Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Walaa F. Alsanie, Sherin Abdelrahman, Majid Alhomrani, Ahmed Gaber, Hamza Habeeballah, Heba A. Alkhatabi, Raed I. Felimban, Charlotte A. E. Hauser, Hossam H. Tayeb, Abdulhakeem S. Alamri, Bassem M. Raafat, Sirajudheen Anwar, Khaled A. Alswat, Yusuf S. Althobaiti, Yousif A. Asiri
Summary: Research has shown that gabapentin interferes with the development of fetal ventral midbrain dopaminergic neurons, affecting morphology and expression of key developmental genes. This suggests that the use of gabapentin may lead to serious complications for pregnant women and their babies, warranting caution in prescription decisions.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Walaa F. Alsanie, Majid Alhomrani, Ahmed Gaber, Hamza Habeeballah, Heba A. Alkhatabi, Raed I. Felimban, Sherin Abdelrahman, Charlotte A. E. Hauser, Adeel G. Chaudhary, Abdulhakeem S. Alamri, Bassem M. Raafat, Abdulwahab Alamri, Sirajudheen Anwar, Khaled A. Alswat, Yusuf S. Althobaiti, Yousif A. Asiri
Summary: This study found that early exposure to pregabalin could interfere with the development of ventral midbrain dopaminergic neurons, which is crucial for clinical consideration of its use during pregnancy.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Walaa F. Alsanie, Sherin Abdelrahman, Majid Alhomrani, Ahmed Gaber, Ebtisam Abdulah Alosimi, Hamza Habeeballah, Heba A. Alkhatabi, Raed Felimban, Charlotte A. E. Hauser, Hossam H. Tayeb, Abdulhakeem S. Alamri, Abdulwahab Alamri, Bassem M. Raafat, Khaled A. Alswat, Yusuf S. Althobaiti, Yousif A. Asiri
Summary: This study evaluated the effects of quetiapine fumarate (QEPF) on fetal brain development using primary mouse embryonic neurons. The results showed that QEPF reduced the expression of specific genes in dopaminergic neurons and had variable effects on non-dopaminergic neurons. These findings have important implications for therapeutic decision-making when prescribing second-generation antipsychotics to pregnant women.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jin Yi Han, Eun-Hye Lee, Sang-Mi Kim, Chang-Hwan Park
Summary: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder characterized by tremors, bradykinesia, and rigidity. Stem cell-based therapy using astrocytes as a source for dopamine neurons shows potential as a treatment option. By overexpressing certain transcription factors, astrocytes can be directly converted into dopamine neurons and neural progenitor cells (NPCs). This direct conversion strategy may provide a cell therapy approach for neurodegenerative diseases.
BIOMOLECULES & THERAPEUTICS
(2023)
Article
Biology
Lydia Hellrung, Matthias Kirschner, James Sulzer, Ronald Sladky, Frank Scharnowski, Marcus Herdener, Philippe N. Tobler
Summary: Analysis of real-time fMRI data suggests that reinforcement learning contributes to successful self-regulation in the dopaminergic midbrain. The study found that successful self-regulation is associated with prefrontal reward sensitivity, decreasing relation between prefrontal activity and midbrain learning signals during neurofeedback training, and increased activity within cognitive control areas during transfer.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Virginie J. Oberto, Jumpei Matsumoto, Marco N. Pompili, Ralitsa Todorova, Francesco Papaleo, Hisao Nishijo, Laurent Venance, Marie Vandecasteele, Sidney I. Wiener
Summary: This study compares the oscillations of different frequencies in dopaminergic neurons and their relationship with behavior. It shows that dopaminergic neurons have stronger activity in the moderate to fast frequency bands and play an important role in operant olfactory and visual discrimination tasks.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Mareike Fauser, Francisco Pan-Montojo, Christian Richter, Philipp J. Kahle, Sigrid C. Schwarz, Johannes Schwarz, Alexander Storch, Andreas Hermann
Summary: The study found that chronic progressive dopaminergic neurodegeneration had limited impact on adult neurogenesis in the V-SVZ PVRs and mid/hindbrain aNSCs, failing to activate endogenous aNSCs in the mid/hindbrain PVRs.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Theodoros Tsetsenis, Julia K. Badyna, Julianne A. Wilson, Xiaowen Zhang, Elizabeth N. Krizman, Manivannan Subramaniyan, Kechun Yang, Steven A. Thomas, John A. Dani
Summary: This study identifies a cluster of midbrain dopamine neurons near the hippocampus that send direct projections and play a crucial role in aversive memory formation. The neuromodulation of midbrain dopamine in the hippocampus is sufficient to maintain aversive memory formation.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sarah J. Brown, Ibrahim Boussaad, Javier Jarazo, Julia C. Fitzgerald, Paul Antony, Marcus Keatinge, Janna Blechman, Jens C. Schwamborn, Rejko Krueger, Marysia Placzek, Oliver Bandmann
