Maternal high-fat diet (HFD) consumption can promote a systemic inflammatory condition that may impair the offspring brain development, damaging memory and learning, when it reaches the hippocampus. This study aims to evaluate maternal HFD effects, during pregnancy and lactation, upon dams/mice offspring nutritional status, protein and gene expression of inflammatory pathway (JNK, pJNK and TNF-α),

DJ-1 (also known as PARK7) is a redox-active protein that protects against oxidative stress. This study evaluated the hypothesis that DJ-1 sustains brainstem cardiovascular regulation via maintaining mitochondrial function in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM), a brainstem site known to maintain blood pressure and sympathetic vasomotor tone, during cardiovascular depression elicited by the organophosphate

Enolase inhibition is a potential therapeutic strategy currently being investigated for treatment of spinal cord injury (SCI) as it reduces pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, alters metabolic factors, and reduces gliosis in acute SCI. Herein, the role of enolase in SCI has been examined to better understand the effects of this enzyme on inflammation, metabolic hormones, glial cell activation

Background Clitoria ternatea (CT) is an herbal plant that has been used as a memory booster in folk medicine. CT root extract has been proven to restore chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH)-induced memory deficits in a rat model, but the underlying mechanisms and the toxicity profile following repeated exposure have yet to be explored. The aim of the study To investigate the effects of the chronic

Astrocytes have diverse functions that are supported by their anatomic localization between neurons and blood vessels. One of these functions is the clearance of extracellular glutamate. Astrocytes clear glutamate using two Na+-dependent glutamate transporters, GLT-1 (also called EAAT2) and GLAST (also called EAAT1). GLT-1 expression increases during synaptogenesis and is a marker of astrocyte maturation

Exposure to general anesthesia in early childhood may lead to adverse effects on adolescent neurocognition. This study investigated the effects of multiple inhalations of sevoflurane on long-term learning and memory in developing rats, and explored the mechanistic role of the tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)/plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) fibrinolysis system and its regulatory relationship

Collapsin response mediator proteins (CRMPs) are ubiquitously expressed in neurons from worms to humans. A cardinal feature of CRMPs is to mediate growth cone collapse in response to Semaphorin-3A signaling through interactions with cytoskeletal proteins. These are critical regulatory roles that CRMPs play during neuritogenesis and neural network formation. Through post-translational modifications

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that primarily affects patients over the age of 65. PD is characterized by loss of neurons in the substantia nigra and dopamine deficiency in the striatum. Once PD is clinically diagnosed by the observation of motor dysfunction, the disease is already in its advance stages. Consequently, there is a major push to identify clinical biomarkers that

Cu2+ plays a key role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The dysregulation of Cu2+ can cause neuronal damage and aggravate development of AD. Moreover, a series of 4-substituted sampangine derivatives have been investigated as inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase and β-amyloid (Aβ) aggregation for the treatment of AD in our previous studies. In the present study, we reported that one of

Recent work suggested that methylene blue (MB) has beneficial effects in a variety of neurological disorders, while its role in neonatal hypoxic-ischemic (HI) encephalopathy is still unclear. The current study was designed to investigate the effects of MB on HI-induced brain damage and its underlying mechanisms. The results showed that MB treatment can strongly attenuate HI-induced brain loss and neuronal

Stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) is a valuable animal model to investigate human strokes. SHRSP Izumo strain (Izm) neurons are highly sensitive to blood supply changes. Furthermore, SHRSP/Izm astrocytes show various abnormalities upon hypoxic stimulation compared to control Wistar Kyoto (WKY/Izm) rats. This study aimed to describe stroke-related characteristics of SHRSP/Izm-derived

Neurotrophins play a critical role in the development, maintenance, and proper function of the brain. We investigated the effects of maternal diet high in omega (n)-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on fatty acids composition and the gene expression of neurotrophins in fetal brain at different gestation stages. Female C57BL/6 mice (7-weeks old, n = 8/group) were fed a diet containing high, low or

Increasing evidence from toxicological and epidemiological studies indicates that the brain is an important target for ambient (ultrafine) particles. Disturbance of redox-homeostasis and inflammation in the brain are proposed as possible mechanisms that can contribute to neurotoxic and neurodegenerative effects. Whether and how engineered nanoparticles (NPs) may cause neurotoxicity and promote neurodegenerative

