Article
Biology
Fernando Martin-Fernandez, Ana Bermejo-Santos, Lorena Bragg-Gonzalo, Carlos G. Briz, Esther Serrano-Saiz, Marta Nieto
Summary: This study reveals that the expression of axonal signaling receptor Neuropilin 1 (Nrp1) in the somatosensory (SS) cortex of mice is temporary and follows patterns that determine corpus callosum (CC) connectivity. Nrp1 expression is important for subsequent S2 innervation and knocking down Nrp1 reduces the number of callosal neurons in S2L2/3, which may play a role in neurodevelopmental disorders.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Theresa Paul, Valerie M. Wiemer, Lukas Hensel, Matthew Cieslak, Caroline Tscherpel, Christian Grefkes, Scott T. Grafton, Gereon R. Fink, Lukas J. Volz
Summary: This study used diffusion spectrum imaging (DSI) and a novel compartment-wise analysis approach to investigate the structural connectivity between bilateral cortical core motor regions in chronic stroke patients. The results showed that the structural connectivity between these regions is associated with both basal and complex motor control. Specifically, the recovery of basal motor control may be supported by an alternative pathway through the contralesional primary motor cortex (M1) and non-crossing fibers of the contralesional corticospinal tract (CST). These findings help explain conflicting interpretations of the functional role of the contralesional M1 and suggest the potential of cortico-cortical structural connectivity as a biomarker for motor recovery post-stroke.
ANNALS OF NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Tatsuhide Tanaka, Nobuhiko Ohno, Yasuyuki Osanai, Sei Saitoh, Truc Quynh Thai, Kazuya Nishimura, Takeaki Shinjo, Shoko Takemura, Kouko Tatsumi, Akio Wanaka
Summary: Single oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system produce myelin sheaths around multiple axons, and interfascicular oligodendrocytes (IOs) in the corpus callosum of adult mice have morphologically polarized cell bodies with processes of different thicknesses for myelinating axons. The myelin sheaths originating from specific IOs have biased thicknesses and are associated with axonal diameter. Despite potential axonal regulation of myelin sheath thickness, a single axon may also independently influence myelin thickness.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Tanushka Anand, Abdullah Ishaque, Daniel Ta, Muhammad Umer Khan, Komal Bharti, Andrew Wu, Dennell Krebs, Christian Beaulieu, Peter Seres, Sanjay Kalra
Summary: DKI can provide complementary information to DTI for understanding the pathology and microstructural alterations in patients with motor neuron disease and UMN dysfunction. Abnormalities in the CST and CC were observed, with higher mean and radial diffusivity and lower FA, kurtosis anisotropy, MK, and RK in patients compared to controls. The changes were concentrated in specific areas and correlated with disease progression rate and UMN burden.
BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR
(2023)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Sanja Budisavljevic, Umberto Castiello, Chiara Begliomini
Summary: The development and persistence of laterality in human motor behavior, particularly in hand use, has been studied with a focus on the asymmetry in brain organization. Recent research utilizing diffusion magnetic resonance imaging has shown differences in white matter connectivity between left and right-handers, particularly in pathways related to visuomotor and visuospatial processing. Despite incomplete evidence, the study highlights the importance of exploring new avenues for understanding the neural basis of handedness.
Article
Clinical Neurology
A. Stein, E. Sody, N. Bruns, U. Felderhoff-Muser
Summary: This study aimed to develop a simple and objective ultrasound scoring system to assess cortical development in preterm infants. The results showed that clinical landmarks identified through ultrasound were significantly correlated with gestational age. This scoring system has the potential to serve as an objective indicator of brain maturation, reducing the reliance on individual growth trajectories and percentiles.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF NEURORADIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Frances S. Hausmann, John M. Barrett, Megan E. Martin, Huiqing Zhan, Gordon M. G. Shepherd
Summary: This study used MAPseq to investigate the diversity of brainstem branching patterns of the pyramidal tract projections from the forelimb-related areas of the motor cortex. The results showed high yet systematic diversity in PT axons at the level of brainstem projection patterns. The projections from M1 and M2 were qualitatively similar, but with quantitative differences in subclasses and clusters.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Andrea Tedeschi, Molly J. E. Larson, Antonia Zouridakis, Lujia Mo, Arman Bordbar, Julia M. Myers, Hannah Y. Qin, Haven I. Rodocker, Fan Fan, John J. Lannutti, Craig A. McElroy, Shahid M. Nimjee, Juan Peng, W. David Arnold, Lawrence D. F. Moon, Wenjing Sun
Summary: The daily administration of gabapentin promotes structural and functional cortical plasticity in adult mice after a stroke. Gabapentin increases neuroplasticity and reduces maladaptive plasticity, leading to functional recovery. The findings suggest that repurposing gabapentinoids could be a promising treatment strategy for stroke repair.