Summary: Recent evidence suggests that neurogenesis continues throughout life but the impact on neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson's disease is still unclear. Studies in zebrafish and human organoids show that PINK1 deficiency impairs adult dopaminergic neurogenesis, potentially affecting future therapeutic approaches for PD patients with biallelic PINK1 mutations.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chee Ern David Wong, Khang Hua, Simon Monis, Vishal Saxena, Anwar Norazit, Suzita Mohd Noor, Marc Ekker
Summary: The study demonstrates that gdnf in zebrafish plays a crucial role in the survival and differentiation of dopaminergic neurons, and its deficiency results in reduced dopaminergic neuron numbers and neurogenesis.
JOURNAL OF NEUROCHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Jia Shang, Bin Li, Han Fan, Peidi Liu, Wen Zhao, Tao Chen, Pu Chen, Longqiu Yang
Summary: This study investigated the effects of sevoflurane on the midbrain's development using human physiologically-relevant midbrain organoids. The results showed that long-term exposure to sevoflurane could promote premature differentiation of midbrain organoids and inhibit cell proliferation, indicating a potential adverse effect on the midbrain development in fetuses.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Amanda R. Burmeister, Juozas Gordevicius, Emmanuel N. Paul, Christina Houck, Sonia George, Martha L. Escobar Galvis, Qiong Sha, Patrik Brundin, J. Andrew Pospisilik, Karen Racicot, Lena Brundin
Summary: In this study, a mouse maternal infection model was used to investigate the impact of maternal herpesvirus infection on the development and physiology of midbrain dopaminergic neurons in adult offspring. The results suggested that maternal infection with Herpesviridae, specifically MHV68, can trigger changes in midbrain development that affect dopamine neuron physiology in adulthood. This study is important for understanding the neuronal susceptibility underlying neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Parkinson's disease.
NEUROBIOLOGY OF DISEASE
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Marianna Tolve, Ayse Ulusoy, Nikolaos Patikas, K. Ushna S. Islam, Gabriela O. Bodea, Ece Oeztuerk, Bianca Broske, Astrid Mentani, Antonia Wagener, Karen M. J. van Loo, Stefan Britsch, Pengtao Liu, Walid T. Khaled, Emmanouil Metzakopian, Stephan L. Baader, Donato A. Di Monte, Sandra Blaess
Summary: The transcription factor BCL11A is expressed in subsets of murine and human dopamine neurons, forming specific subcircuits within the dopamine system. These Bcl11a-expressing neurons are vulnerable to neurodegeneration, as inactivation of Bcl11a increases susceptibility and results in motor behavior deficits. BCL11A is crucial for establishing and maintaining the physiological characteristics of dopamine neuron subpopulations.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Federico Miozzo, Luca Stickley, Eva P. Valencia-Alarcon, Michaela Dorcikova, Francesco Petrelli, Damla Tas, Nicolas Loncle, Irina Nikonenko, Peter Bou Dib, Emi Nagoshi
Summary: This study identifies a conserved mechanism by which a transcription factor regulates mitochondrial health in dopaminergic neurons. By studying fruit fly and mouse models, the researchers demonstrate that this transcription factor maintains mitochondrial structure and function during aging, playing a crucial role in neuroprotection.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Physiology
Toshiyuki Fujita, Naoya Aoki, Chihiro Mori, Shouta Serizawa, Fumiko Kihara-Negishi, Koichi J. J. Homma, Shinji Yamaguchi
Summary: The study revealed the reciprocal regulation between dopaminergic and serotonergic neurons in birds, with 5-HTR1A and 5-HTR1B receptors expressed in midbrain dopaminergic nuclei playing a role in the serotonergic regulation of the dopaminergic system. This finding enhances our understanding of the interaction between dopamine and serotonin systems in birds at the molecular level.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Elizabeth Austin, Brett Blakely, Paul Salmon, Jeffrey Braithwaite, Robyn Clay-Williams
Summary: The emergency department (ED) is a complex socio-technical work system where staff manage patients amidst fluctuating resources and demands. The abstraction hierarchy model developed through cognitive work analysis (CWA) reveals that the ED system is heavily interconnected and performance is influenced by resource availability and prioritization. The model identifies system constraints that may compromise patient safety and suggests leveraging aspects of the ED system for better performance through innovative design.
