Nitazoxanide, an anti-parasitic drug, efficiently ameliorates learning and memory impairments in AD model mice.

The pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by both accumulation of β-amyloid (Aβ) plaque and formation of neurofibrillary tangles in the brain. Recent evidence shows that autophagy activation may potently promote intracellular Aβ clearance. Thus targeting autophagy becomes a promising strategy for discovery of drug leads against AD.

Small molecule IVQ, as a prodrug of gluconeogenesis inhibitor QVO, efficiently ameliorates glucose homeostasis in type 2 diabetic mice.

Gluconeogenesis is a major source of hyperglycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), thus targeting gluconeogenesis to suppress glucose production is a promising strategy for anti-T2DM drug discovery. In our preliminary in vitro studies, we found that a small-molecule (E)-3-(2-(quinoline-4-yl)vinyl)-1H-indol-6-ol (QVO) inhibited the hepatic glucose production (HGP) in primary hepatocytes. We further revealed that QVO suppressed hepatic gluconeogenesis involving calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase β- and liver kinase B1-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathways as well as AMPK-independent mitochondrial function-related signaling pathway.

Developmental toxicity of cocaine exposure in mid-pregnancy mice.

Aim: To investigate the toxic effects of mid-pregnancy cocaine exposure on embryo-fetus.

Methods: A transplacental murine model of cocaine exposure on embryo-fetus mice was established, in which pregnant dams of comparable weight were assigned into three groups: cocaine with food ad lib (COC), saline and pair-fed with COC (SPF), and saline with food ad lib (SAL). From embryonic d 8 (E8) to E17, physiological variables of dams and offspring were recorded and concentrations of dopamine and serotonin in fetal striatum were examined.

Effects of pregnancy cocaine exposure on the mother and fetus: a murine model.

The aim of the experiments was to develop and characterize a murine model for investigating the effects of prenatal cocaine exposure on the mother and fetus. Pregnant mice were separated into three groups: group 1 was treated with cocaine HCl at 10 mg/kg twice daily (COC); group 2 was treated with saline at 10 ml/kg twice daily (SAL); and group 3 was pair-fed with the COC dams and was injected with saline following the same schedule (SPF) from embryonic day (E) 8 to 17. We utilized high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) with UV detector and electrochemical detector to test the concentrations of cocaine, dopamine and serotonin, as well as HE staining to observe morphological alterations of liver and placenta.