Sex differences in neural projections of fear memory processing in mice and humans.

It remains unexplored in the field of fear memory whether functional neuronal connectivity between two brain areas is necessary for one sex but not the other. Here, we show that chemogenetic silencing of centromedial (CeM)- fibers in the lateral posterior BNST (BNSTpl) decreased fear memory consolidation in male mice but not females. Optogenetic excitation of CeM- fibers in the BNSTpl exhibited enhanced inhibitory postsynaptic currents in males compared to females.

The Matricellular Protein Hevin Is Involved in Alcohol Use Disorder.

Astrocytic-secreted matricellular proteins have been shown to influence various aspects of synaptic function. More recently, they have been found altered in animal models of psychiatric disorders such as drug addiction. Hevin (also known as Sparc-like 1) is a matricellular protein highly expressed in the adult brain that has been implicated in resilience to stress, suggesting a role in motivated behaviors.

Characterization of Hevin (SPARCL1) Immunoreactivity in Postmortem Human Brain Homogenates.

Hevin is a matricellular glycoprotein that plays important roles in neural developmental processes such as neuronal migration, synaptogenesis and synaptic plasticity. In contrast to other matricellular proteins whose expression decreases when development is complete, hevin remains highly expressed, suggesting its involvement in adult brain function. In vitro studies have shown that hevin can have different post-translational modifications.

Cartography of hevin-expressing cells in the adult brain reveals prominent expression in astrocytes and parvalbumin neurons.

Hevin, also known as SPARC-like 1, is a member of the secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine family of matricellular proteins, which has been implicated in neuronal migration and synaptogenesis during development. Unlike previously characterized matricellular proteins, hevin remains strongly expressed in the adult brain in both astrocytes and neurons, but its precise pattern of expression is unknown. The present study provides the first systematic description of hevin mRNA distribution in the adult mouse brain.