Displaying publications 61 - 80 of 284 in total

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  1. A device to facilitate preparation of high-density neural cell cultures in MEAs
    Mok SY, Lim YM, Goh SY
    J Neurosci Methods, 2009 May 15;179(2):284-91.
    PMID: 19428539 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2009.02.009
    A device to facilitate high-density seeding of dissociated neural cells on planar multi-electrode arrays (MEAs) is presented in this paper. The device comprises a metal cover with two concentric cylinders-the outer cylinder fits tightly on to the external diameter of a MEA to hold it in place and an inner cylinder holds a central glass tube for introducing a cell suspension over the electrode area of the MEA. An O-ring is placed at the bottom of the inner cylinder and the glass tube to provide a fluid-tight seal between the glass tube and the MEA electrode surface. The volume of cell suspension in the glass tube is varied according to the desired plating density. After plating, the device can be lifted from the MEA without leaving any residue on the contact surface. The device has enabled us to increase and control the plating density of neural cell suspension with low viability, and to prepare successful primary cultures from cryopreserved neurons and glia. The cultures of cryopreserved dissociated cortical neurons that we have grown in this manner remained spontaneously active over months, exhibited stable development and similar network characteristics as reported by other researchers.
    Matched MeSH terms: Neurons/cytology; Neurons/physiology*
  2. Zinc intake during pregnancy increases the proliferation at ventricular zone of the newborn brain
    Azman MS, Wan Saudi WS, Ilhami M, Mutalib MS, Rahman MT
    Nutr Neurosci, 2009 Feb;12(1):9-12.
    PMID: 19178786 DOI: 10.1179/147683009X388904
    Neurogenesis involves cell proliferation, cell cycle arrest, differentiation, migration and the natural developmental death of the neural precursors. These processes are highly co-ordinated and governed by cell-cycle genes and neural transcription factors. Zn plays a crucial role as a functional and structural component of enzymes and transcription factors and components of the intracellular signaling pathway associated with the regulation of cell proliferation. The influence of additional Zn intake during pregnancy on the neuronal proliferation at ventricular zone of the developing fetus has been studied. Pups delivered by the group of mice provided with drinking water with 4.0 mM Zn supplement throughout pregnancy contained an increased number of proliferating neurons in the ventricular zone at P0 compared to those delivered by the mice provided with drinking water without any Zn supplement. This finding provides direct evidence to support the notion that maternal Zn levels influence the development of the nervous system of the offspring.
    Matched MeSH terms: Neurons/cytology*; Neurons/drug effects
  3. Viral morphogenesis and morphological changes in human neuronal cells following Tioman and Menangle virus infection
    Yaiw KC, Hyatt A, Vandriel R, Crameri SG, Eaton B, Wong MH, et al.
    Arch Virol, 2008;153(5):865-75.
    PMID: 18330496 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-008-0059-0
    Tioman virus (TioPV) and Menangle virus (MenPV) are two antigenically and genetically related paramyxoviruses (genus: Rubulavirus, family: Paramyxoviridae) isolated from Peninsular Malaysia (2001) and Australia (1997), respectively. Both viruses are potential zoonotic agents. In the present study, the infectivity, growth kinetics, morphology and morphogenesis of these two paramyxoviruses in a human neuronal cell (SK-N-SH) line were investigated. Sub-confluent SK-N-SH cells were infected with TioPV and MenPV at similar multiplicity of infection. These cells were examined by conventional and immunoelectron microscopy, and virus titres in the supernatants were assayed. Syncytia were observed for both infections in SK-N-SH cells and were more pronounced during the early stages of TioPV infection. The TioPV titre increased consistently (10(1)) every 12 h after infection. In MenPV-infected cells, cellular material was frequently observed within budding virions, and microfilaments and microtubules were abundant. Viral budding was common, and extracellular MenPVs tended to be more pleomorphic compared to TioPVs, which appeared to be more spherical in appearance. The MenPV cytoplasmic viral inclusion appeared to be comparatively smaller, loose and interspersed with randomly scattered circle-like particles, whereas huge tubule-like cytoplasmic inclusions were observed in TioPV-infected cells. Both viruses also displayed different cellular pathology in the SK-N-SH cells. The intracellular ultrastructural characteristics of these two viruses in infected neuronal cells may allow them to be differentiated by electron microscopy.
