Taurine Supplementation for 48-Months Improved Glucose Tolerance and Changed ATP-Related Enzymes in Avians.

Avians differ from mammals, especially in brain architecture and metabolism. Taurine, an amino acid basic to metabolism and bioenergetics, has been shown to have remarkable effects on metabolic syndrome and ameliorating oxidative stress reactions across species. However, less is known regarding these metabolic relationships in the avian model.

ATP8a1, an IFT27 binding partner, is dispensable for spermatogenesis and male fertility.

Intraflagellar transport 27 (IFT27) is a key regulator for spermiogenesis and male fertility in mice. ATP8a1, a protein involved in the translocation of phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylethanolamine across lipid bilayers, is the strongest binding partner of IFT27. To investigate the role of ATP8a1 in spermatogenesis and male fertility, the global Atp8a1 knockout mice were analyzed.

PKC epsilon as a neonatal target to correct FXS-linked AMPA receptor translocation in the hippocampus, boost PVN oxytocin expression, and normalize adult behavior in Fmr1 knockout mice.

Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) is an inherited developmental disorder caused by the non-expression of the Fmr1 gene. FXS is associated with abnormal social and anxiety behavior that is more prominent among males. Given that oxytocin (OXT) regulates both social and anxiety behavior, we studied the effect of FXS in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN), the major central source of OXT.

Ultrasonic vocalization sex differences in 5-HT-R deficient mouse pups: Predictive phenotypes associated with later-life anxiety-like behaviors.

Anxiety disorders affect nearly twice as many women as men. However, little is known regarding sex-dependent developmental behavioral differences and whether there is an association with later life anxiety disorders. The present study assessed the developmental-behavioral milestones (DBMs) and their relationship with later life anxiety-like behaviors by comparing postnatal ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) with open field (OF), elevated plus maze (EPM), and light/dark (LD) anxiety test outcomes using the serotonin 1A receptor knockout (KO) mouse model of anxiety.

Perinatal Pb exposure alters the expression of genes related to the neurodevelopmental GABA-shift in postnatal rats.

Background: Lead (Pb) is an environmental neurotoxicant that disrupts neurodevelopment, communication, and organization through competition with Ca signaling. How perinatal Pb exposure affects Ca-related gene regulation remains unclear. However, Ca activates the L-Type voltage sensitive calcium channel β-3 subunit (Ca-β3), which autoregulates neuronal excitability and plays a role in the GABA-shift from excitatory-to-inhibitory neurotransmission.

Unique synergistic formulation of curcumin, epicatechin gallate and resveratrol, tricurin, suppresses HPV E6, eliminates HPV+ cancer cells, and inhibits tumor progression.

Curcumin (from curry) (C) is highly potent against cervical cancer cells (CCC), but poor bioavailability has limited its clinical use. Similar natural polyphenols resveratrol (from grapes) (R), and epicatechin gallate (from green tea) (E) also display activity against CCC. By treating CCC (HeLa) with C, E, or R, or combinations of these compounds, we computed combination indices and observed a strong synergism among C, E, and R at the unique molar ratio 4:1:12.

Taurine Recovery of Learning Deficits Induced by Developmental Pb Exposure.

Lead (Pb) is a historically well-documented environmental neurotoxin that produces developmental cognitive learning and memory impairments. These early neurodevelopmental impairments cause increased brain excitability via disruption of Ca mediated signaling during critical periods of synaptogenesis inducing competition with I through NMDAs resulting in altered brain development and functioning across the lifespan. Interestingly, Pb has been shown to decrease GABA transport and uptake, decrease spontaneous and depolarization-evoked GABA neurotransmission and lower the expression of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD); thereby, limiting excitatory GABAergic influences that regulate early developmental brain excitability and reducing inhibition across mature GABAergic networks.

The effects of low dose MK-801 administration on NMDA dependent executive functions in pigeons.

An avian analogue of human fronto-executive dysfunction was used to study the long-term effects of a repeated low dose of MK-801. MK-801 is known to selectively antagonize the excitatory N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDA) and indirectly impair inhibitory related processes (GABA-). First, eight pigeons were divided into two groups, receiving either 0.

Aberrant hippocampal Atp8a1 levels are associated with altered synaptic strength, electrical activity, and autistic-like behavior.

Type IV ATPases are putative aminophospholipid translocases (APLTs), more commonly known as flippases. A pronounced induction of the flippase Atp8a1 was observed in post-mortem tissue homogenates from the hippocampus and temporal lobe of juvenile autistic subjects compared to age-matched controls. In order to simulate the human data, C57BL/6 mice were allowed to develop after intra-hippocampal injection of recombinant lentivirus expressing Atp8a1 at the early developmental stage of postnatal day 6 (P6).

A novel curcumin-based vaginal cream Vacurin selectively eliminates apposed human cervical cancer cells.

Objective: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infections remain a leading cause of mortality worldwide. In the U.S.

Therapeutic effects of acrobatic exercise and magnetic field exposure on functional recovery after spinal cord injury in mice.

