Physiologic effects of the maqui berry (): a focus on metabolic homeostasis.

The prevalence and socioeconomic impact of metabolic diseases is rapidly growing. The limited availability of effective and affordable treatments has fuelled interest in the therapeutic potential of natural compounds as they occur in selected food sources. These compounds might help to better manage the current problems of treatment availability, affordability, and adverse effects that, in combination, limit treatment duration and efficacy at present.

Phosphoinositide detection at synapses of fixed murine hippocampal neurons.

The minor phospholipid phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PI(4,5)P] is crucial for neurotransmission and has been implicated in Parkinson's disease. Here, we present a staining protocol for the analysis of activity-dependent changes of PI(4,5)P at synapses. We describe steps for stimulating and fixing murine hippocampal neurons, staining with probes for PI(4,5)P and a synaptic marker, and analysis by high-resolution microscopy.

Female mice display sex-specific differences in cerebrovascular function and subarachnoid haemorrhage-induced injury.

Background: In male mice, a circadian rhythm in myogenic reactivity influences the extent of brain injury following subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). We hypothesized that female mice have a different cerebrovascular phenotype and consequently, a distinct SAH-induced injury phenotype.

Methods: SAH was modelled by pre-chiasmatic blood injection.

Sustained Extracellular Electrical Stimulation Modulates the Permeability of Gap Junctions in Mouse Retina with Photoreceptor Degeneration.

Neurons build vast gap junction-coupled networks (GJ-nets) that are permeable to ions or small molecules, enabling lateral signaling. Herein, we investigate (1) the effect of blinding diseases on GJ-nets in mouse retinas and (2) the impact of electrical stimulation on GJ permeability. GJ permeability was traced in the acute retinal explants of blind retinal degeneration 1 () mice using the GJ tracer neurobiotin.