Early cellular and synaptic changes in dopaminoceptive forebrain regions of juvenile mice following gestational exposure to valproate.

Gestational exposure of mice to valproic acid (VPA) is one currently used experimental model for the investigation of typical failure symptoms associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In the present study we hypothesized that the reduction of dopaminergic source neurons of the VTA, followed by perturbed growth of the mesotelencephalic dopamine pathway (MT), should also modify pattern formation in the dopaminoceptive target regions (particularly its mesoaccumbens/mesolimbic portion). Here, we investigated VPA-evoked cellular morphological (apoptosis-frequency detected by Caspase-3, abundance of Ca-binding proteins, CaBP), as well as synaptic proteomic (western blotting) changes, in selected dopaminoceptive subpallial, as compared to pallial, regions of mice, born to mothers treated with 500 mg/kg VPA on day 13.

Avian models for brain mechanisms underlying altered social behavior in autism.

The current review is an update on experimental approaches in which birds serve as model species for the investigation of typical failure symptoms associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The discussion is focused on deficiencies of social behavior, from social interactions of domestic chicks, based on visual and auditory cues, to vocal communication in songbirds. Two groups of pathogenetic/risk factors are discussed: 1) non-genetic (environmental/epigenetic) factors, exemplified by embryonic exposure to valproic acid (VPA), and 2) genetic factors, represented by a list of candidate genes and signaling pathways of diagnostic or predictive value in ASD patients.

Increased sTREM-1 levels identify cirrhotic patients with bacterial infection and predict their 90-day mortality.

Background And Aims: Patients with cirrhosis are susceptible to bacterial infections (BIs) that are major causes of specific complications and mortality. However, the diagnosis of BIs can often be difficult in advanced disease stage since their symptoms may overlap with the ones of acute decompensation (AD). Soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (sTREM-1) is released from monocytes/macrophages and neutrophils during activation and has been reported to correlate with activity of various inflammatory processes.

D-Aspartate consumption selectively promotes intermediate-term spatial memory and the expression of hippocampal NMDA receptor subunits.

D-Aspartate (D-Asp) and D-serine (D-Ser) have been proposed to promote early-phase LTP in vitro and to enhance spatial memory in vivo. Here, we investigated the behavioural effects of chronic consumption of D-Asp and D-Ser on spatial learning of mice together with the expression of NMDA receptors. We also studied the alterations of neurogenesis by morphometric analysis of bromo-deoxyuridine incorporating and doublecortin expressing cells in the hippocampus.

Gestational Exposure to Sodium Valproate Disrupts Fasciculation of the Mesotelencephalic Dopaminergic Tract, With a Selective Reduction of Dopaminergic Output From the Ventral Tegmental Area.

Gestational exposure to valproic acid (VPA) is known to cause behavioral deficits of sociability, matching similar alterations in human autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Available data are scarce on the neuromorphological changes in VPA-exposed animals. Here, we focused on alterations of the dopaminergic system, which is implicated in motivation and reward, with relevance to social cohesion.

Prostate preserving resection of a rare giant peri-prostatic solitary fibrous tumor.

Solitary fibrous tumors (SFTs) are rare mesenchymal neoplasms that have been infrequently documented in the prostate. In this case, a 78 year old man experiencing constipation and lower abdominal pain presented with a SFT arising from the prostatic fascia encompassing the dorsal vein complex and left neurovascular bundle. To our knowledge this is the first documented case of an SFT limited to the prostatic fascia and neurovascular tissues of the prostate.

Brain Distribution and Sexually Dimorphic Expression of Amylin in Different Reproductive Stages of the Zebra Finch () Suggest Roles of the Neuropeptide in Song Learning and Social Behaviour.

The expression of the recently identified neuropeptide, amylin, is restricted in rodents to the postpartum preoptic area and may play a role in the control of parental behaviours and food intake. These processes are substantially different between bird and rodent parents as birds do not lactate but often show biparental care of the offspring. To establish the presence and role of amylin in the bird brain, in the present study, we investigated the distribution of amylin in brains of adult male and female zebra finches in three different reproductive stages (i.

Valproate Exposure Attenuates the Acquisition of Social Preferences of Young Post-hatch Domestic Chicks.

Embryonic exposure to valproic acid (VPA) is known to produce sociability deficits, resembling human autistic phenotypes, in several vertebrate species. Animals living in groups prefer the proximity of peers and have the ability to perceive and to respond to social signals for modifying behavior. Chicks of Galliform birds, known to display early preference behaviors, have been used extensively for adaptive learning studies.

Selective neuronal death following exposure to methylenedioxypyrovalerone is accompanied by an inhibition of NMDA receptor NR2B subunit expression.

In a previous study, methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), a designer drug of the cathinone family, caused selective enhancement of Caspase3 immunoreactive (Casp3+) apoptotic cells in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) of 7‑day‑old mice. To further elaborate on the mechanism underlying MDPV‑elicited apoptosis, here, we investigated the appearance of Casp3+ cells in developing neural tube explants of E12.5 mice, following MDPV treatment in vitro.

Age-related and function-dependent regional alterations of free L- and D-aspartate in postembryonic chick brain.

D-aspartate (D-Asp) modulates adult neural plasticity and embryonic brain development by promoting cell proliferation, survival and differentiation. Here, developmental changes of the excitatory amino acids (EAAs) L-Glu, L-Asp and D-Asp were determined during the first postembryonic days, a time window for early learning, in selected brain regions of domestic chickens after chiral separation and capillary electrophoresis. Extracellular concentration (ECC) of EAAs was measured in microdialysis samples from freely moving chicks.

Gestational Exposure to the Synthetic Cathinone Methylenedioxypyrovalerone Results in Reduced Maternal Care and Behavioral Alterations in Mouse Pups.

