Analysis of the Dynamics of Cognitive Impairments and Expression of Caspase Cascade Genes in Preclinical Stages of Parkinsonism Modeled Using α-Synuclein Oligomers.

The behavioral effects of α-synuclein oligomers were studied at various times after its chronic intranasal administration to 75-day-old C57BL/6J mice in comparison with the dynamics of changes in the transcriptional activity of caspases genes (Casp9, Casp8, and Casp3) in the hippocampus, frontal cortex, and cerebellum. The negative effects of α-synuclein oligomers on exploratory activity and short-term memory in the novel object recognition test were most pronounced after 90 days from the end of administration, while after 1 and 270 days, partial compensation of the studied cognitive functions was observed. Analysis of the expression of caspase genes suggests that early compensatory mechanisms are associated with suppression of the effector caspase-3 gene expression along with increased activity of the genes encoding initiator caspases-9 and -8.

Association of GAD1 gene polymorphism rs3749034 with the information processing and cognitive event-related potentials in schizophrenia patients and healthy subjects.

Objective: Glutamic acid decarboxylase, an enzyme in GABA biosynthesis, is encoded by the GAD1 gene, the transcriptional activity of which is affected by the rs3749034 polymorphism. The aim was to investigate the effects of rs3749034 on cognitive event-related potentials (P300) in healthy subjects and schizophrenic patients.

Methods: Determination of rs3749034 polymorphism was performed in 89 healthy volunteers and 109 schizophrenic patients (males).

Synergy of experimental and computational chemistry: structure and biological activity of Zn(II) hydrazone complexes.

In this paper, three different Zn(II) complexes with ()-2-(2-(1-(6-bromopyridin-2-yl)ethylidene)hydrazinyl)-,,-trimethyl-2-oxoethan-1-aminium chloride (HLCl) have been synthesized and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis, IR and NMR spectroscopy. All complexes are mononuclear, with the ligand (L) coordinated in a deprotonated formally neutral zwitterionic form NNO donor set atoms. Complex 1 forms an octahedral geometry with the composition [ZnL](BF), while complexes 2 [ZnL(NCO)] and 3 [ZnL(N)] form penta-coordinated geometry.

Analysis of NAPA Gene Expression in Brain Structures of Wistar Rats during the Formation of Long-Term Spatial Memory and Physical Activity under Stress Situation.

In the cerebellum, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex of mature male Wistar rats with trained spatial navigational skill in the Morris water maze, the transcriptional activity the NAPA gene that regulates the transport and secretion of synaptic vesicles, release of neurotransmitters, and protein degradation was determined by real-time PCR. Animals subjected to forced swimming in a time-matched regime (active control) and naïve rats were used as the comparison groups. Suppression of NAPA gene activity was found in the hippocampus and cerebellum of the active control group, while navigation skill training led to a significant increase in gene expression in all brain structures under study.

Motor and Cognitive Functions in Aging C57BL/6 Mice: Association with Activity of the Monoaminergic Systems in the Cerebellum and Frontal Cortex.

The activity in the open field, short- and long-term memory in the novel object recognition test, and gait features were evaluated in 6- and 12-month-old male C57BL/6 mice. The levels of norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin, and their metabolites were determined in the cerebellum and frontal cortex. In the observed age range, a decrease in locomotion speed, impairment of gait initiation and stability, and long-term memory deficit were revealed.