Number of subfields of the rat dorsal subiculum defined by the NOS and PCP4 immunoreactivities changes according to the different levels of observation.

The subiculum is a main output part of the hippocampal formation and important for learning and memory. According to connection studies, the distal and proximal regions of the subiculum project to the brain regions related to the spatial and emotional memories, respectively. Our previous morphological studies indicated that the ventral subiculum (vSub) consists of two regions, the distal subiculum (Sub1) and the proximal subiculum (Sub2), while the dorsal subiculum (dSub) seemed to comprise only one region (Sub1).

Transcriptomic and de novo proteomic analyses of organotypic entorhino-hippocampal tissue cultures reveal changes in metabolic and signaling regulators in TTX-induced synaptic plasticity.

Understanding the mechanisms of synaptic plasticity is crucial for elucidating how the brain adapts to internal and external stimuli. A key objective of plasticity is maintaining physiological activity states during perturbations by adjusting synaptic transmission through negative feedback mechanisms. However, identifying and characterizing novel molecular targets orchestrating synaptic plasticity remains a significant challenge.

Postsynaptic GABA-receptor mediated currents in diverse dentate gyrus interneuron types.

The processing of rich synaptic information in the dentate gyrus (DG) relies on a diverse population of inhibitory GABAergic interneurons to regulate cellular and circuit activity, in a layer-specific manner. Metabotropic GABA-receptors (GABARs) provide powerful inhibition to the DG circuit, on timescales consistent with behavior and learning, but their role in controlling the activity of interneurons is poorly understood with respect to identified cell types. We hypothesize that GABARs display cell type-specific heterogeneity in signaling strength, which will have direct ramifications for signal processing in DG networks.

Cell-type specific inhibitory plasticity in subicular pyramidal cells.

The balance between excitation and inhibition is essential to the proper function of cortical circuits. To maintain this balance during dynamic network activity, modulation of the strength of inhibitory synapses is a central requirement. In this study, we aimed to characterize perisomatic inhibition and its plasticity onto pyramidal cells (PCs) in the subiculum, the main output region of the hippocampus.

Directed and acyclic synaptic connectivity in the human layer 2-3 cortical microcircuit.

The computational capabilities of neuronal networks are fundamentally constrained by their specific connectivity. Previous studies of cortical connectivity have mostly been carried out in rodents; whether the principles established therein also apply to the evolutionarily expanded human cortex is unclear. We studied network properties within the human temporal cortex using samples obtained from brain surgery.

Lifelong absence of microglia alters hippocampal glutamatergic networks but not synapse and spine density.

Microglia sculpt developing neural circuits by eliminating excess synapses in a process called synaptic pruning, by removing apoptotic neurons, and by promoting neuronal survival. To elucidate the role of microglia during embryonic and postnatal brain development, we used a mouse model deficient in microglia throughout life by deletion of the fms-intronic regulatory element (FIRE) in the Csf1r locus. Surprisingly, young adult Csf1r mice display no changes in excitatory and inhibitory synapse number and spine density of CA1 hippocampal neurons compared with Csf1r littermates.

Correction: Opportunities within the meat supply chain in Africa-The case of beef production in Northern Ghana.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Fiber counts and architecture of the human dorsal penile nerve.

The human penis transmits behaviorally important sensory information via the dorsal penile nerve, which is required for initiation and maintenance of erection. The human penis differs from the penes of other hominids. The lack of a baculum makes the human penis dependent on erectile tissue, which is under control of neural signals activated by tactile stimulation.

Cell-Type Specific Inhibition Controls the High-Frequency Oscillations in the Medial Entorhinal Cortex.

The medial entorhinal cortex (mEC) plays a critical role for spatial navigation and memory. While many studies have investigated the principal neurons within the entorhinal cortex, much less is known about the inhibitory circuitries within this structure. Here, we describe for the first time in the mEC a subset of parvalbumin-positive (PV+) interneurons (INs)-stuttering cells (STUT)-with morphological, intrinsic electrophysiological, and synaptic properties distinct from fast-spiking PV+ INs.

A dynamic clamp protocol to artificially modify cell capacitance.