The member of synthetic cathinone family, methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), is a frequently used psychoactive drug of abuse. The objective of our study was to determine the effect of MDPV (administered from the 8th to the 14th day of gestation) on the behavior of neonatal and adolescent mice, as well as its effect on maternal care. We measured maternal care (pup retrieval test, nest building), locomotor activity (open field test), and motor coordination (grip strength test) of dams, whereas on pups we examined locomotor activity at postnatal day 7 and day 21 (open field test) and motor coordination on day 21 (grip strength test).

Update on forebrain evolution: From neurogenesis to thermogenesis.

Comparative developmental studies provide growing understanding of vertebrate forebrain evolution. This short review directs the spotlight to some newly emerging aspects, including the evolutionary origin of the proliferative region known as the subventricular zone (SVZ) and of intermediate progenitor cells (IPCs) that populate the SVZ, neural circuits that originated within homologous regions across all amniotes, and the role of thermogenesis in the acquisition of an increased brain size. These data were presented at the 8th European Conference on Comparative Neurobiology.

Minimal preparation CT: A literature review of a minimally invasive imaging technique for colorectal cancer in a frail, aged population.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common malignancy with increased incidence in the elderly. When CRC is suspected, patients are typically evaluated with optical colonoscopy (OC) or CT Colonography (CTC). Unfortunately, in the frail and elderly patient, these investigations can be difficult to perform and are often not tolerated.

Effect of nucleus accumbens lesions on socially motivated behaviour of young domestic chicks.

Behaviour of young domestic chicks when isolated from conspecifics is influenced by two conflicting drives: fear of potential predator and craving for company. The nucleus accumbens (Ac) has been suggested to influence social behaviour, as well as motivation in goal-directed tasks. In this study, the Ac of 1-day-old domestic chicks was lesioned bilaterally, using radiofrequency method.

Multiple amygdaloid divisions of arcopallium send convergent projections to the nucleus accumbens and neighboring subpallial amygdala regions in the domestic chicken: a selective pathway tracing and reconstruction study.

Retrograde tracing with choleratoxin B, injected into the nucleus accumbens (Ac) and bed nucleus of stria terminalis, lateral part (BSTL), yielded labeled perikarya in a ring-shaped area of arcopallium, including dorsal and hilar subdivisions, with a wedge-shaped node of dense accumulation in the amygdalopiriform area (APir). Also, the position of source neurons for this arcopallio-subpallial pathway was verified by anterograde tracing. Three subregions of arcopallium (amygdalopiriform, dorsal, hilar) were injected with dextran (10 kDa), and fibers and terminal fields were detected in Ac, BSTL and extended amygdala (EA).

Distribution of vasotocin- and vasoactive intestinal peptide-like immunoreactivity in the brain of blue tit (Cyanistes coeruleus).

Blue tits (Cyanistes coeruleus) are songbirds, used as model animals in numerous studies covering a wide field of research. Nevertheless, the distribution of neuropeptides in the brain of this avian species remains largely unknown. Here we present some of the first results on distribution of Vasotocine (AVT) and Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in the brain of males and females of this songbird species, using immunohistochemistry mapping.

Neurotensin: revealing a novel neuromodulator circuit in the nucleus accumbens-parabrachial nucleus projection of the domestic chick.

Lower brainstem projections from nucleus accumbens (Ac) subregions to the parabrachial complex (PB), the nucleus of the solitary tract and the vagal motor nuclei have been described previously in the domestic chick by our group. Such projections, particulary those from the core and rostral pole regions of Ac have not been found in mammals or pigeons. Here we report on the presence of neurotensin (NT) in the neurons projecting from different Ac subnuclei, and also from the bed nucleus of stria terminalis, to the PB in the domestic chicken.

Effect of synthetic cathinones: mephedrone, butylone and 3,4 methylene-dioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) on social separation induced distress vocalization, vigilance and postural control of young domestic chicks.

Designer drugs have become a distinct social problem and health hazard in Europe and US, and their abuse has increased dramatically in the last decade. Selective effects of these agents on animal behavioral parameters may help in better understanding of the potential risks of human drug abuse. In the present study, the effects of three different abusive agents of the cathinone family, mephedrone, butylone and 3,4 methylene-dioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) were tested in young domestic chicks, following administration of single intraperitoneal injections (10mg/bwt).

Apoptotic effects of the 'designer drug' methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) on the neonatal mouse brain.

The designer drug of cathinone family, methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), is a cheap and frequently used psychoactive drug of abuse. However, its mechanism of action, particularly its potential detrimental effect on the developing brain, is largely unknown, despite the fact that pregnant females may occur among the users. The objective of our study was to identify the brain areas sensitive for a possible apoptotic effect of the widely abused MDPV on the developing brain.

Spectrum of imaging findings on axial T2-weighted fat-saturated imaging of the lumbar spine.

Axial T2-weighted fat-saturated imaging provides information not readily available from routine lumbar spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocols and routine inclusion of this sequence in place of axial T1-weighted imaging provides additional diagnostic information that can be obtained without increasing examination time or cost. The purpose of this review is to highlight the value of axial T2-weighted fat-saturated imaging as part of a routine lumbar spine MRI protocol.

Chiral analysis of amino acid neurotransmitters and neuromodulators in mouse brain by CE-LIF.

Chiral CE method has been developed for quantitative determination of d-amino acid modulators of NMDA glutamate receptor; d-serine and d-aspartate along with l-glutamate and l-aspartate in biological samples. These ligands are suggested to be involved in regulation of NMDA receptor related brain functions, such as neurogenesis, neuronal plasticity, and memory formation. For sensitive determination of the amino acids LIF detection was chosen, and a fluorogenic reagent, 7-fluoro-4-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole was used for derivatization.