Rats conserve passive avoidance retention level throughout the light phase of diurnal cycle.

Emotions and memory formation are sensible to circadian rhythm. Here we study whether the time of day during the light phase of the diurnal cycle affects emotional memory in male Wistar rats using the passive avoidance (PA) test. Experiments were conducted at the beginning of Zeitgeber time (ZT) (ZT0.

Dopaminergic Modulation of Forced Running Performance in Adolescent Rats: Role of Striatal D1 and Extra-striatal D2 Dopamine Receptors.

Improving exercise capacity during adolescence impacts positively on cognitive and motor functions. However, the neural mechanisms contributing to enhance physical performance during this sensitive period remain poorly understood. Such knowledge could help to optimize exercise programs and promote a healthy physical and cognitive development in youth athletes.

Netrin-1/DCC Signaling Differentially Regulates the Migration of Pax7, Nkx6.1, Irx2, Otp, and Otx2 Cell Populations in the Developing Interpeduncular Nucleus.

The interpeduncular nucleus (IPN) is a hindbrain structure formed by three main subdivisions, the prodromal (Pro) domain located at the isthmus (Ist), and the rostral and caudal interpeduncular domains (IPR, IPC) within rhombomere 1 (r1). Various cell populations can be detected in the IPN through the expression of the , , , , and/or transcription factors. These cell populations follow independent dorsoventral tangential and radial migratory routes targeting the ventral paramedian region of Ist and r1.

Sex and Time-of-Day Impact on Anxiety and Passive Avoidance Memory Strategies in Mice.

In humans, anxiety and cognitive processes are age, gender, and time of day dependent. The purpose of the present study was to assess whether the time of day and sex have an influence on anxiety and emotional memory in adult mice. Light-dark and passive avoidance (PA) tests were performed at the beginning and at the end of the light cycle, defined as Zeitgeber time (ZT) ZT0-2.

Hypothalamic /, Plasmatic Glucose and Lactate Remain Unchanged During Habituation to Forced Exercise.

It has been demonstrated that physical activity contributes to a healthier life. However, there is a knowledge gap regarding the neural mechanisms producing these effects. One of the keystones to deal with this problem is to use training programs with equal loads of physical activity.

Verapamil and Alzheimer's Disease: Past, Present, and Future.

Verapamil is a phenylalkylamine class calcium channel blocker that for half a century has been used for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Nowadays, verapamil is also considered as a drug option for the treatment of several neurological and psychiatric disorders, such as cluster headache, bipolar disorders, epilepsy, and neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we review insights into the potential preventive and therapeutic role of verapamil on Alzheimer's disease (AD) based on limited experimental and clinical data.

Time-of-Day and Age Impact on Memory in Elevated Plus-Maze Test in Rats.

The purpose of the present study was to establish the effect of daytime and aging on memory in rats in the Elevated Plus-Maze (EPM) test. Young (2-months) and aged (18-months) male Wistar rats were exposed to the EPM test, at the beginning, mid-time or at the end of the light period. On the acquisition trial, the animals were placed individually at the end of one of the open arms of the EPM and the latency to enter in the enclosed arms was registered (cut-off time 60 s).

Habituation Training Improves Locomotor Performance in a Forced Running Wheel System in Rats.

Increasing evidence supports that physical activity promotes mental health; and regular exercise may confer positive effects in neurological disorders. There is growing number of reports that requires the analysis of the impact of physical activity in animal models. Exercise in rodents can be performed under voluntary or forced conditions.

Ontogenesis of peptidergic neurons within the genoarchitectonic map of the mouse hypothalamus.

During early development, the hypothalamic primordium undergoes anteroposterior and dorsoventral regionalization into diverse progenitor domains, each characterized by a differential gene expression code. The types of neurons produced selectively in each of these distinct progenitor domains are still poorly understood. Recent analysis of the ontogeny of peptidergic neuronal populations expressing Sst, Ghrh, Crh and Trh mRNAs in the mouse hypothalamus showed that these cell types originate from particular dorsoventral domains, characterized by specific combinations of gene markers.

Regionalized differentiation of CRH, TRH, and GHRH peptidergic neurons in the mouse hypothalamus.

According to the updated prosomeric model, the hypothalamus is subdivided rostrocaudally into terminal and peduncular parts, and dorsoventrally into alar, basal, and floor longitudinal zones. In this context, we examined the ontogeny of peptidergic cell populations expressing Crh, Trh, and Ghrh mRNAs in the mouse hypothalamus, comparing their distribution relative to the major progenitor domains characterized by molecular markers such as Otp, Sim1, Dlx5, Arx, Gsh1, and Nkx2.1.

Topography of Somatostatin Gene Expression Relative to Molecular Progenitor Domains during Ontogeny of the Mouse Hypothalamus.

The hypothalamus comprises alar, basal, and floor plate developmental compartments. Recent molecular data support a rostrocaudal subdivision into rostral (terminal) and caudal (peduncular) halves. In this context, the distribution of neuronal populations expressing somatostatin (Sst) mRNA was analyzed in the developing mouse hypothalamus, comparing with the expression pattern of the genes Orthopedia (Otp), Distal-less 5 (Dlx5), Sonic Hedgehog (Shh), and Nk2 homeobox 1 (Nkx2.