Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Nuria Nadal-Gratacos, Ana Sofia Alberto-Silva, Miriam Rodriguez-Soler, Edurne Urquizu, Maria Espinosa-Velasco, Kathrin Jaentsch, Marion Holy, Xavier Batllori, Xavier Berzosa, David Pubill, Jordi Camarasa, Harald H. Sitte, Elena Escubedo, Raul Lopez-Arnau
Summary: The study investigated the structure-activity relationships of six novel synthetic cathinones, revealing potent dopamine uptake inhibition and varying effects on serotonin transporters. These synthetic cathinones exhibited different psychostimulant effects and rewarding properties in mice, providing valuable information for understanding their mechanisms of action in addiction.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yunjie Rong, Zhifeng Xu, Ye Zhu, Xianhai Zhang, Lingfeng Lai, Shuyi Sun, Mingyong Gao, Pi Guo, Guohua Zhang, Yiqun Geng, Xilun Ma, Shuohua Wu, Lin Yang, Zhiwei Shen, Jitian Guan
Summary: This study identified changes in iron deposition and neural microstructure in the substantia nigra as potential indicators of early-stage Parkinson's disease.
ACS CHEMICAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Developmental
Eun Jung Choi, Marlee M. Vandewouw, Kathrina de Villa, Takeshi Inoue, Margot J. Taylor
Summary: This study investigated the developmental changes in the dorsal striatal network from childhood to adulthood. The results showed that connectivity within the striatum and to sensorimotor regions was established early in life and remained strong during adolescence. However, this connectivity diminished with age as behaviors became more efficient and automated. Adolescence was characterized by a transition phase where connectivity to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex emerged, but connectivity to other brain regions only appeared in adults. This prolonged maturation in between-network integration may explain the cognitive and risk-taking behaviors observed in adolescence.
DEVELOPMENTAL COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Shannon L. Gourley, Kolluru D. Srikanth, Ellen P. Woon, Hava Gil-Henn
Summary: The study found that Pyk2 stabilizes the structure of the striatal medium spiny neurons, likely providing substrates for inputs, and supports the capacity of mice to arbitrate between novel and familiar behaviors through interactions with the medial prefrontal cortex. Experiments demonstrated that Pyk2 loss caused dendrite arbor and spine loss, while overexpression of Pyk2 or the closely related focal adhesion kinase (FAK) enhanced the ability of mice to arbitrate between rewarded and non-rewarded behaviors. Additionally, combinatorial viral vector strategies suggested that flexible, Pyk2-dependent action involves inputs from the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), not the ventrolateral orbitofrontal cortex (OFC).
Review
Neurosciences
Veronica Bisagno, Jean Lud Cadet
Summary: IEGs play a critical role in molecular, cellular, and behavioral alterations induced by psychostimulants. HDAC enzymes regulate reversible acetylation of histones and non-histone proteins, with dysregulation proposed to modulate aberrant transcriptional programs and behaviors associated with cognitive dysfunctions and drug addiction. The study focuses on protein-protein interactions within the two highly expressed classes of HDAC protein family members in neurons, discussing the role of epigenetic regulators on IEG expression induced by cocaine and methamphetamine intake.
NEUROTOXICITY RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Seika Takayanagi-Kiya, Natsumi Shioya, Takumi Nishiuchi, Masafumi Iwami, Taketoshi Kiya
Summary: This study used immediate early genes as markers for neural activity in vinegar flies and successfully labeled neurons involved in courtship behavior. Using optogenetic experiments, the importance of these labeled neurons in courtship behavior was demonstrated. Additionally, methods were established to label active neurons in different time windows in the same animal. Cell assembly analysis showed that different groups of neurons are activated during interactions with a female or another male in male vinegar flies.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Psychiatry
Jason Smucny, Timothy D. Hanks, Tyler A. Lesh, Randall C. O'Reilly, Cameron S. Carter
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the neuronal mechanisms underlying deficits in effort cost computation in schizophrenia (SZ) under difficult and rewarded task conditions. A total of 52 individuals with recent onset SZ and 48 healthy controls performed a fMRI task. The results showed that the SZ group had deficits in task performance parameter (drift rate), but did not differ in overall connectivity or valence-specific deficit in connectivity compared to the control group. However, the relationship between right dorsolateral prefrontal (DLPFC)-striatal connectivity and task performance was more positive in the difficult-rewarded condition for the control group compared to SZ.
