Article
Neurosciences
Hao-Hua Wei, Xiang-Shan Yuan, Ze-Ka Chen, Pei-Pei Chen, Zhe Xiang, Wei-Min Qu, Rui-Xi Li, Guo-Min Zhou, Zhi-Li Huang
Summary: The AVP neurons in SON and PVN receive similar input patterns from multiple brain regions, with PVNAVP neurons having broader and denser inputs compared to SONAVP neurons. Additionally, differentiated input sources were found, with SONAVP neurons receiving more projections from thermoregulatory nuclei and PVNAVP neurons receiving more afferent inputs from circadian rhythm-regulating nuclei. The study provides insights into the distinct afferent framework of AVP neurons in SON and PVN, laying the foundation for further research on their diverse roles.
EXPERIMENTAL NEUROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mehwish Abbasi, Rachael A. Augustine, Karl J. Iremonger, Colin H. Brown
Summary: Oxytocin neurons in the hypothalamic supraoptic nucleus and paraventricular nucleus secrete oxytocin to induce uterine contractions during parturition. The activation of oxytocin neurons at parturition involves a network of afferent inputs. Kisspeptin, which increases during pregnancy, only excites oxytocin neurons in late pregnancy. However, the excitation of oxytocin neurons by kisspeptin does not appear to involve the ERK1/2-p38 signaling pathway.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Akie Toya, Masahide Fukada, Eiko Aoki, Tohru Matsuki, Masashi Ueda, Shima Eda, Yoshio Hashizume, Akio Iio, Shigeo Masaki, Atsuo Nakayama
Summary: NLGN4X has been identified as the causative gene for familial nonsyndromic autism. Its function is not fully understood due to the lack of a similar gene in rodents. Recent studies have shown that NLGN4 is abundantly expressed in the cerebral cortex, mainly at excitatory synapses. However, the detailed histological distribution of NLGN4, which may be important for its relationship with autistic phenotypes, has not been clarified.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
V. Trujillo, F. R. Mir, M. M. Su, L. Vivas
Summary: The study shows that early maternal separation has long-term effects on basal and hyperosmolarity-induced Avp hypothalamic expression, as well as on the intrinsic excitability of magnocellular supraoptic neurons.
PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Zahra S. Thirouin, Charles W. Bourque
Summary: Phasic firing is a unique pattern of action potential firing that optimizes vasopressin neurosecretion by promoting calcium-dependent frequency-facilitation while preventing secretory fatigue. Acute and chronic conditions that stimulate vasopressin release greatly enhance the number of magnocellular neurosecretory cells displaying phasic firing.
JOURNAL OF NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Shalini S. Kumar, Gregory T. Bouwer, Meliame K. Jackson, Michael R. Perkinson, Fiona J. McDonald, Colin H. Brown, Rachael A. Augustine
Summary: Oxytocin, synthesized in the hypothalamic supraoptic nucleus (SON) and paraventricular nucleus (PVN), plays a crucial role in triggering uterine contractions during parturition. In mice, kisspeptin neurons from the periventricular nucleus (PeN) innervate oxytocin neurons and exhibit increased activity during late pregnancy. However, eliminating kisspeptin neuron projections to oxytocin neurons does not affect the duration or timing of delivery, suggesting that they are not necessary for parturition in mice.
BRAIN STRUCTURE & FUNCTION
(2023)
Article
Biology
Panjiao Lin, Benjamin T. Gillard, Audrys G. Pauza, Fernando A. Iraizoz, Mahmoud A. Ali, Andre S. Mecawi, Fatma Z. Djazouli Alim, Elena Romanova, Pamela A. Burger, Michael P. Greenwood, Abdu Adem, David Murphy
Summary: This study focuses on the mechanisms of adaptive response to osmotic stress in the camel supraoptic nucleus, aiming to reveal the central control of water homeostasis in camels. By building three-dimensional models and comparing transcriptomic data, we identified unique adaptive genes in camels and common elements in the water deprivation transcriptomic response network.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Caroline L. Wee, Erin Song, Maxim Nikitchenko, Kristian J. Herrera, Sandy Wong, Florian Engert, Samuel Kunes
Summary: This study reveals the impact of social isolation on the oxytocinergic circuit in the zebrafish brain and how chemical signals from conspecific animals modulate this circuit. The results provide a model for understanding how social stimuli mediate adaptive behaviors through neural circuits.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Mehwish Abbasi, Michael R. Perkinson, Alexander J. Seymour, Richard Piet, Rebecca E. Campbell, Karl J. Iremonger, Colin H. Brown
Summary: The research found that kisspeptin can directly activate oxytocin neurons during late pregnancy by increasing post-spike excitability. This study is important for understanding the mechanism of kisspeptin's role in pregnancy.
JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-LONDON
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Jun Watanabe, Yuki Takayanagi, Masahide Yoshida, Tatsuya Hattori, Michiko Saito, Kenji Kohno, Eiji Kobayashi, Tatsushi Onaka
Summary: Vasopressin-synthesizing neurons are located in various brain regions and have diverse functions, but the specific physiological functions remain unclear. A study using a transgenic rat model successfully ablated vasopressin-synthesizing neurons, revealing further insights into the roles of vasopressin neurons in specific brain regions.
JOURNAL OF NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Yun-Hao Jiang, Tong Li, Yang Liu, Xiaoyu Liu, Shuwei Jia, Chunmei Hou, Guichuan Chen, Hongyang Wang, Shuo Ling, Qiang Gao, Xiao-Ran Wang, Yu-Feng Wang
Summary: Astrocytic morphological plasticity and modulation of adjacent neuronal activity depend on astrocytic volume regulation, which is controlled by glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), aquaporin 4 (AQP4), and potassium channels including inwardly rectifying K+ channel 4.1 (Kir4.1). This study reveals the associations between Kir4.1 and other molecules in astrocytic volume regulation and their impact on neuronal activity. The results suggest that hypotonic challenge (HOC) leads to astrocytic retraction and decreased volume, accompanied by increased Kir4.1 activity. Kir4.1 involvement in HOC-induced astrocytic retraction depends on AQP4 activity and GFAP plasticity, which ultimately affects the excitability of vasopressin (VP) neurons.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Wenzhi Yang, Hao Li, Zhongle Cheng, You Lu, Wuli Li, Jun Feng, Liecheng Wang, Juan Cheng
Summary: Dexmedetomidine modulates water-electrolyte metabolism balance by depressing AVP expression in the PVN without impairing renal function.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Tongrui Qian, Huan Wang, Peng Wang, Lan Geng, Long Mei, Takuya Osakada, Lei Wang, Yan Tang, Alan Kania, Valery Grinevich, Ron Stoop, Dayu Lin, Minmin Luo, Yulong Li
Summary: This study developed a genetically encoded G-protein-coupled receptor activation-based oxytocin (OT) sensor called GRAB(OT1.0), which enables imaging of OT release with high sensitivity, specificity, and spatiotemporal resolution. The research found that N-type calcium channels are predominantly involved in axonal OT release, while L-type calcium channels mediate somatodendritic OT release. By measuring OT dynamics in different brain regions during male courtship behavior, insights into the role of compartmental OT release in physiological and behavioral functions were obtained.
NATURE BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Simona Sacchini, Cristiano Bombardi, Manuel Arbelo, Pedro Herraez
Summary: This study provides the first description of the hypothalamic structure in beaked whales and identifies the presence of the suprachiasmatic nucleus, a structure not previously observed in other marine mammals. These findings have important implications for understanding the neuroanatomy of beaked whales.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Matthew K. Kirchner, Ferdinand Althammer, Kevin J. Donaldson, Daniel N. Cox, Javier E. Stern
Summary: This study investigated the trafficking dynamics of large dense core vesicles (LDCVs) in vasopressin neurons using two-photon imaging. The results revealed differential regulation of axonal and dendritic LDCV trafficking and suggested that changes in trafficking dynamics constitute a novel mechanism for peptidergic neurons to efficiently adapt to increased hormonal demand.
