Adherens Junctions: Guardians of Cortical Development.

Apical radial glia comprise the pseudostratified neuroepithelium lining the embryonic lateral ventricles and give rise to the extensive repertoire of pyramidal neuronal subtypes of the neocortex. The establishment of a highly apicobasally polarized radial glial morphology is a mandatory prerequisite for cortical development as it governs neurogenesis, neural migration and the integrity of the ventricular wall. As in all epithelia, cadherin-based adherens junctions (AJs) play an obligate role in the maintenance of radial glial apicobasal polarity and neuroepithelial cohesion.

WNT5a Regulates Epithelial Morphogenesis in the Developing Choroid Plexus.

The choroid plexus (CP) is the predominant supplier of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) and the site of the blood-CSF barrier and is thus essential for brain development and central nervous system homeostasis. Despite these crucial roles, our understanding of the molecular and cellular processes giving rise to the CPs within the ventricles of the mammalian brain is very rudimentary. Here, we identify WNT5a as an important regulator of CP development, where it acts as a pivotal factor driving CP epithelial morphogenesis in all ventricles.

A 2-oxa-spiro[5.4]decane scaffold displays neurotrophic, neurogenic and anti-neuroinflammatory activities with high potential for development as a versatile CNS therapeutic.

Following our recent discovery of a new scaffold exhibiting significant neurotrophic and neurogenic activities, a structurally tweaked analogue, embodying a 2-oxa-spiro [5.4]decane framework, has been conceptualised and found to be more potent and versatile. It exhibits enhanced neurotrophic and neurogenic action in in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo models and also shows robust neuroprotection in mouse acute cerebral stroke model.

Lichen-derived compounds show potential for central nervous system therapeutics.

Background: Natural products from lichens are widely investigated for their biological properties, yet their potential as central nervous system (CNS) therapeutic agents is less explored.

Purpose: The present study investigated the neuroactive properties of selected lichen compounds (atranorin, perlatolic acid, physodic acid and usnic acid), for their neurotrophic, neurogenic and acetylcholine esterase (AChE) activities.

Methods: Neurotrophic activity (neurite outgrowth) was determined using murine neuroblastoma Neuro2A cells.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of strained unusual amino acid containing tetrapeptides as potential antidepressant agents.

Strained unusual amino acid derived tetrapeptides were synthesized as mimics of GLYX-13, a clinical candidate for neuroprotective and anti-depressant properties, were studied. The synthesized compounds were screened for neurite growth and anti-depressant properties in vitro and in vivo respectively comparing with the parent GLYX-13 compound. Neurite growth property was assessed by neurite length and anti-depressant property by percentage of immobility in forced swim test, a behavioural assay.

Evaluation of the hypolipidemic activity of 6,7-dimethoxycoumarin on placental tissue factor mRNA expression in experimental anti-phospholipid syndrome.

Background: Anti-phospholipid syndrome is a thrombogenic and systemic autoimmune disorder that influences fetal life throughout gestation period. Over expression of tissue factor on the surface of monocyte(s) is reported to be a major causative agent in inducing anti-phospholipid antibody-mediated placental thrombosis and fetal loss in pregnant women. The over expression of tissue factor is proposed to be due to high levels of blood cholesterol and oxidized lipoproteins.