Paroxysmal Kinesigenic Dyskinesia: Genetics and Pathophysiological Mechanisms
AbstractParoxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia (PKD), the most common type of paroxysmal movement disorder, is characterized by sudden and brief attacks of choreoathetosis or dystonia triggered by sudden voluntary movements. PKD is mainly caused by mutations in thePRRT2 orTMEM151A gene. The exact pathophysiological mechanisms of PKD remain unclear, although the function of PRRT2 protein has been well characterized in the last decade. Based on abnormal ion channels and disturbed synaptic transmission in the absence of PRRT2, PKD may be channelopathy or synaptopathy, or both. In addition, the cerebellum is regarded as the key pat...
Source: Neuroscience Bulletin - December 13, 2023 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research
Neural and Behavioral Measures of Stress-induced Impairment in Error Awareness and Post-error Adjustment
AbstractExposure to stress negatively affects error processing, but the impact of stress on error awareness remains to be determined. In the present study, we examined the temporal dynamics of error awareness and post-error adjustment following acute stress. Forty-nine healthy men were randomly assigned to the control (n = 26) or stress group (n = 23). After stress induction, participants completed the error awareness task, and their brain activity was assessed by electroencephalography. Compared to the control group, the stress group demonstrated lower error awareness accuracy and smaller Pe (error positivity) and ΔPe am...
Source: Neuroscience Bulletin - December 9, 2023 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research
Knockdown of SIRT2 Rescues YARS-induced Charcot-Marie-Tooth Neuropathy in Drosophila
(Source: Neuroscience Bulletin)
Source: Neuroscience Bulletin - December 8, 2023 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research
The Role of KDM2A and H3K36me2 Demethylation in Modulating MAPK Signaling During Neurodevelopment
AbstractIntellectual disability (ID) is a condition characterized by cognitive impairment and difficulties in adaptive functioning. In our research, we identified twode novo mutations (c.955C>T and c.732C>A) at theKDM2A locus in individuals with varying degrees of ID. In addition, by using the Gene4Denovo database, we discovered five additional cases ofde novo mutations inKDM2A. The mutations we identified significantly decreased the expression of the KDM2A protein. To investigate the role ofKDM2A in neural development, we used both 2D neural stem cell models and 3D cerebral organoids. Our findings demonstrated that ...
Source: Neuroscience Bulletin - December 7, 2023 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research
Three-phase Enriched Environment Improves Post-stroke Gait Dysfunction via Facilitating Neuronal Plasticity in the Bilateral Sensorimotor Cortex: A Multimodal MRI/PET Analysis in Rats
In this study, we applied a multimodal neuroimaging protocol combining magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) to examine the effects of post-ischemic EE treatment on structural and functional neuroplasticity in the bilateral sensorimotor cortex. Rats were subjected to permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion. The motor function of the rats was examined using the DigiGait test. MRI was applied to investigate the EE-induced structural modifications of the bilateral sensorimotor cortex. [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose PET was used to detect glucose metabolism. Blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD)-fu...
Source: Neuroscience Bulletin - December 6, 2023 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research
Advance and Application of Single-cell Transcriptomics in Auditory Research
AbstractHearing loss and deafness, as a worldwide disability disease, have been troubling human beings. However, the auditory organ of the inner ear is highly heterogeneous and has a very limited number of cells, which are largely uncharacterized in depth. Recently, with the development and utilization of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), researchers have been able to unveil the complex and sophisticated biological mechanisms of various types of cells in the auditory organ at the single-cell level and address the challenges of cellular heterogeneity that are not resolved through by conventional bulk RNA sequencing (b...
Source: Neuroscience Bulletin - November 28, 2023 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research
Developmental Impairments of Synaptic Refinement in the Thalamus of a Mouse Model of Fragile X Syndrome
AbstractWhile somatosensory over-reactivity is a common feature of autism spectrum disorders such as fragile X syndrome (FXS), the thalamic mechanisms underlying this remain unclear. Here, we found that the developmental elimination of synapses formed between the principal nucleus of V (PrV) and the ventral posterior medial nucleus (VPm) of the somatosensory system was delayed in fragile X mental retardation 1 gene knockout (Fmr1 KO) mice, while the developmental strengthening of these synapses was disrupted. Immunohistochemistry showed excessive VGluT2 puncta in mutants at P12 –13, but not at P7–8 or P15–16, confirm...
Source: Neuroscience Bulletin - November 28, 2023 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research
Pathological and Physiological High-frequency Oscillations on Electroencephalography in Patients with Epilepsy
AbstractHigh-frequency oscillations (HFOs) encompass ripples (80 Hz–200 Hz) and fast ripples (200 Hz–600 Hz), serving as a promising biomarker for localizing the epileptogenic zone in epilepsy. Spontaneous fast ripples are always pathological, while ripples may be physiological or pathological. Distinguishing physiological from pathological ripples is im portant not only for designating epileptogenic brain regions, but also for investigations that study ripples in the context of memory encoding, consolidation, and recall in patients with epilepsy. Many studies have sought to identify distinguishing features betwee...
