Jordan
Summary: Addictive drugs can lead to addiction, with dopamine playing a crucial role in learning and emotional arousal. Changes in dopamine levels affect the animal's response to predictive stimuli, and the mechanisms of action of different addictive drugs warrant further investigation.
JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biology
Utsav Gyawali, David A. Martin, Fangmiao Sun, Yulong Li, Donna Calu
Summary: Although midbrain and striatal dopamine signals have been extensively studied, there is still ongoing research on novel dopamine signals and functions in reward learning and motivation. In this study, the researchers used fluorescent sensor technology and fiber photometry to investigate dopamine signaling in the dorsal bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (dBNST) during a Pavlovian lever autoshaping task. They found that the magnitude of cue-evoked dBNST dopamine signals differed between sign-tracking (ST) and goal-tracking/intermediate (GT/INT) rats, and that these signals decreased following reinforcer-specific satiety. Additionally, they observed that dBNST dopamine signals encoded bidirectional reward prediction errors in GT/INT rats, but only positive prediction errors in ST rats. Furthermore, the researchers examined the effects of fentanyl on dBNST dopamine associative encoding and found that systemic fentanyl injections generally potentiated dBNST dopamine signals. These findings demonstrate the importance of dBNST dopamine signaling in learning and motivation, and how it can be influenced by different approach strategies.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Marsilea A. Booth, Sally A. N. Gowers, Melinda Hersey, Isabelle C. Samper, Seongjun Park, Polina Anikeeva, Parastoo Hashemi, Molly M. Stevens, Martyn G. Boutelle
Summary: The study explored the potential of polymer fibers as a platform for sensing pH and neurometabolic lactate, successfully detecting transient lactate changes in an in vivo mouse model. The changes in lactate concentration were associated with spreading depolarizations.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Joep Titulaer, Carl Bjorkholm, Kristin Feltmann, Torun Malmlof, Devesh Mishra, Carolina Bengtsson Gonzales, Bjorn Schilstrom, Asa Konradsson-Geuken
Summary: The study suggests that increased release of dopamine and norepinephrine in the rat ventral hippocampus plays a crucial role in recognition memory and signaling novelty. In a novel object recognition test, rats' responses to a new object led to increased dopamine and norepinephrine release in the ventral hippocampus, potentially aiding in the formation of long-term memory.
FRONTIERS IN BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
William N. Sanchez, Jose A. Pochapski, Leticia F. Jessen, Marek Ellenberger, Rainer K. Schwarting, Donita L. Robinson, Roberto Andreatini, Claudio Da Cunha
Summary: The study found that diazepam can mitigate the neurochemical and psychostimulant effects of cocaine, such as reducing dopamine signals, inhibiting the increase in 50-kHz calls, and decreasing cocaine-induced locomotion.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Agoston Patthy, Janos Murai, Janos Hanics, Anna Pinter, Peter Zahola, Tomas G. M. Hokfelt, Tibor Harkany, Alan Alpar
Summary: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder for which an effective therapy has yet to be found. Research suggests that early damage to the ascending monoaminergic system in the brainstem may be an early sign and potential trigger of AD. In addition, cortical malfunction and local neurohistopathology are also related to the progression of AD.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Brianna E. George, Monica H. Dawes, Emily G. Peck, Sara R. Jones
Summary: Chronic heroin exposure leads to low dopamine levels in the nucleus accumbens and alterations in dopamine release dynamics, which may contribute to increased heroin seeking.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Optics
Shaohua Lu, Jingjing Zhao, Di Zhou, Jialiang Huang, Yiling Sun, Yiwen Sun, Zhengfang Qian, Shuting Fan
Summary: Quantitative detection of neurotransmitters in aqueous environment using terahertz waves has great potential. In this study, a hexagonal asymmetric metamaterial sensor was designed and fabricated for sensing aqueous solutions. The effective absorption was found to be linearly correlated with the concentration of dilute adrenaline solutions, and a non-linear relationship was observed at higher concentrations.
