Knockout of neutrophil cytosolic factor 1 ameliorates neuroinflammation and motor deficit after traumatic brain injury.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a predominant cause of long-term disability in adults, yet the molecular mechanisms underpinning the neuropathological processes associated with it remain inadequately understood. Neutrophil cytosolic factor 1 (NCF1, also known as p47) is one of the cytosolic components of NADPH oxidase NOX2. In this study, we observed a reduction in the volume of TBI-induced brain lesions in NCF1-knockout mice compared to controls.

Effects of CXCR7-neutralizing antibody on neurogenesis in the hippocampal dentate gyrus and cognitive function in the chronic phase of cerebral ischemia.

Stromal cell-derived factor-1 and its receptor CXCR4 are essential regulators of the neurogenesis that occurs in the adult hippocampal dentate gyrus. However, the effects of CXCR7, a new atypical receptor of stromal cell-derived factor-1, on hippocampal neurogenesis after a stroke remain largely unknown. Our study is the first to investigate the effect of a CXCR7-neutralizing antibody on neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus and the associated recovery of cognitive function of rats in the chronic stage of cerebral ischemia.

Sigma-1 receptor activation ameliorates LPS-induced NO production and ROS formation through the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway in cultured astrocytes.

Accumulating evidence has shown that astrocytes play a critical role in neuroinflammation and protection against oxidative stress. In this study, we investigated the effects of sigma-1 receptor (Sig-1R) activation on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory reactions and oxidative/nitrosative stress in cultured astrocytes. We found that SA4503, a selective Sig-1R agonist, attenuated LPS-induced inflammatory reactions and oxidative/nitrosative stress by downregulating the expression of iNOS and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and upregulating glutathione (GSH) in cultured astrocytes.

Increased protein expression levels of pCREB, BDNF and SDF-1/CXCR4 in the hippocampus may be associated with enhanced neurogenesis induced by environmental enrichment.

Brain plasticity is very sensitive to the environment. Certain neurotrophic factors and neurotransmitter receptors, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element‑binding protein (CREB), stromal cell‑derived factor‑1 (SDF‑1) and its specific receptor, C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4), are important in neurogenesis in adult animals. In the present study, the effects of environmental enrichment (EE) on neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus (DG) and subventricular zone (SVZ), and the protein expression levels of BDNF, CREB, SDF‑1 and CXCR4 were investigated.

Bumetanide promotes neural precursor cell regeneration and dendritic development in the hippocampal dentate gyrus in the chronic stage of cerebral ischemia.

Bumetanide has been shown to lessen cerebral edema and reduce the infarct area in the acute stage of cerebral ischemia. Few studies focus on the effects of bumetanide on neuroprotection and neurogenesis in the chronic stage of cerebral ischemia. We established a rat model of cerebral ischemia by injecting endothelin-1 in the left cortical motor area and left corpus striatum.

The effect of procyanidin on expression of STAT1 in type 2 diabetes mellitus SD rats with focal cerebral ischemia.

Objectives: Diabetes with cerebral infarction is a common disease that severely impacts health. This study investigated the effect of procyanidin (PC) on the expression of signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT1) in type 2 diabetes mellitus SD rats with focal cerebral ischemia. We then explored the protective mechanisms of PC in type 2 diabetes mellitus SD rats with focal cerebral ischemia, to provide theory evidence for its clinical application.

Hemichorea associated with nonketotic hyperglycemia in a female.

A case of a 61-year-old woman with hemichorea associated with nonketotic hyperglycemia is reported. The typical presentation of this disease is nonketotic hyperglycemia, hemichorea, hyper-intense signal on T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and high-density on computed tomography (CT) in the contralateral striatum. With good glycemic control, the clinical symptoms disappeared.

Enhanced integration of newborn neurons after neonatal insults.

The production and integration of adult-generated neurons in the dentate gyrus is dramatically perturbed by a variety of pathological insults, including repetitive seizures and hypoxia/ischemia. Less is known about how insults affect early postnatal neurogenesis, during the developmental period when the majority of dentate neurons are produced. Here we tested how single episodes of hypoxia or chemically induced seizure activity in postnatal day 10 mice alter granule cell production and integration.

Integration of adult generated neurons during epileptogenesis.

Adult generated neurons in the dentate gyrus become functionally integrated into the existing hippocampal circuit by forming synapses with mature neurons. It is now well established that seizure activity increases neural proliferation, but only recently has the fate of seizure-induced newborn neurons been examined. An emerging consensus proposes that newborn neurons are highly sensitive to their environment, such that synaptic integration is profoundly altered following insults such as seizures.

CNS-active drugs in aging population at high risk of cerebrovascular events: evidence from preclinical and clinical studies.

The recovery process following cerebral insults such as stroke is affected by aging and pharmacotherapy. The use of medication including CNS-active drugs has increased in the elderly during recent years. However, surprisingly little is known about how safe they are with respect to severity of sensorimotor and cognitive impairments or recovery of function following possible cerebrovascular accidents.

[Study on the changes of the leptin receptor expression and neuronal damage following focal ischemia/reperfusion in rats].

Aim: To study the expression of leptin receptor (OB-R) and neuronal damage following focal ischemia/reperfusion in rats.

Methods: 20 adult male Wistar rats were divided into four groups randomly: sham-operated 24 h,72 h control group and ischemic/reperfusion 24 h, 72 h experiment group. Focal ischemia/reperfusion model was made with MCAO.

Behavioral effects of photothrombotic ischemic cortical injury in aged rats treated with the sedative-hypnotic GABAergic drug zopiclone.

Sedative-hypnotic drugs commonly used in the elderly may affect functional recovery following cerebrovascular events. Previous research has shown that prolonged exposure to diazepam can interfere with recovery of function and exaggerate tissue loss after brain injury. The present study evaluated the effect of zopiclone, a widely used hypnotic drug, on functional and histological outcome after cortical photothrombosis in aged rats, which might be particularly vulnerable to brain insults and inhibitory sedative-hypnotic drugs.

Behavioral and histological effects of chronic antipsychotic and antidepressant drug treatment in aged rats with focal ischemic brain injury.

Psychotropic drugs are commonly used in the elderly, including those who may sustain ischemic attacks. Concomitant CNS medication may interfere with functional recovery. The present study evaluated the effect of risperidone, an atypical neuroleptic, and fluoxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, on histological and functional outcome after experimental stroke in aged rats, which might be more vulnerable to brain insults.

Effect of cholinergic medication, before and after focal photothrombotic ischemic cortical injury, on histological and functional outcome in aged and young adult rats.

The present study evaluated the effect of galanthamine, a selective competitive cholinesterase inhibitor, on histological and functional outcome after experimental stroke in rats. Cholinesterase inhibitors are commonly used as cognitive enhancers for dementia in aged people, including those who may sustain ischemic attacks. Young adult (5 months) and aged (24 months) rats were treated with saline or galanthamine at a dose of 2.