Article
Neurosciences
Jin-Jin Yu, Yan Xue, Ying Wang, Cui Liu, Lei Chen
Summary: Endocannabinoids play a key role in central motor control, particularly in the globus pallidus (GP) where cannabinoid receptors CB1R and CB2R are expressed. Cannabinoids exert diverse electrophysiological effects in the GP, primarily through CB1R, and produce complex behavioral responses.
Article
Neurosciences
Alipi Bonm, Izaskun Elezgarai, Christina M. Gremel, Katie Viray, Nigel S. Bamford, Richard D. Palmiter, Pedro Grandes, David M. Lovinger, Nephi Stella
Summary: The study shows that CB1R expressed by MSNs play a crucial role in controlling exploration, motor coordination, and amphetamine sensitization. However, the effects on certain behaviors may only be partially or fully rescued.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Seongsik Yun, Ben Yang, Justin D. Anair, Madison M. Martin, Stefan W. Fleps, Arin Pamukcu, Nai-Hsing Yeh, Anis Contractor, Ann Kennedy, Jones G. Parker
Summary: Psychosis is associated with elevated dopamine transmission, and antipsychotic drugs are thought to rebalance the output by blocking D2 receptors. However, this study found that the efficacy of antipsychotic drugs is associated with the reversal of abnormal D1-SPN dynamics, not D2-SPN dynamics. The findings suggest that D1-SPN modulation plays an important role in the mechanism of antipsychotic drugs.
NATURE NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Joshua M. Diamond, M. Beatriz Lopes, W. Jeff Elias, Laura A. Jansen
Summary: The study aimed to characterize GABA(A) receptor subunit expression in the normal and parkinsonian human globus pallidus using fluorescence microscopy. The results showed no significant differences in GABA(A) receptor subunit expression between PD specimens and control specimens in the globus pallidus. Compensatory changes in GABA(A) receptor alpha 1 and alpha 3 subunit expression in response to PD-related signaling abnormalities in the globus pallidus were not observed in the PD cohort studied.
WORLD NEUROSURGERY
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Joshua M. Diamond, M. Beatriz Lopes, W. Jeff Elias, Laura A. Jansen
Summary: This study suggests that compensatory changes in the expression of GABA(A) receptor alpha 1 and alpha 3 subunits do not occur in the globus pallidus of Parkinson's disease patients.
WORLD NEUROSURGERY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Sarah E. Swinford-Jackson, Phillip J. Huffman, Melissa C. Knouse, Arthur S. Thomas, Matthew T. Rich, Sharvari Mankame, Samantha J. Worobey, Mateo Sarmiento, Ayanna Coleman, R. Christopher Pierce
Summary: Researchers found that high-frequency optogenetic stimulation of D2 receptor-containing neurons in the nucleus accumbens attenuated reinstatement of cocaine seeking in male rats. However, stimulation of D1 receptor-containing neurons did not alter cocaine reinstatement. Additionally, this optogenetic stimulation did not affect cocaine seeking in female rats.
NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Josh Neuman, Nicole Roeder, Brittany Richardson, Teresa Quattrin, John Hamilton, Panayotis K. Thanos
Summary: The expression of the dopamine D2 gene plays a prominent role in the impact of a high-fat diet on GABA(A) receptors in the mouse brain.
NEUROCHEMICAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Beth M. Wiese, Erika Liktor-Busa, Sarah A. Couture, Spyros P. Nikas, Lipin Ji, Yingpeng Liu, Alexandros Makriyannis, Igor Spigelman, Todd W. Vanderah, Tally M. Largent-Milnes
Summary: In this study, the roles of central and peripheral CB1 receptor activation on respiratory depression were explored, and it was found that the peripherally restricted CB1 agonist alone does not induce respiratory depression, while the combination of the peripheral CB1 agonist and morphine can attenuate morphine-induced respiratory depression. These findings support the use of a peripherally restricted CB1 agonist as a strategy to alleviate the respiratory depression associated with opioid therapy.
CANNABIS AND CANNABINOID RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Neurosciences
Lisa Z. Fang, Meaghan C. Creed
Summary: This article provides an overview of the neurochemical and molecular diversity of striatal and pallidal neurons, as well as recent studies on circuit connectivity in rodents. The authors highlight the anatomical organizational principles of the dorsal and ventral basal ganglia pathways. Future research integrating the molecular and anatomical properties of specific subpopulations may help resolve controversies related to the function of basal ganglia networks.
NATURE NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Physiology
Nelson Villalobos, Victor Manuel Magdaleno-Madrigal
Summary: This study found that the firing rate of the external globus pallidus (GP) controls GABAergic output in the basal ganglia-thalamus-cortex network. GABA B receptors modulate the activity and transmission of the GP, and the GP-thalamic reticular nucleus (RTn) pathway plays a functional role. The experiments showed that GABA B agonists increased the firing rate of the RTn and decreased the power spectra of beta frequency bands in the motor cortex (MCx), while GABA B antagonists had the opposite effects.
JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Carmen Alonso-Martinez, Mario Rubio-Teves, Cesar Porrero, Francisco Clasca
Summary: The thalamus serves as a crucial connection between the cortical and subcortical motor systems in the brain, and the inputs from the deep nuclei of the cerebellum, substantia nigra reticulata (SNr), and globus pallidus internus/substantia nigra pars reticulata (GPi/ENT) to the ventral nuclei of the mouse thalamus have been mapped in this study. It was found that the ventral nuclei receive inputs from all three systems, with different territories characterized by glutamatergic or GABAergic neurotransmission markers. This delineation of the mouse ventral motor nuclei based on inputs provides valuable insights into motor system organization.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROANATOMY
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Israel Conde Rojas, Jackeline Acosta-Garcia, Rene Nahum Caballero-Floran, Rafael Jijon-Lorenzo, Sergio Recillas-Morales, Jose Arturo Avalos-Fuentes, Francisco Paz-Bermudez, Gerardo Leyva-Gomez, Hernan Cortes, Benjamin Floran
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2020)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Danira Toral-Rios, Genaro Patino-Lopez, Gisela Gomez-Lira, Rafael Gutierrez, Fernando Becerril-Perez, Aldebaran Rosales-Cordova, Juan Carlos Leon-Contreras, Rogelio Hernandez-Pando, Ismael Leon-Rivera, Isabel Soto-Cruz, Benjamin Floran-Garduno, Victoria Campos-Pena
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2020)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Maria Luisa Del Prado-Audelo, Isaac H. Caballero-Floran, Javad Sharifi-Rad, Nestor Mendoza-Munoz, Maykel Gonzalez-Torres, Zaida Urban-Morlan, Benjamin Floran, Hernan Cortes, Gerardo Leyva-Gomez
JOURNAL OF DRUG DELIVERY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Neurosciences
Alberto Vargas-Parada, Emanuel Loeza-Alcocer, Ricardo Gonzalez-Ramirez, Marina Rodriguez-Sanchez, Guadalupe Raya-Tafolla, Benjamin Floran, Ricardo Felix, Rodolfo Delgado-Lezama
Summary: Primary afferent fibers express extrasynaptic GABA(A) and GABA(B) receptors, with GABA released through Best1 channels in the DRG tonically activating these receptors and decreasing fiber excitability. Satellite glial cells are suggested as the possible source of endogenous GABA released via Best1 channels in the DRG.
NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hernan Cortes, Sergio Alcala-Alcala, Isaac H. Caballero-Floran, Sergio A. Bernal-Chavez, Arturo Avalos-Fuentes, Maykel Gonzalez-Torres, Manuel Gonzalez-Del Carmen, Gabriela Figueroa-Gonzalez, Octavio D. Reyes-Hernandez, Benjamin Floran, Maria L. Del Prado-Audelo, Gerardo Leyva-Gomez
Article
Neurosciences
Alejandra Martinez-Maldonado, Miguel Angel Ontiveros-Torres, Charles R. Harrington, Jose Francisco Montiel-Sosa, Raul Garcia-Tapia Prandiz, Patricia Bocanegra-Lopez, Andrew Michael Sorsby-Vargas, Marely Bravo-Munoz, Benjamin Floran-Garduno, Ignacio Villanueva-Fierro, George Perry, Linda Garces-Ramirez, Fidel de la Cruz, Sandra Martinez-Robles, Mar Pacheco-Herrero, Jose Luna-Munoz
Summary: This study evaluated and compared the processing of pathological tau in PSP and AD. Results showed that phosphorylated tau was as abundant in PSP as in AD, but there were differences in the truncated tau species, indicating the potential presence of truncated tau species different from those observed in AD in PSP.
JOURNAL OF ALZHEIMERS DISEASE
(2021)
Review
Polymer Science
Maria Luisa Del Prado-Audelo, Isaac H. Caballero-Floran, Nestor Mendoza-Munoz, David Giraldo-Gomez, Javad Sharifi-Rad, Jayanta Kumar Patra, Maykel Gonzalez-Torres, Benjamin Floran, Hernan Cortes, Gerardo Leyva-Gomez
Summary: Research on self-healable polymers for medical purposes has gained momentum in the past 20 years, with a focus on applications in tissue engineering. Natural and synthetic polymers each have their own advantages when it comes to developing self-healing hydrogels, which can be tailored based on specific requirements. The fabrication methods for self-healing hydrogels, including covalent and non-covalent crosslinking, play a crucial role in determining the properties and potential applications of these materials in the biomedical field.
IRANIAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Perla H. Horta-Lopez, Graciela Mendoza-Franco, Fanny Rodriguez-Cruz, Francisco M. Torres-Cruz, Elizabeth Hernandez-Echeagaray, Jose J. Jarero-Basulto, Jan Ricny, Benjamin Flora Garduno, Francisco Garcia-Sierra
Summary: In Alzheimer's disease, there are two mutually exclusive amino-terminal-dependent conformations involved in the aggregation of Tau protein into neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). The presence of a-1-antichymotrypsin (ACT), an acute phase serum glycoprotein, is found to promote the abnormal aggregation of Tau in AD. Through immunofluorescence and high-resolution confocal microscopy, ACT is observed to colocalize with diffuse aggregates of Tau-66-positive granules, suggesting that ACT may play a role in facilitating Tau aggregation during the formation of neurofibrillary pathology in AD.
Article
Neurosciences
Rodolfo Sanchez-Zavaleta, Jose Arturo Avalos-Fuentes, Antonio Valentin Gonzalez-Hernandez, Sergio Recillas-Morales, Francisco Javier Paz-Bermudez, Gerardo Leyva-Gomez, Hernan Cortes, Benjamin Floran
Summary: Striatal medium-sized spiny neurons express mRNA and protein of GPR55 receptors that stimulate neurotransmitter release. This study investigates the presence of GPR55 receptors at striato-nigral terminals, their modulation of GABA release, their signaling pathway, and their effect on motor activity. The results demonstrate that presynaptic GPR55 receptors stimulate [H-3]-GABA release at striato-nigral terminals through [H-3]-cAMP production and stimulate motor behavior.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Estefania Moreno, Nil Casajuana-Martin, Michael Coyle, Baruc Campos Campos, Ewa Galaj, Claudia Llinas del Torrent, Arta Seyedian, William Rea, Ning-Sheng Cai, Alessandro Bonifazi, Benjamin Floran, Zheng-Xiong Xi, Xavier Guitart, Vicent Casado, Amy H. Newman, Christopher Bishop, Leonardo Pardo, Sergi Ferre
Summary: This study provides evidence that heteromerization of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), specifically dopamine D1 and D3 receptors, can influence the pharmacological properties of selective ligands. In vivo experiments support the involvement of D1R-D3R heteromers in the development of L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia in Parkinson's disease, suggesting the potential of targeting GPCR heteromers for drug development.
PHARMACOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Hector Hernandez-Parra, Hernan Cortes, Jose Arturo Avalos-Fuentes, Maria Del Prado-Audelo, Benjamin Floran, Gerardo Leyva-Gomez, Javad Sharifi-Rad, William C. Cho
Summary: Parkinson's disease significantly impacts patients' quality of life and healthcare systems economically. Drug repositioning offers new medication alternatives for PD and reduces research time and costs. This review collected evidence of potential candidate drugs for reuse in PD and proposed the reformulation of these drugs into nanocarriers for future repositioning trials. The study also suggested functionalizing the surface of nanoparticles to enhance their ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and improve their affinity for specific brain regions. The main parameters for designing nanoparticles targeting the central nervous system were highlighted.
JOURNAL OF NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Celia Pina-Leyva, Manuel Lara-Lozano, Marina Rodriguez-Sanchez, Guadalupe C. Vidal-Cantu, Ericka Barrientos Zavalza, Ismael Jimenez-Estrada, Rodolfo Delgado-Lezama, Leonardo Rodriguez-Sosa, Vinicio Granados-Soto, Juan Antonio Gonzalez-Barrios, Benjamin Floran-Garduno
Summary: This study investigates the circadian rhythm of the paw withdrawal threshold (PWT) and the role of the dopaminergic A11 nucleus, dopamine (DA), and DA receptors in modulating PWT circadian rhythm and clock gene expression in the lumbar spinal cord.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Isaac H. Caballero-Floran, Hernan Cortes, Fabiola V. Borbolla-Jimenez, Carla D. Floran-Hernandez, Maria L. Del Prado-Audelo, Jonathan J. Magana, Benjamin Floran, Gerardo Leyva-Gomez
Summary: This study proposes the use of polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG) and trehalose as a surface modification technique to improve PLGA-based nanoparticles as drug carriers for neurons. The combination of PEG and trehalose enhances the hydrophilicity of the nanoparticles and promotes their cellular internalization. Through optimization using central composite design, PLGA nanoparticles with diameters smaller than 200 nm were produced, and the coating process did not significantly increase their size. The nanoparticles showed high curcumin entrapment efficiency and a controlled release profile.
Article
Neurosciences
Jorge Luis-Islas, Monica Luna, Benjamin Floran, Ranier Gutierrez
Summary: Optogenetics has been used to manipulate and study brain function, and a recent study found that mice can perceive and learn from optogenetic perturbations from different brain regions. They named this phenomenon "optoception" and discovered that mice can execute different instructions based on laser frequency. Furthermore, stimulation of different brain regions led to different sensations of optoception, and mice could use interleaved perturbations from both regions to guide behavior.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hernan Cortes, Octavio D. Reyes-Hernandez, Maykel Gonzalez-Torres, Pablo A. Vizcaino-Dorado, Maria Luisa Del Prado-Audelo, Sergio Alcala-Alcala, Javad Sharifi-Rad, Gabriela Figueroa-Gonzalez, Manuel Gonzalez-Del Carmen, Benjamin Floran, Gerardo Leyva-Gomez
Summary: Parkinson's disease is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder worldwide, with L-DOPA as the current gold standard treatment despite its tolerance and severe side effects. Curcumin is suggested as a promising alternative medication with high therapeutic potential, supported by studies in cellular and animal models. Various nanocarrier-based approaches are being explored to enhance the bioavailability and efficacy of curcumin.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2021)