Light disrupts social memory via a retina-to-supraoptic nucleus circuit.

The formation of social memory between individuals of the opposite sex is crucial for expanding mating options or establishing monogamous pair bonding. A specialized neuronal circuit that regulates social memory could enhance an individual's mating opportunities and provide a parallel pathway for computing social behaviors. While the influence of light exposure on various forms of memory, such as fear and object memory, has been studied, its modulation of social recognition memory remains unclear.

Early Dysbiosis and Dampened Gut Microbe Oscillation Precede Motor Dysfunction and Neuropathology in Animal Models of Parkinson's Disease.

Background: Studies have shown different gut microbiomes in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) compared to unaffected controls. However, when the gut microbiota shift toward dysbiosis in the PD process remains unclear.

Objective: We aim to investigate the changes in gut microbiota, locomotor function, and neuropathology longitudinally in PD rodent models.

Single-laser-based simultaneous four-wavelength excitation source for femtosecond two-photon fluorescence microscopy.

Multicolor labeling of biological samples with large volume is required for omic-level of study such as the construction of nervous system connectome. Among the various imaging method, two photon microscope has multiple advantages over traditional single photon microscope for higher resolution and could image large 3D volumes of tissue samples with superior imaging depth. However, the growing number of fluorophores for labeling underlines the urgent need for an ultrafast laser source with the capability of providing simultaneous plural excitation wavelengths for multiple fluorophores.

Transcriptome Analysis of Dnmt3l Knock-Out Mice Derived Multipotent Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells During Osteogenic Differentiation.

Multipotent mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) exhibit great potential for cell-based therapy. Proper epigenomic signatures in MSCs are important for the maintenance and the subsequent differentiation potential. The DNA methyltransferase 3-like (DNMT3L) that was mainly expressed in the embryonic stem (ES) cells and the developing germ cells plays an important role in shaping the epigenetic landscape.

Dual GRIN lens two-photon endoscopy for high-speed volumetric and deep brain imaging.

Studying neural connections and activities is fundamental to understanding brain functions. Given the cm-size brain and three-dimensional neural circuit dynamics, deep-tissue, high-speed volumetric imaging is highly desirable for brain study. With sub-micrometer spatial resolution, intrinsic optical sectioning, and deep-tissue penetration capability, two-photon microscopy (2PM) has found a niche in neuroscience.

Mapping Central Projection of Oxytocin Neurons in Unmated Mice Using Cre and Alkaline Phosphatase Reporter.

Oxytocin, a neuropeptide and peptide hormone, is produced by neurons in the hypothalamus and released by the posterior pituitary to control breastfeeding and labor. Recent studies have revealed that oxytocin in the central nervous system is also involved in modulating social interaction. To understand the potential role and innervation pattern of oxytocin neurons before sexual interaction, here we used transgenic mice which have the Cre recombinase under the control of an endogenous oxytocin promoter and Cre-dependent human placental alkaline phosphatase (AP) reporter to label the oxytocin neurons in the naive mouse brain.

An Index Combining Lost and Remaining Nerve Fibers Correlates with Pain Hypersensitivity in Mice.

Multiple peripheral nerves are known to degenerate after nerve compression injury but the correlation between the extent of nerve alteration and pain severity remains unclear. Here, we used intravital two-photon fluorescence microscopy to longitudinally observe changes in cutaneous fibers in the hind paw of Nav1.8-Cre-tdTomato mice after chronic constriction injury (CCI).

Lysophosphatidic acid receptors 2 and 3 regulate erythropoiesis at different hematopoietic stages.

Hematopoiesis, the complex developmental process that forms blood components and replenishes the blood system, involves multiple intracellular and extracellular mechanisms. We previously demonstrated that lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), a lipid growth factor, has opposing regulatory effects on erythrocyte differentiation through activation of LPA receptors 2 and 3; yet the mechanisms underlying this process remain unclear. In this study, LPA is observed that highly expressed in common myeloid progenitors (CMP) in murine myeloid cells, whereas the expression of LPA displaces in megakaryocyte-erythroid progenitors (MEP) of later stage of myeloid differentiation.

Lysophosphatidic acid receptor LPA prevents oxidative stress and cellular senescence in Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome.

Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) is a rare laminopathy that produces a mutant form of prelamin A, known as Progerin, resulting in premature aging. HGPS cells show morphological abnormalities of the nuclear membrane, reduced cell proliferation rates, accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and expression of senescence markers. Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a growth factor-like lipid mediator that regulates various physiological functions via activating multiple LPA G protein-coupled receptors.

Degeneration of ipRGCs in Mouse Models of Huntington's Disease Disrupts Non-Image-Forming Behaviors Before Motor Impairment.

Intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs), which express the photopigment melanopsin, are photosensitive neurons in the retina and are essential for non-image-forming functions, circadian photoentrainment, and pupillary light reflexes. Five subtypes of ipRGCs (M1-M5) have been identified in mice. Although ipRGCs are spared in several forms of inherited blindness, they are affected in Alzheimer's disease and aging, which are associated with impaired circadian rhythms.

External light activates hair follicle stem cells through eyes via an ipRGC-SCN-sympathetic neural pathway.

Changes in external light patterns can alter cell activities in peripheral tissues through slow entrainment of the central clock in suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). It remains unclear whether cells in otherwise photo-insensitive tissues can achieve rapid responses to changes in external light. Here we show that light stimulation of animals' eyes results in rapid activation of hair follicle stem cells with prominent hair regeneration.

RBFOX3/NeuN is dispensable for visual function.