    Matched MeSH terms: Neurons/pathology*; Neurons/virology*
  4. Neurogenic plasticity of mesenchymal stem cell, an alluring cellular replacement for traumatic brain injury
    Pati S, Muthuraju S, Hadi RA, Huat TJ, Singh S, Maletic-Savatic M, et al.
    Curr Stem Cell Res Ther, 2016;11(2):149-57.
    PMID: 26763886
    Traumatic brain injury (TBI) imposes horrendous neurophysiological alterations leading to most devastating forms of neuro-disability. Which includes impaired cognition, distorted locomotors activity and psychosomatic disability in both youths and adults. Emerging evidence from recent studies has identified mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) as one of the promising category of stem cells having excellent neuroregenerative capability in TBI victims. Some of the clinical and animal studies reported that MSCs transplantation could cure neuronal damage as well as improve cognitive and locomotors behaviors in TBI. However, mechanism behind their broad spectrum neuroregenerative potential in TBI has not been reviewed yet. Therefore, in the present article, we present a comprehensive data on the important attributes of MSCs, such as neurotransdifferentiation, neuroprotection, axonal repair and plasticity, maintenance of blood-brain integrity, reduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and immunomodulation. We have reviewed in detail the crucial neurogenic capabilities of MSCs in vivo and provided consolidated knowledge regarding their cellular remodeling in TBI for future therapeutic implications.
    Matched MeSH terms: Neurons/pathology*; Neurons/transplantation
  5. Deferoxamine Preconditioning of Neural-Like Cells Derived from Human Wharton's Jelly Mesenchymal Stem Cells as a Strategy to Promote Their Tolerance and Therapeutic Potential: An In Vitro Study
    Nouri F, Salehinejad P, Nematollahi-Mahani SN, Kamarul T, Zarrindast MR, Sharifi AM
    Cell Mol Neurobiol, 2016 Jul;36(5):689-700.
    PMID: 26242172 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-015-0249-8
    Transplantation of neural-like cells is considered as a promising therapeutic strategy developed for neurodegenerative disease in particular for ischemic stroke. Since cell survival is a major concern following cell implantation, a number of studies have underlined the protective effects of preconditioning with hypoxia or hypoxia mimetic pharmacological agents such as deferoxamine (DFO), induced by activation of hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) and its target genes. The present study has investigated the effects of DFO preconditioning on some factors involved in cell survival, angiogenesis, and neurogenesis of neural-like cells derived from human Wharton's jelly mesenchymal stem cells (HWJ-MSCs) in presence of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). HWJ-MSCs were differentiated toward neural-like cells for 14 days and neural cell markers were identified using immunocytochemistry. HWJ-MSC-derived neural-like cells were then treated with 100 µM DFO, as a known hypoxia mimetic agent for 48 h. mRNA and protein expression of HIF-1 target genes including brain-derived neurotrophic factors (BDNF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) significantly increased using RT-PCR and Western blotting which were reversed by HIF-1α inhibitor, while, gene expression of Akt-1, Bcl-2, and Bax did not change significantly but pAkt-1 was up-regulated as compared to poor DFO group. However, addition of H2O2 to DFO-treated cells resulted in higher resistance to H2O2-induced cell death. Western blotting analysis also showed significant up-regulation of HIF-1α, BDNF, VEGF, and pAkt-1, and decrease of Bax/Bcl-2 ratio as compared to poor DFO. These results may suggest that DFO preconditioning of HWJ-MSC-derived neural-like cells improves their tolerance and therapeutic potential and might be considered as a valuable strategy to improve cell therapy.
    Matched MeSH terms: Neurons/drug effects; Neurons/metabolism
  6. Fulltext Hippocampal amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid GluA1 (AMPA GluA1) receptor subunit involves in learning and memory improvement following treatment with Centella asiatica extract in adolescent rats
    Binti Mohd Yusuf Yeo NA, Muthuraju S, Wong JH, Mohammed FR, Senik MH, Zhang J, et al.