Dynamics of excitable cells and networks depend on the membrane time constant, set by membrane resistance and capacitance. Whereas pharmacological and genetic manipulations of ionic conductances of excitable membranes are routine in electrophysiology, experimental control over capacitance remains a challenge. Here, we present capacitance clamp, an approach that allows electrophysiologists to mimic a modified capacitance in biological neurons via an unconventional application of the dynamic clamp technique.

Interneuron diversity in the rat dentate gyrus: An unbiased in vitro classification.

Information processing in cortical circuits, including the hippocampus, relies on the dynamic control of neuronal activity by GABAergic interneurons (INs). INs form a heterogenous population with defined types displaying distinct morphological, molecular, and physiological characteristics. In the major input region of the hippocampus, the dentate gyrus (DG), a number of IN types have been described which provide synaptic inhibition to distinct compartments of excitatory principal cells (PrCs) and other INs.

Opportunities within the meat supply chain in Africa-The case of beef production in Northern Ghana.

Developing food supply chains in the African agriculture could be one of the keys for higher value-added activities and for the fair income of the stakeholders along the chains. Our research aims to investigate how these agricultural value chains are working in Northern Ghana and how to develop them. To estimate meat demand in the Tamale Metropolis, we carried out a large-scale survey with more than 300 interviews.

Reciprocal Homer1a and Homer2 Isoform Expression Is a Key Mechanism for Muscle Atrophy in Spaceflown Mice.

The molecular mechanisms of skeletal muscle atrophy under extended periods of either disuse or microgravity are not yet fully understood. The transition of Homer isoforms may play a key role during neuromuscular junction (NMJ) imbalance/plasticity in space. Here, we investigated the expression pattern of Homer short and long isoforms by gene array, qPCR, biochemistry, and laser confocal microscopy in skeletal muscles from male C57Bl/N6 mice ( = 5) housed for 30 days in space (Bion-flight = BF) compared to muscles from Bion biosatellite on the ground-housed animals (Bion ground = BG) and from standard cage housed animals (Flight control = FC).

Reduction of cortical parvalbumin-expressing GABAergic interneurons in a rodent hyperoxia model of preterm birth brain injury with deficits in social behavior and cognition.

The inhibitory GABAergic system in the brain is involved in the etiology of various psychiatric problems, including autism spectrum disorders (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and others. These disorders are influenced not only by genetic but also by environmental factors, such as preterm birth, although the underlying mechanisms are not known. In a translational hyperoxia model, exposing mice pups at P5 to 80% oxygen for 48 h to mimic a steep rise of oxygen exposure caused by preterm birth from in utero into room air, we documented a persistent reduction of cortical mature parvalbumin-expressing interneurons until adulthood.

Encephalitis patient-derived monoclonal GABAA receptor antibodies cause epileptic seizures.

Autoantibodies targeting the GABAA receptor (GABAAR) hallmark an autoimmune encephalitis presenting with frequent seizures and psychomotor abnormalities. Their pathogenic role is still not well-defined, given the common overlap with further autoantibodies and the lack of patient-derived mAbs. Five GABAAR mAbs from cerebrospinal fluid cells bound to various epitopes involving the α1 and γ2 receptor subunits, with variable binding strength and partial competition.

Spatially structured inhibition defined by polarized parvalbumin interneuron axons promotes head direction tuning.

In cortical microcircuits, it is generally assumed that fast-spiking parvalbumin interneurons mediate dense and nonselective inhibition. Some reports indicate sparse and structured inhibitory connectivity, but the computational relevance and the underlying spatial organization remain unresolved. In the rat superficial presubiculum, we find that inhibition by fast-spiking interneurons is organized in the form of a dominant super-reciprocal microcircuit motif where multiple pyramidal cells recurrently inhibit each other via a single interneuron.

Nitrosative Redox Homeostasis and Antioxidant Response Defense in Disused Muscle in Long-Term Bedrest (Toulouse Cocktail Study).

Increased oxidative stress by reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) is a major determinant of disuse-induced muscle atrophy. Muscle biopsies (thigh vastus lateralis, ) obtained from healthy male subjects enrolled in the Toulouse Cocktail bedrest (BR) study were used to assess efficacy of an antioxidant cocktail (polyphenols, omega-3, vitamin E, and selenium) to counteract the increased redox homeostasis and enhance the antioxidant defense response by using label-free LC-MS/MS and NITRO-DIGE (nitrosated proteins), qPCR, and laser confocal microscopy. Label-free LC-MS/MS indicated that treatment prevented the redox homeostasis dysregulation and promoted structural remodeling (TPM3, MYH7, MYBPC, MYH1, MYL1, HRC, and LUM), increment of RyR1, myogenesis (CSRP3), and skeletal muscle development (MUSTN1, LMNA, AHNAK).

