Dopamine D2 receptors in the accumbal core region mediates the effects of fentanyl on sleep-wakefulness.

Fentanyl, a potent analgesic and addictive substance, significantly impacts sleep-wakefulness (S-W). Acutely, it promotes wake, whereas chronic abuse leads to severe sleep disruptions, including insomnia, which contributes to opioid use disorders (OUD), a chronic brain disease characterized by compulsive opioid use and harmful consequences. Although the critical association between sleep disruptions and fentanyl addiction is acknowledged, the precise mechanisms through which fentanyl influences sleep remain elusive.

Maximising ecological value and assessing land suitability for sustainable grassland management in Asia's largest tropical grassland, Western India.

Grasslands are crucial ecosystems that provide numerous ecological services and support biodiversity conservation. Grasslands undergo significant threats from both anthropogenic and natural sources, compromising their ability to maintain biodiversity, ecosystem services, and human well-being. However, grasslands are frequently ignored in sustainable development objectives.

Cholinergic Interneurons in the Accumbal Shell Region Regulate Binge Alcohol Self-Administration in Mice: An In Vivo Calcium Imaging Study.

Recently, we and others have shown that manipulating the activity of cholinergic interneurons (CIN) present in the NAc can modulate binge alcohol consumption. The present study is designed to examine the relationship between binge alcohol consumption and the activity of the CIN in real time by using an in vivo microendoscopic technique. We hypothesized that mice exposed to Drinking in the Dark (DID)-a recognized mouse model for binge drinking-would exhibit increased activity in the accumbal shell region (NAcSh).

Cholinergic interneurons in the shell region of the nucleus accumbens regulate binge alcohol consumption: A chemogenetic and genetic lesion study.

Background: Binge drinking, characterized by heavy episodic alcohol consumption, poses significant health hazards and increases the likelihood of developing an alcohol use disorder (AUD). Given the growing prevalence of this behavior and its negative consequences, there is a need to explore novel therapeutic targets. Accumulating evidence suggests that cholinergic interneurons (CIN) within the shell region of the nucleus accumbens (NAcSh) play a critical role in reward and addiction.

Effect of Cilostazol in Animal Models of Cerebral Ischemia and Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Cilostazol, a phosphodiesterase III inhibitor, appears to be a promising agent for preventing cerebral ischemia in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. Here, the authors perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to quantitatively assess the effects of cilostazol on brain structural and functional outcomes in animal models of cerebral ischemia and subarachnoid hemorrhage-induced cerebral vasospasm.

Methods: By using the PRISMA guidelines, a search of the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science was conducted to identify relevant studies.

Ischemic Stroke Disrupts Sleep Homeostasis in Middle-Aged Mice.

Sleep disturbances, including insomnia and excessive daytime sleepiness, are highly prevalent in patients with ischemic stroke (IS), which severely impacts recovery and rehabilitation efforts. However, how IS induces sleep disturbances is unclear. Three experiments were performed on middle-aged C57BL/6J mice, instrumented with sleep recording electrodes and/or subjected to 1 h of middle cerebral artery (MCAO; Stroke group) or sham (Sham group) occlusion to induce IS.

Sleep, sleep homeostasis and arousal disturbances in alcoholism.

The effects of alcohol on human sleep were first described almost 70 years ago. Since then, accumulating evidences suggest that alcohol intake at bed time immediately induces sleep [reduces the time to fall asleep (sleep onset latency), and consolidates and enhances the quality (delta power) and the quantity of sleep]. Such potent sleep promoting activity makes alcohol as one of the most commonly used "over the counter" sleep aid.

Activation of dopamine D2 receptors in the medial shell region of the nucleus accumbens increases Per1 expression to enhance alcohol consumption.

Circadian genes, including Per1, in the medial shell region of nucleus accumbens (mNAcSh), regulate binge alcohol consumption. However, the upstream mechanism regulating circadian genes-induced alcohol consumption is not known. Since activation of dopamine D2 receptors (D2R) increases Per1 gene expression, we hypothesised that local infusion of quinpirole, a D2R agonist, by increasing Per1 gene expression in the mNAcSh, will increase binge alcohol consumption in mice.