Article
Engineering, Industrial
E. Austin, B. Blakely, P. Salmon, J. Braithwaite, R. Clay-Williams
Summary: The study shows that patient flow in emergency departments is constrained by uneven geographical distribution of activities, insufficient adaptive support during critical patient journey phases, and periods of high patient volume. Strengthening adaptive capacity through additional human and non-human agents, combined with task redistribution, supports seamless successful structural and behavioral adaptation in emergency departments.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Restuadi Restuadi, Frederik J. Steyn, Edor Kabashi, Shyuan T. Ngo, Fei-Fei Cheng, Marta F. Nabais, Mike J. Thompson, Ting Qi, Yang Wu, Anjali K. Henders, Leanne Wallace, Chris R. Bye, Bradley J. Turner, Laura Ziser, Susan Mathers, Pamela A. McCombe, Merrilee Needham, David Schultz, Matthew C. Kiernan, Wouter van Rheenen, Leonard H. van den Berg, Jan H. Veldink, Roel Ophoff, Alexander Gusev, Noah Zaitlen, Allan F. McRae, Robert D. Henderson, Naomi R. Wray, Jean Giacomotto, Fleur C. Garton
Summary: This study supports GPX3 as the leading ALS risk gene in this locus, with more data needed to confirm or reject the role of TNIP1. The results have implications for understanding disease mechanisms and identifying new therapeutic approaches. Few previous in-depth investigations of risk loci in ALS exist and a similar approach could be applied to future expected GWAS findings.
Article
Ethics
Brette Blakely, Wendy Rogers, Jane Johnson, Quinn Grundy, Katrina Hutchison, Robyn Clay-Williams, Bernadette Richards, Guy Maddern
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the development and deployment of medical devices, particularly in terms of medical device regulations and the operations of device representatives in hospitals. The rapid amendments to medical device regulations have raised ethical concerns due to the lack of discussion on exiting crisis standards and the potential reduction in evidence standards. The disruption caused by the pandemic has provided an opportunity to examine and refine the practices of device representatives in hospitals.
BMC MEDICAL ETHICS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Vanessa Penna, Niamh Moriarty, Yi Wang, Kevin C. L. Law, Carlos W. Gantner, Richard J. Williams, David R. Nisbet, Clare L. Parish
Summary: Clinical studies have shown evidence for dopamine cell replacement therapy in Parkinson's Disease. However, current grafts still have issues with impurities and subthreshold reinnervation. Recent research indicates that SDF1, secreted by the meninges, plays an important role in dopamine development and stem cell differentiation. This study used a hydrogel to trap SDF1 protein and sustain its release, leading to improved graft composition.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
News Item
Clinical Neurology
Elly M. Hol, R. Jeroen Pasterkamp
Summary: The study combined genome-wide association data with microglial transcriptomes to identify functional variants underlying brain disorders. This information will contribute to further mechanistic studies into disease-associated microglial changes.