The effects of acrobatic exercise and magnetic stimulation (MS) in mice applied either separately or in combination while on recovery after spinal cord injury have been investigated. This progress has been compared in six groups of animals. The first two groups consisted of non-injured and injured animals, respectively, which were not exposed to any treatment.

Dipolar cortico-muscular electrical stimulation: a novel method that enhances motor function in both - normal and spinal cord injured mice.

Background: Electrical stimulation of the central and peripheral nervous systems is a common tool that is used to improve functional recovery after neuronal injury.

Methods: Here we described a new configuration of electrical stimulation as it was tested in anesthetized control and spinal cord injury (SCI) mice. Constant voltage output was delivered through two electrodes.

Erk1/2-dependent phosphorylation of PKCalpha at threonine 638 in hippocampal 5-HT(1A) receptor-mediated signaling.

Stimulation of the serotonin 1A receptor (5-HT(1A)-R) causes activation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (Erk) and protein kinase C alpha (PKCalpha) in both hippocampal HN2-5 cells and cultured hippocampal slices from postnatal day-15 (P15) mice. Our earlier studies demonstrated that PKCalpha is co-immunoprecipitated with Erk and the phosphorylation of PKCalpha in this Erk-PKCalpha complex is dependent on the Erk pathway. Furthermore, the T(638) residue, which must be phosphorylated for the complete activation of PKCalpha, is within an authentic Erk consensus domain (S/TP), and the PKCalpha protein also contains two docking sites for Erk such as KRGRIYL and KRGIIYRDLKL.

Excitability changes in the sciatic nerve and triceps surae muscle after spinal cord injury in mice.

Background: From the onset to the chronic phase of spinal cord injury (SCI), peripheral axons and muscles are subjected to abnormal states of activity. This starts with very intense spasms during the first instant of SCI, through a no activity flaccidity phase, to a chronic hyperactivity phase. It remains unclear how the nature of this sequence may affect the peripheral axons and muscles.

Regulation of protein kinase C isozymes during early postnatal hippocampal development.

During neonatal hippocampal development, serotonin 1A receptor-mediated signaling initially employs PKCepsilon to boost neuronal proliferation and then uses PKCalpha to promote synaptogenesis. Such stage-specific involvement of a PKC isozyme could be determined by its relative expression level. In mouse hippocampi, we detected relatively low levels of alpha, beta, gamma, and delta isozymes at postnatal days 2-6 (P2-6), which was followed by a large increase in their expression.

The influence of pulsed magnetic fields (PMFs) on nonsynaptic potentials recorded from the central and peripheral nervous systems in vitro.

The influence of pulsed magnetic fields (PMFs) on nonsynaptic potentials recorded from the central and peripheral nervous system in vitro has been investigated. The population spikes (PSs) recorded from hippocampal slices during antidromic stimulation and compound action potentials (CAPs) recorded from the segments of the sciatic nerve were used as indicators of neuronal activity. The potentials recorded from both preparations were significantly and permanently enhanced following PMF (0.

Axonal release of glutamate analog, d-2,3-3H-Aspartic acid and l-14C-proline from segments of sciatic nerve following electrical and magnetic stimulation.

Segments of the mouse sciatic nerve were preloaded with either d-2,3-(3)H-Aspartic acid [nonmetabolizable analog of glutamate] or l-(14)C-proline and the release of these exogenous molecules was evaluated in the fractions of the perfusate following electrical or magnetic stimulation. The electrical stimulation (10Hz, 10Am, 20s) induced an instantaneous increase in the release of both molecules, although the release of d-2,3-(3)H-Aspartic acid was much greater. Moreover, contrary to l-(14)C-proline, the release of d-2,3-(3)H-Aspartic acid was Ca(2+)-dependent.

Curcumin blocks brain tumor formation.

Turmeric, an essential ingredient of culinary preparations of Southeast Asia, contains a major polyphenolic compound, named curcumin or diferuloylmethane, which eliminates cancer cells derived from a variety of peripheral tissues. Although in vitro experiments have addressed its anti-tumor property, no in vivo studies have explored its anti-cancer activity in the brain. Oral delivery of this food component has been less effective because of its low solubility in water.

Combined effects of acrobatic exercise and magnetic stimulation on the functional recovery after spinal cord lesions.

The objective of the study was to determine whether physical exercise combined with epidural spinal cord magnetic stimulation could improve recovery after injury of the spinal cord. Spinal cord lesioning in mice resulted in reduced locomotor function and negatively affected the muscle strength tested in vitro. Acrobatic exercise attenuated the behavioral effects of spinal cord injury.

The mechanism of magnetic field-induced increase of excitability in hippocampal neurons.

The influence of a pulsed magnetic field (PMF) on hippocampal evoked potentials has been investigated in vitro. The exposure to PMF (0.16 Hz, 15 mT) applied for 30 min amplified the population spike and the slope of EPSP recorded from stratum pyramidale and stratum radiatum respectively.

Modulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in motor neurons and its electrophysiological effects.

Previous studies have shown that VEGF expression in forebrain increases after experimental manipulations that increase neuronal activity. One question is whether this also occurs in motor neurons. If so, it could be potentially advantageous from a therapeutic perspective, because VEGF prevents motor neuron degeneration.