Unlocking the brain: A new method for Western blot protein detection from fixed brain tissue.

Background: Aldehyde fixation is a common process used to preserve the complex structure of biological samples ex vivo. This method of fixation relies on the formation of covalent bonds between aldehydes and amines present in the biomolecules of the sample. Aldehyde fixation is routinely performed in histological studies, however fixed tissue samples are rarely used for non-histological purposes as the fixation process is thought to make brain tissue unsuitable for traditional proteomic analyses such as Western blot.

Hippocampal cognitive impairment in juvenile rats after repeated mild traumatic brain injury.

There is growing awareness that repeated mild traumatic brain injury (r-mTBI) can cause deficits in learning and memory performance, however there is still a paucity of preclinical data identifying the extent of these deficits. Epidemiological data shows that juveniles are at high risk to sustain r-mTBI, and these injuries may cause significant changes in cognitive abilities, as they occur during a period where the brain is still maturing. This is particularly true for the hippocampus, a brain region important for learning and memory processes.

A Rapid Neurological Assessment Protocol for Repeated Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Awake Rats.

Preclinical models for mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) need to recapitulate several essential clinical features associated with mTBI, including a lack of significant neuropathology and the onset of neurocognitive symptoms normally associated with mTBI. Here we show how to establish a protocol for reliably and repeatedly inducing a mild awake closed head injury (ACHI) in rats, with no mortality or clinical indications of persistent pain. Moreover, we implement a new rapid neurological assessment protocol (NAP) that can be completely conducted within 1 min of each impact.

Revisiting the flip side: Long-term depression of synaptic efficacy in the hippocampus.

Synaptic plasticity is widely regarded as a putative biological substrate for learning and memory processes. While both decreases and increases in synaptic strength are seen as playing a role in learning and memory, long-term depression (LTD) of synaptic efficacy has received far less attention than its counterpart long-term potentiation (LTP). Never-the-less, LTD at synapses can play an important role in increasing computational flexibility in neural networks.

The effects of hormones and physical exercise on hippocampal structural plasticity.

The hippocampus plays an integral role in certain aspects of cognition. Hippocampal structural plasticity and in particular adult hippocampal neurogenesis can be influenced by several intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Here we review how hormones (i.