MDPV (3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone) administered to mice during development of the central nervous system produces persistent learning and memory impairments.

Background: Synthetic cathinones (SC) constitute the second most frequently abused class of new psychoactive substances. They serve as an alternative to classic psychostimulatory drugs of abuse, such as methamphetamine, cocaine, or 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). Despite the worldwide prevalence of SC, little is known about their long-term impact on the central nervous system.

Optical imaging of the intrinsic signal as a tool to characterize orientation sensitivity in the primary visual cortex of the young mouse.

We employed intrinsic signal optical imaging (ISOI) to investigate orientation sensitivity bias in the visual cortex of young mice. Optical signals were recorded in response to the moving light gratings stimulating ipsi‑, contra‑ and binocular eye inputs. ISOI allowed visualization of cortical areas activated by gratings of specific orientation and temporal changes of light scatter during visual stimulation.

Study of silicone hydrogel contact lenses' surface reflection characteristics using confocal microscopy.

The physical and chemical properties of contact lenses (CLs) differ significantly from one another. This is already covered by the FDA classification, which divides soft lenses into groups and subgroups for additional characteristics. The differences relate to both the interior and surface of the lens.

Primary mouse myoblast metabotropic purinoceptor profiles and calcium signalling differ with their muscle origin and are altered in mdx dystrophinopathy.

Mortality of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is a consequence of progressive wasting of skeletal and cardiac muscle, where dystrophinopathy affects not only muscle fibres but also myogenic cells. Elevated activity of P2X7 receptors and increased store-operated calcium entry have been identified in myoblasts from the mdx mouse model of DMD. Moreover, in immortalized mdx myoblasts, increased metabotropic purinergic receptor response was found.

TIAR and FMRP shape pro-survival nascent proteome of leukemia cells in the bone marrow microenvironment.

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cells circulate between blood and bone marrow niche, representing different microenvironments. We studied the role of the two RNA-binding proteins, T-cell-restricted intracellular antigen (TIAR), and the fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) in the regulation of protein translation in CML cells residing in settings mimicking peripheral blood microenvironment (PBM) and bone marrow microenvironment (BMM). The outcomes showed how conditions shaped the translation process through TIAR and FMRP activity, considering its relevance in therapy resistance.

Adult Neurogenesis in the Mammalian Hypothalamus: Impact of Newly Generated Neurons on Hypothalamic Function.

In mammals, adult neurogenesis was first demonstrated in the subventricular zone of the lateral ventricle (SVZ) and the dentate gyrus of the hippocampal formation. Further research showed that adult neurogenesis persists in other brain structures, such as the cerebral cortex, piriform cortex, striatum, amygdala, and hypothalamus. However, the origin of newly generated cells in these structures is not clear.

Unbiased proteomic analysis of extracellular vesicles secreted by senescent human vascular smooth muscle cells reveals their ability to modulate immune cell functions.

Atherosclerosis, a common age-related disease, is characterized by intense immunological activity. Atherosclerotic plaque is composed of endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), lipids and immune cells infiltrating from the blood. During progression of the disease, VSMCs undergo senescence within the plaque and secrete SASP (senescence-associated secretory phenotype) factors that can actively modulate plaque microenvironment.

Induction of Brain Insulin Resistance and Alzheimer's Molecular Changes by Western Diet.

The term Western diet (WD) describes the consumption of large amounts of highly processed foods, rich in simple sugars and saturated fats. Long-term WD feeding leads to insulin resistance, postulated as a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD). AD is the main cause of progressive dementia characterized by the deposition of amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles consisting of the hyperphosphorylated tau (p-Tau) protein in the brain, starting from the entorhinal cortex and the hippocampus.

MARC1 p.A165T variant is associated with decreased markers of liver injury and enhanced antioxidant capacity in autoimmune hepatitis.

The clinical picture of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) varies markedly between patients, potentially due to genetic modifiers. The aim of this study was to evaluate genetic variants previously associated with fatty liver as potential modulators of the AIH phenotype. The study cohort comprised 313 non-transplanted adults with AIH.

Properties of electrode-supported lipid cubic mesophase films with embedded gramicidin A: structure and ion-transport studies.

The lipid cubic phase (LCP) is a nanomaterial composed of water channels surrounded by lipid bilayers. LCPs are stable at room temperature and are biocompatible. These features make the lipid cubic phases similar to biological membranes, and hence, are favorable for embedding membrane proteins.

Disrupted Calcium Homeostasis in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: A Common Mechanism behind Diverse Consequences.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) leads to disability and death in young men. This disease is caused by mutations in the gene encoding diverse isoforms of dystrophin. Loss of full-length dystrophins is both necessary and sufficient for causing degeneration and wasting of striated muscles, neuropsychological impairment, and bone deformities.

Metabolic evolutionary roots of the macrophage immune response in amoeba-bacteria interactions: The conserved role of hypoxia-induced Factor and AMP kinase.