    Brain Behav, 2018 09;8(9):e01093.
    PMID: 30105867 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.1093
    INTRODUCTION: Centella asiatica is an herbal plant that contains phytochemicals that are widely believed to have positive effects on cognitive function. The adolescent stage is a critical development period for the maturation of brain processes that encompass changes in physical and psychological systems. However, the effect of C. asiatica has not been extensively studied in adolescents. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate the effects of a C. asiatica extract on the enhancement of learning and memory in adolescent rats.

    METHODS: The locomotor activity, learning, and memory were assessed by using open field test and water T-maze test. This study also examined changes in neuronal cell morphology using cresyl violet and apoptosis staining. We also performed immunohistochemical study to analyse the expression of the glutamate AMPA receptor (α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid) GluA1 subunit and the GABA receptor (γ-Aminobutyric Acid) subtype GABAA α1 subunit in the hippocampus of the same animals.

    RESULTS: We found no significant changes in locomotor activity (p > 0.05). The water T-maze data showed that 30 mg/kg dose significantly (p  0.05). Histological data revealed no neuronal morphological changes. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed increased expression of the AMPA GluA1 receptor subunit but there was no effect on GABAA receptor α1 subunit expression in the CA1 and CA2 subregions of the hippocampus.

    CONCLUSIONS: The C. asiatica extract therefore improved hippocampus-dependent spatial learning and memory in a dose-dependent manner in rats through the GluA1-containing AMPA receptor in the CA1 and CA2 sub regions of the hippocampus.

    Matched MeSH terms: Neurons/drug effects; Neurons/metabolism
  7. Fulltext Organotypic slice culture based on in ovo electroporation for chicken embryonic central nervous system
    Yang C, Li X, Li S, Chai X, Guan L, Qiao L, et al.
    J Cell Mol Med, 2019 03;23(3):1813-1826.
    PMID: 30565384 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.14080
    Organotypic slice culture is a living cell research technique which blends features of both in vivo and in vitro techniques. While organotypic brain slice culture techniques have been well established in rodents, there are few reports on the study of organotypic slice culture, especially of the central nervous system (CNS), in chicken embryos. We established a combined in ovo electroporation and organotypic slice culture method to study exogenous genes functions in the CNS during chicken embryo development. We performed in ovo electroporation in the spinal cord or optic tectum prior to slice culture. When embryonic development reached a specific stage, green fluorescent protein (GFP)-positive embryos were selected and fluorescent expression sites were cut under stereo fluorescence microscopy. Selected tissues were embedded in 4% agar. Tissues were sectioned on a vibratory microtome and 300 μm thick sections were mounted on a membrane of millicell cell culture insert. The insert was placed in a 30-mm culture dish and 1 ml of slice culture media was added. We show that during serum-free medium culture, the slice loses its original structure and propensity to be strictly regulated, which are the characteristics of the CNS. However, after adding serum, the histological structure of cultured-tissue slices was able to be well maintained and neuronal axons were significantly longer than that those of serum-free medium cultured-tissue slices. As the structure of a complete single neuron can be observed from a slice culture, this is a suitable way of studying single neuronal dynamics. As such, we present an effective method to study axon formation and migration of single neurons in vitro.
    Matched MeSH terms: Neurons/cytology*; Neurons/metabolism
  8. Fulltext Analysis of expression of vitamin E-binding proteins in H2O2 induced SK-N-SH neuronal cells supplemented with α-tocopherol and tocotrienol-rich fraction
    Chiroma AA, Khaza'ai H, Abd Hamid R, Chang SK, Zakaria ZA, Zainal Z
    PLoS One, 2020;15(11):e0241112.
