Exposure of male mice to perfluorooctanoic acid induces anxiety-like behaviors by increasing corticotropin-releasing factor in the basolateral amygdala complex.

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a hazardous environmental pollutant, has been found to enhance hepatic synthesis of fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21). FGF21 can enter the brain and increase the expression of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN). In this study, adult male mice were orally administered PFOA to evaluate how it regulates emotion.

Attention Impairment During the Interictal State in Migraineurs without Aura: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background And Purpose: Migraine suffering is more than the onset of head pain. The broad non-painful clinical symptoms associated with migraine are not well recognized. Recent researches support that migraineurs suffer attention deficits, but these findings are not conclusive.

Oligomer β-amyloid Induces Hyperactivation of Ras to Impede NMDA Receptor-Dependent Long-Term Potentiation in Hippocampal CA1 of Mice.

The activity of Ras, a small GTPase protein, is increased in brains with Alzheimer's disease. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of oligomeric Aβ on the activation of Ras, and the involvement of the Ras hyperactivity in Aβ-induced deficits in spatial cognition and hippocampal synaptic plasticity. Herein, we show that intracerebroventricular injection of Aβ in mice (Aβ-mice) enhanced hippocampal Ras activation and expression, while 60 min incubation of hippocampal slices in Aβ (Aβ-slices) only elevated Ras activity.

Akt3 deletion in mice impairs spatial cognition and hippocampal CA1 long long-term potentiation through downregulation of mTOR.

Aim: Loss-of-function mutation of Akt3 in humans has been associated with microcephaly and cognitive defects. Two Akt isoforms, Akt1 and Akt3, are highly expressed in hippocampal pyramidal cells. We explored the roles of Akt1 and Akt3, respectively, in spatial cognition and underlying mechanisms.

Abnormal mitochondrial dynamics and impaired mitochondrial biogenesis in trigeminal ganglion neurons in a rat model of migraine.

Accumulating evidence has demonstrated a possible role of mitochondrial dysfunction in migraine pathophysiology. Migraine sufferers exhibit impaired metabolic capacity, with an increased formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Mitochondrial dynamics and mitochondrial biogenesis are key processes regulating mitochondrial homeostasis.

Na/HCO cotransporter is expressed on β and α cells during rat pancreatic development.

Aim: To determine the expression and localization of the electrogenic Na/HCO cotransporter (NBC1) in rat pancreas during development.

Methods: The rat pancreas from postnatal and embryos removed from the uterus of pregnant rats that had been sacrificed by CO asphyxiation were used. Rat pancreas from embryonic day (E) 15.

Valsartan reverses depressive/anxiety-like behavior and induces hippocampal neurogenesis and expression of BDNF protein in unpredictable chronic mild stress mice.

Valsartan is a synthetic non-peptide angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonist that dilates blood vessels and reduces blood pressure by blocking the action of angiotensin, and is safe and well tolerated in hypertensive patients. Population-based studies have suggested a positive role of sartans in reducing the risk of depression. This study aimed at investigating the effects of valsartan on unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) mice by means of open-field test (OFT), novel-suppressed feeding test (NSF), tail suspension test (TST), forced swimming test (FST) and sucrose preference test (SPT).

Cervical sympathectomy reduces neurogenic vasodilation in dura mater of rats.

Migraine may affect the autonomic nervous system, but the mechanisms remain unclear. The sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems may play different roles in the attack. To explore the effect of blocking the cervical sympathetic nerve on vasodilation of the meningeal vessels, jugular vein calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and meningeal blood flow changes were measured before and after transection of the cervical sympathetic nerve by electrically stimulating the trigeminal ganglion in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats.