Whisker stimulation with different frequencies reveals non-uniform modulation of functional magnetic resonance imaging signal across sensory systems in awake rats.

Primary sensory systems are classically considered to be separate units, however there is current evidence that there are notable interactions between them. We examined the cross-sensory interplay by applying a quiet and motion-tolerant zero echo time functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) technique to elucidate the evoked brain-wide responses to whisker pad stimulation in awake and anesthetized rats. Specifically, characterized the brain-wide responses in core and non-core regions to whisker pad stimulation by the varying stimulation-frequency, and determined whether isoflurane-medetomidine anesthesia, traditionally used in preclinical imaging, confounded investigations related to sensory integration.

Resting-state functional MRI of the nose as a novel investigational window into the nervous system.

Besides being responsible for olfaction and air intake, the nose contains abundant vasculature and autonomic nervous system innervations, and it is a cerebrospinal fluid clearance site. Therefore, the nose is an attractive target for functional MRI (fMRI). Yet, nose fMRI has not been possible so far due to signal losses originating from nasal air-tissue interfaces.

Three-dimensional view of microglia-amyloid plaque interactions.

Recent gene expression studies have revealed about 10 different states of microglia, some of which are characteristic for Alzheimer-like amyloid plaque pathology. However, it is not presently known how these translate into morphological features that would reflect microglia interaction with amyloid plaques. With optimized conditions for confocal microscopy in amyloid plaque forming APP/PS1 transgenic mice we reveal new details of how microglia processes interact with amyloid plaques.

Sustained meningeal lymphatic vessel atrophy or expansion does not alter Alzheimer's disease-related amyloid pathology.

Discovery of meningeal lymphatic vessels (LVs) in the dura mater, also known as dural LVs (dLVs) that depend on vascular endothelial growth factor C expression, has raised interest in their possible involvement in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here we find that in the APdE9 and 5xFAD mouse models of AD, dural amyloid-β (Aβ) is confined to blood vessels and dLV morphology or function is not altered. The induction of sustained dLV atrophy or hyperplasia in the AD mice by blocking or overexpressing vascular endothelial growth factor C, impaired or improved, respectively, macromolecular cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage to cervical lymph nodes.

Exploration of dietary interventions to treat mitochondrial fatty acid disorders in a mouse model.

Mitochondrial fatty acids synthesis (mtFAS) is a conserved metabolic pathway essential for mitochondrial respiration. The best characterized mtFAS product is the medium-chain fatty acid octanoate (C8) used as a substrate in the synthesis of lipoic acid (LA), a cofactor required by several mitochondrial enzyme complexes. In humans, mutations in the mtFAS component enoyl reductase MECR cause childhood-onset neurodegenerative disorder MEPAN.