Article
Neurosciences
Danielle Rayee, Pamela Meneses Iack, Raissa R. Christoff, Michele R. Lourenco, Christiane Bonifacio, Jurgen Boltz, Roberto Lent, Patricia P. Garcez
Summary: The corpus callosum (CC) is a major interhemispheric commissure of placental mammals. During typical cortical development, axonal bifurcation rates in the cerebral cortex rise from embryonic day (E)17 and are reduced by postnatal day (P)9. In a CC dysgenesis mouse model, increased rates of axonal bifurcations were observed, suggesting a possible facilitation of aberrant connections in the absence of midline guidepost signaling.
Article
Biology
Xu-Hui Li, Wantong Shi, Qi-Yu Chen, Shun Hao, Hui-Hui Miao, Zhuang Miao, Fang Xu, Guo-Qiang Bi, Min Zhuo
Summary: The study investigates the cortical-cortical connection between the bilateral anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and its functional importance. It finds a direct synaptic projection from one side ACC to the contralateral ACC and identifies glutamate as the major excitatory transmitter for this bilateral ACC connection. The activation of this connection enhances pain perception and anxiety-like behaviors associated with acute and chronic pain, while inhibition of the connection reduces hyperalgesia. The findings provide therapeutic targets for the treatment of chronic pain and related emotional disorders.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jerome Ezan, Maite M. Moreau, Tamrat M. Mamo, Miki Shimbo, Maureen Decroo, Melanie Richter, Ronan Peyroutou, Rivka Rachel, Fadel Tissir, Froylan Calderon de Anda, Nathalie Sans, Mireille Montcouquiol
Summary: Neurodevelopmental disorders are linked to defects in processes controlled by Scrib protein, with Scrib deletion leading to reduced cortical thickness, partial corpus callosum and hippocampal commissure agenesis in mice. Additionally, Scrib cKO mice exhibit psychomotor deficits, highlighting the essential role of Scrib in early brain development and potential implications for complex neurodevelopmental pathologies.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Maria Nazarova, Sofya Kulikova, Michael A. Piradov, Alena S. Limonova, Larisa A. Dobrynina, Rodion N. Konovalov, Pavel A. Novikov, Bernhard Sehm, Arno Villringer, Anastasia Saltykova, Vadim V. Nikulin
Summary: This study found that the FA ratio at the internal capsule and the absence of MEPs are equally discriminative for determining poor motor recovery, while the combination of IC FA ratio and Frechet distance between the contralesional and ipsilesional corticospinal tract FA profiles is the best parameter combination for classifying patients into 3 recovery groups. Additionally, investigating more than one hand muscle for MEP probing may be important.
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Julian Conrad, Rainer Boegle, Ria Maxine Ruehl, Marianne Dieterich
Summary: This study evaluated the disconnection of both structure and function in patients with acute vertigo, specifically looking at the connectivity of the vestibular cortex. The results showed that disconnections in interhemispheric connections and the arcuate fascicle were present in cases with vertigo, while being spared in cases without vertigo. The study also identified various brain regions involved in the vestibular cortical network.
BRAIN STRUCTURE & FUNCTION
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Dongha Lee, Hae-Jeong Park
Summary: This study investigates the three-dimensional organization of neural fiber connections in the white matter of the brain. By analyzing connection distribution maps and related parameters, the study reveals the patterns of major fiber bundle connections in the white matter.
Article
Neurosciences
Ken Muramatsu, Naoko Niimi, Masako Ikutomo, Satoshi Shimo, Toru Tamaki, Masatoshi Niwa, Kazunori Sango
Summary: Complex motor skills training has been found to improve motor disorders in diabetic patients. Electrophysiological and immunohistochemical analysis showed that this training can induce plastic changes in the rubrospinal tract, compensating for the disruption caused by diabetes in the corticospinal tract and improving motor function.
EXPERIMENTAL NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Book Review
Clinical Neurology
Zoltan Molnar, Alasdair Coles
Article
Neurosciences
Chrysoula Giasafaki, Eleanor Grant, Anna Hoerder-Suabedissen, Shuichi Hayashi, Sheena Lee, Zoltan Molnar
Summary: This study investigates the gene expression changes in the dLGN after monocular enucleation at birth. The results show that monocular enucleation leads to downregulation of certain genes in dLGN, which are normally enriched in this region during development. Comparison with developmental gene expression patterns suggests immature and delayed gene expression in enucleated dLGN. Additionally, the study reveals that the induced layer 5 fibers that innervate enucleated dLGN originate from the primary visual cortex and retain increased synapse formation into adulthood.
JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE NEUROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Peter A. Perrino, Renee Y. Chasse, Anthony P. Monaco, Zoltan Molnar, Antonio Velayos-Baeza, R. Holly Fitch
Summary: Developmental dyslexia is a common neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by difficulties in reading and writing. The gene KIAA0319 has been identified as a candidate risk gene for dyslexia. Studies using animal models have shown inconsistent results, but recent experiments on KIAA0319 knockout mice revealed auditory processing impairments and neuroanatomical changes in relevant brain structures. These findings support a role for KIAA0319 in the development of auditory processing functions critical to speech processing, language, and reading.
GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR
(2022)
Review
Neurosciences
Heiko J. Luhmann, Patrick O. Kanold, Zoltan Molnar, Sampsa Vanhatalo
Summary: This article reviews the methods for assessing neuronal activity in both clinical and animal models, and discusses the urgent need for translational research, the challenges and possible solutions in translating biomedical research into clinical diagnostics or treatments.
PROGRESS IN NEUROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Developmental Biology
Auguste Vadisiute, Elise Meijer, Florina Szabo, Anna Hoerder-Suabedissen, Eri Kawashita, Shuichi Hayashi, Zoltan Molnar
Summary: Neural communication in the adult nervous system is primarily mediated through chemical synapses. During development, the brain is shaped by trophic factors and cell-cell interactions. Studying the role of specific proteins in neuronal connections is crucial for understanding neurodegenerative diseases.
DEVELOPMENTAL NEUROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Biographical-Item
Neurosciences
Zoltan Molnar, Anthony J. Hannan
NATURE NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Anna Hoerder-Suabedissen, Gabriel Ocana-Santero, Thomas H. Draper, Sophie A. Scott, Jesse G. Kimani, Andrew M. Shelton, Simon J. B. Butt, Zoltan Molnar, Adam M. Packer
Summary: Our study investigates the development of mouse claustrum neurons, including their birth time, location in the developing brain, and the formation of their connections to the cortex. We found that a specific protein distribution and a dense patch of cells are present in the claustrum from postnatal day 21, while most claustrum neurons are born around embryonic day 12.5. The claustrum's connectivity to different cortical regions matures at different times. This research establishes a timeline of claustrum development and provides insights into its unique connectivity.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Susan Adele Greenfield, Giovanni Ferrati, Clive W. Coen, Auguste Vadisiute, Zoltan Molnar, Sara Garcia-Rates, Sally Frautschy, Gregory M. Cole
Summary: The substantia nigra is a nucleus that shows cell loss in both Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, and contains acetylcholinesterase (AChE). A 14-mer peptide called T14, cleaved from AChE, acts on alpha-7 nicotinic receptors and is involved in neurodegeneration. In brains with Alzheimer's pathology, T14 immunoreactivity increases in density in pars compacta neurons. Exogenous T14 reduces neuronal activation in the substantia nigra, and this effect can be blocked by the variant NBP14. These findings suggest that T14 is a key signaling molecule in neurodegenerative disorders and NBP14 may have therapeutic potential.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Microscopy
Shuichi Hayashi, Nobuhiko Ohno, Graham Knott, Zoltan Molnar
Summary: Recent advances in volume electron microscopy, especially in the combination with light microscopy, have enabled the study of brain structure at a detailed level. By using genetic tools and natural landmarks, immunostaining-free techniques have been developed, allowing for the investigation of brain development in live organisms.
Article
Biology
Janine Traut, Jose Prius Mengual, Elise J. Meijer, Laura E. McKillop, Hannah Alfonsa, Anna Hoerder-Suabedissen, Seo Ho Song, Kristoffer D. Feher, Dieter Riemann, Zoltan Molnar, Colin J. Akerman, Vladyslav V. Vyazovskiy, Lukas B. Krone
Summary: Designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) are chemogenetic tools for remote control of targeted cell populations using chemical actuators that bind to modified receptors. In this study, we demonstrated that the commonly used DREADD actuator, clozapine-N-oxide (CNO), as well as a novel actuator, compound 21 (C21), can modulate sleep in mice not expressing DREADD receptors. Our findings suggest that back-metabolism to clozapine is not the sole mechanism underlying the sleep effects of chemogenetic actuators.
Article
Biology
Javier Gilbert-Jaramillo, Ujang Purnama, Zolta Molnar, William S. James
Summary: The replication of Zika virus (ZIKV) in cortical progenitor cells derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) is influenced by the metabolic patterns of these cells. ZIKV alters the transcription of metabolic genes and upregulates glycolytic capacity in early hi-NPCs, while affecting mitochondrial distribution and size in both early and late hi-NPCs. These findings suggest that alterations in cellular metabolism during ZIKV infection may contribute to different brain damage in each trimester.
Meeting Abstract
Clinical Neurology
J. Traut, J. Prius Mengual, E. J. Meijer, L. E. McKillop, H. Alfonsa, A. Hoerder-Suabedissen, S. M. Song, Z. Molnar, C. J. Akerman, V. V. Vyazovskiy, L. B. Krone
JOURNAL OF SLEEP RESEARCH
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Clinical Neurology
E. Meijer, S. Wilcox, A. Hoerder-Suabedissen, T. Yamagata, Z. Molnar, V. Vyazovskiy
JOURNAL OF SLEEP RESEARCH
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Clinical Neurology
J. Traut, J. P. Mengual, E. Meijer, L. E. McKillop, H. Alfonsa, A. Hoerder-Suabedissen, S. M. Song, Z. Molnar, C. J. Akerman, V. V. Vyazovskiy, L. Krone
Meeting Abstract
Anatomy & Morphology
Sara Bandiera, Zoltan Molnar
JOURNAL OF ANATOMY
(2022)