In vivo study to assess dosage of allogeneic pig retinal progenitor cells: Long-term survival, engraftment, differentiation and safety.

Despite notable efforts and significant therapeutical advances, age-related macular degeneration remains the single most common reason for vision loss. Retinal progenitor cells (RPCs) are considered promising candidates for cellular treatments that repair and restore vision. In this allogenic study, the phenotypic profile of pig and human RPCs derived using similar manufacturing processes is compared.

Neurotrophic actions of the novel AMPA receptor potentiator, LY404187, in rodent models of Parkinson's disease.

Recent developments in the molecular biology and pharmacology of alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid (AMPA) receptors has led to the discovery of selective, potent and systemically active AMPA receptor potentiators. These molecules enhance synaptic transmission and evidence suggests that they play important roles in plasticity and cognitive processes. Activation of AMPA receptors also increases neuronal activation and activity-dependent signalling, which may increase brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression and enhance cell proliferation in the brain.

The neuronal nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, TRIM, as a neuroprotective agent: effects in models of cerebral ischaemia using histological and magnetic resonance imaging techniques.

Most neuroprotective compounds that appear promising in the pre-clinical phase of testing are subsequently dismissed as relatively ineffective when entered into large-scale clinical trials. Many pre-clinical studies of potential neuroprotective candidates evaluate efficacy in only one or possibly two different models of ischaemia. In this study we examined the effects of 1,2-trifluoromethylphenyl imidazole (TRIM), a novel neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) inhibitor, in three models of cerebral ischaemia (global gerbil, global rat and focal rat).

LY503430, a novel alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid receptor potentiator with functional, neuroprotective and neurotrophic effects in rodent models of Parkinson's disease.

Glutamate is the major excitatory transmitter in the brain. Recent developments in the molecular biology and pharmacology of the alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid (AMPA) subtype of glutamate receptors have led to the discovery of selective, potent, and systemically active AMPA receptor potentiators. These molecules enhance synaptic transmission and play important roles in plasticity and cognitive processes.

An AMPA receptor potentiator modulates hippocampal expression of BDNF: an in vivo study.

AMPA receptor activation has been demonstrated to increase the neuronal expression of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). In the present study, we investigated the effect of a novel AMPA receptor potentiator (LY404187) and its active isomer (LY451646) on the expression of BDNF protein and mRNA, as well as TrkB mRNA in rat hippocampus. LY404187 administered for 7 days (1 mg/kg) significantly increased the number of BDNF immunopositive cells in the dentate gyrus, but not other hippocampal subfields.