NATURE REVIEWS NEUROLOGY
(2022)
Correction
Clinical Neurology
Elly M. Hol, R. Jeroen Pasterkamp
NATURE REVIEWS NEUROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Industrial
Elizabeth E. Austin, Brette Blakely, Paul Salmon, Jeffrey Braithwaite, Robyn Clay-Williams
Summary: This study demonstrates how the Cognitive Work Analysis (CWA) Framework can be used to design sustainable social-technical systems in Emergency Departments (EDs). By analyzing workspaces, social, technical, and collaboration factors, the study identifies contextually appropriate opportunities for dispersing work and explores the ongoing, dynamic relationship between technological interventions and context.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Vanessa Donega, Astrid T. van der Geest, Jacqueline A. Sluijs, Roland E. van Dijk, Chi Chiu Wang, Onur Basak, R. Jeroen Pasterkamp, Elly M. Hol
Summary: This study identifies CD271(+) progenitors from the aged subventricular zone (SVZ) as late oligodendrocyte progenitor cells and suggests SFRP1 as a potential signal for maintaining quiescence of progenitors from the aged SVZ. Furthermore, the administration of WAY-316606, an SFRP1 inhibitor, stimulates activation of neural stem cells both in vitro and in vivo.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Amber Berdenis van Berlekom, Raphael Kubler, Jeske W. Hoogeboom, Danielle Vonk, Jacqueline A. Sluijs, R. Jeroen Pasterkamp, Jinte Middeldorp, Aletta D. Kraneveld, Johan Garssen, Rene S. Kahn, Elly M. Hol, Lot D. de Witte, Marco P. Boks
Summary: There is compelling evidence that nutrition has a significant impact on human brain development. Previous studies have shown that three specific amino acids, histidine, lysine, and threonine, can synergistically inhibit mTOR activity and behavior. In this pioneering study, human cerebral organoids were used to investigate the impact of amino acid supplementation on neurodevelopment. The results showed that exposure to threonine, histidine, and lysine led to decreased mTOR activity, reduced organoid size, and altered gene expression, supporting findings from previous rodent studies.
Article
Neurosciences
Caroline Xie, John Power, Asheeta A. Prasad
Summary: In this study, optogenetic modulation of subthalamic nucleus (STN) neuronal activity was found to exert bidirectional control of motor function. The activation of STN in the absence of dopamine led to abnormal involuntary movement in a Parkinson's disease model, which could be rescued by levodopa administration. These findings highlight the importance of dopamine loss and STN overactivity in Parkinson's disease motor deficits and provide insight into the therapeutic mechanism of targeting the STN.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Srestha Mazumder, Anita Y. Bahar, Claire E. Shepherd, Asheeta A. Prasad
Summary: Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the loss of dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra and aggregation of alpha-synuclein. Deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus is commonly used to treat motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease. However, the cellular changes in the subthalamic nucleus during Parkinson's disease and the impact of deep brain stimulation on the subthalamic nucleus and substantia nigra are not well understood.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Marloes Verkerke, Amber Berdenis van Berlekom, Vanessa Donega, Danielle Vonk, Jacqueline A. Sluijs, Nayab F. Butt, Lois Kistemaker, Lot D. de Witte, R. Jeroen Pasterkamp, Jinte Middeldorp, Elly M. Hol
Summary: This study investigates the development and maturation of astrocytes in cerebral organoids derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells. Based on morphological and transcriptomic analysis, it is found that the optimal time to study matured astrocytes is after 19 weeks in culture.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Francois G. C. Blot, Joshua J. White, Amy van Hattem, Licia Scotti, Vaishnavi Balaji, Youri Adolfs, R. Jeroen Pasterkamp, Chris I. De Zeeuw, Martijn Schonewille
Summary: The classification of neuronal subpopulations has advanced, but its impact on behavior is uncertain. The flocculus of the cerebellum is a suitable model for studying neuronal subpopulations. Through genetic targeting, the study demonstrates separate micromodules within the flocculus that involve distinct subpopulations of Purkinje cells. Furthermore, optogenetic excitation of these subpopulations produces movements with different kinematic profiles. These findings highlight the importance of subpopulations in mediating specific aspects of cerebellar behavior.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Correction
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Francois G. C. Blot, Joshua J. White, Amy van Hattem, Licia Scotti, Vaishnavi Balaji, Youri Adolfs, R. Jeroen Pasterkamp, Chris I. De Zeeuw, Martijn Schonewille
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)