Article
Neurosciences
Lindsay J. Agostinelli, Scott C. Seaman, Clifford B. Saper, Dustin P. Fykstra, Marco M. Hefti, Timothy R. Koscik, Brian J. Dlouhy, Alexander G. Bassuk
Summary: Researchers report a study that combines high-resolution MRI and detailed histology to study the impact of neurologic disease on specific cell groups in the human brainstem and cerebellum. These findings are crucial for understanding and diagnosing brainstem lesions.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Zachary A. Rodd, Eric A. Engleman, William A. Truitt, Andrew R. Burke, Andrei Molosh, Richard L. Bell, Sheketha R. Hauser
Summary: The chemogenetic procedure DREADD selectively affects protein receptors. Administering clozapine N-oxide (CNO) significantly increases levels of glutamate and dopamine in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). However, caution should be taken as CNO is not an inert compound, and the effects of clozapine and N-desmethylclozapine (N-Des) in CNO-DREADD studies need to be controlled.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Laura Boi, Augusta Pisanu, Nigel H. Greig, Michael T. Scerba, David Tweedie, Giovanna Mulas, Sandro Fenu, Ezio Carboni, Saturnino Spiga, Anna R. Carta
MOVEMENT DISORDERS
(2019)
Article
Immunology
Giulia Di Benedetto, Chiara Burgaletto, Anna R. Carta, Salvatore Saccone, Laurence Lempereur, Giovanna Mulas, Carla Loreto, Renato Bernardini, Giuseppina Cantarella
JOURNAL OF NEUROINFLAMMATION
(2019)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Maria Antonietta Casu, Ignazia Mocci, Raffaella Isola, Augusta Pisanu, Laura Boi, Giovanna Mulas, Nigel H. Greig, Maria Dolores Setzu, Anna R. Carta
FRONTIERS IN AGING NEUROSCIENCE
(2020)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Maria Cristina Cardia, Anna Rosa Carta, Pierluigi Caboni, Anna Maria Maccioni, Sara Erbi, Laura Boi, Maria Cristina Meloni, Francesco Lai, Chiara Sinico
Review
Biochemical Research Methods
A. R. Carta, L. Boi, A. Pisanu, M. F. Palmas, E. Carboni, A. De Simone
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE METHODS
(2020)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Elena Carboni, Anna R. Carta, Ezio Carboni
MEDICAL HYPOTHESES
(2020)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Federica Murgia, Luigi Atzori, Ezio Carboni, Maria Laura Santoru, Aran Hendren, Augusta Pisanu, Pierluigi Caboni, Laura Boi, Giuliana Fusco, Anna R. Carta
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2020)
Review
Neurosciences
Ezio Carboni, Anna R. Carta, Elena Carboni, Antonello Novelli
Summary: Repurposing ketamine in the therapy of depression could lead to a breakthrough in understanding the etiology of depression. The use of ketamine as a fast-acting antidepressant in treatment-resistant patients has sparked interest in its mechanism of action and potential effects. Further research is needed to explore its clinical applications and long-term implications.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Review
Neurosciences
Yoo Jin Jung, David Tweedie, Michael T. Scerba, Dong Seok Kim, Maria Francesca Palmas, Augusta Pisanu, Anna R. Carta, Nigel H. Greig
Summary: Neuroinflammation plays a crucial role in the pathology and progression of major psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders, with a lack of effective drug treatments available for most neurological conditions. It has been identified as a key factor in the progression of various neurological disorders, offering new avenues for drug target identification in ongoing research.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Maria Francesca Palmas, Anna Ena, Chiara Burgaletto, Maria Antonietta Casu, Giuseppina Cantarella, Ezio Carboni, Michela Etzi, Alfonso De Simone, Giuliana Fusco, Maria Cristina Cardia, Francesco Lai, Luca Picci, David Tweedie, Michael T. Scerba, Valentina Coroneo, Renato Bernardini, Nigel H. Greig, Augusta Pisanu, Anna R. Carta
Summary: In this study, the researchers tested the disease-modifying properties of the immunomodulatory drug pomalidomide in a rat model of Parkinson's disease. The results showed that pomalidomide had neuroprotective effects and inhibited the inflammatory response caused by the disease. These findings provide evidence for the potential repurposing of pomalidomide for clinical testing in Parkinson's disease patients.
Article
Cell Biology
Maria Francesca Palmas, Michela Etzi, Augusta Pisanu, Chiara Camoglio, Claudia Sagheddu, Michele Santoni, Maria Francesca Manchinu, Mauro Pala, Giuliana Fusco, Alfonso De Simone, Luca Picci, Giovanna Mulas, Saturnino Spiga, Maria Scherma, Paola Fadda, Marco Pistis, Nicola Simola, Ezio Carboni, Anna R. Carta
Summary: The study demonstrates that intracerebral infusion of pre-formed human alpha synuclein oligomers (H-alpha SynOs) provides a valid model for studying cognitive symptoms in Parkinson's disease, accompanied by neuroinflammation, shedding light on the mechanisms underlying cognitive impairment.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Fabrizio Angius, Ignazia Mocci, Tommaso Ercoli, Francesco Loy, Laura Fadda, Maria Francesca Palmas, Giada Cannas, Aldo Manzin, Giovanni Defazio, Anna R. Carta
Summary: Parkinson's disease (PD) diagnosis still relies on post-mortem neuropathological diagnosis due to bias in current diagnostic methods. This study explores the potential of α-synuclein (α-syn) species in saliva as biomarkers for PD. The results show that phosphorylated α-syn (p-α-syn) is the most abundant species in saliva, and the ratio of p-α-syn/tot-α-syn and oligomeric α-syn (o-α-syn) concentration can provide more accurate diagnostic accuracy for PD.
JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Laura Boi, Augusta Pisanu, Maria Francesca Palmas, Giuliana Fusco, Ezio Carboni, Maria Antonietta Casu, Valentina Satta, Maria Scherma, Elzbieta Janda, Ignazia Mocci, Giovanna Mulas, Anna Ena, Saturnino Spiga, Paola Fadda, Alfonso De Simone, Anna R. Carta
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2020)