2D vs 3D morphological analysis of dorsal root ganglia in health and painful neuropathy.

Dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) are clusters of sensory neurons that transmit the sensory information from the periphery to the central nervous system, and satellite glial cells (SGCs), their supporting trophic cells. Sensory neurons are pseudounipolar neurons with a heterogeneous neurochemistry reflecting their functional features. DRGs, not protected by the blood brain barrier, are vulnerable to stress and damage of different origin (i.

Gut-brain communication by distinct sensory neurons differently controls feeding and glucose metabolism.

Sensory neurons relay gut-derived signals to the brain, yet the molecular and functional organization of distinct populations remains unclear. Here, we employed intersectional genetic manipulations to probe the feeding and glucoregulatory function of distinct sensory neurons. We reconstruct the gut innervation patterns of numerous molecularly defined vagal and spinal afferents and identify their downstream brain targets.

Hypothalamic Pomc Neurons Innervate the Spinal Cord and Modulate the Excitability of Premotor Circuits.

Locomotion requires energy, yet animals need to increase locomotion in order to find and consume food in energy-deprived states. While such energy homeostatic coordination suggests brain origin, whether the central melanocortin 4 receptor (Mc4r) system directly modulates locomotion through motor circuits is unknown. Here, we report that hypothalamic Pomc neurons in zebrafish and mice have long-range projections into spinal cord regions harboring Mc4r-expressing V2a interneurons, crucial components of the premotor networks.

Chitosan crosslinked flat scaffolds for peripheral nerve regeneration.

Chitosan (CS) has been widely used in a variety of biomedical applications, including peripheral nerve repair, due to its excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability, readily availability and antibacterial activity. In this study, CS flat membranes, crosslinked with dibasic sodium phosphate (DSP) alone (CS/DSP) or in association with the γ-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (CS/GPTMS_DSP), were fabricated with a solvent casting technique. The constituent ratio of crosslinking agents and CS were previously selected to obtain a composite material having both adequate mechanical properties and high biocompatibility.