The G Protein-Coupled Serotonin 1A Receptor Augments Protein Kinase Cε-Mediated Neurogenesis in Neonatal Mouse Hippocampus-PKCε-Mediated Signaling in the Early Hippocampus.

The neurotransmitter serotonin (5-HT) plays an important role in mood disorders. It has been demonstrated that 5-HT signaling through 5-HT receptors (5-HT-R) is crucial for early postnatal hippocampal development and later-life behavior. Although this suggests that 5-HT-R signaling regulates early brain development, the mechanistic underpinnings of this process have remained unclear.

Repeated anodal trans-spinal direct current stimulation results in long-term reduction of spasticity in mice with spinal cord injury.

Key Points: Spasticity is a disorder of muscle tone that is associated with lesions of the motor system. This condition involves an overactive spinal reflex loop that resists the passive lengthening of muscles. Previously, we established that application of anodal trans-spinal direct current stimulation (a-tsDCS) for short periods of time to anaesthetized mice sustaining a spinal cord injury leads to an instantaneous reduction of spasticity.

Transspinal direct current stimulation modulates migration and proliferation of adult newly born spinal cells in mice.

Direct current electrical fields have been shown to be a major factor in the regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation, migration, and survival, as well as in the maturation of dividing cells during development. During adulthood, spinal cord cells are continuously produced in both animals and humans, and they hold great potential for neural restoration following spinal cord injury. While the effects of direct current electrical fields on adult-born spinal cells cultured ex vivo have recently been reported, the effects of direct current electrical fields on adult-born spinal cells in vivo have not been characterized.

Effect of Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) on Spinal Cord Injury.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) has become one of the most leading concerns in the past decade. Preclinical and research studies are now ongoing trying to understand the molecular mechanisms and develop treatment strategies for this neurodegenerative condition. In the last decade, researchers have deciphered few of the leading players that play a major role in worsening the condition.