    PMID: 33232330 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0241112
    Natural α-tocopherol (α-TCP), but not tocotrienol, is preferentially retained in the human body. α-Tocopherol transfer protein (α-TTP) is responsible for binding α-TCP for cellular uptake and has high affinity and specificity for α-TCP but not α-tocotrienol. The purpose of this study was to examine the modification of α-TTP together with other related vitamin E-binding genes (i.e., TTPA, SEC14L2, and PI-TPNA) in regulating vitamin E uptake in neuronal cells at rest and under oxidative stress. Oxidative stress was induced with H2O2 for an hour which was followed by supplementation with different ratios of α-TCP and tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF) for four hours. The cellular levels of vitamin E were quantified to determine bioavailability at cellular levels. The expression levels of TTPA, SEC14L2, and PI-TPNA genes in 0% α-TCP were found to be positively correlated with the levels of vitamin E in resting neuronal cells. In addition, the regulation of all the above-mentioned genes affect the distribution of vitamin E in the neuronal cells. It was observed that, increased levels of α-TCP secretion occur under oxidative stress. Thus, our results showed that in conclusion vitamin E-binding proteins may be modified in the absence of α-TCP to produce tocotrienols (TCT), as a source of vitamin E. The current study suggests that the expression levels of vitamin E transport proteins may influence the cellular concentrations of vitamin E levels in the neuronal cells.
    Matched MeSH terms: Neurons/drug effects*; Neurons/metabolism*
  9. Supplementation of fenugreek with choline-docosahexaenoic acid attenuates menopause induced memory loss, BDNF and dendritic arborization in ovariectomized rats
    Konuri A, Bhat KMR, Rai KS, Gourishetti K, Phaneendra M YS
    Anat Sci Int, 2021 Mar;96(2):197-211.
    PMID: 32944877 DOI: 10.1007/s12565-020-00574-8
    Cognitive impairment due to natural or surgical menopause is always associated with estrogen deficiency leading to reduced brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Reduced BDNF levels in menopause affect neuronal maturation, survival, axonal and dendritic arborization and the maintenance of dendritic spine density. Conventional long-term estrogen replacement therapy reported causing the risk of venous thromboembolism and breast cancer. To overcome these undesirable effects, phytoestrogens have been used in menopause-induced condition without the risk of side effects. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of fenugreek seed extract (FG) either alone or in combination with choline-DHA on BDNF and dendritic arborization of pyramidal neurons in CA1 and CA3 regions of the hippocampus in ovariectomized rats. Female Wistar rats of 9-10 months old were divided into six groups as normal control (NC); ovariectomy (OVX); OVX + FG; OVX + choline-DHA; OVX + FG + choline-DHA; and OVX + estradiol. All the groups, except NC, were ovariectomized. After 2 weeks of ovariectomy, dietary supplementation was initiated for a period of 30 days. After supplementation, behavioral studies, BDNF levels and dendritic arborization were estimated. Ovariectomized (OVX) rats showed reduced BDNF levels, dendritic branching points and dendritic intersections of pyramidal neurons in CA1 and CA3 regions of the hippocampus. OVX rats supplemented with FG with choline-DHA showed significantly improved BDNF levels, dendritic branching points and dendritic intersections. These results are demonstrating that FG with choline-DHA supplementation can be an alternative for estrogen replacement therapy to modulate menopause-induced learning and memory deficits.
    Matched MeSH terms: Neurons/drug effects; Neurons/metabolism
  10. Maternal dexamethasone exposure inhibits the gonadotropin-releasing hormone neuronal movement in the preoptic area of rat offspring
    Lim WL, Soga T, Parhar IS
    Dev Neurosci, 2014;36(2):95-107.
    PMID: 24713635 DOI: 10.1159/000360416
    Migration and final positioning of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons in the preoptic area (POA) is critical for reproduction. It is known that maternal dexamethasone (DEX) exposure impairs reproductive function and behaviour in the offspring. However, it is still not known whether maternal DEX exposure affects the postnatal GnRH neurons in the offspring. This study determined the neuronal movement of enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-tagged GnRH neurons in slice culture of postnatal day 0 (P0), P5 and P50-60 transgenic male rats. Effect of maternal DEX treatment on EGFP-GnRH neuronal movement and F-actin distribution on GnRH neurons at P0 stage were studied. Time-lapse analysis of P0 and P5 EGFP-GnRH neurons displayed active cellular movement within the POA compared to young adult P50-60 stages, suggesting possible fine-tuning movement for positioning of early postnatal GnRH neurons. The DEX-treated EGFP-GnRH neurons demonstrated decreased motility in the POA and reduced F-actin distribution in the GnRH neurons at 60 h culture compared to the vehicle-treated. These results suggest that the P0 GnRH neuronal movement in the POA is altered by maternal DEX exposure, which possibly disrupts the fine-tuning process for positioning and development of early postnatal GnRH neurons in the brain, potentially linked to reproductive dysfunction in adulthood.