Drebrin controls scar formation and astrocyte reactivity upon traumatic brain injury by regulating membrane trafficking.

The brain of mammals lacks a significant ability to regenerate neurons and is thus particularly vulnerable. To protect the brain from injury and disease, damage control by astrocytes through astrogliosis and scar formation is vital. Here, we show that brain injury in mice triggers an immediate upregulation of the actin-binding protein Drebrin (DBN) in astrocytes, which is essential for scar formation and maintenance of astrocyte reactivity.

Parvalbumin Interneurons Are Differentially Connected to Principal Cells in Inhibitory Feedback Microcircuits along the Dorsoventral Axis of the Medial Entorhinal Cortex.

The medial entorhinal cortex (mEC) shows a high degree of spatial tuning, predominantly grid cell activity, which is reliant on robust, dynamic inhibition provided by local interneurons (INs). In fact, feedback inhibitory microcircuits involving fast-spiking parvalbumin (PV) basket cells (BCs) are believed to contribute dominantly to the emergence of grid cell firing in principal cells (PrCs). However, the strength of PV BC-mediated inhibition onto PrCs is not uniform in this region, but high in the dorsal and weak in the ventral mEC.

Morpho-physiological properties and connectivity of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-expressing interneurons in the mouse hippocampal dentate gyrus.

The hippocampus is a key brain structure for cognitive and emotional functions. Among the hippocampal subregions, the dentate gyrus (DG) is the first station that receives multimodal sensory information from the cortex. Local-circuit inhibitory GABAergic interneurons (INs) regulate the excitation-inhibition balance in the DG principal neurons (PNs) and therefore are critical for information processing.

Protein Synthesis in the Developing Neocortex at Near-Atomic Resolution Reveals Ebp1-Mediated Neuronal Proteostasis at the 60S Tunnel Exit.

Protein synthesis must be finely tuned in the developing nervous system as the final essential step of gene expression. This study investigates the architecture of ribosomes from the neocortex during neurogenesis, revealing Ebp1 as a high-occupancy 60S peptide tunnel exit (TE) factor during protein synthesis at near-atomic resolution by cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM). Ribosome profiling demonstrated Ebp1-60S binding is highest during start codon initiation and N-terminal peptide elongation, regulating ribosome occupancy of these codons.

The Higher Sensitivity of GABAergic Compared to Glutamatergic Neurons to Growth-Promoting C3bot Treatment Is Mediated by Vimentin.

The current study investigates the neurotrophic effects of C3 transferase (C3bot) on highly purified, glia-free, GABAergic, and glutamatergic neurons. Incubation with nanomolar concentrations of C3bot promotes dendrite formation as well as dendritic and axonal outgrowth in rat GABAergic neurons. A comparison of C3bot effects on sorted mouse GABAergic and glutamatergic neurons obtained from newly established ; mice revealed a higher sensitivity of GABAergic cells to axonotrophic and dendritic effects of C3bot in terms of process length and branch formation.

A novel giant non-cholinergic striatal interneuron restricted to the ventrolateral striatum coexpresses Kv3.3 potassium channel, parvalbumin, and the vesicular GABA transporter.

The striatum is the main input structure of the basal ganglia. Distinct striatal subfields are involved in voluntary movement generation and cognitive and emotional tasks, but little is known about the morphological and molecular differences of striatal subregions. The ventrolateral subfield of the striatum (VLS) is the orofacial projection field of the sensorimotor cortex and is involved in the development of orofacial dyskinesias, involuntary chewing-like movements that often accompany long-term neuroleptic treatment.

Minimizing shrinkage of acute brain slices using metal spacers during histological embedding.

The morphological structure of neurons provides the basis for their functions and is a major focus of contemporary neuroscience studies. Intracellular staining of single cells in acute slices is a well-established approach, offering high-resolution information on neuronal morphology, complementing their physiology. Despite major technical advances, however, a common histological artifact often precludes precise morphological analysis: shrinkage of the sampled tissue after embedding for microscopy.