SCHIZOPHRENIA BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Esmeralda Hidalgo-Lopez, Belinda Pletzer
Summary: The study suggests that different phases of the menstrual cycle can affect the brain activation and connectivity patterns in women, especially during verbal working memory tasks. Variations in hormone levels during different phases may lead to changes in top-down regulation of the brain, affecting cognitive function and neural network activity.
PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Rong-Jun Ni, Yu-Mian Shu, Tao Li, Jiang-Ning Zhou
Summary: The day-active tree shrews have a well-defined internal capsule that separates the caudate nucleus and putamen in the striatum. They receive inputs from various brain regions, with differences compared to rats in terms of immunoreactivity. Mapping the whole-brain input neurons to the striatum of tree shrews provides insights into the diverse functions of the striatal subregions.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROANATOMY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Li Ying, Jinlan Zhao, Yingshan Ye, Yutong Liu, Bin Xiao, Tao Xue, Hangfei Zhu, Yue Wu, Jing He, Sifei Qin, Yong Jiang, Fukun Guo, Lin Zhang, Nuyun Liu, Lu Zhang
Summary: This study revealed that the signaling of Cell division control protein 42 (Cdc42) was significantly decreased in the caudate putamen (CPu) of parkinsonian mice. Overexpression of Cdc42 reversed spine abnormalities and improved behavior deficits in these mice. Impaired Cdc42 signaling regulated by D2 receptor (D2R) played an important role in spine loss and behavioral deficits in Parkinson's disease (PD).
Article
Neurosciences
Mimi Tian, Feifei Xu, Qing Xia, Yuchun Tang, Zhonghe Zhang, Xiangtao Lin, Haiwei Meng, Lei Feng, Shuwei Liu
Summary: This study provides a detailed description of the morphological development of the fetal striatum during the second trimester. The volume of the caudate nucleus shows linear growth with gestational age, while the relative volume shows quadratic growth. Shape analysis reveals specific changes in local structure development. The study also highlights hemispheric differences in the striatum's development, with the right caudate nucleus being larger than the left.
Article
Neurosciences
Qing Shang, Jing Xiao, Baoyao Gao, Min Liang, Jing Wang, Hongyan Qian, Zhijia Xi, Tao Li, Xinshe Liu
Summary: This study investigated the mechanisms underlying hyperlocomotion induced by acute methamphetamine (METH) administration. The results suggest that the D1R/PP2A/p-CaMKII alpha signaling cascade in the caudate putamen (CPu) may be involved in hyperlocomotion after single METH administration.
NEUROSCIENCE LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Brian Dang, Fabian N. Necker, Siddhant Suri Dhawan, Tara Murty, Tarik F. Massoud
Summary: This study retrospectively analyzed MRI images of 34 healthy individuals to reveal the structure and dimensions of the caudolenticular gray bridges (CLGBs) in normal individuals. These findings will guide future studies on the potential role of CLGBs morphometry in predisposition to Parkinson's disease.
Article
Neurosciences
Enrica Montalban, Roman Walle, Julien Castel, Anthony Ansoult, Rim Hassouna, Ewout Foppen, Xi Fang, Zach Hutelin, Sophie Mickus, Emily Perszyk, Anna Petitbon, Jeremy Berthelet, Fernando Rodrigues-Lima, Alberto Cebrian-Serrano, Giuseppe Gangarossa, Claire Martin, Pierre Trifilieff, Clementine Bosch-Bouju, Dana M. Small, Serge Luquet
Summary: This study reveals the importance of the TaqIA genetic variant in the development of psychiatric and metabolic conditions. Using transgenic and viral-mediated techniques, the researchers found that the Ankk1 gene plays a crucial role in the regulation of striatal functions, learning, impulsivity, and flexibility. Additionally, Ankk1 has an unexpected role in the regulation of energy metabolism.
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yifan Wang, Qin Hong, Yueyue Xia, Zhao Zhang, Bo Wen
Summary: The lysine demethylase KDM7A has important functions in neuronal cells, regulating the expression of immediate early genes (IEGs) and affecting neuron activity, emotion, and memory. These findings provide new insights into the epigenetic mechanisms of neurological disorders.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Pei-Yang Gao, Ya-Nan Ou, Yi-Ming Huang, Zhi-Bo Wang, Yan Fu, Ya-Hui Ma, Qiong-Yao Li, Li-Yun Ma, Rui-Ping Cui, Yin-Chu Mi, Lan Tan, Jin-Tai Yu
Summary: Liver function may play a role in the progression of Alzheimer's disease. The study found that as AD progressed, certain liver function markers increased while others decreased. The relationship between liver function and CSF AD biomarkers indicates a potential mediation effect on cognition.
JOURNAL OF NEUROCHEMISTRY
(2024)