    Matched MeSH terms: Neurons/drug effects*; Neurons/metabolism
  11. Mechanisms of action of amyloid-beta and its precursor protein in neuronal cell death
    Leong YQ, Ng KY, Chye SM, Ling APK, Koh RY
    Metab Brain Dis, 2020 01;35(1):11-30.
    PMID: 31811496 DOI: 10.1007/s11011-019-00516-y
    Extracellular senile plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles are the neuropathological findings of the Alzheimer's disease (AD). Based on the amyloid cascade hypothesis, the main component of senile plaques, the amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptide, and its derivative called amyloid precursor protein (APP) both have been found to place their central roles in AD development for years. However, the recent therapeutics have yet to reverse or halt this disease. Previous evidence demonstrates that the accumulation of Aβ peptides and APP can exert neurotoxicity and ultimately neuronal cell death. Hence, we discuss the mechanisms of excessive production of Aβ peptides and APP serving as pathophysiologic stimuli for the initiation of various cell signalling pathways including apoptosis, necrosis, necroptosis and autophagy which lead to neuronal cell death. Conversely, the activation of such pathways could also result in the abnormal generation of APP and Aβ peptides. An elucidation of actions of APP and its metabolite, Aβ, could be vital in suggesting novel therapeutic opportunities.
    Matched MeSH terms: Neurons/metabolism*; Neurons/pathology
  12. Lingzhi or Reishi Medicinal Mushroom, Ganoderma lucidum (Agaricomycetes), Ameliorates Nonspatial Learning and Memory Deficits in Rats with Hypercholesterolemia and Alzheimer's Disease
    Rahman MA, Hossain S, Abdullah N, Aminudin N
    Int J Med Mushrooms, 2020;22(11):1067-1078.
    PMID: 33426838 DOI: 10.1615/IntJMedMushrooms.2020036354
    Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the leading neurodegenerative disorder affecting memory and learning of aged people. Hypercholesterolemia had been implicated as one of the stark hallmarks of AD. Recent AD control guidelines have suggested lifestyle modification to slow down the progression of AD. In this regard, medicinal mushroom Ganoderma lucidum seems apt. In the present study, hot water extract of G. lucidum (200 mg/kg body weight) was fed to the hypercholesterolemic and AD model rats for 8 weeks. Nonspatial memory and learning abilities of the model animals was assessed using novel object recognition (NOR) test, rotarod test, and locomotor/open-field test. Then, the animals were sacrificed and transmission electron micrograph (TEM) view of the hippocampal neurons was assessed. In all the nonspatial memory and learning tests, the G. lucidum HWE fed rats performed better indicating improved memory and learning abilities. TEM view showed regular arrangement of the neurons in the G. lucidum HWE fed rats compared with those of the deranged arrangement of the AD rats. G. lucidum might have aided in restoring the memory and learning abilities of the AD model animals through maintaining neuronal structure and function. Thus, G. lucidum could be suggested as a medicotherapeutic agent against AD.
    Matched MeSH terms: Neurons/drug effects; Neurons/physiology
  13. Fulltext Studying neuroprotective effect of Atorvastatin as a small molecule drug on high glucose-induced neurotoxicity in undifferentiated PC12 cells: role of NADPH oxidase
    Rayegan S, Dehpour AR, Sharifi AM
    Metab Brain Dis, 2017 02;32(1):41-49.