The bacteria Legionella, being able to infect both macrophages and protozoans, reduce oxidative phosphorylation and induce glycolysis, which allows pathogens to grow and replicate in these cells. In amoeba-like inflammatory macrophages (M1), the phagocytizing cells of the primary immune defense, an increase in the rate of glycolysis is followed by a decrease of oxidative phosphorylation. The opposite takes place in anti-inflammatory macrophages (M2).

Effects of Brain Size on Adult Neurogenesis in Shrews.

Shrews are small animals found in many different habitats. Like other mammals, adult neurogenesis occurs in the subventricular zone of the lateral ventricle (SVZ) and the dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampal formation. We asked whether the number of new generated cells in shrews depends on their brain size.

Transfer efficiency of carbon, nutrients, and polyunsaturated fatty acids in planktonic food webs under different environmental conditions.

The trophic transfer efficiency (TTE) is an important indicator of ecosystem functioning. However, TTE data from freshwater food webs are ambiguous due to differences in time scales and methods. We investigated the transfer of essential substances (carbon, nutrients, and polyunsaturated fatty acids) through plankton communities in 30 Polish lakes with different trophic status in the middle of summer.

Composition and function of the C1b/C1f region in the ciliary central apparatus.

Motile cilia are ultrastructurally complex cell organelles with the ability to actively move. The highly conserved central apparatus of motile 9 × 2 + 2 cilia is composed of two microtubules and several large microtubule-bound projections, including the C1b/C1f supercomplex. The composition and function of C1b/C1f subunits has only recently started to emerge.

STORM imaging reveals the spatial arrangement of transition zone components and IFT particles at the ciliary base in Tetrahymena.

The base of the cilium comprising the transition zone (TZ) and transition fibers (TF) acts as a selecting gate to regulate the intraflagellar transport (IFT)-dependent trafficking of proteins to and from cilia. Before entering the ciliary compartment, IFT complexes and transported cargoes accumulate at or near the base of the cilium. The spatial organization of IFT proteins at the cilia base is key for understanding cilia formation and function.

Impaired olfactory neurogenesis affects the performance of olfactory-guided behavior in aged female opossums.

Increasing evidence has indicated that adult neurogenesis contributes to brain plasticity, although function of new neurons is still under debate. In opossums, we performed an olfactory-guided behavior task and examined the association between olfactory discrimination-guided behavior and adult neurogenesis in the olfactory bulb (OB). We found that young and aged opossums of either sex learned to find food buried in litter using olfactory cues.

Development of novel derivatives of stilbene and macrocyclic compounds as potent of anti-microtubule factors.

Microtubules (composed of α- and β-tubulin heterodimers) ubiquitous cellular polymers are important components of the cytoskeleton and play diverse roles within the cell, such as maintenance of cell structure, protein trafficking or chromosomal segregation during cell division. The polymers of tubulin play a pivotal role in mitosis and are regarded as an excellent target for chemotherapeutic agents to treat cancer. This review presents a brief overview of the synthesis and mechanism of action of new compounds targeting the dynamic of microtubule - tubulin polymerization/depolymerization.

Corrigendum: Downregulation of TrkC Receptors Increases Dendritic Arborization of Purkinje Cells in the Developing Cerebellum of the Opossum, .

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2020.

Downregulation of TrkC Receptors Increases Dendritic Arborization of Purkinje Cells in the Developing Cerebellum of the Opossum, .

In therian mammals, the cerebellum is one of the late developing structures in the brain. Specifically, the proliferation of cerebellar granule cells occurs after birth, and even in humans, the generation of these cells continues during the first year of life. The main difference between marsupials and eutherians is that the majority of the brain structures in marsupials develop after birth.

Effects of thermal and oxygen conditions during development on cell size in the common rough woodlice .

During development, cells may adjust their size to balance between the tissue metabolic demand and the oxygen and resource supply: Small cells may effectively absorb oxygen and nutrients, but the relatively large area of the plasma membrane requires costly maintenance. Consequently, warm and hypoxic environments should favor ectotherms with small cells to meet increased metabolic demand by oxygen supply. To test these predictions, we compared cell size (hindgut epithelium, hepatopancreas B cells, ommatidia) in common rough woodlice () that were developed under four developmental conditions designated by two temperatures (15 or 22°C) and two air O concentrations (10% or 22%).

Perisynaptic schwann cells - The multitasking cells at the developing neuromuscular junctions.

Neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) are specialized synapses in the peripheral nervous system that allow the transmission of neuronal impulses to skeletal muscles for their contraction. Due to its size and accessibility, the NMJ is a commonly used model for studying basic principles of synapse organization and function. Similar to synapses in the central nervous system, NMJs are composed of presynaptic axonal terminals, the postsynaptic machinery formed at the membrane of the muscle fibers, and the synapse-associated glial cells.