Hippocampal neuroinflammation induced by lipopolysaccharide causes sex-specific disruptions in action selection, food approach memories, and neuronal activation.

Hippocampal neuroinflammation is present in multiple diseases and disorders that impact motivated behaviour in a sex-specific manner, but whether neuroinflammation alone is sufficient to disrupt this behaviour is unknown. We investigated this question here using mice. First, the application of an endotoxin to primary cultures containing only hippocampal neurons did not affect their activation.

Targeting the PAC1 receptor mitigates degradation of myelin and synaptic markers and diminishes locomotor deficits in the cuprizone demyelination model.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disease of the central nervous system with a strong neuroinflammatory component. Current treatments principally target the immune system but fail to preserve long-term myelin health and do not prevent neurological decline. Studies over the past two decades have shown that the structurally related neuropeptides VIP and PACAP (vasoactive intestinal peptide and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide, respectively) exhibit pronounced anti-inflammatory activities and reduce clinical symptoms in MS disease models, largely via actions on their bivalent VIP receptor type 1 and 2.

Mitochondria as Nutritional Targets to Maintain Muscle Health and Physical Function During Ageing.

The age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass and physical function leads to a loss of independence and an increased reliance on health-care. Mitochondria are crucial in the aetiology of sarcopenia and have been identified as key targets for interventions that can attenuate declines in physical capacity. Exercise training is a primary intervention that reduces many of the deleterious effects of ageing in skeletal muscle quality and function.

Commercial compost amendments inhibit the bioavailability and plant uptake of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in soil-porewater-lettuce systems.

Compost is widely used in agriculture as fertilizer while providing a practical option for solid municipal waste disposal. However, compost may also contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), potentially impacting soils and leading to PFAS entry into food chains and ultimately human exposure risks via dietary intake. This study examined how compost affects the bioavailability and uptake of eight PFAS (two ethers, three fluorotelomer sulfonates, and three perfluorosulfonates) by lettuce (Lactuca sativa) grown in commercial organic compost-amended, PFAS spiked soils.

Early Alterations of PACAP and VIP Expression in the Female Rat Brain Following Spinal Cord Injury.

Previous evidence shows that rapid changes occur in the brain following spinal cord injury (SCI). Here, we interrogated the expression of the neuropeptides pituitary adenylyl cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP), vasoactive intestinal peptides (VIP), and their binding receptors in the rat brain 24 h following SCI. Female Sprague-Dawley rats underwent thoracic laminectomy; half of the rats received a mild contusion injury at the level of the T10 vertebrate (SCI group); the other half underwent sham surgery (sham group).