    PMID: 27476541 DOI: 10.1007/s11011-016-9883-1
    Overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by NADPH oxidase (NOX) activation has been considered the essential mechanism induced by hyperglycemia in various tissues. However, there is no comprehensive study on the role of NOXs in high glucose (HG)-induced toxic effect in neural tissues. Recently, a therapeutic strategy in oxidative related pathologies has been introduced by blocking the undesirable actions of NOX enzymes by small molecules. The protective roles of Statins in ameliorating oxidative stress by NOX inhibition have been shown in some tissues except neural. We hypothesized then, that different NOXs may have role in HG-induced neural cell injury. Furthermore, we postulate that Atorvastatin as a small molecule may modulate this NOXs activity to protect neural cells. Undifferentiated PC12 cells were treated with HG (140 mM/24 h) in the presence and absence of Atorvastatin (1 μM/96 h). The cell viability was measured by MTT assay and the gene and protein expressions profile of NOX (1-4) were determined by RT-PCR and western blotting, respectively. Levels of ROS and malondialdehyde (MDA) were also evaluated. Gene and protein expression levels of NOX (1-4) and consequently ROS and MDA levels were elevated in HG-treated PC12 cells. Atorvastatin could significantly decrease HG-induced NOXs, ROS and MDA elevation and improve impaired cell viability. It can be concluded that HG could elevate NOXs activity, ROS and MDA levels in neural tissues and Atorvastatin as a small molecule NOX inhibitor drug may prevent and delay diabetic complications, particularly neuropathy.
    Matched MeSH terms: Neurons/drug effects*; Neurons/metabolism
  14. Fulltext AIM2 Inflammasome-Mediated Pyroptosis in Enterovirus A71-Infected Neuronal Cells Restricts Viral Replication
    Yogarajah T, Ong KC, Perera D, Wong KT
    Sci Rep, 2017 07 19;7(1):5845.
    PMID: 28724943 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-05589-2
    Encephalomyelitis is a well-known complication of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) due to Enterovirus 71 (EV71) infection. Viral RNA/antigens could be detected in the central nervous system (CNS) neurons in fatal encephalomyelitis but the mechanisms of neuronal cell death is not clearly understood. We investigated the role of absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) inflammasome in neuronal cell death, and its relationship to viral replication. Our transcriptomic analysis, RT-qPCR, Western blot, immunofluorescence and flow cytometry studies consistently showed AIM2 gene up-regulation and protein expression in EV-A71-infected SK-N-SH cells. Downstream AIM2-induced genes, CARD16, caspase-1 and IL-1β were also up-regulated and caspase-1 was activated to form cleaved caspase-1 p20 subunits. As evidenced by 7-AAD positivity, pyroptosis was confirmed in infected cells. Overall, these findings have a strong correlation with decreases in viral titers, copy numbers and proteins, and reduced proportions of infected cells. AIM2 and viral antigens were detected by immunohistochemistry in infected neurons in inflamed areas of the CNS in EV-A71 encephalomyelitis. In infected AIM2-knockdown cells, AIM2 and related downstream gene expressions, and pyroptosis were suppressed, resulting in significantly increased virus infection. These results support the notion that AIM2 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis is an important mechanism of neuronal cell death and it could play an important role in limiting EV-A71 replication.
    Matched MeSH terms: Neurons/metabolism; Neurons/virology*
  15. siRNA Blocking of Mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) Attenuates Pathology in Annonacin-Induced Tauopathy in Mice
    Salama M, El-Desouky S, Alsayed A, El-Hussiny M, Magdy K, Fekry E, et al.
    Neurotox Res, 2019 May;35(4):987-992.
    PMID: 30362086 DOI: 10.1007/s12640-018-9974-3
    Tauopathy is a pathological hallmark of many neurodegenerative diseases. It is characterized by abnormal aggregates of pathological phosphotau and somatodendritic redistribution. One suggested strategy for treating tauopathy is to stimulate autophagy, hence, getting rid of these pathological protein aggregates. One key controller of autophagy is mTOR. Since stimulation of mTOR leads to inhibition of autophagy, inhibitors of mTOR will cause stimulation of autophagy process. In this report, tauopathy was induced in mice using annonacin. Blocking of mTOR was achieved through stereotaxic injection of siRNA against mTOR. The behavioral and immunohistochemical evaluation revealed the development of tauopathy model as proven by deterioration of behavioral performance in open field test and significant tau aggregates in annonacin-treated mice. Blocking of mTOR revealed significant clearance of tau aggregates in the injected side; however, tau expression was not affected by mTOR blockage.
