Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Shoma Izumi, Masaki Domoto, Hirohito Esaki, Hitoki Sasase, Naoya Nishitani, Satoshi Deyama, Katsuyuki Kaneda
Summary: Nicotine enhances firing activity in mPFC layer 5 pyramidal neurons by activating alpha 4 beta 2 and alpha 7 nAChRs, increasing intracellular Ca2+ levels, and suppressing Kv7 channels, which may be the underlying mechanism for nicotine-induced enhancement of attention, working memory and recognition.
BIOLOGICAL & PHARMACEUTICAL BULLETIN
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Fei Luo, Jun -yang Deng, Xuan Sun, Jian Zhen, Xiao-dan Luo
Summary: Early-life stress has long-term impacts on the structure and function of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and raises the risk of adult neuropsychiatric disorders including social dysfunction. Maternal separation (MS) during the first three postnatal weeks in female mice leads to social impairment accompanied by hypo-activity in pyramidal neurons (PNs) of the ACC. Activation of ACC PNs improves MS-induced social impairment. The down-regulation of neuropeptide Hcrt, which encodes hypocretin (orexin), is observed in the ACC of MS females. Activation of ACC orexin terminals enhances the activity of ACC PNs and restores the diminished sociability in MS females through an orexin receptor 2 (OxR2)-dependent mechanism.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Benjamin Compans, Juan Burrone
Summary: Uncovering the wiring rules employed by neurons during development is challenging but important for neurodevelopmental disorders. Chandelier cells play a crucial role in the formation and plasticity of inhibitory synapses and recent data have provided insights into the molecules involved and the developmental plasticity of connections formed by Chandelier cells onto pyramidal cells.
CURRENT OPINION IN NEUROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Anna R. Chambers, Christoffer Nerland Berge, Koen Vervaeke
Summary: The hippocampus conveys memory-related neural patterns during high-frequency oscillations called sharp-wave ripples (SWRs). The study found that before SWRs, there is a decrease in superficial inhibition and thalamocortical input in the retrosplenial cortex (RSC). This may aid in communication between the hippocampus and neocortex and promote the strengthening of memory-related connections.
Article
Biology
Anastassios Karagiannis, Thierry Gallopin, Alexandre Lacroix, Fabrice Plaisier, Juliette Piquet, Helene Geoffroy, Regine Hepp, Jeremie Naude, Benjamin Le Gac, Richard Egger, Bertrand Lambolez, Dongdong Li, Jean Rossier, Jochen F. Staiger, Hiromi Imamura, Susumu Seino, Jochen Roeper, Bruno Cauli
Summary: Research shows that in active neurons, lactate is preferred over glucose as an energy substrate, and lactate metabolism shapes neuronal activity in the neocortex through K-ATP channels. This highlights the importance of metabolic crosstalk between neurons and astrocytes for brain function.
Article
Neurosciences
Tao Yang, Macy W. Veling, Xiao-Feng Zhao, Nicholas P. Prin, Limei Zhu, Ty Hergenreder, Hao Liu, Lu Liu, Zachary S. Rane, Masha G. Savelieff, Peter G. Fuerst, Qing Li, Kenneth Y. Kwan, Roman J. Giger, Yu Wang, Bing Ye
Summary: This study reveals the importance of Down syndrome cell adhesion molecule (DSCAM) in the migration of neurons during neocortex development. DSCAM is required for migrating neurons to bypass their predecessors and reach their final positions. The mechanism involves weakening cell adhesion mediated by N-cadherin.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Da-Yu Zhu, Ting-Ting Cao, Hong-Wei Fan, Ming-Zhe Zhang, Hao-Kai Duan, Jing Li, Xia-Jing Zhang, Yun-Qing Li, Pan Wang, Tao Chen
Summary: Chronic pain disrupts the balance between excitation and inhibition in the sensory cortex, leading to the development of pain hypersensitivity.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Victor N. Ierusalimsky, Pavel M. Balaban, Evgeny S. Nikitin
Summary: Electrophysiological and genetic studies have identified two major subclasses of L5 neocortical pyramidal neurons, with one subclass expressing KCa3.1 channels and the other exhibiting weak afterhyperpolarization. This study demonstrates that Nav1.6 channels, rather than KCa3.1 channels, have an impact on the threshold, dynamics, and coding abilities of these neurons. The findings suggest a link between Nav1.6 function and the ability of L5 neurons to encode high frequencies.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Xin Fu, Eric Teboul, Grant L. Weiss, Pantelis Antonoudiou, Chandrashekhar D. Borkar, Jonathan P. Fadok, Jamie Maguire, Jeffrey G. Tasker
Summary: The authors study how the modulation of Gq activity in basolateral amygdala parvalbumin interneurons mediates the transitions between brain and behavioral states, particularly fear-related ones.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Yizhen Z. Zhang, Stella Sapantzi, Alice Lin, Savannah R. Doelfel, Barry W. Connors, Brian B. Theyel