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Rosa Gabriela Hernandez-Cruz, Daniela Sanchez-Cobo, Sandra Acevedo-Gallegos, Addy Cecilia Helguera-Repetto, Mario Roberto Rodriguez-Bosch, Victor Hugo Ramirez-Santes, Isabel Villegas-Mota, Arturo Cardona-Perez, Manuel Cortes-Bonilla, Claudine Irles, Paloma Mateu-Rogell, Job Villanueva-Calleja, Oscar Villavicencio Carrisoza, Gaudalupe Estrada-Gutierrez, Salvador Espino-Y-Sosa, Johnatan Torres-Torres, Raigam Jafet Martinez-Portilla
Summary: In this study, 30.74% of the 1880 pregnant women tested for SARS-CoV-2 had a positive PCR result, with 2.7% being symptomatic. Symptoms associated with a positive PCR result were headache, dyspnea, and myalgia.
JOURNAL OF MATERNAL-FETAL & NEONATAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Virology
Maria Y. Valdespino-Vazquez, Cecilia A. Helguera-Repetto, Moises Leon-Juarez, Oscar Villavicencio-Carrisoza, Arturo Flores-Pliego, Elsa R. Moreno-Verduzco, Diana L. Diaz-Perez, Isabel Villegas-Mota, Elba Carrasco-Ramirez, Irma E. Lopez-Martinez, David M. Giraldo-Gomez, Rosalia Lira, Martha Yocupicio-Monroy, Mario Rodriguez-Bosch, Edgar E. Sevilla-Reyes, Manuel Cortes-Bonilla, Sandra Acevedo-Gallegos, Horacio Merchant-Larios, Jorge Arturo Cardona-Perez, Claudine Irles
Summary: The study found that congenital SARS-CoV-2 infection is possible during the first trimester of pregnancy, leading to damage in placenta and fetal organs, with organs like lungs and kidneys being specific targets for the coronavirus.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
J. Arturo Cardona-Perez, Isabel Villegas-Mota, A. Cecilia Helguera-Repetto, Sandra Acevedo-Gallegos, Mario Rodriguez-Bosch, Monica Aguinaga-Rios, Irma Coronado-Zarco, Moises Leon-Juarez, Diana Aguilar-Ayala, Maria Yolotzin Valdespino-Vazquez, Elsa Romelia Moreno-Verduzco, Maria Antonieta Rivera, Carolina Valencia-Contreras, Maria de Lourdes Gomez-Sousa, Mario Solis-Paredes, Brenda Frias-Madrid, Cesar Velasco-Tellez, Juan Carlos Rodriguez-Aldama, Valeria Avila-Sosa, Rafael Galvan-Contreras, Ricardo Figueroa-Damian, Manuel Cortes-Bonilla, Guadalupe Estrada-Gutierrez, Salvador Espino-Y-Sosa, Claudine Irles
Summary: This study in a large tertiary care center in Mexico City revealed that around 29% of pregnant women had COVID-19, with the majority being asymptomatic. The study found no association between COVID-19 infection and pregnancy baseline features or risk factors, but positive women had a higher proportion of preterm births. Infants born to positive mothers were more likely to be admitted to the NICU and had longer hospital stays.
Editorial Material
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Julian G. Mercer, Ruud M. Buijs, Lee E. Eiden, Limei Zhang
JOURNAL OF NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Medical Laboratory Technology
David A. Schwartz, Elyzabeth Avvad-Portari, Pavel Babal, Marcella Baldewijns, Marie Blomberg, Amine Bouachba, Jessica Camacho, Sophie Collardeau-Frachon, Arthur Colson, Isabelle Dehaene, Joan Carles Ferreres, Brendan Fitzgerald, Marta Garrido-Pontnou, Hazem Gergis, Beata Hargitai, A. Cecilia Helguera-Repetto, Sandra Holmstrom, Claudine Liliane Irles, Asa Leijonhfvud, Sasha Libbrecht, Tamas Marton, Noel McEntagart, James T. Molina, Raffaella Morotti, Alfons Nadal, Alexandra Navarro, Maria Nelander, Angelica Oviedo, Andre Ricardo Oyamada Otani, Nikos Papadogiannakis, Astrid C. Petersen, Drucilla J. Roberts, Ali G. Saad, Anna Sand, Sam Schoenmakers, Jennifer K. Sehn, Preston R. Simpson, Kristen Thomas, M. Yolotzin Valdespino-Vazquez, Lotte E. van der Meeren, Jo Van Dorpe, Robert M. Verdijk, Jaclyn C. Watkins, Mehreen Zaigham
Summary: This study evaluated the mechanism of stillbirth and neonatal death following maternal infection with COVID-19. The findings suggest that placental abnormalities caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection result in placental malperfusion and insufficiency, leading to fetal hypoxic-ischemic injury and perinatal death.