    Matched MeSH terms: Neurons/metabolism; Neurons/pathology*
  16. Housing under the pyramid reduces susceptibility of hippocampal CA3 pyramidal neurons to prenatal stress in the developing rat offspring
    Murthy KD, George MC, Ramasamy P, Mustapha ZA
    Indian J Exp Biol, 2013 Dec;51(12):1070-8.
    PMID: 24579372
    Mother-offspring interaction begins before birth. The foetus is particularly vulnerable to environmental insults and stress. The body responds by releasing excess of the stress hormone cortisol, which acts on glucocorticoid receptors. Hippocampus in the brain is rich in glucocorticoid receptors and therefore susceptible to stress. The stress effects are reduced when the animals are placed under a model wooden pyramid. The present study was to first explore the effects of prenatal restraint-stress on the plasma corticosterone levels and the dendritic arborisation of CA3 pyramidal neurons in the hippocampus of the offspring. Further, to test whether the pyramid environment would alter these effects, as housing under a pyramid is known to reduce the stress effects, pregnant Sprague Dawley rats were restrained for 9 h per day from gestation day 7 until parturition in a wire-mesh restrainer. Plasma corticosterone levels were found to be significantly increased. In addition, there was a significant reduction in the apical and the basal total dendritic branching points and intersections of the CA3 hippocampal pyramidal neurons. The results thus suggest that, housing in the pyramid dramatically reduces prenatal stress effects in rats.
    Matched MeSH terms: Neurons/metabolism*; Neurons/physiology
  17. Fulltext Cardamonin Modulates Neuropathic Pain through the Possible Involvement of Serotonergic 5-HT1A Receptor Pathway in CCI-Induced Neuropathic Pain Mice Model
    Kaswan NK, Mohammed Izham NAB, Tengku Mohamad TAS, Sulaiman MR, Perimal EK
    Molecules, 2021 Jun 16;26(12).
    PMID: 34208700 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26123677
    Cardamonin, a naturally occurring chalcone isolated from Alpinia species has shown to possess strong anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive activities. Previous studies have demonstrated that cardamonin exerts antihyperalgesic and antiallodynic properties in chronic constriction injury (CCI)-induced neuropathic pain animal model. However, the mechanisms underlying cardamonin's effect have yet to be fully understood. The present study aims to investigate the involvement of the serotonergic system in cardamonin induced antihyperalgesic and antiallodynic effects in CCI-induced neuropathic pain mice model. The neuropathic pain symptoms in the CCI mice model were assessed using Hargreaves Plantar test and von-Frey filament test on day 14 post-surgery. Central depletion of serotonin along the descending serotonergic pathway was done using ρ-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA, 100 mg/kg, i.p.), an inhibitor of serotonin synthesis for four consecutive days before cardamonin treatment, and was found to reverse the antihyperalgesic and antiallodynic effect produced by cardamonin. Pretreatment of the mice with several 5-HT receptor subtypes antagonists: methiothepin (5-HT1/6/77 receptor antagonist, 0.1 mg/kg), WAY 100635 (5-HT1A receptor antagonist, 1 mg/kg), isamoltane (5-HT1B receptor antagonist, 2.5 mg/kg), ketanserin (5-HT2A receptor antagonist, 0.3 mg/kg), and ondansetron (5-HT3 receptor antagonist, 0.5 mg/kg) were shown to abolish the effect of cardamonin induced antihyperalgesic and antiallodynic effects. Further evaluation of the 5-HT1A receptor subtype protein expressions reveals that cardamonin significantly upregulated its expression in the brainstem and spinal cord. Our results suggest that the serotonergic pathway is essential for cardamonin to exert its antineuropathic effect in CCI mice through the involvement of the 5-HT1A receptor subtype in the central nervous system.
    Matched MeSH terms: Serotonergic Neurons/drug effects; Serotonergic Neurons/metabolism
  18. Effect of concurrent application of heat, swim stress and repeated dermal application of chlorpyrifos on the hippocampal neurons in mice
    Mitra NK, Nadarajah VD, Siong HH
    Folia Neuropathol, 2009;47(1):60-8.
