An Anterior Cingulate Cortex-to-Midbrain Projection Controls Chronic Itch in Mice
AbstractItch is an unpleasant sensation that provokes the desire to scratch. While acute itch serves as a protective system to warn the body of external irritating agents, chronic itch is a debilitating but poorly-treated clinical disease leading to repetitive scratching and skin lesions. However, the neural mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of chronic itch remain mysterious. Here, we identified a cell type-dependent role of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) in controlling chronic itch-related excessive scratching behaviors in mice. Moreover, we delineated a neural circuit originating from excitatory neurons of t...
Source: Neuroscience Bulletin - December 17, 2022 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research
Control of Emotion and Wakefulness by Neurotensinergic Neurons in the Parabrachial Nucleus
AbstractThe parabrachial nucleus (PBN) integrates interoceptive and exteroceptive information to control various behavioral and physiological processes including breathing, emotion, and sleep/wake regulation through the neural circuits that connect to the forebrain and the brainstem. However, the precise identity and function of distinct PBN subpopulations are still largely unknown. Here, we leveraged molecular characterization, retrograde tracing, optogenetics, chemogenetics, and electrocortical recording approaches to identify a small subpopulation of neurotensin-expressing neurons in the PBN that largely project to the ...
Source: Neuroscience Bulletin - December 16, 2022 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research
A Time to Remember: Neural Insights into Rapid Updating of Timed Behaviors
(Source: Neuroscience Bulletin)
Source: Neuroscience Bulletin - December 16, 2022 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research
REEP1 Preserves Motor Function in SOD1G93A Mice by Improving Mitochondrial Function via Interaction with NDUFA4
AbstractA decline in the activities of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) complexes has been consistently reported in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients and animal models of ALS, although the underlying molecular mechanisms are still elusive. Here, we report that receptor expression enhancing protein 1 (REEP1) acts as an important regulator of complex IV assembly, which is pivotal to preserving motor neurons in SOD1G93A mice. We found the expression of REEP1 was greatly reduced in transgenic SOD1G93A mice with ALS. Moreover, forced expression of REEP1 in the spinal cord extended the lifespan, decelerated symptom ...
Source: Neuroscience Bulletin - December 15, 2022 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research
Functional Autapses Form in Striatal Parvalbumin Interneurons but not Medium Spiny Projection Neurons
AbstractAutapses selectively form in specific cell types in many brain regions. Previous studies have also found putative autapses in principal spiny projection neurons (SPNs) in the striatum. However, it remains unclear whether these neurons indeed form physiologically functional autapses. We applied whole-cell recording in striatal slices and identified autaptic cells by the occurrence of prolonged asynchronous release (AR) of neurotransmitters after bursts of high-frequency action potentials (APs). Surprisingly, we found no autaptic AR in SPNs, even in the presence of Sr2+. However, robust autaptic AR was recorded in pa...
Source: Neuroscience Bulletin - December 11, 2022 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research
Cortical Deficits are Correlated with Impaired Stereopsis in Patients with Strabismus
In this study, we explored the neural mechanism underlying impaired stereopsis and possible functional plasticity after strabismus surgery. We enrolled 18 stereo-deficient patients with intermittent exotropia before and after surgery, along with 18 healthy controls. Functional magnetic resonance imaging data were collected when participants viewed three-dimensional stimuli. Compared with controls, preoperative patients showed hypoactivation in higher-level dorsal (visual and parietal) areas and ventral visual areas. Pre- and postoperative activation did not significantly differ in patients overall; patients with improved s...
Source: Neuroscience Bulletin - December 8, 2022 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research
The Structure and Function of Glial Networks: Beyond the Neuronal Connections
AbstractGlial cells, consisting of astrocytes, oligodendrocyte lineage cells, and microglia, account for>50% of the total number of cells in the mammalian brain. They play key roles in the modulation of various brain activities under physiological and pathological conditions. Although the typical morphological features and characteristic functions of these cells are well described, the organization of interconnections of the different glial cell populations and their impact on the healthy and diseased brain is not completely understood. Understanding these processes remains a profound challenge. Accumulating evidence ...
