Neuroscience
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We have recently reported on the efficacy of an NK1 tachykinin receptor antagonist in improving outcome following stroke, including reduced blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption, reduced cerebral edema and improved functional outcome. The clinically approved stroke treatment, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), has been associated with an increased risk of hemorrhage and death, if given at later time points. Accordingly, adjunctive therapies have been investigated to reduce the adverse effects of tPA and improve outcome. ⋯ BBB permeability was assessed by Evans Blue extravasation. Combination therapy of an NK1 tachykinin receptor antagonist with tPA significantly reduced BBB permeability, functional deficits and the incidence of intracerebral hemorrhage and death. As such, combined tPA-NK1 tachykinin receptor antagonist treatment may represent a novel therapeutic intervention for the treatment of reperfusion injury in acute ischemic stroke.
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Congenital muscular dystrophies (CMDs) with associated brain abnormalities are a group of disorders characterized by muscular dystrophy and brain and eye abnormalities that are frequently caused by mutations in known or putative glycotransferases involved in protein O-mannosyl glycosylation. Previous work identified α-dystroglycan as the major substrate for O-mannosylation and its altered glycosylation the major cause of these disorders. ⋯ Using a mouse model of muscle-eye-brain disease lacking functional protein O-mannose β-1,2-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase (POMGnT1), we show that RPTPζ/phosphacan is shifted to a lower molecular weight and distinct carbohydrate epitopes normally detected on the protein are either absent or substantially reduced, including Human Natural Killer-1 (HNK-1) reactivity. The spatial and temporal expression patterns of these O-mannosylated forms of RPTPζ/phosphacan and its hypoglycosylation and loss of HNK-1 glycan epitopes in POMGnT1 knockouts are suggestive of a role in the neural phenotypes observed in patients and animal models of CMDs.
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Activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) is a stress-induced transcription factor that has been shown to repress inflammatory gene expression in multiple cell types and diseases. This study was conducted to investigate the role of ATF3 in the pathological processes of cerebral ischemia and its influence on post-ischemic inflammation. ⋯ Our study demonstrated that ATF3 was markedly induced by brain ischemia. ATF3 deficiency exacerbated the inflammatory response and brain injury after cerebral ischemia, potentially through further activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway. ATF3 is likely an important protective regulator in cerebral ischemic injury.
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The aim of this study was to examine the rapid non-genomic effect of 17β-estradiol (E2) on Ca(2+) transport in mitochondria isolated from the nerve terminals (synaptosomes) of caudate nuclei (NC) and brain stems (BS) of ovariectomised female rats. In physiological conditions no effect of E2 on Ca(2+) influx into synaptosomal mitochondria through ruthenium red (RR)-sensitive uniporter was observed. However, in the presence of uncoupling agent carbonyl cyanide4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenylhydrazone (FCCP) (1μmol/l), pre-treatment with 0.5nmol/l E2 protected mitochondrial membrane potential and consequently increased Ca(2+) influx (2.3-fold in NC and 3.1-fold in BS). ⋯ Using membrane impermeable E2 bound to bovine serum albumin and selective inhibitor of mitochondrial Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger, we obtained that E2's action on mitochondrial Ca(2+) efflux at least partially is due to the direct effects on the mitochondrial membrane and/or Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger located in inner mitochondrial membrane. Our results implicate E2 as a modulator of Ca(2+) concentration in mitochondrial matrix, and ultimately in the cytosol. Given the vital role of Ca(2+) in regulation of total nerve cells activity, especially energy metabolism, neurotransmission and directing the cells toward survival or cell death, the effects on mitochondrial Ca(2+) transport could be one of the important modes of E2 neuromodulatory action independent of the genome.
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Step initiation is associated with anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs) that vary according to the speed of the first step. When step initiation is elicited by a "go" signal (i.e. in a reaction time task), the presentation of an unpredictable, intense, acoustic startling stimulus (engaging a subcortical mechanism) simultaneously with or just before the imperative "go" signal is able to trigger early-phase APAs. The aim of the present study was to better understand the mechanisms underlying APAs during step initiation. ⋯ Depending on the intensity of the stimulus, APAs prior to step initiation can be triggered without the evocation of a startle response or an acoustic blink. Greater reaction times for these APAs were observed for non-startling stimuli. This observation suggested the involvement of pathways that did not involve the brainstem as a "prime mover".