    PMID: 19353435
    Dermal absorption of chlorpyrifos (CPF), an organophosphate (OP) pesticide, is important because of its popular use. Stress has been reported to exacerbate neurotoxic effects of certain OP pesticides; however, quantitative studies to corroborate this are not reported. This study correlates the changes in acetylcholinesterase (AChE) levels and neuronal counts in areas of the hippocampus to consecutive exposure of stress, heat and CPF. Male mice (60 days) were segregated into six groups: one control, one stress control, and four treated groups (n=10). CPF was applied in doses of 1/2 and 1/5 of dermal LD50 (E1 and E2) over the tail of mice under occlusive bandages for 3 weeks. Stress control [(s) C] mice were subjected to swim stress at 38 degrees C (6 mins/day, 3 weeks). (s) E1 and (s) E2 were subjected to swim stress before CPF application. Blood and brain AChE levels were estimated using a spectrofluorometric method (Amplex Red). Pyramidal neurons of the cornu ammonis of the hippocampus under Nissl stain from histological sections were counted per unit area of section and analyzed statistically using one way ANOVA. Swim stress at 38 degrees C aggravated reduction of serum AChE by dermal exposure to CPF by 19.7%. Neurons of CA3 and CA1 regions of the hippocampus showed significant reduction in neuronal counts in (s) E1 and (s) E2 groups compared to E1 and E2 groups. Whereas application of CPF 1/2 dermal LD50 (E1) showed significant reduction of neuronal counts only in the CA3 area.
    Matched MeSH terms: Neurons/drug effects*; Neurons/pathology
  19. Understanding the retina: a review of computational models of the retina from the single cell to the network level
    Guo T, Tsai D, Bai S, Morley JW, Suaning GJ, Lovell NH, et al.
    Crit Rev Biomed Eng, 2014;42(5):419-36.
    PMID: 25745804
    The vertebrate retina is a clearly organized signal-processing system. It contains more than 60 different types of neurons, arranged in three distinct neural layers. Each cell type is believed to serve unique role(s) in encoding visual information. While we now have a relatively good understanding of the constituent cell types in the retina and some general ideas of their connectivity, with few exceptions, how the retinal circuitry performs computation remains poorly understood. Computational modeling has been commonly used to study the retina from the single cell to the network level. In this article, we begin by reviewing retinal modeling strategies and existing models. We then discuss in detail the significance and limitations of these models, and finally, we provide suggestions for the future development of retinal neural modeling.
    Matched MeSH terms: Neurons
  20. Thymoquinone prevents β-amyloid neurotoxicity in primary cultured cerebellar granule neurons
    Ismail N, Ismail M, Mazlan M, Latiff LA, Imam MU, Iqbal S, et al.
    Cell Mol Neurobiol, 2013 Nov;33(8):1159-69.
    PMID: 24101432 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-013-9982-z
    Thymoquinone (TQ), a bioactive constituent of Nigella sativa Linn (N. sativa) has demonstrated several neuropharmacological attributes. In the present study, the neuroprotective properties of TQ were investigated by studying its anti-apoptotic potential to diminish β-amyloid peptide 1-40 sequence (Aβ1-40)-induced neuronal cell death in primary cultured cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs). The effects of TQ against Aβ1-40-induced neurotoxicity, morphological damages, DNA condensation, the generation of reactive oxygen species, and caspase-3, -8, and -9 activation were investigated. Pretreatment of CGNs with TQ (0.1 and 1 μM) and subsequent exposure to 10 μM Aβ1-40 protected the CGNs against the neurotoxic effects of the latter. In addition, the CGNs were better preserved with intact cell bodies, extensive neurite networks, a loss of condensed chromatin and less free radical generation than those exposed to Aβ1-40 alone. TQ pretreatment inhibited Aβ1-40-induced apoptosis of CGNs via both extrinsic and intrinsic caspase pathways. Thus, the findings of this study suggest that TQ may prevent neurotoxicity and Aβ1-40-induced apoptosis. TQ is, therefore, worth studying further for its potential to reduce the risks of developing Alzheimer's disease.
    Matched MeSH terms: Neurons/drug effects; Neurons/enzymology; Neurons/pathology*
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