Antisense-induced downregulation of major circadian genes modulates the expression of histone deacetylase-2 (HDAC-2) and CREB-binding protein (CBP) in the medial shell region of nucleus accumbens of mice exposed to chronic excessive alcohol consumption.

Circadian genes in the medial accumbal shell (mNAcSh) region regulate binge alcohol consumption. Here, we investigated if antisense-induced knockdown of major circadian genes (Per1, Per2, and NPAS2) in the mNAcSh of mice exposed to intermittent access two-bottle choice (IA2BC) paradigm modulates the expression of histone deacetylase-2 (HDAC-2) and CREB-binding protein (CBP), key epigenetic modifiers associated with withdrawal-associated behaviors such as anxiety. Adult male C57BL/6J mice (N = 28), surgically implanted with bilateral guide cannulas above the mNAcSh, were chronically (4 weeks) exposed to alcohol (20% v/v) or saccharin (0.

Multi-focus Image Fusion for Confocal Microscopy Using U-Net Regression Map.

Characterizing the spatial relationship between blood vessel and lymphatic vascular structures, in the mice dura mater tissue, is useful for modeling fluid flows and changes in dynamics in various disease processes. We propose a new deep learning-based approach to fuse a set of multi-channel single-focus microscopy images within each volumetric z-stack into a single fused image that accurately captures as much of the vascular structures as possible. The red spectral channel captures small blood vessels and the green fluorescence channel images lymphatics structures in the intact dura mater attached to bone.

Antisense-induced knockdown of cAMP response element-binding protein downregulates Per1 gene expression in the shell region of nucleus accumbens resulting in reduced alcohol consumption in mice.

Introduction: We recently showed that circadian genes expressed in the shell region of nucleus accumbens (NAcSh) play a key role in alcohol consumption, though, the molecular mechanism of those effects is unclear. Because CREB-binding protein (CBP) promotes Per1 gene expression, we hypothesized that alcohol consumption would increase CBP expression in the NAcSh and antisense-induced knockdown of CBP would reduce Per1 expression and result in a reduction in alcohol consumption.

Methods: To test our hypothesis, we performed two experiments.

The game changing role of traditional ecological knowledge based Agri amendment systems in nutrient dynamics in the stress prone semi arid tropics.

The major crop nutrients determine the nutritional content and vigor of crops. The deficiency or occurrence below minimal level of any of the nutrients are often seen as a cause of poor growth or complete crop failure. The present study was an attempt to understand the impact of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) (A1)vis-à-vis conventional chemical intensive (A2)agriculture amendment systems in altering/modifying the nutrient dynamics of the soil with respect to nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and sulphur (S), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) levels in the pre, mid and post-harvest phases of crop in six cropping seasons spread across four years.

Antisense-Induced Downregulation of Clock Genes in the Shell Region of the Nucleus Accumbens Reduces Binge Drinking in Mice.

Introductions: Binge drinking is a deadly pattern of alcohol consumption. Evidence suggests that genetic variation in clock genes is strongly associated with alcohol misuse; however, the neuroanatomical basis for such a relationship is unknown. The shell region of the nucleus accumbens (NAcSh) is well known to play a role in binge drinking.

Short-term sleep deprivation immediately after contextual conditioning inhibits BDNF signaling and disrupts memory consolidation in predator odor trauma mice model of PTSD.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating neuropsychiatric illness affecting > 7 million people every year in the US. Recently, we have shown that the mouse model of predator odor trauma (POT) displayed contextual conditioning and core features of PTSD including sleep disturbances (hyperarousal) and retrieval of traumatic memories following exposure to objective reminders (re-experiencing). PTSD is a disorder of memory function.

Rats exposed to chronic alcohol display protracted insomnia and daytime sleepiness-like behavior during alcohol withdrawal.

Introduction: Alcohol use disorder (AUD), a chronic brain disorder, is characterized by a multitude of symptoms, including insomnia, during withdrawal. Previously, we have shown that rats exposed to chronic alcohol displayed insomnia-like symptoms during acute withdrawal. Since insomnia lasts for several years and is a major risk factor of relapse to alcoholism, the present study is designed to investigate the long-term effects of alcohol withdrawal on sleep-wakefulness.