Source: Neuroscience Bulletin - November 24, 2023 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research
TRP Channels in Stroke
AbstractIschemic stroke is a devastating disease that affects millions of patients worldwide. Unfortunately, there are no effective medications for mitigating brain injury after ischemic stroke. TRP channels are evolutionally ancient biosensors that detect external stimuli as well as tissue or cellular injury. To date, many members of the TRP superfamily have been reported to contribute to ischemic brain injury, including the TRPC subfamily (1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7), TRPV subfamily (1, 2, 3, 4) and TRPM subfamily (2, 4, 7). These TRP channels share structural similarities but have distinct channel functions and properties. Their ...
Source: Neuroscience Bulletin - November 23, 2023 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research
Microglial Calcium Homeostasis Modulator 2: Novel Anti-neuroinflammation Target for the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases
(Source: Neuroscience Bulletin)
Source: Neuroscience Bulletin - November 23, 2023 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research
Multisensory Conflict Impairs Cortico-Muscular Network Connectivity and Postural Stability: Insights from Partial Directed Coherence Analysis
AbstractSensory conflict impacts postural control, yet its effect on cortico-muscular interaction remains underexplored. We aimed to investigate sensory conflict ’s influence on the cortico-muscular network and postural stability. We used a rotating platform and virtual reality to present subjects with congruent and incongruent sensory input, recorded EEG (electroencephalogram) and EMG (electromyogram) data, and constructed a directed connectivity network. The results suggest that, compared to sensory congruence, during sensory conflict: (1) connectivity among the sensorimotor, visual, and posterior parietal cortex gener...
Source: Neuroscience Bulletin - November 22, 2023 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research
MFG-E8 Alleviates Cognitive Impairments Induced by Chronic Cerebral Hypoperfusion by Phagocytosing Myelin Debris and Promoting Remyelination
AbstractChronic cerebral hypoperfusion is one of the pathophysiological mechanisms contributing to cognitive decline by causing white matter injury. Microglia phagocytosing myelin debris in a timely manner can promote remyelination and contribute to the repair of white matter. However, milk fat globule-epidermal growth factor-factor 8 (MFG-E8), a microglial phagocytosis-related protein, has not been well studied in hypoperfusion-related cognitive dysfunction. We found that the expression of MFG-E8 was significantly decreased in the brain of mice after bilateral carotid artery stenosis (BCAS). MFG-E8 knockout mice demonstra...
Source: Neuroscience Bulletin - November 18, 2023 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research
TET1 Participates in Complete Freund ’s Adjuvant-induced Trigeminal Inflammatory Pain by Regulating Kv7.2 in a Mouse Model
In this study, we investigated the possible contribution of interaction between ten-eleven translocation methylcytosine dioxygenase 1 (TET1) and the voltage-gated K+ channel Kv7.2 (encoded byKcnq2) to orofacial inflammatory pain in mice. We found that complete Freund ’s adjuvant (CFA) injection reduced the expression ofKcnq2/Kv7.2 in the trigeminal ganglion (TG) and induced orofacial inflammatory pain. The involvement of Kv7.2 in CFA-induced orofacial pain was further confirmed by Kv7.2 knockdown or overexpression. Moreover, TET1 knockdown in Tet1flox/flox mice significantly reduced the expression of Kv7.2 and M currents...
Source: Neuroscience Bulletin - November 16, 2023 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research
Anti-epileptic and Neuroprotective Effects of Ultra-low Dose NADPH Oxidase Inhibitor Dextromethorphan on Kainic Acid-induced Chronic Temporal Lobe Epilepsy in Rats
AbstractNeuroinflammation mediated by microglia and oxidative stress play pivotal roles in the development of chronic temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). We postulated that kainic acid (KA)-Induced status epilepticus triggers microglia-dependent inflammation, leading to neuronal damage, a lowered seizure threshold, and the emergence of spontaneous recurrent seizures (SRS). Extensive evidence from our laboratory suggests that dextromethorphan (DM), even in ultra-low doses, has anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects in many animal models of neurodegenerative disease. Our results showed that administration of DM (10 ng/kg pe...
Source: Neuroscience Bulletin - November 16, 2023 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research
Terahertz Irradiation Improves Cognitive Impairments and Attenuates Alzheimer ’s Neuropathology in the APPSWE/PS1DE9 Mouse: A Novel Therapeutic Intervention for Alzheimer’s Disease
In this study, we first measured the 0.14 THz waves penetration across the skull of a C57BL/6 mouse and found the percentage of THz penetration to be ~70%, guaranteeing that THz waves can reach the relevant brain regions. We then exposed the APPSWE/PS1DE9 mouse model of AD to repeated low-frequency THz waves on the head. We demonstrated that THz waves treatment significantly improved the cognitive impairment and alleviated AD neuropathology including A β deposition and tau hyperphosphorylation in the AD mice. Moreover, THz waves treatment effectively attenuated mitochondrial impairment, neuroinflammation, and neuronal los...
Source: Neuroscience Bulletin - November 16, 2023 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research