Summary: This study found that a large proportion of neocortical pyramidal cells in mice are capable of firing ectopic action potentials (EAPs) in vitro. These cells can integrate information over long time-scales before briefly entering a mode of self-generated firing that originates in distal axons. The surprising ubiquity of EAP generation in these cells raises interesting questions about its potential roles in information processing, cortical oscillations, and seizure susceptibility.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Noemi Binini, Francesca Talpo, Paolo Spaiardi, Claudia Maniezzi, Matteo Pedrazzoli, Francesca Raffin, Niccolo Mattiello, Antonio N. Castagno, Sergio Masetto, Yuchio Yanagawa, Clayton T. Dickson, Stefano Ramat, Mauro Toselli, Gerardo Rosario Biella
Summary: The perirhinal cortex (PRC) acts as a gateway between cortical areas and hippocampus, with its neurons being able to amplify output signals and coordinate network activity in the brain through resonance. This resonance ability is crucial for information transmission and memory enhancement between neocortex and hippocampus.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Elena Spoleti, Paraskevi Krashia, Livia La Barbera, Annalisa Nobili, Carmen Alina Lupascu, Elisabetta Giacalone, Flavio Keller, Michele Migliore, Massimiliano Renzi, Marcello D'Amelio
Summary: This study reveals that impaired cell excitability and firing in ventral CA1 pyramidal neurons is an early feature in Tg2576 AD mice.
EXPERIMENTAL NEUROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Pan Wang, Hua-Xing Si, Da-Yu Zhu, Ke-Ke Xing, Jian Wang, Ting-Ting Cao, Han Zhao, Xiao-Die Liu, Ming-Ming Zhang, Tao Chen
Summary: The study found that proanthocyanidins (PACs), a group of polyphenols enriched in plants and foods, can alleviate neuropathic pain and anxiety behaviors by inhibiting the spiking of pyramidal cells in the insular cortex, providing new evidence for the potential clinical treatment of chronic pain and anxiety comorbidity with PACs.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Arik Shvartsman, Oron Kotler, Ohad Stoler, Yana Khrapunsky, Israel Melamed, Ilya A. Fleidervish
Summary: Cortical pyramidal neurons have a persistent Na+ current (I-NaP) which plays an important role in neuronal input-output processing. The study reveals the subcellular distribution and mechanisms underlying the persistent Na+ current, showing that most I-NaP originates from the axon initial segment. Furthermore, endogenous polyamines constrain I-NaP availability in non-dialyzed cortical neurons.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Madan Ghimire, Rui Cai, Lynne Ling, Kevin A. Brownell, Kurt W. Wisner, Brandon C. Cox, Troy A. Hackett, Thomas J. Brozoski, Donald M. Caspary
Summary: Tinnitus affects 10-20% of the population and there is currently no clinically accepted treatment. The study suggests that sazetidine-A and varenicline may serve as potential therapeutic agents for tinnitus by improving attentional resources and reducing the phantom sound.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Keiko Unno, Monira Pervin, Kyoko Taguchi, Tomokazu Konishi, Yoriyuki Nakamura
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Keiko Unno, Yoshiichi Takagi, Tomokazu Konishi, Mitsuhiro Suzuki, Akiyuki Miyake, Takumi Kurotaki, Tadashi Hase, Shinichi Meguro, Atsuyoshi Shimada, Sanae Hasegawa-Ishii, Monira Pervin, Kyoko Taguchi, Yoriyuki Nakamura
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2020)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Monira Pervin, Keiko Unno, Tomokazu Konishi, Yoriyuki Nakamura
Summary: The study showed that dietary L-arginine can reduce stress-induced brain damage and slow down aging in psychosocially stress-loaded senescence-accelerated (SAMP10) mice.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Keiko Unno, Yoshio Muguruma, Koichi Inoue, Tomokazu Konishi, Kyoko Taguchi, Sanae Hasegawa-Ishii, Atsuyoshi Shimada, Yoriyuki Nakamura
Summary: By analyzing changes in metabolites in the hippocampus of stress-loaded mice, it was found that stress sensitivity was higher in SAMP10 mice compared to ddY mice, and theanine played a positive role in regulating metabolism in stress-loaded mice.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kenichi Adachi, Daisuke Kato, Tomoaki Kahyo, Tomokazu Konishi, Toyohiro Sato, Yuta Madokoro, Masayuki Mizuno, Hiroyasu Akatsu, Mitsutoshi Setou, Noriyuki Matsukawa
Summary: Cholinergic neural activation from the medial septal nucleus to hippocampus is crucial for episodic memory and regulation of glutamatergic neural activation. HCNP, a peptide involved in acetylcholine synthesis, was found to have no significant impact on behavior in HCNP-pp KO mice. However, there is a possible involvement of HCNP-pp in regulating the expression of the GABA(A) receptor alpha 3 gene.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Review
Anatomy & Morphology
Kathleen S. Rockland
Summary: The ordered relation of structure and function in understanding brain organization is complex, with the cytochrome oxidase (CO) blobs in the macaque monkey visual cortex demonstrating compartment-specific connectivity and response properties. However, the finer anatomical organization and functional implications of this system remain unclear and require further investigation.
