Caudal-Rostral Progression of Alpha Motoneuron Degeneration in the SOD1 Mouse Model of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

Mice with transgenic expression of human SOD1 are a widely used model of ALS, with a caudal-rostral progression of motor impairment. Previous studies have quantified the progression of motoneuron (MN) degeneration based on size, even though alpha (α-) and gamma (γ-) MNs overlap in size. Therefore, using molecular markers and synaptic inputs, we quantified the survival of α-MNs and γ-MNs at the lumbar and cervical spinal segments of 3- and 4-month SOD1 mice, to investigate whether there is a caudal-rostral progression of MN death.

Multicellular "hotspots" harbor high-grade potential in lower-grade gliomas.

Background: Lower-grade gliomas may be indolent for many years before developing malignant behavior. The mechanisms underlying malignant progression remain unclear.

Methods: We collected blocks of live human brain tissue donated by people undergoing glioma resection.

New strategies for managing adult gliomas.

Gliomas are hard to treat. Their prognosis has improved little over the past few decades. Fundamental therapeutic challenges such as treatment resistance, malignant progression, and tumour recurrence persist.

Ex vivo ultrasonic samples of human brain tumors in the molecular era.

Background: Gliomas are composed of multiple clones of tumor cells. This intratumor heterogeneity contributes to the ability of gliomas to resist treatment. It is vital that gliomas are fully characterized at a molecular level when a diagnosis is made to maximize treatment effectiveness.

Multi-input Synapses, but Not LTP-Strengthened Synapses, Correlate with Hippocampal Memory Storage in Aged Mice.

Long-lasting changes at synapses enable memory storage in the brain. Although aging is associated with impaired memory formation, it is not known whether the synaptic underpinnings of memory storage differ with age. Using a training schedule that results in the same behavioral memory formation in young and aged mice, we examined synapse ultrastructure and molecular signaling in the hippocampus after contextual fear conditioning.

Rewiring the connectome: Evidence and effects.

Neuronal connections form the physical basis for communication in the brain. Recently, there has been much interest in mapping the "connectome" to understand how brain structure gives rise to brain function, and ultimately, to behaviour. These attempts to map the connectome have largely assumed that connections are stable once formed.