Introduction A solid body of preclinical evidence shows that glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists attenuate the effects of substance use disorder related behaviors. The mechanisms underlying these effects remain elusive. In the present study, we hypothesized that GLP-1R activation modulates dopaminetransporter (DAT) and thus dopamine (DA) homeostasis in striatum. This was evaluated in

Introduction CacyBP/SIP is a multifunctional protein present in various mammalian tissues, among them in brain. Recently, it has been shown that CacyBP/SIP exhibits phosphatase activity towards ERK1/2 and p38 kinases. Objectives The aim of our study was to analyze the localization and level of CacyBP/SIP and its substrates, phosphorylated ERK1/2 (p-ERK1/2) and phosphorylated p38 (p-p38) kinases, in

Depressive and anxious behaviors are the most common psychiatric symptoms of epilepsy, and may aggravate the epileptic condition and affect the patient's quality of life. Accumulating data obtained from both experimental animal models and patients have convincingly shown a critical role of P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) during depression and anxiety. Our study showed for the first time that the P2X7R is involved

The brain nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) expressed in pre-synaptic nerve terminals regulate neurotransmitter release. However, there is no evidence for the expression of nAChRs in synaptic vesicles, which deliver neurotransmitter to synaptic cleft. The aim of this paper was to investigate the presence of nAChRs in synaptic vesicles purified from the rat brain and to study their possible

Olfactory dysfunction is related with various neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, which show impaired cognitive functions. However, the effects of olfactory dysfunction on hippocampal dependent learning and memory remain elusive. In this study, mice were treated with intranasal zinc sulfate (ZnSO4) infusion which resulted in a complete

Chronic dysregulated microglial activation may lead to persistent inflammation and progressive neurodegeneration. A previous study reported that ADX88178, a putative metabotropic glutamate receptor 4 (mGluR4) positive allosteric modulator (PAM), exerts anti-inflammatory effects in microglia by activating mGluR4. We employed in vitro models of immortalized microglia cell lines and primary microglia

α-Synuclein protein (α-syn) is a central player in Parkinson's disease (PD) and in a spectrum of neurodegenerative diseases collectively known as synucleinopathies. These diseases are characterized by abnormal motor symptoms, such as tremor at rest, slowness of movement, rigidity of posture, and bradykinesia. Histopathological features of PD include preferential loss of dopaminergic neurons in the

Healthy mitochondria play an essential role in energy metabolism, but dysfunctional mitochondria can cause perturbations in cellular processes which can ultimately lead to cell death. The process which selectively removes and degrades dysfunctional mitochondria, mitophagy, protects against the accumulation of abnormal mitochondria and hence has a protective role in maintaining cell health. Increasing

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease caused by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. PD is characterized by motor dysfunctions as well as non-motor disorders. Orexin (also known as hypocretin) is a kind of neuropeptide involved in the regulation of motor control, the sleep/wake cycle, learning and memory, gastric

Mutations in the dystrobrevin binding protein 1 (DTNBP1) gene that encodes for the dysbindin-1 protein, are associated with a higher risk for schizophrenia. Interestingly, individuals carrying high-risk alleles in this gene have been associated with an increased incidence of negative symptoms for the disease, which include anhedonia, avolition and social withdrawal. Here we evaluated behavioral and

Microglia have both protective and degenerative roles in the central nervous system. The α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) is crucial in the regulation of the neuroprotective role in microglia. Recent studies have demonstrated decreased expression of α7 nAChR in brain in response to neuroinflammation, but the mechanism mediating the downregulation of the α7 nAChR has yet to be elaborated

Currently, there is no effective therapy for chronic cerebral hypoperfusion-induced subcortical ischemic vascular dementia (SIVD), which displays cognitive deficits and progressive white matter damage. Tetradecyl 2,3-dihydroxybenzoate (ABG-001) is a lead compound derived from gentisides with neuritogenic activity. In this report, we intended to investigate the effect of ABG-001 on the SIVD experimental

Major depressive disorder is the leading cause of disability and suicidality worldwide. Here, we evaluated neural metabolic activity in prefrontal cortex (PFC) in C57BL6 mice undergoing a chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) for three weeks to induce depression. Further, the efficacy of Lanicemine, a low trapping NMDA receptor antagonist, on behavioral and neurometabolic measures in CUMS mice was

