Effects of Pregnanolone Glutamate and Its Metabolites on GABA and NMDA Receptors and Zebrafish Behavior.

Multiple molecular targets have been identified to mediate membrane-delimited and nongenomic effects of natural and synthetic steroids, but the influence of steroid metabolism on neuroactive steroid signaling is not well understood. To begin to address this question, we set out to identify major metabolites of a neuroprotective synthetic steroid 20-oxo-5β-pregnan-3α-yl l-glutamyl 1-ester (pregnanolone glutamate, PAG) and characterize their effects on GABA and NMDA receptors (GABARs, NMDARs) and their influence on zebrafish behavior. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to assess concentrations of PAG and its metabolites in the hippocampal tissue of juvenile rats following intraperitoneal PAG injection.

Enhancing electroanalytical performance of porous boron-doped diamond electrodes by increasing thickness for dopamine detection.

Novel porous boron-doped diamond (BDD)-based materials have attracted lots of research interest due to their enhanced detection ability and biocompatibility, favouring them for use in neuroscience. This study reports on morphological, spectral, and electrochemical characterisation of three BDD electrodes of different thickness given by a number of deposited layers (2, 3 and 5). These were prepared using microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition on SiO nanofiber-based scaffolds.

Acute exposure to high-induction electromagnetic field affects activity of model peripheral sensory neurons.

Exposure to repetitive low-frequency electromagnetic field (LF-EMF) shows promise as a non-invasive approach to treat various sensory and neurological disorders. Despite considerable progress in the development of modern stimulation devices, there is a limited understanding of the mechanisms underlying their biological effects and potential targets at the cellular level. A significant impact of electromagnetic field on voltage-gated calcium channels and downstream signalling pathways has been convincingly demonstrated in many distinct cell types.

Improved superfusion technique for rapid cooling or heating of cultured cells under patch-clamp conditions.

We have developed an improved technique for fast cooling and heating of solutions superfusing isolated cells under patch-clamp or calcium imaging conditions. The system meets the requirements for studying temperature dependency of all kinds of ion channels, in particular temperature-gated ion channels. It allows the application of temperature changes within a range of 5-60 degrees C at maximum rates of -40 degrees C/s to 60 degrees C/s.