Hormonal Actions in the Medial Preoptic Area Governing Parental Behavior: Novel Insights From New Tools.

The importance of hormones in mediating a behavioral transition in mammals from a virgin or nonparenting state to parental state was established around 50 years ago. Extensive research has since revealed a highly conserved neural circuit that underlies parental behavior both between sexes and between mammalian species. Within this circuit, hormonal action in the medial preoptic area of the hypothalamus (MPOA) has been shown to be key in timing the onset of parental behavior with the birth of offspring.

Mechanism of kisspeptin neuron synchronization for pulsatile hormone secretion in male mice.

The mechanism by which arcuate nucleus kisspeptin (ARN) neurons co-expressing glutamate, neurokinin B, and dynorphin intermittently synchronize their activity to generate pulsatile hormone secretion remains unknown. An acute brain slice preparation maintaining synchronized ARN neuron burst firing was used alongside in vivo GCaMP GRIN lens microendoscope and fiber photometry imaging coupled with intra-ARN microinfusion. Studies in intact and gonadectomized male mice revealed that ARN neuron synchronizations result from near-random emergent network activity within the population and that this was critically dependent on local glutamate-AMPA signaling.

Public perceptions and experiences of the minor ailment service in community pharmacy in Scotland.

Background: The Minor Ailment Service (MAS) in Scottish community pharmacy allows eligible people to gain improved access to care by providing free treatment for self-limiting conditions.

Objective: To determine the perceptions and experiences of individuals using MAS and to quantify the potential impact on usage of other healthcare services.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted of patients accessing MAS across Scotland during June and July 2018.

Highly redundant neuropeptide volume co-transmission underlying episodic activation of the GnRH neuron dendron.

The necessity and functional significance of neurotransmitter co-transmission remains unclear. The glutamatergic 'KNDy' neurons co-express kisspeptin, neurokinin B (NKB), and dynorphin and exhibit a highly stereotyped synchronized behavior that reads out to the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neuron dendrons to drive episodic hormone secretion. Using expansion microscopy, we show that KNDy neurons make abundant close, non-synaptic appositions with the GnRH neuron dendron.