A novel role for the ADHD risk gene latrophilin-3 in learning and memory in Lphn3 knockout rats.

Latrophilins (LPHNs) are adhesion G protein-coupled receptors with three isoforms but only LPHN3 is brain specific (caudate, prefrontal cortex, dentate, amygdala, and cerebellum). Variants of LPHN3 are associated with ADHD. Null mutations of Lphn3 in rat, mouse, zebrafish, and Drosophila result in hyperactivity, but its role in learning and memory (L&M) is largely unknown.

Knockout of latrophilin-3 in Sprague-Dawley rats causes hyperactivity, hyper-reactivity, under-response to amphetamine, and disrupted dopamine markers.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a pervasive developmental disorder characterized by inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity and is 75-90% heritable. Latrophilin-3 (LPHN3; or ADGRL(3)) is associated with a subtype of ADHD, but how it translates to symptoms is unknown. LPHN3 is a synaptic adhesion G protein coupled receptor that binds to fibronectin leucine rich transmembrane protein 3 and teneurin-3 (FLRT3 and TEN-3).

Effects of Preweaning Manganese in Combination with Adult Striatal Dopamine Lesions on Monoamines, BDNF, TrkB, and Cognitive Function in Sprague-Dawley Rats.

Manganese (Mn) is an essential nutrient especially during development, but Mn overexposure (MnOE) produces long-term cognitive deficits. Evidence of long-term changes in dopamine in the neostriatum was found in rats from developmental MnOE previously. To examine the relationship between MnOE and dopamine, we tested whether the effects of developmental MnOE would be exaggerated by dopamine reductions induced by 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) neostriatal infusion when the rats were adults.

Prenatal exposure to PCBs in Cyp1a2 knock-out mice interferes with F fertility, impairs long-term potentiation, reduces acoustic startle and impairs conditioned freezing contextual memory with minimal transgenerational effects.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are toxic environmental pollutants. Humans are exposed to PCB mixtures via contaminated food or water. PCB exposure causes adverse effects in adults and after exposure in utero.

Differential effects of perinatal exposure to antidepressants on learning and memory, acoustic startle, anxiety, and open-field activity in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Most antidepressants inhibit monoamine reuptake. Selective serotonin (5-HT) reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) act on the 5-HT transporter (SERT) whereas norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRIs) act on the norepinephrine and dopamine transporters. Epidemiological reports link SSRI use during pregnancy to an increased prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Phosphodiesterase-1b deletion confers depression-like behavioral resistance separate from stress-related effects in mice.

Phosphodiesterase-1b (Pde1b) is highly expressed in striatum, dentate gyrus, CA3 and substantia nigra. In a new Floxed Pde1b × Cre global knockout (KO) mouse model, we show an immobility-resistance phenotype that recapitulates that found in constitutive Pde1b KO mice. We use this new mouse model to show that the resistance to acute stress-induced depression-like phenotype is not the product of changes in locomotor activity or reactivity to other stressors (learned helplessness, novelty suppressed feeding or dexamethasone suppression), and is not associated with anhedonia using the sucrose preference test.

Perinatal exposure to the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor citalopram alters spatial learning and memory, anxiety, depression, and startle in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) block the serotonin (5-HT) reuptake transporter (SERT) and increase synaptic 5-HT. 5-HT is also important in brain development; hence when SSRIs are taken during pregnancy there exists the potential for these drugs to affect CNS ontogeny. Prenatal SSRI exposure has been associated with an increased prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and peripheral 5-HT is elevated in some ASD patients.

Developmental manganese exposure in combination with developmental stress and iron deficiency: Effects on behavior and monoamines.

Manganese (Mn) is an essential element but neurotoxic at higher exposures, however, Mn exposure seldom occurs in isolation. It often co-occurs in populations with inadequate dietary iron (Fe) and limited resources that result in stress. Subclinical FeD affects up to 15% of U.

Chronic social defeat, but not restraint stress, alters bladder function in mice.

Background: Voiding disorders in humans, particularly in children are associated with increased incidence of behavioral issues as well as past history of childhood abuse. We hypothesized that creating stress in mice, utilizing either a chronic social defeat model (SD) or restraint stress in shallow water model (RSSW) would engender changes in bladder function, morphology, and behavior, thereby enabling us to study the resultant voiding dysfunction.

Methods: For SD stress (14 days), C57BL/6 male mice were exposed daily to a larger aggressive CD-1 male for 10 min, followed by sensory exposure in a barrier cage for 24h.

Monitoring of spasticity and functional ability in individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury with a functional electrical stimulation cycling system.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the integration of motor function and spasticity assessment of individuals with spinal cord injury into cycling therapy.

Methods: Twenty-three participants with incomplete spinal cord injury performed 18 training sessions (standard deviation (SD) 14) on an instrumented tricycle combined with functional electrical stimulation. Each therapy session included a power output test to assess the participants' ability to pedal actively and a spasticity test routine that measures the legs' resistance to the pedalling motion.

Sacral nerve stimulation as an option for the treatment of faecal incontinence in patients suffering from cauda equina syndrome.

Study Design: Retrospective clinical study with 1-year follow-up.

Objectives: Treatment of faecal incontinence by permanent sacral nerve stimulation (SNS) in patients suffering from cauda equina syndrome (CES).

Setting: Klosterneuburg, Austria.

[Etiology of Alzheimer's disease].

The major factor that causes problems in studies on the aetiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the clinical heterogeneity of the condition. Familial early-onset AD and familial late-onset AD are differentiated from sporadic AD. Aetiologically a genetic defect on chromosome 21 is the most important factor, at least in some cases of AD.

[Depression, nonverbal intellectual impairment and quality of life following left-brain ischemic insult--results of a catamnestic study].

The purpose of the present study was to establish the relationship between persisting aphasia and the extent of overall disability in the long-term outcome following left hemisphere ischaemic stroke. 55 right-handed patients who had sustained an initial left-sided cerebral infarction, verified by CT scan, were investigated after a mean observation period of six years. 39 patients were categorized as being non-aphasic, and 16 as being aphasic (3 Global, 6 Broca's, 1 conduction, 1 transcortical motor and 5 anomic aphasics) at the end of the follow-up period.

Galanthamine treatment in Alzheimer's disease.

18 patients who had fulfilled the NINCDS-ADRDA criteria for "possible AD" took part in a clinical study to evaluate the effect of the cholinesterase inhibitor Galanthamine, 30 mg/day. Neuropsychological und social parameters were rated. This open clinical pilot-study showed no statistic significant change in neuropsychological test-results.

Clinical comparison of dementia in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease.

Neuropsychological, neuropathological and neurochemical findings show different types of dementias. Few of them have been able to confirm a division into "subcortical" and "cortical" dementia, so this concept has to be questioned. The present clinical study compared type and severity of dementia in 12 Parkinson-patients (PD) and 12 Alzheimer-patients (AD).

[Prognosis and documentation of the disease course in severe craniocerebral injuries].

35 survivors of severe head injury were consecutively admitted to the Neurological Department, University of Vienna for early rehabilitation. The outcome after a mean observation periods of 19 months was compared with clinical signs (best motor response, pupillary light reaction, pupil size) in the acute stage. The clinical signs were graded semiquantitatively.