RBFOX3/NeuN is a neuronal splicing regulator involved in neural circuitry balance, as well as neurogenesis and synaptogenesis. Rbfox3 is expressed in neurons; however, in the retina, expression is restricted to cells in the ganglion cell layer and some cells of the inner nuclear layer. Rbfox3 is expressed in a layer-specific manner in the retina, which implies a functional role, however, the role of RBFOX3 in the retina is unknown.

Analysis of experience-regulated transcriptome and imprintome during critical periods of mouse visual system development reveals spatiotemporal dynamics.

Visual system development is light-experience dependent, which strongly implicates epigenetic mechanisms in light-regulated maturation. Among many epigenetic processes, genomic imprinting is an epigenetic mechanism through which monoallelic gene expression occurs in a parent-of-origin-specific manner. It is unknown if genomic imprinting contributes to visual system development.

M1 ipRGCs Influence Visual Function through Retrograde Signaling in the Retina.

Unlabelled: Melanopsin-expressing intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs, with five subtypes named M1-M5) are a unique subclass of RGCs with axons that project directly to many brain nuclei involved in non-image-forming functions such as circadian photoentrainment and the pupillary light reflex. Recent evidence suggests that melanopsin-based signals also influence image-forming visual function, including light adaptation, but the mechanisms involved are unclear. Intriguingly, a small population of M1 ipRGCs have intraretinal axon collaterals that project toward the outer retina.

Architecture of retinal projections to the central circadian pacemaker.

The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) receives direct retinal input from the intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) for circadian photoentrainment. Interestingly, the SCN is the only brain region that receives equal inputs from the left and right eyes. Despite morphological assessments showing that axonal fibers originating from ipRGCs cover the entire SCN, physiological evidence suggests that only vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)/gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) cells located ventrally in the SCN receive retinal input.

Recurrent axon collaterals of intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells.

Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), the output neurons of the retina, have axons that project via the optic nerve to diverse targets in the brain. Typically, RGC axons do not branch before exiting the retina and thus do not provide it with synaptic feedback. Although a small subset of RGCs with intraretinal axon collaterals has been previously observed in human, monkey, cat, and turtle, their function remains unknown.

Apoptosis regulates ipRGC spacing necessary for rods and cones to drive circadian photoentrainment.

The retina consists of ordered arrays of individual types of neurons for processing vision. Here, we show that such order is necessary for intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) to function as irradiance detectors. We found that during development, ipRGCs undergo proximity-dependent Bax-mediated apoptosis.

Intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells: many subtypes, diverse functions.

For decades, rods and cones were thought to be the only photoreceptors in the mammalian retina. However, a population of atypical photoreceptive retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) expresses the photopigment melanopsin and is intrinsically photosensitive (ipRGCs). These ipRGCs are crucial for relaying light information from the retina to the brain to control circadian photoentrainment, pupillary light reflex, and sleep.

Melanopsin-expressing retinal ganglion-cell photoreceptors: cellular diversity and role in pattern vision.

Using the photopigment melanopsin, intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) respond directly to light to drive circadian clock resetting and pupillary constriction. We now report that ipRGCs are more abundant and diverse than previously appreciated, project more widely within the brain, and can support spatial visual perception. A Cre-based melanopsin reporter mouse line revealed at least five subtypes of ipRGCs with distinct morphological and physiological characteristics.

Dichlorido{(E)-2,4,6-trimethyl-N-[phen-yl(2-pyridyl)methyl-idene]aniline-κN,N'}palladium(II).

The title complex, [PdCl(2)(C(21)H(20)N(2))], contains a Pd(II) atom in a slightly distorted square-planar coordination environment defined by two N atoms from one 2,4,6-trimethyl-N-[phen-yl(2-pyrid-yl)methyl-idene]aniline ligand and two Cl atoms, forming a five-membered ring (N-Pd-N-C-C).

Somatostatin peptides produce multiple effects on gating properties of native cone photoreceptor cGMP-gated channels that depend on circadian phase and previous illumination.

A subpopulation of avian amacrine cells expresses somatostatin-14 (SS14) and somatostatin-28 (SS28), which provide a potential efferent limb for light-dependent regulation of photoreceptors. Here, we demonstrate that SS14 and SS28 modulate cone photoreceptor cGMP-gated channels (CNGCs) through multiple mechanisms. In chicken cones cultured in constant darkness for 2 d after previous entrainment to light-dark (LD) cycles or in cells maintained in LD, application of 100 nm SS14 or 100 nm SS28 for either 15 min or 2 h caused a decrease in the sensitivity of CNGCs to cGMP during the night, at circadian time 16 (CT16)-CT20 or zeitgeber time 16 (ZT16)-ZT20.

Iron Carbonyl-Promoted Isomerization of Olefin Esters to Their alpha,beta-Unsaturated Esters: Methyl Oleate and Other Examples.

Ultraviolet photolysis of stoichiometric amounts of methyl oleate and Fe(CO)(5) in hexanes solvent at 0 degrees C gives Fe(CO)(3)(eta(4)-alpha,beta-ester) in which the alpha,beta-unsaturated ester isomer of methyl oleate is stabilized by eta(4)-oxadiene pi coordination of the olefin and ester carbonyl groups to the Fe(CO)(3) unit. Treatment of the Fe(CO)(3)(eta(4)-alpha,beta-ester) with pyridine or CO liberates the free alpha,beta-ester, methyl octadec-trans-2-enoate, in 70% yield. The Fe(CO)(3) unit both catalyzes the olefin isomerization and stabilizes the alpha,beta-unsaturated ester, which results in the formation of the alpha,beta-ester in a yield far above that (3.