Pregestational Exposure to Produces Maternal Antibodies That Recognize Fetal Brain Mimotopes and Induces Neurochemical and Behavioral Dysfunction in the Offspring.

The activation of the maternal immune system by a prenatal infection is considered a risk factor for developing psychiatric disorders in the offspring. is one of the pathogenic infections associated with schizophrenia. Recent studies have shown an association between high levels of IgG anti- from mothers and their neonates, with a higher risk of developing schizophrenia.

Potential Use of Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Nanotube Sponges as Payload Carriers Against Malignant Glioma.

Glioblastoma is the most aggressive brain tumor with a low median survival of 14 months. The only Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved treatment for topical delivery of the cancer drug carmustine is Gliadel. However, its use has been associated with several side-effects, mainly provoked by a mass effect.

Subchronic -acetylcysteine Treatment Decreases Brain Kynurenic Acid Levels and Improves Cognitive Performance in Mice.

The tryptophan (Trp) metabolite kynurenic acid (KYNA) is an α7-nicotinic and -methyl-d-aspartate receptor antagonist. Elevated brain KYNA levels are commonly seen in psychiatric disorders and neurodegenerative diseases and may be related to cognitive impairments. Recently, we showed that -acetylcysteine (NAC) inhibits kynurenine aminotransferase II (KAT II), KYNA's key biosynthetic enzyme, and reduces KYNA neosynthesis in rats .

Docosahexaenoic acid protection in a rotenone induced Parkinson's model: Prevention of tubulin and synaptophysin loss, but no association with mitochondrial function.

Rotenone, a classic mitochondrial complex I inhibitor, leads to dopaminergic neuronal death resulting in a Parkinson's-like-disease. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) has shown neuroprotective effects in other experimental models of Parkinson's disease, but its effect on the rotenone-induced parkinsonism is still unknown. We tested whether DHA in vivo exerts a neuroprotective effect on rotenone-induced parkinsonism and explored the mechanisms involved, including mitochondrial function and ultrastructure as well as the expression of tubulin and synaptophysin.

Emotional facial expressions during REM sleep dreams.

Although motor activity is actively inhibited during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, specific activations of the facial mimetic musculature have been observed during this stage, which may be associated with greater emotional dream mentation. Nevertheless, no specific biomarker of emotional valence or arousal related to dream content has been identified to date. In order to explore the electromyographic (EMG) activity (voltage, number, density and duration) of the corrugator and zygomaticus major muscles during REM sleep and its association with emotional dream mentation, this study performed a series of experimental awakenings after observing EMG facial activations during REM sleep.

Simultaneous recording of electrical activity and the underlying ionic currents in NG108-15 cells cultured on gold substrate.

This paper shows the simultaneous recording of electrical activity and the underlying ionic currents by using a gold substrate to culture NG108-15 cells. Cells grown on two different substrates (plastic Petri dishes and gold substrates) were characterized quantitatively through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) as well as qualitatively by optical and atomic force microscopy (AFM). No significant differences were observed between the surface area of cells cultured on gold substrates and Petri dishes, as indicated by measurements performed on SEM images.

Sleep in the spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi): A semi-restrictive, non-invasive, polysomnographic study.

The normal sleep patterns of the spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi) have not been described yet. The objective of this study was to characterize the electrophysiological patterns, sleeping postures, and sleep-wake cycle in semi-restricted spider monkeys. Continuous 24-hr polysomnographic (PSG) recordings, involving simultaneous recording of non-invasive electroencephalographic (EEG), electro-oculographic (EOG), and electromyographic (EMG) activities, were carried out in captive monkeys living in outdoor rainforest enclosures.

GABAA receptor agonist at the caudo-lateral peribrachial area suppresses ponto-geniculo-occipital waves and its related states.

Purpose: In order to explore the potential role of GABA, acetylcholine and glutamate in the caudo-lateral peribrachial area (C-PBL) over Rapid-Eye-Movement sleep (REM) onset and maintenance as well as on synchronized sleep with ponto-geniculo-occipital (PGO) waves (SP) in cats, a muscimol, carbachol and L-glutamate local application was performed and behavioral states were assessed.

Methods: Fourteen chronically implanted, adult, male cats underwent a 23 hour polysomnographic recording after 3 pharmacological manipulations: carbachol, muscimol and L-glutamate. Each cat received all three drugs randomly with a seven day interval.

Kynurenines with neuroactive and redox properties: relevance to aging and brain diseases.

The kynurenine pathway (KP) is the main route of tryptophan degradation whose final product is NAD(+). The metabolism of tryptophan can be altered in ageing and with neurodegenerative process, leading to decreased biosynthesis of nicotinamide. This fact is very relevant considering that tryptophan is the major source of body stores of the nicotinamide-containing NAD(+) coenzymes, which is involved in almost all the bioenergetic and biosynthetic metabolism.

Antiapoptotic Effects of EGb 761.

Ginkgo biloba extracts have long been used in Chinese traditional medicine for hundreds of years. The most significant extract obtained from Ginkgo biloba leaves has been EGb 761, a widely used phytopharmaceutical product in Europe. EGb 761 is a well-defined mixture of active compounds, which contains two main active substances: flavonoid glycosides (24-26%) and terpene lactones (6-8%).

Modification of sleep architecture in an animal model of experimental cirrhosis.

Aim: To analyze the polygraphic sleep patterns during cirrhosis progression in a rat model by repeated CCl(4) administration.

Methods: Male Wistar rats received three weekly injections of CCl(4) for 11 wk, and were analyzed before and during the induction of cirrhosis. Rats were implanted with electrodes to record their sleep patterns.

Sleep-EEG patterns of school children suffering from symptoms of depression compared to healthy controls.

Depression in children is often an elusive disorder and its diagnostic tools are a matter of controversy. Several scales have been developed in an attempt to specifically detect some of the major aspects of depression, i.e.

Cortistatin modulates memory evocation in rats.

The neurochemical control of learning depends on several neurotransmitters, hormones, and neuropeptides. Cortistatin is a neuropeptide with sleep-modulating properties that regulates memory consolidation and evocation. Several reports have suggested that learning processes are expressed under diurnal variations; therefore, it seems that the efficiency to solve learning tasks is related to the arousal state.

Differential effects of rapid eye movement sleep deprivation and immobilization stress on blood lymphocyte subsets in rats.

Objectives: There is growing evidence of the relationship between sleep and the immune response. Studies aimed at elucidating the function of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep have found it difficult to separate the effects due to REM sleep deprivation and the effects due to the stress produced by the deprivation procedure. It has been claimed that immobilization is the main stressor that the animals have to face during the deprivation process.