ARCHIVES OF PATHOLOGY & LABORATORY MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Vito S. Hernandez, Mario A. Zetter, Enrique C. Guerra, Ileana Hernandez-Araiza, Nikita Karuzin, Oscar R. Hernandez-Perez, Lee E. Eiden, Limei Zhang
Summary: The study identified widespread expression of ACE2 in various brain regions of rats, including blood vessels, neuronal groups, and neurons. This finding is crucial for understanding possible neurological symptoms resulting from dysregulation of brain ACE2 during and after COVID-19 infection.
EXPERIMENTAL NEUROLOGY
(2021)
Correction
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Dana Bakalar, Sean Sweat, Gunner Drossel, Sunny Z. Jiang, Babru B. Samal, Nikolas Stroth, Wenqin Xu, Limei Zhang, Haiying Zhang, Lee E. Eiden
PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Dana Bakalar, Sean Sweat, Gunner Drossel, Sunny Z. Jiang, Babru B. Samal, Nikolas Stroth, Wenqin Xu, Limei Zhang, Haiying Zhang, Lee E. Eiden
Summary: The development of gene knock-out technology has allowed researchers to gain insight into the roles of neuropeptides in physiological regulation in mammals. By studying altered physiological functioning in animals deficient in neuropeptides or their receptors, researchers have discovered alternative mechanisms of action and changing functions of neuropeptides throughout the lifespan.
PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Andrea Olmos-Ortiz, Mayra Hernandez-Perez, Pilar Flores-Espinosa, Gabriela Sedano, Addy Cecilia Helguera-Repetto, Oscar Villavicencio-Carrisoza, Maria Yolotzin Valdespino-Vazquez, Arturo Flores-Pliego, Claudine Irles, Bruno Rivas-Santiago, Elsa Romelia Moreno-Verduzco, Lorenza Diaz, Veronica Zaga-Clavellina
Summary: Infectious processes in the uterine cavity can compromise the maternal-fetal unit and increase the risk of preterm birth and premature rupture of membranes. This study aimed to characterize the synthesis, activity, and distribution of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) produced by fetal membranes in response to a choriodecidual Escherichia coli infection. The results showed a temporal- and tissue-specific pattern of AMP synthesis, but the membranes were unable to contain bacterial growth and migration despite the production of AMPs, increasing the risk of preterm birth and premature rupture of membranes.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Limei Zhang, Teresa Padilla-Flores, Vito S. Hernandez, Mario A. Zetter, Elba Campos-Lira, Laura Escobar, Robert P. Millar, Lee E. Eiden
Summary: This study characterizes the role of hypothalamic arginine vasopressin in regulating synaptic strength and excitability in targeted neuronal circuits. The results demonstrate that AVP-containing neurons upregulate key postsynaptic density proteins in response to metabolic activation or exogenous AVP, leading to increased excitability of limbic regions involved in learning, motivation, and fear responses.
