Neurophysiological treatment effects of mesdopetam, pimavanserin and clozapine in a rodent model of Parkinson's disease psychosis.

Psychosis in Parkinson's disease is a common phenomenon associated with poor outcomes. To clarify the pathophysiology of this condition and the mechanisms of antipsychotic treatments, we have here characterized the neurophysiological brain states induced by clozapine, pimavanserin, and the novel prospective antipsychotic mesdopetam in a rodent model of Parkinson's disease psychosis, based on chronic dopaminergic denervation by 6-OHDA lesions, levodopa priming, and the acute administration of an NMDA antagonist. Parallel recordings of local field potentials from eleven cortical and sub-cortical regions revealed shared neurophysiological treatment effects for the three compounds, despite their different pharmacological profiles, involving reversal of features associated with the psychotomimetic state, such as a reduction of aberrant high-frequency oscillations in prefrontal structures together with a decrease of abnormal synchronization between different brain regions.

Optogenetic stimulation of entorhinal cortex reveals the implication of insulin signaling in adult rat's hippocampal neurogenesis.

Adult neurogenesis in the hippocampal dentate gyrus plays a critical role in learning and memory. Projections originating from entorhinal cortex, known as the perforant pathway, provide the main input to the dentate gyrus and promote neurogenesis. However, neuromodulators and molecular changes mediating neurogenic effects of this pathway are not yet fully understood.

Entorhinal cortex stimulation induces dentate gyrus neurogenesis through insulin receptor signaling.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has been established as a therapeutically effective method to treat pharmacological resistant neurological disorders. The molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of DBS on the brain are not yet fully understood. Beside numerous suggested mechanisms, regulation of neurogenesis is an attractive mechanism through which DBS can affect the cognitive functions.

Rat sciatic nerve reconstruction across a 30 mm defect bridged by an oriented porous PHBV tube with Schwann cell as artificial nerve graft.

An oriented poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) nerve conduit has been used to evaluate its efficiency based on the promotion of peripheral nerve regeneration in rats. The oriented porous micropatterned artificial nerve conduit was designed onto the micropatterned silicon wafers, and then their surfaces were modified with oxygen plasma to increase cell adhesion. The designed conduits were investigated by cell culture analyses with Schwann cells (SCs).

The healing effect of unrestricted somatic stem cells loaded in collagen-modified nanofibrous PHBV scaffold on full-thickness skin defects.

Unrestricted somatic stem cells (USSCs) loaded in nanofibrous PHBV scaffold can be used for skin regeneration when grafted into full-thickness skin defects of rats. Nanofibrous PHBV scaffolds were designed using electrospinning method and then, modified with the immobilized collagen via the plasma method. Afterward, the scaffolds were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy, physical and mechanical assays.

Berberine chloride improved synaptic plasticity in STZ induced diabetic rats.

Previous studies indicated that diabetes affects synaptic transmission in the hippocampus, leading to impairments of synaptic plasticity and defects in learning and memory. Although berberine treatment ameliorates memory impairment and improves synaptic plasticity in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats, it is not clear if the effects are pre- or post-synaptic or both. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of berberine chloride on short-term plasticity in inhibitory interneurons in the dentate gyrus of STZ-induced diabetic rats.

The effect of ghrelin on MK-801 induced memory impairment in rats.

Accumulating evidence indicates that the brain-gut peptide ghrelin which is expressed in hippocampus improves memory and learning processes. The MK-801, a noncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonist, has also shown amnesic properties in animal model. The current study was to find out whether intracerebroventricular administration of ghrelin can prevent amnesia induced by MK-801 in rats.

Hippocampal synaptic plasticity restoration and anti-apoptotic effect underlie berberine improvement of learning and memory in streptozotocin-diabetic rats.

Chronic diabetes mellitus initiates apoptosis and negatively affects synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus with ensuing impairments of learning and memory. Berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid, exhibits anti-diabetic, antioxidant and nootropic effects. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of berberine on hippocampal CA1 neuronal apoptosis, synaptic plasticity and learning and memory of streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic rats.

Kindling-induced learning deficiency and possible cellular and molecular involved mechanisms.

Hippocampus learning disturbance is a major symptom of patients with seizure, hence hippocampal dysfunction has essential role in worsening the disease. Hippocampal formation includes neurons and myelinated fibers that are necessary for acquisition and consolidation of memory, long-term potentiation and learning activity. The exact mechanism by which seizure can decrease memory and learning activity of hippocampus remains unknown.

Attenuating the effect of Ghrelin on memory storage via bilateral reversible inactivation of the basolateral amygdale.

Previous studies have shown that Ghrelin increases memory retention. They have also indicated that amygdale is involved in memory storage. The present study examined the role of basolateral amygdala (BLA) in Ghrelin-induced retention improvement, using reversible inactivation of this region with lidocaine.

Netrin-1 improves spatial memory and synaptic plasticity impairment following global ischemia in the rat.

Cerebral ischemia, which is the second and most common cause of mortality, affects millions of individuals worldwide. The present study was performed to investigate whether intrahippocampal administration of netrin-1 could improve spatial memory impairment in radial arm maze task and restore long-term potentiation (LTP) in 4-vessel occlusion model of global ischemia. The results showed that intrahippocampal infusion of nerin-1 24 h after ischemia (at both doses of 400 and 800 ng) significantly ameliorated spatial memory impairment and at a dose of 800 ng was capable to improve synaptic dysfunction as observed by recovery of population spike component of basal evoked potential and LTP through enhancement of excitability and normalization of paired pulse response.

L-type calcium channel mediates anticonvulsant effect of cannabinoids in acute and chronic murine models of seizure.

The anticonvulsant activities of cannabinoid compounds have been shown in various models of seizure and epilepsy. At least, part of antiseizure effects of cannabinoid compounds is mediated through calcium (Ca(2+)) channels. The L-type Ca(2+) channels have been shown to be important in various epilepsy models.