The cytoskeleton in 'couch potato-ism': Insights from a murine model of impaired actin dynamics.

Evidence for a critical pathophysiological role of aberrant cytoskeletal dynamics is being uncovered in a growing number of neuropsychiatric syndromes. A sedentary lifestyle as well as overt psychopathology is prevalent in patients with the metabolic syndrome. Using mice deficient in gelsolin (Gsn), a crucial actin-severing protein, we here investigated reduced actin turnover as a potential common driver of metabolic disturbances, sedentary behavior, and an anxious/depressive phenotype.

Influence of gelsolin deficiency on excitation contraction coupling in adult murine cardiomyocytes.

Ion channels involved in cardiac excitation-contraction coupling are linked to the cytoskeleton. Therefore changes in the cytoskeletal actin filaments may influence cardiac membrane currents and electro-mechanical coupling. Depolymerization of actin filaments by gelsolin (gsn) is involved in the organisation of the cytoskeleton by leading to a lower polymerization state.

Impact of actin filament stabilization on adult hippocampal and olfactory bulb neurogenesis.

Rearrangement of the actin cytoskeleton is essential for dynamic cellular processes. Decreased actin turnover and rigidity of cytoskeletal structures have been associated with aging and cell death. Gelsolin is a Ca(2+)-activated actin-severing protein that is widely expressed throughout the adult mammalian brain.

Echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular mass in neonatal and adult mice: accuracy of different echocardiographic methods.

Echocardiography is an established method to estimate left-ventricular mass (LVM) in mice. Accuracy is determined by cardiac size and morphology and influenced by mathematical models. We investigated accuracy of three common algorithms in three early developmental stages.

Neuroprotective effects of atorvastatin against glutamate-induced excitotoxicity in primary cortical neurones.

Statins [3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors] exert cholesterol-independent pleiotropic effects that include anti-thrombotic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidative properties. Here, we examined direct protective effects of atorvastatin on neurones in different cell damage models in vitro. Primary cortical neurones were pre-treated with atorvastatin and then exposed to (i) glutamate, (ii) oxygen-glucose deprivation or (iii) several apoptosis-inducing compounds.