Stress-altering anterior insular cortex activity affects risk decision-making behavior in mice of different sexes.

Stress can affect people's judgment and make them take risky decisions. Abnormal decision-making behavior is a core symptom of psychiatric disorders, such as anxiety, depression, and substance abuse. However, the neuronal mechanisms underlying such impairments are largely unknown.

A modified mouse model for observational fear learning and the influence of social hierarchy.

Background: Indirectly experiencing traumatic events either by witnessing or learning of a loved one's suffering is associated with the highest prevalence rates of epidemiological features of PTSD. Social species can develop fear by observing conspecifics in distress. Observational fear learning (OFL) is one of the most widely used paradigms for studying fear contagion in mice.

Active Fraction Combination From Liuwei Dihuang Decoction Improves Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis and Neurogenic Microenvironment in Cranially Irradiated Mice.

Cranial radiotherapy is clinically used in the treatment of brain tumours; however, the consequent cognitive and emotional dysfunctions seriously impair the life quality of patients. LW-AFC, an active fraction combination extracted from classical traditional Chinese medicine prescription Liuwei Dihuang decoction, can improve cognitive and emotional dysfunctions in many animal models; however, the protective effect of LW-AFC on cranial irradiation-induced cognitive and emotional dysfunctions has not been reported. Recent studies indicate that impairment of adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN) and alterations of the neurogenic microenvironment in the hippocampus constitute critical factors in cognitive and emotional dysfunctions following cranial irradiation.

Role of the anterior agranular insular cortex in the modulation of fear and anxiety.

The insular cortex, anatomically close to amygdala, is also an integrative hub for sensory, emotional and cognitive function. Growing body of evidences suggest that alterations in insular structure and function have also been implicated in anxiety disorders. However, the reciprocal connections and precise subdivision of insular cortex involved in anxiety activities remains mechanistically unclear.

Kainate receptor mediated presynaptic LTP in agranular insular cortex contributes to fear and anxiety in mice.

Anxiety disorders represent serious social problems worldwide. Recent neuroimaging studies have found that elevated activity and altered connectivity of the insular cortex might account for the negative emotional states in highly anxious individuals. However, the exact synaptic mechanisms of specific insular subregions have yet to be studied in detail.

Notch1 deficiency in postnatal neural progenitor cells in the dentate gyrus leads to emotional and cognitive impairment.

It is well known that Notch1 signaling plays a crucial role in embryonic neural development and adult neurogenesis. The latest evidence shows that Notch1 also plays a critical role in synaptic plasticity in mature hippocampal neurons. So far, deeper insights into the function of Notch1 signaling during the different steps of adult neurogenesis are still lacking, and the mechanisms by which Notch1 dysfunction is associated with brain disorders are also poorly understood.

Neuroprotective effects of a novel translocator protein (18 kDa) ligand, ZBD-2, against focal cerebral ischemia and NMDA-induced neurotoxicity.

Ligands of the translocator protein (18 kDa) (TSPO) have demonstrated rapid anxiolytic efficacy in stress responses and stress-related disorders. This protein is involved in the synthesis of endogenous neurosteroids including pregnenolone, dehydroepiandrosterone, and progesterone. These neurosteroids promote γ-aminobutyric acid-mediated neurotransmission in the central neural system (CNS).

N-type voltage gated calcium channels mediate excitatory synaptic transmission in the anterior cingulate cortex of adult mice.

Voltage gated calcium channels (VGCCs) are well known for its importance in synaptic transmission in the peripheral and central nervous system. However, the role of different VGCCs in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) has not been studied. Here, we use a multi-electrode array recording system (MED64) to study the contribution of different types of calcium channels in glutamatergic excitatory synaptic transmission in the ACC.

Long-term potentiation of synaptic transmission in the adult mouse insular cortex: multielectrode array recordings.

The insular cortex (IC) is widely believed to be an important forebrain structure involved in cognitive and sensory processes such as memory and pain. However, little work has been performed at the cellular level to investigate the synaptic basis of IC-related brain functions. To bridge the gap, the present study was designed to characterize the basic synaptic mechanisms for insular long-term potentiation (LTP).

Protection by salidroside against bone loss via inhibition of oxidative stress and bone-resorbing mediators.

Oxidative stress is a pivotal pathogenic factor for bone loss in mouse model. Salidroside, a phenylpropanoid glycoside extracted from Rhodiola rosea L, exhibits potent antioxidative effects. In the present study, we used an in vitro oxidative stress model induced by hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) in MC3T3-E1 cells and a murine ovariectomized (OVX) osteoporosis model to investigate the protective effects of salidroside on bone loss and the related mechanisms.

A new chiral pyrrolyl α-nitronyl nitroxide radical attenuates β-amyloid deposition and rescues memory deficits in a mouse model of Alzheimer disease.

The generation of reactive oxygen species causes cellular oxidative damage, and has been implicated in the etiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). L-NNNBP, a new chiral pyrrolyl α-nitronyl nitroxide radical synthesized in our department, shows potential antioxidant effects. The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective effects of L-NNNBP on β-amyloid (Aβ) deposition and memory deficits in an AD model of APP/PS1 mice.

Long-lasting effects of chronic rTMS to treat chronic rodent model of depression.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been demonstrated in the pre-clinical and clinical settings to have an antidepressant effect. However, studies on the long-lasting effect of rTMS, especially when the effect is measured after treatment has ceased for a few weeks is lacking. We examined this question in a chronic unpredicted mild stress (CUMS) rat model of depression.

G-protein-coupled receptor 30 mediates rapid neuroprotective effects of estrogen via depression of NR2B-containing NMDA receptors.

17-β-estradiol (E2) is a steroid hormone involved in neuroprotection against excitotoxicity and other forms of brain injury. Through genomic and nongenomic mechanisms, E2 modulates neuronal excitability and signal transmission by regulating NMDA and non-NMDA receptors. However, the mechanisms and identity of the receptors involved remain unclear, even though studies have suggested that estrogen G-protein-coupled receptor 30 (GPR30) is linked to protection against ischemic injury.

Neuroprotective effects of Salidroside and its analogue tyrosol galactoside against focal cerebral ischemia in vivo and H2O2-induced neurotoxicity in vitro.

Salidroside (Sal) is a natural antioxidant extracted from the root of Rhodiola rosea L. that elicits neuroprotective effects in vivo and in vitro. Tyrosol galactoside (Tyr), an analog of Sal, was recently synthesized in our laboratory.

Electroacupuncture pretreatment ameliorates hypergravity-induced impairment of learning and memory and apoptosis of hippocampal neurons in rats.

High-sustained positive acceleration (+Gz) exposures might lead to impairment in cognitive function. Our previous studies have shown that electroacupuncture (EA) pretreatment can attenuate transient focal cerebral ischemic injury in the rats. In this study we aimed to investigate whether EA pretreatment could ameliorate the impairment of learning and memory induced by a sustained +Gz exposure.

Selectivity differences between alkyl and polar-modified alkyl phases in reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography.

Compared to conventional C18 phases, polar-modified phases have distinct differences with regards to chromatographic behavior. In the present study, ODS phases and polar-modified phases were synthesized. The columns containing these new packings demonstrated satisfactory stability under both acidic (pH 1.