Orexin gene expression is downregulated in alcohol dependent rats during acute alcohol withdrawal.

Alcohol use disorders (AUD) are chronic relapsing brain disorder characterized by compulsive and heavy alcohol consumption. During acute withdrawal, patients with AUD display excessive daytime sleepiness, a condition linked to serious life-threatening complications, however, the mechanism is not known. Orexin and melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) are the two hypothalamic neuropeptides that regulate many behaviors including sleep-wakefulness, and alcohol consumption, reinforcement, and reinstatement.

Chronic alcohol exposure reduces acetylated histones in the sleep-wake regulatory brain regions to cause insomnia during withdrawal.

Background: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) develops after chronic and heavy use of alcohol. Insomnia, a hallmark of AUD, plays a crucial role in the development of AUD. However, the causal mechanisms are unknown.

Perfect timing: circadian rhythms, sleep, and immunity - an NIH workshop summary.

Recent discoveries demonstrate a critical role for circadian rhythms and sleep in immune system homeostasis. Both innate and adaptive immune responses - ranging from leukocyte mobilization, trafficking, and chemotaxis to cytokine release and T cell differentiation -are mediated in a time of day-dependent manner. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently sponsored an interdisciplinary workshop, "Sleep Insufficiency, Circadian Misalignment, and the Immune Response," to highlight new research linking sleep and circadian biology to immune function and to identify areas of high translational potential.

Sleep Loss Immediately After Fear Memory Reactivation Attenuates Fear Memory Reconsolidation.

Permanently stored memories become labile through a process called reactivation. Once reactivated, these memories need reconsolidation to become permanent. Sleep is critical for memory consolidation.

Sleep Medicine: Restless Legs Syndrome.

Restless Legs Syndrome is a highly prevalent sensorimotor disorder characterized by urge to move the legs due to discomfort that primarily happens in the evening or at nights. Although the exact pathophysiology remains unclear, brain iron deficiency and altered dopaminergic function appears to play an important role in the pathogenesis of this condition. This disorder affects women more frequently and is associated with significant morbidity.

Sleep Medicine: Parasomnias.

Parasomnias are abnormal and undesirable behaviors during sleep and are thought to be due to the sleep state instability. Some of them are benign, while some of them point to a possible underlying neurodegenerative process. This article briefly discusses the clinical characteristics, demographics, and pathophysiology of major parasomnias and associated disorders.

Hypersomnia.

Adequate alertness is necessary for proper daytime functioning. Impairment of alertness or increase in sleepiness results in suboptimal performance and adversely affects the quality of life. While some causes of somnolence are intrinsic to the brain circuitry and neurochemical architecture, others are due to maladaptive behaviors and disorders affecting the normal sleep homeostasis.

A single episode of binge alcohol drinking causes sleep disturbance, disrupts sleep homeostasis, and down-regulates equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1.

Binge alcohol drinking, a risky pattern of alcohol consumption, has severe consequences toward health and well-being of an individual, his family, and society. Although, binge drinking has detrimental effects on sleep, underlying mechanisms are unknown. We used adult male C57BL/6J mice and exposed them to a single, 4-h session of binge alcohol self-administration, in stress-free environment, to examine neuronal mechanisms affecting sleep.

Melatonin promotes sleep in mice by inhibiting orexin neurons in the perifornical lateral hypothalamus.

Melatonin promotes sleep. However, the underlying mechanisms are unknown. Orexin neurons in the perifornical lateral hypothalamus (PFH) are pivotal for wake promotion.

Severe and protracted sleep disruptions in mouse model of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Increasing evidences suggest that the predator threat model is a valid animal model of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, sleep has never been examined in this model. Since sleep disturbances, including insomnia and excessive daytime sleepiness, are severe and protracted symptoms of PTSD, we hypothesized that mice exposed to predator odor trauma (POT) will display contextual fear conditioning along with severe and protracted sleep disruptions.