Lumbar Epidural Cavernous Hemangioma: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Pure epidural cavernous hemangioma (ECH) of the spine are rare and account for only 4% of all epidural spinal lesions. We report a case of epidural cavernoma at L3/4 presenting with L4 radiculopathy. Radiological, intraoperative findings and histopathology are presented.

Increased gyrification and aberrant adult neurogenesis of the dentate gyrus in adult rats.

A remarkable example of maladaptive plasticity is the development of epilepsy after a brain insult or injury to a normal animal or human. A structure that is considered central to the development of this type of epilepsy is the dentate gyrus (DG), because it is normally a relatively inhibited structure and its quiescence is thought to reduce hippocampal seizure activity. This characteristic of the DG is also considered to be important for normal hippocampal-dependent cognitive functions.

Interictal spike frequency varies with ovarian cycle stage in a rat model of epilepsy.

In catamenial epilepsy, seizures exhibit a cyclic pattern that parallels the menstrual cycle. Many studies suggest that catamenial seizures are caused by fluctuations in gonadal hormones during the menstrual cycle, but this has been difficult to study in rodent models of epilepsy because the ovarian cycle in rodents, called the estrous cycle, is disrupted by severe seizures. Thus, when epilepsy is severe, estrous cycles become irregular or stop.

Entorhinal cortical defects in Tg2576 mice are present as early as 2-4 months of age.

The entorhinal cortex (EC) is one of the first brain areas to display neuropathology in Alzheimer's disease. A mouse model which simulates amyloid-β (Aβ) neuropathology, the Tg2576 mouse, was used to address these early changes. Here, we show EC abnormalities occur in 2- to 4-month-old Tg2576 mice, an age before Aβ deposition and where previous studies suggest that there are few behavioral impairments.

Expression of somatostatin receptors, angiogenesis and proliferation markers in pituitary adenomas: an immunohistochemical study with diagnostic and therapeutic implications.

Principles: Pituitary adenomas are common intracranial neoplasms that generate symptoms as a result of either mass effect or the increased production of pituitary hormones. Although mostly benign, these tumours can be associated with considerable morbidity. We investigated a panel of immunohistochemical preparations to identify potential therapeutic targets and surrogate markers of clinical outcome.

Testosterone depletion in adult male rats increases mossy fiber transmission, LTP, and sprouting in area CA3 of hippocampus.

Androgens have dramatic effects on neuronal structure and function in hippocampus. However, androgen depletion does not always lead to hippocampal impairment. To address this apparent paradox, we evaluated the hippocampus of adult male rats after gonadectomy (Gdx) or sham surgery.

Reduced hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in neonatal rats after prenatal exposure to propylthiouracil (PTU).

Thyroid hormone is critical for central nervous system development. Fetal hypothyroidism leads to reduced cognitive performance in offspring as well as other effects on neural development in both humans and experimental animals. The nature of these impairments suggests that thyroid hormone may exert its effects via dysregulation of the neurotrophin brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which is critical to normal development of the central nervous system and has been implicated in neurodevelopmental disorders.