Hypoxia induces reversible κ-opioid receptor (KOR) internalization similar to the internalization that is induced by KOR agonists. In the current study, we demonstrate that this KOR internalization is a protective mechanism via the β-arrestin specific pathway in an oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) model. Mouse neuroblastoma Neuro2A cells were stably transfected with mouse KOR-tdTomato fusion protein

The formation of amyloid β-protein (1-42) (Aβ42) oligomers and Aβ42 oligomer cytotoxicity are two defining characteristics of the etiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this study, we found that matrine (Mat) could maintain or even enhance the cytotrophic effect of Aβ42 monomers by inhibiting their aggregation and by working in a manner similar to synergy with Aβ42 monomers. Moreover, Mat could also

Dopamine (DA) signaling is critical to the modulation of multiple brain functions including locomotion, reinforcement, attention and cognition. The literature provides strong evidence that altered DA availability and actions can impact normal neurodevelopment, with both early and enduring consequences on anatomy, physiology and behavior. An appreciation for the developmental contributions of DA signaling

The neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh) is involved in critical organismal functions that include locomotion and cognition. Importantly, alterations in the cholinergic system are a key underlying factor in cognitive defects associated with aging. One essential component of cholinergic synaptic transmission is the vesicular ACh transporter (VAChT), which regulates the packaging of ACh into synaptic

AIM AND OBJECTIVE Insulin-induced moderate or severe hypoglycemia (MH or SH) impairs cognition and SH causes neuronal death. On the contrary, alternate day fasting (ADF) protects the brain during excitotoxic stress and improves cognitive function. Unlike the scenario in the periphery, insulin and its relationship towards brain glucose uptake and metabolism are considered to be less significant. Yet

For almost two decades schizophrenia has been considered to be a functional disconnection disorder. This functional disconnectivity between several brain regions could have a neurodevelopmental origin. Various approaches suggest the ventral subiculum (SUB) is a particular target region for neurodevelopemental disturbances in schizophrenia. It is also commonly acknowledged that there is a striatal dopaminergic

Compelling evidence has implicated role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in neurogenesis. Methyl-CpG Binding Protein 2 (MeCP2) was a key contributor to neurological disease. This study investigated whether miR-212-3p affects early neurogenesis associated with MeCP2. Microarray-based gene expression profiling of neurogenesis was employed to identify differentially expressed genes. Next, miR-212-3p expression in

Phosphodiesterase 7B (PDE7B) inhibition has been considered as a therapeutic target for the treatment of several neurological disorders. Currently, there are no radio-labeled tracers available to determine receptor occupancy (RO) of this target. Developing such a tracer could greatly facilitate the identification of viable PDE7B inhibitors. In the current study, a liquid chromatography tandem mass

Glial cells can mediate hypothalamic inflammatory processes induced in response to a high-fat diet (HFD). We used magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS) to isolate microglia and astrocytes from hypothalamus of mice fed HFD and examined changes in expression of inflammation-related cytokines and markers related to glial cell activation status. Hypothalamus from male C57BL6 mice fed a chow diet (chow)

Diabetic encephalopathy (DE) has been defined as one of the major complications of diabetes, characterized by neurochemical and neurodegenerative changes. However, the molecular mechanism of DE are not fully elucidated at present. Here, the primary hippocampal neurons were cultured in vitro with high glucose (HG) to induce diabetes-like effects, and mice were given streptozotocin (STZ) to induce a

Increasing evidences support that glial connexins are involved in the demyelination pathology of multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disorder. Here, we review the data from patients with MS and animal models of MS that implicate connexins in demyelination. Connexins expressed in oligodendrocytes and astrocytes show diverse changes at the different phases of MS. Loss of oligodendrocyte

Prenatal stress (PNS) has its negative impact on both the infant hippocampal neurogenesis and pregnancy outcomes in the neonates that serves as a risk factor for postnatal depression in adult offsprings. Therefore, main objectives of the present study were to evaluate the effect of maternal chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) on behavioural changes, levels of oxidative stress, changes in selective

