Activation of the nucleus accumbens promotes place preference and counteracts stress-induced hyperthermia.

Positive affect promotes mental health and physical well-being, which may involve modifications in the autonomic nervous system activity. Here, we examine, using chemogenetic techniques, the effects of nucleus accumbens (NAc) activation on affect and body temperature regulation as a proxy of autonomic function. A conditioned place preference test revealed that nucleus accumbens activation induced positive affect.

Activation of the rostral nucleus accumbens shell by optogenetics induces cataplexy-like behavior in orexin neuron-ablated mice.

Cataplexy is one of the symptoms of type 1 narcolepsy, characterized by a sudden loss of muscle tone. It can be seen as a behavioral index of salience, predominantly positive emotion, since it is triggered by laughter in humans and palatable foods in mice. In our previous study using chemogenetic techniques in narcoleptic mice (orexin neuron-ablated mice), we found that the rostral nucleus accumbens (NAc) shell is needed for chocolate-induced cataplexy.

Acute Aversive Stimuli Rapidly Increase the Activity of Ventral Tegmental Area Dopamine Neurons in Awake Mice.

The ventral tegmental area (VTA) is one of the origins of the brain dopaminergic system and is involved in regulating various physiological functions such as pain processing and motivation. In this study, we utilized a fiber photometry system to specifically investigate the activity of dopamine neurons in the VTA using dopamine transporter promoter-driven Cre recombinase-expressing mice and site-specific infection of adeno-associated virus carrying the FLEX G-CaMP6 gene. As expected, expression of G-CaMP6 was restricted to VTA dopamine neurons.

Cell wall layers delimit cell groups derived from cell division in the foliose trebouxiophycean alga Prasiola japonica.

The cells in the foliose thallus of trebouxiophycean alga Prasiola japonica apparently develop into 2 × 2 cell groups composed of two two-celled groups, each of which is a pair of derivative cells of the latest cell division. In the present study, the structural features of cell walls of the alga P. japonica concerning the formation of the cell groups were investigated using histochemical methods.