JOURNAL OF NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Otilia Perichart-Perera, Valeria Avila-Sosa, Juan Mario Solis-Paredes, Araceli Montoya-Estrada, Enrique Reyes-Munoz, Ameyalli M. Rodriguez-Cano, Carla P. Gonzalez-Leyva, Maribel Sanchez-Martinez, Guadalupe Estrada-Gutierrez, Claudine Irles
Summary: This study developed an artificial neural network model to predict small for gestational age (SGA) newborns in pregnancies with or without obesity, using first-trimester maternal body fat composition, biochemical and oxidative stress biomarkers, and gestational weight gain. The model showed good performance and identified protein and lipid oxidation biomarkers, gestational weight gain, vitamin D, and total antioxidant capacity as the top predictors. Excessive gestational weight gain, redox imbalance, and vitamin D deficiency all predicted SGA newborns.
Editorial Material
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Lee E. Eiden, Limei Zhang
JOURNAL OF NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lee E. Eiden, Vito S. Hernandez, Sunny Z. Jiang, Limei Zhang
Summary: Neuropeptides are expressed in cell-specific patterns throughout mammalian brain. They play a role as first messengers in inter-neuronal communication, in cooperation with classical small-molecule amine transmitters (SMATs) at molecular, cellular and circuit levels. Understanding the distribution, release, actions, and the effect of neuropeptides on 'classical' transmitter function is crucial for understanding brain function and developing neuropeptide-based neurotherapeutics.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Oscar R. Hernandez-Perez, Vito S. Hernandez, Mario A. Zetter, Lee E. Eiden, Limei Zhang
Summary: Homeostatic challenges can alter the drive for social interaction, and this study identifies a neural circuit that promotes social behavior during water homeostasis challenge. Direct projections from the hypothalamic supraoptic nucleus to the cortico-amygdalar nucleus were found to be involved in this process.
JOURNAL OF NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Editorial Material
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Lee E. Eiden, David Grattan, Xiao-Dong Wang, Limei Zhang
JOURNAL OF NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Yang He, Jun Tang, Meng Zhang, Junjie Ying, Dezhi Mu
Summary: This study investigated the protective effects and mechanisms of human placenta derived mesenchymal stem cells (hPMSCs) transplantation in a rat model of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). The results showed that hPMSCs transplantation reduced apoptosis and improved long-term neurological prognosis. Furthermore, the downregulation of Sema 3A/NRP-1 expression and activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway played a key role in the protective effects of hPMSCs.
Article
Neurosciences
Emily L. Isenstein, Edward G. Freedman, Jiayi Xu, Ian A. DeAndrea-Lazarus, John J. Foxe
Summary: This study evaluated electrophysiological discrimination of parametric somatosensory stimuli in healthy young adults to understand how the brain processes the duration of tactile information. The results showed that participants did not electrophysiologically discriminate between 100 and 115 ms, but they exhibited distinct electrophysiological responses when the deviant stimuli were 130, 145, and 160 ms. These findings contribute to a better understanding of tactile sensitivity in different clinical conditions.
Article
Neurosciences
Juliana R. Souza, Ludmila Lima-Silveira, Daniela Accorsi-Mendonca, Benedito H. Machado
Summary: This study demonstrates that A2A receptors play a crucial role in modulating synaptic transmission in the NTS neurons and are required for the enhancement of glutamatergic transmission observed under short-term sustained hypoxia conditions.
Article
Neurosciences
Miki Hashizume, Rina Ito, Rie Suge, Yasushi Hojo, Gen Murakami, Takayuki Murakoshi
Summary: The basolateral amygdaloid complex (BLA) is closely involved in the formation of emotional memories, including both aversive memory and contextual fear memory. Acute sleep deprivation (SD) disrupts the acquisition of tone-associated fear memory in juvenile rats, but has no significant effect on contextual fear memory. Slow network oscillation in the amygdala contributes to the formation of amygdala-dependent fear memory in relation to sleep.
Article
Neurosciences
Qunxian Wang, Shipeng Guo, Dongjie Hu, Xiangjun Dong, Zijun Meng, Yanshuang Jiang, Zijuan Feng, Weihui Zhou, Weihong Song
Summary: GSDME plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease by regulating the switch from apoptosis to pyroptosis and participating in neuroinflammatory response. Knockdown of GSDME has been shown to improve cognitive impairments, indicating that GSDME could be a therapeutic target for Alzheimer's disease.