Air pollution is a major, global public health concern. A growing body of evidence shows that exposure to air pollutants may impair the brain. Living in highly polluted areas has been linked to several neurodegenerative diseases, where exposure to complex mixtures of air pollutants in urban environments may have harmful effects on brain function. These harmful effects are thought to originate from

Glia use multiple mechanisms to mediate potassium fluxes that support neuronal function. In addition to changes in potassium levels within synapses, these ions are dynamically dispersed through the interstitial parenchyma, perivascular spaces, leptomeninges, cerebrospinal fluid, choroid plexus, blood, vitreous, and endolymph. Neural circuits drive diversity in the glia that buffer potassium and this

Midbrain dopaminergic (DAergic) neurotransmission plays a crucial role in regulating motor, cognitive, and emotional functions. The orphan nuclear receptor estrogen-related receptor gamma (ERRγ) is highly expressed in the adult brain and in the developing fetal brain. Our previous study showed the relevance of ERRγ in the regulation of the DAergic neuronal phenotype with the upregulation of dopamine

Every second we inhale a danger in the air; many particles in the atmosphere can influence our lives. Outdoor air pollution, especially particulate matter is the largest environmental risk factor and has been associated with many cardiovascular and lung diseases. Importantly, air pollution has recently been discovered to also impact the brain. Here, we review the effects of air pollution on glial cells

Neuroinflammation is an important factor contributing to cognitive impairment and neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), ischemic injury, and multiple sclerosis (MS). These diseases are characterized by inexorable progressive injury of neuron cells, and loss of motor or cognitive functions. Microglia, which are

Celastrol is a natural pentacyclic triterpene extracted from the roots of Tripterygium wilfordi (thunder god vine). Celastrol was reported as a powerful anti-obese drug with leptin sensitizing properties that decreases food consumption and mediates body weight loss when administered to diet-induced obese mice at 100 μg/kg body weight. The weight lowering properties of celastrol are likely mediated

Evidences has suggested that in the early life the innate immune system presents plasticity and the time and dose-adequate stimuli in this phase may program long-lasting immunological responses that persist until adulthood. We aimed to evaluate whether LPS challenge in early childhood period may modulate brain alterations after sepsis in adult life. Experiments were performed to evaluate the LPS challenge

Schizophrenia is a neuropsychiatric condition that reaches around 1% of people worldwide. Because taurine exerts a neuroprotective role in the brain, this molecule is a promising candidate to reduce schizophrenia-like symptoms. Here, we investigated a possible neuroprotector role of taurine against MK-801-induced memory deficit and hyperlocomotion in zebrafish using the inhibitory avoidance task and

Neurotransmitters play critical roles in the developing nervous system. Among the neurotransmitters, norepinephrine (NE) is in particular postulated to be an important regulator of brain development. NE is expressed during early stages of development and is known to regulate both the development of noradrenergic neurons and the development of target areas. NE participates in the shaping and the wiring

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases. Its major pathological hallmarks, neurofibrillary tangles (NFT), and amyloid-β plaques can result from dysfunctional insulin signaling. Insulin is an important growth factor that regulates cell growth, energy utilization, mitochondrial function, autophagy, oxidative stress, synaptic plasticity, and cognitive function. Insulin

The biological pathways and the extent to which air pollution can affect the cognitive decline in the elderly is not fully understood. In recent years, the impact of air pollution on cognitive impairment has become an active area of epidemiological research and several studies provided supporting evidence. This short review focuses on epidemiological studies in older adults investigating the associations

Research efforts in the past decades have provided insight into the adverse health effects of air pollution exposure. Exposure to airborne particulate matter is known to impair the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, and more recent investigations have provided evidence demonstrating harmful effects on the central nervous system. Investigations have primarily focused on the interconnected cellular

Postoperative depression is a serious problem with under-optimized treatment. Our previous result demonstrated that single dose of propofol exposure in mice could cause depressive-like behavior. In the present study, we explored the possible preventive strategy that could ameliorate the depressive-like behavior in mice. Irisin was used for co-treatment with propofol in mice to test whether irisin could

Maternal anesthetic exposure during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment in offspring. The balance of cerebral iron metabolism is essential for the development of brain tissue. Iron deficiency affects the myelinogenesis and nerve tissue development, especially in fetus or infant, which has a key role in cognitive function. We aimed to investigate whether maternal sevoflurane