BRAIN STRUCTURE & FUNCTION
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tomokazu Konishi
Summary: In minks infected with SARS-CoV-2, some variants rapidly mutated and adapted to the animals, with some of these mink-derived variants infecting humans. These variants appeared to be less lethal and infective compared to those in humans, and may be suitable for human vaccination, similar to the less infectious and toxic smallpox virus.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tomokazu Konishi
Summary: Japan's unique approach to the COVID-19 pandemic, avoiding lockdowns and promoting self-control, did not significantly impact the spread due to limited PCR testing. Research found that domestically mutated variants caused three epidemic peaks, while the import of foreign variants led to a fourth peak.
Editorial Material
Biology
Kathleen S. Rockland
Summary: It is relatively common for pyramidal neurons to have axons that exit from dendrites rather than the cell body itself in non-primates, but this phenomenon is rare in monkeys and humans.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tomokazu Konishi
Summary: This study utilizes early data analysis to explain the origin and spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. The results show that the pandemic started in Wuhan, China and spread through three routes while accumulating mutations. Analyzing early variants can reveal the viral ancestors of newer strains.
Review
Anatomy & Morphology
Kathleen S. Rockland
Summary: This article reviews the association between the angular gyrus and higher order cognitive functions, and discusses its neuroanatomical substrates, focusing on the reasons and characteristics of area-specific specializations. The study finds that the angular gyrus has different levels of spatial resolution at the cellular level, and the pronounced enlargement of the human parietal cortex plays an important role in functional specialization. However, further investigations are needed to understand how the multiple anatomical features of the angular gyrus operate in higher cognitive functions.
BRAIN STRUCTURE & FUNCTION
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tomokazu Konishi, Risako Fujiwara, Tadaaki Saito, Nozomi Satou, Yurie Hayashi, Naoko Crofts, Ikuko Iwasaki, Yoshihisa Abe, Shinpei Kawata, Tatsuya Ishikawa
Summary: This study uses HPLC to analyze the levels of lipoproteins in 55 human serum samples and finds that these levels are distributed lognormally with estimated standard amounts and 95% ranges. Certain lipoprotein classes with narrow ranges could be ideal indicators for specific diseases. Additionally, the study reveals that multiple unhealthy lifestyle habits can significantly increase the levels of specific lipoprotein classes.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Keiko Unno, Kyoko Taguchi, Tomokazu Konishi, Makoto Ozeki, Yoriyuki Nakamura
Summary: Group-housed older mice show increased adrenal hypertrophy, a marker of stress, but theanine can suppress stress. In group-reared older mice, the expression of REST, a gene repressor, was increased while the expression of Npas4, involved in brain regulation, was lower. Theanine reduced stress response and tended to increase Npas4 expression, suggesting that theanine avoids the decrease in Npas4 expression by suppressing its transcriptional repressors.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tomokazu Konishi, Yurie Hayashi, Risako Fujiwara, Shinpei Kawata, Tatsuya Ishikawa
Summary: Classes of lipoproteins play a vital role in preventing atherosclerotic diseases by solubilizing lipids in the blood. Comparing HPLC data of stroke patients and controls, without considering ultracentrifugation, revealed significant differences. HDL1 levels were low in many patients, indicating a higher intake of animal fats. The TG/cholesterol ratio of chylomicrons was also lower in patients, suggesting a potential risk factor.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tomokazu Konishi
Summary: This study presents the mutations that have occurred in the SARS-CoV-2 virus, leading to different variants. The findings suggest that the second waves of COVID-19 were caused by more infectious variants, which could also serve as sources for further mutations.
CHEM-BIO INFORMATICS JOURNAL
(2022)