Source: Neuroscience Bulletin - December 8, 2022 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research
The Pathology of Primary Familial Brain Calcification: Implications for Treatment
AbstractPrimary familial brain calcification (PFBC) is an inherited neurodegenerative disorder mainly characterized by progressive calcium deposition bilaterally in the brain, accompanied by various symptoms, such as dystonia, ataxia, parkinsonism, dementia, depression, headaches, and epilepsy. Currently, the etiology of PFBC is largely unknown, and no specific prevention or treatment is available. During the past 10 years, six causative genes (SLC20A2,PDGFRB,PDGFB,XPR1,MYORG, andJAM2) have been identified in PFBC. In this review, considering mechanistic studies of these genes at the cellular level and in animals, we summa...
Source: Neuroscience Bulletin - December 5, 2022 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research
Mild Respiratory COVID-Induced Neuroinflammation Causes Neurological Deficits
(Source: Neuroscience Bulletin)
Source: Neuroscience Bulletin - December 5, 2022 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research
Methcathinone Increases Visually-evoked Neuronal Activity and Enhances Sensory Processing Efficiency in Mice
AbstractMethcathinone (MCAT) belongs to the designer drugs called synthetic cathinones, which are abused worldwide for recreational purposes. It has strong stimulant effects, including enhanced euphoria, sensation, alertness, and empathy. However, little is known about how MCAT modulates neuronal activityin vivo. Here, we evaluated the effect of MCAT on neuronal activity with a series of functional approaches. C-Fos immunostaining showed that MCAT increased the number of activated neurons by 6-fold, especially in sensory and motor cortices, striatum, and midbrain motor nuclei.In vivo single-unit recording and two-photon Ca...
Source: Neuroscience Bulletin - November 30, 2022 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research
Triggering of Major Brain Disorders by Protons and ATP: The Role of ASICs and P2X Receptors
AbstractAdenosine triphosphate (ATP) is well-known as a universal source of energy in living cells. Less known is that this molecule has a variety of important signaling functions: it activates a variety of specific metabotropic (P2Y) and ionotropic (P2X) receptors in neuronal and non-neuronal cell membranes. So, a wide variety of signaling functions well fits the ubiquitous presence of ATP in the tissues. Even more ubiquitous are protons. Apart from the unspecific interaction of protons with any protein, many physiological processes are affected by protons acting on specific ionotropic receptors —acid-sensing ion channe...
Source: Neuroscience Bulletin - November 29, 2022 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research
Physiological Roles of β-amyloid in Regulating Synaptic Function: Implications for AD Pathophysiology
AbstractThe physiological functions of endogenous amyloid- β (Aβ), which plays important role in the pathology of Alzheimer's disease (AD), have not been paid enough attention. Here, we review the multiple physiological effects of Aβ, particularly in regulating synaptic transmission, and the possible mechanisms, in order to decipher the real characters o f Aβ under both physiological and pathological conditions. Some worthy studies have shown that the deprivation of endogenous Aβ gives rise to synaptic dysfunction and cognitive deficiency, while the moderate elevation of this peptide enhances long term potentiation an...
Source: Neuroscience Bulletin - November 28, 2022 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research
Insight into Neuroethical Considerations of the Newly Emerging Technologies and Techniques of the Global Brain Initiatives
(Source: Neuroscience Bulletin)
Source: Neuroscience Bulletin - November 28, 2022 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research
Mechanisms Underlying Brain Aging Under Normal and Pathological Conditions
AbstractAging is a major risk factor for many human diseases, including cognitive impairment, which affects a large population of the elderly. In the past few decades, our understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the changes associated with aging and age-related diseases has expanded greatly, shedding light on the potential role of these changes in cognitive impairment. In this article, we review recent advances in understanding of the mechanisms underlying brain aging under normal and pathological conditions, compare their similarities and differences, discuss the causative and adaptive mechanisms...
Source: Neuroscience Bulletin - November 27, 2022 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research
Correlation Analysis of Molecularly-Defined Cortical Interneuron Populations with Morpho-Electric Properties in Layer V of Mouse Neocortex
AbstractCortical interneurons can be categorized into distinct populations based on multiple modalities, including molecular signatures and morpho-electrical (M/E) properties. Recently, many transcriptomic signatures based on single-cell RNA-seq have been identified in cortical interneurons. However, whether different interneuron populations defined by transcriptomic signature expressions correspond to distinct M/E subtypes is still unknown. Here, we applied the Patch-PCR approach to simultaneously obtain the M/E properties and messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of>600 interneurons in layer V of the mouse somatosensory cor...
Source: Neuroscience Bulletin - November 23, 2022 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research
