Article
Behavioral Sciences
Eneritz Rueda-Alana, Fernando Garcia-Moreno
Summary: The cerebellum is a highly conserved structure in vertebrate brains, with strong conservation of its internal neural circuitry. Comparative research on the developmental history of neurons in three amniote species shows a tight conservation of the chronological sequence of neurogenesis in the cerebellar circuit. This conservation is responsible for the preservation of the cerebellum and its function.
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Anna Hoerder-Suabedissen, Gabriel Ocana-Santero, Thomas H. Draper, Sophie A. Scott, Jesse G. Kimani, Andrew M. Shelton, Simon J. B. Butt, Zoltan Molnar, Adam M. Packer
Summary: Our study investigates the development of mouse claustrum neurons, including their birth time, location in the developing brain, and the formation of their connections to the cortex. We found that a specific protein distribution and a dense patch of cells are present in the claustrum from postnatal day 21, while most claustrum neurons are born around embryonic day 12.5. The claustrum's connectivity to different cortical regions matures at different times. This research establishes a timeline of claustrum development and provides insights into its unique connectivity.
Review
Physiology
Norman R. Saunders, Katarzyna M. Dziegielewska, Ryann M. Fame, Maria K. Lehtinen, Shane A. Liddelow
Summary: This article reviews the research on the choroid plexus, which has lagged behind the blood-brain barrier but is crucial for brain development and function. It highlights the importance of choroid plexus-generated cerebrospinal fluid and the molecules it produces for normal brain growth. It also discusses the role of the choroid plexus in neurogenesis, hormone influence, circadian rhythms, sleep, and the delivery of brain-specific therapies.
PHYSIOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Microscopy
Shuichi Hayashi, Nobuhiko Ohno, Graham Knott, Zoltan Molnar
Summary: Recent advances in volume electron microscopy, especially in the combination with light microscopy, have enabled the study of brain structure at a detailed level. By using genetic tools and natural landmarks, immunostaining-free techniques have been developed, allowing for the investigation of brain development in live organisms.
Article
Biology
Janine Traut, Jose Prius Mengual, Elise J. Meijer, Laura E. McKillop, Hannah Alfonsa, Anna Hoerder-Suabedissen, Seo Ho Song, Kristoffer D. Feher, Dieter Riemann, Zoltan Molnar, Colin J. Akerman, Vladyslav V. Vyazovskiy, Lukas B. Krone
Summary: Designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) are chemogenetic tools for remote control of targeted cell populations using chemical actuators that bind to modified receptors. In this study, we demonstrated that the commonly used DREADD actuator, clozapine-N-oxide (CNO), as well as a novel actuator, compound 21 (C21), can modulate sleep in mice not expressing DREADD receptors. Our findings suggest that back-metabolism to clozapine is not the sole mechanism underlying the sleep effects of chemogenetic actuators.
Article
Biology
Javier Gilbert-Jaramillo, Ujang Purnama, Zolta Molnar, William S. James
Summary: The replication of Zika virus (ZIKV) in cortical progenitor cells derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) is influenced by the metabolic patterns of these cells. ZIKV alters the transcription of metabolic genes and upregulates glycolytic capacity in early hi-NPCs, while affecting mitochondrial distribution and size in both early and late hi-NPCs. These findings suggest that alterations in cellular metabolism during ZIKV infection may contribute to different brain damage in each trimester.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Gisela Nilsson, Amin Mottahedin, Aura Zelco, Volker M. Lauschke, C. Joakim Ek, Juan Song, Maryam Ardalan, Sha Hua, Xiaoli Zhang, Carina Mallard, Henrik Hagberg, Jianmei W. Leavenworth, Xiaoyang Wang
Summary: The two isoforms of OPN, sOPN and iOPN, have different roles in myelination and axonal integrity. Deficiency of these isoforms leads to abnormal myelination and axonal degeneration.
Article
Neurosciences
Joachim S. Grimstvedt, Andrew M. Shelton, Anna Hoerder-Suabedissen, David K. Oliver, Christin H. Berndtsson, Stefan Blankvoort, Rajeevkumar R. Nair, Adam M. Packer, Menno P. Witter, Clifford G. Kentros
Summary: Accurate anatomical characterizations of the claustrum complex (CLCX) in rodents are important for studying its neural circuitry. This study utilized a multifaceted analysis to investigate the fiber- and cytoarchitecture, genetic marker expression, and connectivity of the CLCX in mice. The findings identified four distinct subregions within CLCX and provided a comprehensive guide for delineating its boundaries. This research contributes to enhancing our anatomical knowledge of the CLCX and its functional properties.
JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Annalisa Paolino, Elizabeth H. Haines, Evan J. Bailey, Dylan A. Black, Ching Moey, Fernando Garcia-Moreno, Linda J. Richards, Rodrigo Suarez, Laura R. Fenlon
Summary: The time it takes for the brain to develop varies greatly across different animals. This research compared the cortical development timing in two mammals of similar size but different developmental pace. The results showed that cell birth and laminar specification follow similar stages between the species, but migration and axon extension do not scale uniformly and are more advanced in the marsupial fat-tailed dunnarts.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Fiona Qiu, Katarzyna M. Dziegielewska, Yifan Huang, Mark D. Habgood, Georgia Fitzpatrick, Norman R. Saunders
Summary: This study investigated the protein binding of six drugs and two inert markers to plasma proteins from pregnant and developing rats using an ultrafiltration method. Results showed that the concentration and composition of plasma proteins influenced the extent of drug binding. Comparison between protein binding and brain drug accumulation revealed a correlation for some drugs, indicating the importance of considering plasma protein concentration in medication use for pregnant and pediatric patients to minimize potential drug exposure to fetuses and neonates.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Clinical Neurology
J. Traut, J. Prius Mengual, E. J. Meijer, L. E. McKillop, H. Alfonsa, A. Hoerder-Suabedissen, S. M. Song, Z. Molnar, C. J. Akerman, V. V. Vyazovskiy, L. B. Krone
JOURNAL OF SLEEP RESEARCH
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Clinical Neurology
E. Meijer, S. Wilcox, A. Hoerder-Suabedissen, T. Yamagata, Z. Molnar, V. Vyazovskiy
JOURNAL OF SLEEP RESEARCH
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Clinical Neurology
J. Traut, J. P. Mengual, E. Meijer, L. E. McKillop, H. Alfonsa, A. Hoerder-Suabedissen, S. M. Song, Z. Molnar, C. J. Akerman, V. V. Vyazovskiy, L. Krone