Amygdala dynorphin/κ opioid receptor system modulates depressive-like behavior in mice following chronic social defeat stress.

Major depression disorder is a severe and recurrent neuropsychological disorder characterized by lowered mood and social activity and cognitive impairment. Owing to unclear molecular mechanisms of depression, limited interventions are available in clinic. In this study we investigated the role of dynorphin/κ opioid receptor system in the development of depression.

Proteomic analysis of male rat nucleus accumbens, dorsal hippocampus and amygdala on conditioned place aversion induced by morphine withdrawal.

Addiction is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and taking behavior, which is thought to result from persistent neuroadaptations, encoded by changes of gene expression. We previously demonstrated that the changes in synaptic plasticity were required for the formation of aversive memories associated with morphine withdrawal. However, the proteins involved in synaptic plasticity and aversive memory formation have not been well explored.

Low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation inhibits the development of methamphetamine-induced conditioned place preference.

The abuse of amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) has become a global public health issue in recent years, these new-type drugs can cause addiction and serious cognitive impairment. However, there are no effective methods for the prevention and treatment of ATS addiction at present. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a painless and non-invasive new therapeutic approach that has been used for the treatment of depression and other neuropsychiatric disorders, but whether it can be used to treat drug addiction is unclear.

KCC2 expression changes in Diazepam-treated neonatal rats with hypoxia-ischaemia brain damage.

Hypoxia-ischaemia brain damage (HIBD) is a major type of perinatal brain injury in newborns. In this study, we investigate the short- and long-term neuroprotective effects of Diazepam on neonatal rats with HIBD and the potential mechanisms underlying its protective effects. Seven-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to left carotid artery ligation followed by a 2-h exposure to 8% oxygen and 92% nitrogen.

Establishment and characterization of a paclitaxel‑resistant human esophageal carcinoma cell line.

The aim of this study was to establish a new paclitaxel (PTX)-resistant human esophageal squamous carcinoma (ESCC) cell line and investigate its biological characteristics. The resistant cell line (EC109/Taxol) was developed in vitro by intermittent exposure of the human ESCC cell line EC109 to a high concentration of PTX with time-stepwise increment over a period of 6 months. The MTT assay was performed to test the drug resistance of EC109 and EC109/Taxol cells.

Changtai granule, a traditional Chinese drug, protects hapten-induced colitis by attenuating inflammatory and immune dysfunctions.

The study was aimed to investigate the effects and mechanism of action of Changtai granule (CT), a traditional compound Chinese medicinal formula, in rodent 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) colitis. Rats with TNBS/ethanol-induced colitis were used. The colonic wet weight, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, macroscopic and histological colon injury was observed.

Lymphtoxin beta receptor-Ig ameliorates TNBS-induced colitis via blocking LIGHT/HVEM signaling.

LIGHT is a member of the TNF superfamily, which is transiently expressed on the surface of activated T lymphocytes and immature dendritic cells. Its known receptors are herpesvirus entry mediator (HVEM) prominently in T lymphocytes, and lymphtoxin beta receptor (LTbetaR) in stromal cells or nonlymphoid hematopoietic cells. Previous studies have shown that overexpression of LIGHT on T cells could lead to lymphocytes activation, inflammation, and tissue destruction focused on intestinal mucosal tissues.