MedWorm.com provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest items from the 'Brain Structure and Function' source. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 07:05:39 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5621574&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22252376%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: O'Neill A, Frodl T Abstract The spotlight on borderline personality disorder (BPD) has been growing in recent years, with the number of papers discussing potential causes and triggers of the disorder rapidly on the increase. Also on the increase, though still lacking sufficient numbers to produce well-supported hypotheses, are studies employing neuroimaging techniques as investigative tools in BPD. In this review, we investigate the current state and findings of neuroimaging studies in BPD, focusing in particular, on the studies examining structural, functional, and neurometabolic abnormalities in the disorder. Some suspected trends in the data are highlighted, including reductions in the hippocampi and amygdalae of BPD patients compared to healthy controls, exaggerated am... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5621574 Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100 5621574 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5600406&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22246100%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Shaltiel G, Hanan M, Wolf Y, Barbash S, Kovalev E, Shoham S, Soreq H Abstract Diverse stress stimuli induce long-lasting cognitive deficits, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are still incompletely understood. Here, we report three different stress models demonstrating that stress-inducible increases in microRNA-132 (miR-132) and consequent decreases in its acetylcholinesterase (AChE) target are causally involved. In a mild model of predator scent-induced anxiety, we demonstrate long-lasting hippocampal elevation of miR-132, accompanied by and associated with reduced AChE activity. Using lentiviral-mediated suppression of "synaptic" AChE-S mRNA, we quantified footshock stress-inducible changes in miR-132 and AChE and its corresponding cognitive damages. Stressed mice... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5600406 Sat, 14 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100 5600406 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5600407&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22241286%26dopt%3DAbstract We examined the effects of maternal diabetes on insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) and insulin receptor (InsR) expression in the developing rat hippocampus. Female rats were maintained diabetic from a week before pregnancy through parturition and male offspring was killed at P0, P7, and P14. We found a significant bilateral upregulation of both IGF-1R and InsR transcripts in the hippocampus of pups born to diabetic mothers at P0, as compared to controls. However, at the same time point, the results of western blot analysis revealed only a slight change in their protein levels. At P7, there was a marked bilateral reduction in mRNA expression and protein levels of IGF-1R, although not of InsR in the diabetic group. We also found a downregulation in IGF1-R transcripts, especially ... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5600407 Fri, 13 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100 5600407 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5578181&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22205159%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Van Dorpe S, Bronselaer A, Nielandt J, Stalmans S, Wynendaele E, Audenaert K, Van De Wiele C, Burvenich C, Peremans K, Hsuchou H, De Tré G, De Spiegeleer B Abstract Peptides are able to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) through various mechanisms, opening new diagnostic and therapeutic avenues. However, their BBB transport data are scattered in the literature over different disciplines, using different methodologies reporting different influx or efflux aspects. Therefore, a comprehensive BBB peptide database (Brainpeps) was constructed to collect the BBB data available in the literature. Brainpeps currently contains BBB transport information with positive as well as negative results. The database is a useful tool to prioritize peptide choices for evaluating different BB... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5578181 Thu, 29 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5578181 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5549924&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22200882%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Sarubbo S, De Benedictis A, Maldonado IL, Basso G, Duffau H Abstract The anatomy and functional role of the inferior fronto-occipital fascicle (IFOF) remain poorly known. We accurately analyze its course and the anatomical distribution of its frontal terminations. We propose a classification of the IFOF in different subcomponents. Ten hemispheres (5 left, 5 right) were dissected with Klingler's technique. In addition to the IFOF dissection, we performed a 4-T diffusion tensor imaging study on a single healthy subject. We identified two layers of IFOF. The first one is superficial and antero-superiorly directed, terminating in the inferior frontal gyrus. The second is deeper and consists of three portions: posterior, middle and anterior. The posterior component terminates i... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5549924 Tue, 27 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5549924 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5549923&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22200883%26dopt%3DAbstract This study is the first providing direct in vivo evidence for a disturbed cortical shape of central visual areas in schizophrenia. The present findings of hypergyria are highly indicative for a disrupted corticogenesis of these visual key regions and might constitute a relevant anatomical basis for visual processing deficits in schizophrenia. PMID: 22200883 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Brain Structure and Function) Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5549923 Tue, 27 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5549923 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5549925&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22198594%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Gebauer D, Fink A, Filippini N, Johansen-Berg H, Reishofer G, Koschutnig K, Kargl R, Purgstaller C, Fazekas F, Enzinger C Abstract While the functional correlates of spelling impairment have been rarely investigated, to our knowledge no study exists regarding the structural characteristics of spelling impairment and potential changes with interventions. Using diffusion tensor imaging at 3.0 T, we here therefore sought to investigate (a) differences between children with poor spelling abilities (training group and waiting group) and controls, and (b) the effects of a morpheme-based spelling intervention in children with poor spelling abilities on DTI parameters. A baseline comparison of white matter indices revealed significant differences between controls and spelling-imp... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5549925 Sun, 25 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5549925 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5549928&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22193334%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Tallal P, Creese I PMID: 22193334 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Brain Structure and Function) Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5549928 Fri, 23 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5549928 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5549927&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22193335%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Huberle E, Karnath HO Abstract Grouping processes enable the coherent perception of our environment. A number of brain areas has been suggested to be involved in the integration of elements into objects including early and higher visual areas along the ventral visual pathway as well as motion-processing areas of the dorsal visual pathway. However, integration not only is required for the cortical representation of individual objects, but is also essential for the perception of more complex visual scenes consisting of several different objects and/or shapes. The present fMRI experiments aimed to address such integration processes. We investigated the neural correlates underlying the global Gestalt perception of hierarchically organized stimuli that allowed parametrical degr... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5549927 Fri, 23 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5549927 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5549926&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22193336%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Fan Y, Liu M, Wu X, Wang F, Ding J, Chen J, Hu G Abstract Aquaporin-4 (AQP4), the most abundant aquaporin in the brain, is polarized at the glial end-feet facing peri-synaptic areas. AQP4 has been hypothesized to modulate water and potassium fluxes associated with neuronal activity in pathophysiological states. However, the role of AQP4 in astroglial signaling under physiological conditions is unclear. Herein, AQP4 knockout mice and wild-type littermates were tested in the Morris water maze (MWM), which allows for investigating the role of AQP4 in long-term learning and memory. Compared with wild-type mice, AQP4 knockout mice appeared actually to find the platform more easy, but to forget more quickly, in the MWM, indicating that AQP4 knockout mice exhibited impaired memor... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5549926 Fri, 23 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5549926 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5534608&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22179106%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Lavezzi HN, Parsley KP, Zahm DS Abstract The mesopontine rostromedial tegmental nucleus (RMTg) is a GABAergic structure in the ventral midbrain and rostral pons that, when activated, inhibits dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area and substantia nigra compacta. Additional strong outputs from the RMTg to the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus pars dissipata, dorsal raphe nucleus, and the pontomedullary gigantocellular reticular formation were identified by anterograde tracing. RMTg neurons projecting to the ventral tegmental area express the immediate early gene Fos upon psychostimulant administration. The present study was undertaken to determine if neurons in the RMTg that project to the additional structures listed above also express Fos upon psychostimulant ... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5534608 Sun, 18 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5534608 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5534607&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22179107%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Lanciego JL, Vázquez A Abstract A stereotaxic brain atlas of the basal ganglia and thalamus of Macaca fascicularis presented here is designed with a surgical perspective. In this regard, all coordinates have been referenced to a line linking the anterior and posterior commissures (ac-pc line) and considering the center of the ac at the midline as the origin of the bicommissural space. The atlas comprises of 43 different plates (19 coronal levels, 10 sagittal levels and 14 horizontal levels). In addition to 'classical' cyto- and chemoarchitectural techniques such as the Nissl method and the acetylcholinesterase stain, several immunohistochemical stains have been performed in adjacent sections, including the detection of tyrosine hydroxylase, enkephalin, neurofilaments, par... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5534607 Sun, 18 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5534607 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5534609&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22139139%26dopt%3DAbstract This study is the first to quantitatively co-evaluate the effects of the most common brain tissue fixative-formalin-on brain shape, size, and weight, using two-dimensional landmark analysis of mouse brains fixed in unbuffered, non-saline formalin from fresh specimens up to 213 days of preservation. The brains show a typical swelling reaction with subsequent decline in size and weight. Weight initially under- and later over-estimates size, so that the practice of using weight to estimate volume can be problematic. Time to recovery of original size resembled that of much larger brained mammals, suggesting that the slow reaction of formalin with tissue components mainly determines recovery times. Non-size related (anisotropic) distortion of different brain areas accounted for around a quarte... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5534609 Sun, 04 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5534609 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5474995&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22131119%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kühn S, Romanowski A, Schubert F, Gallinat J Abstract Structural deficiencies within the cerebellum have been associated with schizophrenia. Whereas several region-of-interest-based studies have shown deviations in cerebellar volume, meta-analyses on conventional whole-brain voxel-based morphometry (VBM) studies do not implicate abnormalities in the cerebellum. Since this discrepancy could be due to methodological problems of VBM, we used a cerebellum-optimized VBM procedure. We acquired high-resolution MRI scans from 29 schizophrenia patients and 45 healthy controls and used a VBM approach utilizing the Spatially Unbiased Infratentorial toolbox (Diedrichsen in Neuroimage 33:127-138, 2006). Relative to healthy controls, schizophrenia patients showed reductions of grey mat... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5474995 Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5474995 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5456284&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22124664%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Zopf R, Klose U, Karnath HO Abstract Commonly, in lesion-behaviour studies structural changes in brain matter are depicted and analysed. However, in addition to these structural changes, brain areas might be structurally intact but non-functional due to malperfusion. These changes may be detected using perfusion-weighted MRI (PWI). Perfusion parameters most commonly used [e.g. time-to-peak (TTP)] are semi-quantitative and perfusion is evaluated in relation to a non-affected reference area. Traditionally, the mean of a larger region in the non-affected hemisphere or the cerebellum has been used ["mean contra-region of interest (ROI) comparison"]. Our results suggest that this method is prone to biases (in particular in periventricular regions) because perfusion differs betw... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5456284 Tue, 29 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5456284 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5456286&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22113856%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Heo S, Jung G, Beuk T, Höger H, Lubec G Abstract The glutamate transporter 1 (GLT-1) is essential for glutamate uptake in the brain and associated with various psychiatric and neurological disorders. Pharmacological inhibition of GLT-1 results in memory deficits, but no study linking native GLT-1 complexes was published so far. It was therefore the aim of the study to associate this highly hydrophobic, eight transmembrane spanning domains containing transporter to memory training in the Multiple T-maze (MTM). C57BL/6J mice were used for the spatial memory training experiments, and trained mice were compared to untrained (yoked) animals. Mouse hippocampi were dissected out 6 h after training on day 4, and a total enriched membrane fraction was prepared by ultracentrifugat... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5456286 Thu, 24 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5456286 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5456285&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22113857%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ashwell KW Abstract The living monotremes (platypus and echidnas) are distinguished from therians as well as each other in part by the unusual structure of the thalamus in each. In particular, the platypus has an enlarged ventral posterior (VP) nucleus reflecting the great behavioural importance of trigeminosensation and electroreception. The embryological collections of the Museum für Naturkunde in Berlin were used to analyse the development of the dorsal thalamus and ventral thalamus (prethalamus) in both species. Prosomeric organization of the forebrain emerged at 6 mm crown-rump length (CRL), but thalamic neurogenesis did not commence until about 8-9 mm CRL. Distinctive features of the dorsal thalamus in the two species began to emerge after hatching (about 14-15 m... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5456285 Thu, 24 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5456285 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5456287&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22108680%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Xue WN, Wang Y, He SM, Wang XL, Zhu JL, Gao GD Abstract Oscillation activities are the feature of neural network and correlated to different physiological states. The theta (θ) oscillation (2-7 Hz) has been reported in the basal ganglia, and the intrinsic resonance properties of individual neurons have provided a basis for this network oscillation. The basal ganglia neurons receive comprehensive modulation arising from dopaminergic (DA) neurons located in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc), but how the oscillation is regulated in SNc DA neurons remains poorly understood. In this paper, whole-cell patch-clamp recordings were performed on SNc DA neurons in rat brain slices to reveal the resonance properties and underlying mechanisms. After swept-sine-wave (ZAP protoc... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5456287 Wed, 23 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5456287 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5420162&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22086160%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Li S, Kirouac GJ Abstract The paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT) is part of a group of midline and intralaminar thalamic nuclei implicated in arousal and attention. Recent research points to anatomical and functional differences between the anterior (aPVT) and posterior PVT (pPVT). The present study re-examines the main sources of brain inputs to the aPVT and pPVT in the rat following iontophoretic injections of the retrograde tracer cholera toxin B (CTb) in the PVT. The location and the number of retrogradely labeled neurons in different regions of the brain were examined to determine which brain areas are likely to exert a strong influence on the aPVT and pPVT. The largest number of labeled neurons was found in layer 6 of the prelimbic, infralimbic and posteri... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5420162 Wed, 16 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5420162 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5420163&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22081168%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Varga T, Mogyoródi B, Bagó AG, Cservenák M, Domokos D, Renner E, Gallatz K, Usdin TB, Palkovits M, Dobolyi A Abstract The paralemniscal area, situated between the pontine reticular formation and the lateral lemniscus in the pontomesencephalic tegmentum contains some tuberoinfundibular peptide of 39 residues (TIP39)-expressing neurons. In the present study, we measured a 4 times increase in the level of TIP39 mRNA in the paralemniscal area of lactating mothers as opposed to nulliparous females and mothers deprived of pups using real-time RT-PCR. In situ hybridization histochemistry and immunolabeling demonstrated that the induction of TIP39 in mothers takes place within the medial paralemniscal nucleus, a cytoarchitectonically distinct part of the paralemniscal area, and... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5420163 Sat, 12 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5420163 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5420164&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22075950%26dopt%3DAbstract This study confirms that RALDH levels are very low in mouse neurons but, surprisingly, strong expression of RALDH protein is detected by immunohistochemistry in hippocampal neurons. The receptors RARα, β and γ were also detected, each receptor exhibiting differing subcellular locations implying their potential regulation of both transcription and non-genomic actions. These results imply an essential function of retinoic acid in the human hippocampus likely to include regulation of neuronal plasticity. PMID: 22075950 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Brain Structure and Function) Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5420164 Fri, 11 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5420164 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5379702&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22042446%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Hami J, Sadr-Nabavi A, Sankian M, Haghir H Abstract Sex differences and laterality of rat hippocampus with respect to insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) and insulin receptor (InsR) expression as two important contributors to/regulators of developmental and cognitive functions were examined using real-time PCR and western blot analysis at P0, P7 and P14. Expression of the IGF-1R gene was lowest at P0 in all studied hippocampi. In males, we found the highest expression at P7 in the right hippocampus, and at P14 in the left one. In contrast, the peaked IGF-1R expression occurred at P7 in female hippocampi independent of laterality. Hippocampal InsR expression in males decreased significantly between P0 and P7, followed by a marked upregulation at P14. Conversely, ... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5379702 Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5379702 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5379703&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22037680%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Lanosa XA, Yáñez A, Alzugaray S, Colombo JA Abstract Distribution of bromodeoxyuridine immunoreactive (BrdU-IR) cell nuclei was analyzed at proximal and remote cortical sites in adult Cebus apella monkeys after a programmed surgical lesion placed either in the prefrontal or in the striate cerebral cortex. Increased GFAP-IR and vimentin-IR astrocytes, as well as IsolectinB4 labeled microglial cells, were observed both at lesional and perilesional areas. After injury at either location, the BrdU nuclear incorporation spread to supragranular layers in remote cortical areas functionally related to the injured cortex, probably due to involvement of degenerated cortico-cortical association fibers. Double labeling with Ki-67 suggested that remote BrdU-IR nuclei belong to prolif... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5379703 Tue, 25 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5379703 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5345026&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22002739%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Liao CC, Lee LJ Abstract In the developing sensory cortex, the subplate could serve as a transient relay station between the thalamus and cortical plate and assists the formation of thalamocortical projection. While the thalamus-layer IV connection is formed, the thalamic activation of subplate is diminished. In the present study, we aimed to explore the mechanism which may attribute to the decline of subplate activity. To resolve this issue, the developmental changes of subplate neurons (SPns) in rat somatosensory cortex were examined during the first two postnatal weeks which covers the stages prior and subsequent to the establishment of thalamocortical connection. During development, more SPns exhibited regular-spiking firing pattern and the membrane properties of SPns ... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5345026 Sat, 15 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5345026 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5345025&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22002740%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Wang YC, Ho UC, Ko MC, Liao CC, Lee LJ Abstract The mesocorticolimbic system contains dopamine (DA)-producing neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and their projection targets, including the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), amygdala (AMY) and nucleus accumbens (NAc). Disruption of this system might attribute to mental illnesses. In the present study, we adopted the postweaning social isolation paradigm to model neuropsychiatric disorders and studied the functional and structural changes of the mesocorticolimbic system. After 8-9 weeks of isolation, rats exhibited hyperlocomotor activity and impaired sensorimotor gating compared to group-reared controls. However, the number of tyrosine hydroxylase-positive VTA neurons and the volume of VTA were not affected. Compari... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5345025 Sat, 15 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5345025 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5345027&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21987050%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Wissman AM, May RM, Woolley CS Abstract Despite robust sex differences in behavioral responses to drugs of abuse, relatively little is known about structural sex differences in synaptic connectivity of reward circuits such as in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). Previously, we showed that distal dendritic spine density on medium spiny neurons in the NAc is higher in females than males, suggesting that sex differences in NAc excitatory synapses could play a role in differential behavioral responses to drugs. In the current study, we used electron microscopy and stereological counting methods to evaluate dendritic spine and shaft synapses, as well as tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive (TH-IR) profiles, in the NAc core of male and female rats. We found an unanticipated rostro-cau... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5345027 Tue, 11 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5345027 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5345029&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21984312%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Duque A, Coman D, Carlyle BC, Bordner KA, George ED, Papademetris X, Hyder F, Simen AA Abstract Using a novel mouse model of early life neglect and abuse (ENA) based on maternal separation with early weaning, George et al. (BMC Neurosci 11:123, 2010) demonstrated behavioral abnormalities in adult mice, and Bordner et al. (Front Psychiatry 2(18):1-18, 2011) described concomitant changes in mRNA and protein expression. Using the same model, here we report neuroanatomical changes that include smaller brain size and abnormal inter-hemispheric asymmetry, decreases in cortical thickness, abnormalities in subcortical structures, and white matter disorganization and atrophy most severely affecting the left hemisphere. Because of the similarities between the neuroanatomical changes... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5345029 Sat, 08 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5345029 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5345028&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21987049%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Pundir AS, Hameed LS, Dikshit PC, Kumar P, Mohan S, Radotra B, Shankar SK, Mahadevan A, Iyengar S Abstract Neurofilament medium (NF-M) and heavy (NF-H) chain proteins have been used as markers for maturity in the developing brain since their accumulation in axons leads to an increase in conduction velocity. Earlier studies have demonstrated immunoreactivity of neurofilaments in Layer I of the human auditory cortex at 22 gestation weeks (GW), whereas that in other layers developed between 1 and 12 postnatal years, suggesting a gradual increase in the processing of sounds. However, third trimester fetuses and infants are fairly sophisticated in their ability to discern different aspects of complex sounds. Given these contradictory findings, we decided to study the expression... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5345028 Fri, 07 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5345028 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5297136&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21979451%26dopt%3DAbstract We examined the ability of acute and chronic administration of NMDA receptor (NMDA-R) antagonists to recapitulate the oscillatory dysfunctions observed in schizophrenia. In freely moving rats, acute injection of MK801 or ketamine increased gamma power in both CA1 and dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. Theta peak shifted to higher frequencies whereas the average 5-10 Hz theta power decreased by 24% in CA1 and remained high in the dentate gyrus. Strong increase in CA1 gamma and decrease in theta power triggered by brainstem stimulation were found under urethane anesthesia. In contrast to acute experiments, chronic administration of ketamine caused a steady decline in both gamma and theta oscillations, 2-4 weeks after treatment. A further important difference between the two models was that ... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5297136 Fri, 07 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5297136 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5246969&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21935672%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Fu Y, Yuan Y, Halliday G, Rusznák Z, Watson C, Paxinos G Abstract The three main dopamine cell groups of the brain are located in the substantia nigra (A9), ventral tegmental area (A10), and retrorubral field (A8). Several subdivisions of these cell groups have been identified in rats and humans but have not been well described in mice, despite the increasing use of mice in neurodegenerative models designed to selectively damage A9 dopamine neurons. The aim of this study was to determine whether typical subdivisions of these dopamine cell groups are present in mice. The dopamine neuron groups were analysed in 15 adult C57BL/6J mice by anatomically localising tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), dopamine transporter protein (DAT), calbindin, and the G-protein-activated inward rectif... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5246969 Wed, 21 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5246969 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5246968&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21935673%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Schmitt O, Usunoff KG, Lazarov NE, Itzev DE, Eipert P, Rolfs A, Wree A Abstract The orexinergic system interacts with several functional states of emotions, stress, hunger, wakefulness and behavioral arousal through four pathways originating in the lateral hypothalamus (LH). Hundreds of orexinergic efferents have been described by tracing studies and direct immunohistochemistry of orexin in the forebrain, olfactory regions, hippocampus, amygdala, septum, basal ganglia, thalamus, hypothalamus, brain stem and spinal cord. Most of these tracing studies investigated the whole orexinergic projection to all regions of the intracranial part of the CNS. To identify the orexinergic efferents at the subnuclear level of resolution, we focussed on the orexinergic target in the amygdal... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5246968 Wed, 21 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5246968 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5246970&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21928152%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ubeda-Bañon I, Saiz-Sanchez D, de la Rosa-Prieto C, Martinez-Marcos A Abstract Olfactory deficits are an early feature of Parkinson's disease (PD). Neuropathologically, α-synucleinopathy (Lewy bodies and neurites) is observed earlier (stage 1) in the olfactory system than in the substantia nigra (stage 3), and this could underlies the early olfactory symptoms. In the present report, we analyzed the distribution of α-synuclein deposits in tertiary olfactory structures (anterior olfactory nucleus, olfactory tubercle, piriform cortex, posterolateral cortical amygdala and lateral entorhinal cortex) of homozygous transgenic mice (aged 2-8 months) overexpressing the human A53T variant of α-synuclein. To address the hypothesis of progressive α-synucleinopathy within the olf... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5246970 Tue, 20 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5246970 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5246971&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21927901%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Liang H, Paxinos G, Watson C Abstract We studied the organization and spinal projection of the mouse red nucleus with a range of techniques (Nissl stain, immunofluorescence, retrograde tracer injections into the spinal cord, anterograde tracer injections into the red nucleus, and in situ hybridization) and counted the number of neurons in the red nucleus (3,200.9 ± 230.8). We found that the rubrospinal neurons were mainly located in the parvicellular region of the red nucleus, more lateral in the rostral part and more medial in the caudal part. Labeled neurons were least common in the rostral and caudal most parts of the red nucleus. Neurons projecting to the cervical cord were predominantly dorsomedially placed and neurons projecting to the lumbar cord were predominant... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5246971 Sat, 17 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5246971 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5230828&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21918815%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Hoover WB, Vertes RP Abstract The nucleus reuniens (RE) of the midline thalamus has been shown to strongly innervate structures of the limbic forebrain, prominently including the hippocampus (HF) and the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and to exert pronounced excitatory effects on HF and mPFC. It was unknown, however, whether RE projections to, and hence actions on, the HF and mPFC originate from a common or largely separate groups of RE neurons. Using fluorescent retrograde tracing techniques, we examined the patterns of distribution of RE cells projecting to HF, to the mPFC or to both sites via axon collaterals. Specifically, injections of the retrograde tracers Fluorogold (FG) or Fluororuby (FR) were made in the mPFC and in various subfields of HF and patterns of single... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5230828 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5230828 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5218978&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21909705%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kühn S, Romanowski A, Schilling C, Mobascher A, Warbrick T, Winterer G, Gallinat J Abstract Structural cerebral deficiencies in smokers have been well characterized by morphometric investigations focussing on cortical and subcortical structures. Although the role of the cerebellum is increasingly noted in mental and addiction disorders, no reports exist regarding cerebellar alterations in smokers employing a methodology specifically designed to assess the cerebellar morphology. We acquired high-resolution MRI scans from 33 heavy smokers and 22 never-smokers and used a voxel-based morphometry (VBM) approach utilizing the Spatially Unbiased Infratentorial (SUIT) toolbox (Diedrichsen 2006) to provide an optimized and fine-grained exploration of cerebellar structural alterati... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5218978 Sat, 10 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5218978 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5218977&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21909706%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Sasson E, Doniger GM, Pasternak O, Tarrasch R, Assaf Y Abstract The involvement of brain structures in specific cognitive functions is not straightforward. In order to characterize the brain micro-structural correlates of cognitive domains, 52 healthy subjects, age 25-82 years, completed a computerized neuropsychological battery and were scanned using magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging. Factor analysis of 44 different cognitive scores was performed, isolating three cognitive domains-executive function, information processing speed and memory. Partial correlation was conducted between DTI parameters and each of the three cognitive domains controlling for age and motor function. Regions showing significant correlations with cognitive domains are domain-specific and... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5218977 Sat, 10 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5218977 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5157324&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21863312%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Lewitus E, Sherwood CC, Hof PR Abstract The long-held view that brain size can be used as an index of general functional capacity across mammals is in conflict with increasing evidence for phyletic differences in cellular organization. Furthermore, it is poorly understood how the internal cellular organization of the brain covaries with overall brain size variation. Using design-based stereology, we quantified glial cell and neuronal densities in the primary visual cortex of 71 mammalian species (spanning 11 orders) to test how those cellular densities are influenced by phylogeny, behavior, environment, and anatomy. We further tested cellular densities against mode of placentation to determine whether a relationship may exist. We provide evidence for cellular signatures of... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5157324 Tue, 23 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5157324 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5157325&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21861159%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Chen CC, Tam D, Brumberg JC Abstract Early postnatal sensory experience can have profound impacts on the structure and function of cortical circuits affecting behavior. Using the mouse whisker-to-barrel system we chronically deprived animals of normal sensory experience by bilaterally trimming their whiskers every other day from birth for the first postnatal month. Brain tissue was then processed for Golgi staining and neurons in layer 6 of barrel cortex were reconstructed in three dimensions. Dendritic and somatic parameters were compared between sensory-deprived and normal sensory experience groups. Results demonstrated that layer 6 non-pyramidal neurons in the chronically deprived group showed an expansion of their dendritic arbors. The pyramidal cells responded to sens... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5157325 Mon, 22 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5157325 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5141354&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21826455%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: López JM, Domínguez L, Morona R, Northcutt RG, González A Abstract Lungfishes (dipnoans) are currently considered the closest living relatives of tetrapods. The organization of the cholinergic systems in the brain has been carefully analyzed in most vertebrate groups, and major shared characteristics have been described, although traits particular to each vertebrate class have also been found. In the present study, we provide the first detailed information on the distribution of cholinergic cell bodies and fibers in the central nervous system in two representative species of lungfishes, the African lungfish (Protopterus dolloi) and the Australian lungfish (Neoceratodus forsteri), as revealed by immunohistochemistry against the enzyme choline acetyltransferase (ChAT). Di... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5141354 Mon, 08 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5141354 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5141357&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21822732%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Heck N, Betuing S, Vanhoutte P, Caboche J Abstract Dendritic spines are postsynaptic structures the morphology of which correlates with the strength of synaptic efficacy. Measurements of spine density and spine morphology are achievable using recent imaging and bioinformatics tools. The three-dimensional automated analysis requires optimization of image acquisition and treatment. Here, we studied the critical steps for optimal confocal microscopy imaging of dendritic spines. We characterize the deconvolution process and show that it improves spine morphology analysis. With this method, images of dendritic spines from medium spiny neurons are automatically detected by the software Neuronstudio, which retrieves spine density as well as spine diameter and volume. This approac... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5141357 Fri, 05 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5141357 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5103067&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21814870%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Gebre SA, Reeber SL, Sillitoe RV The cerebellum receives sensory signals from spinocerebellar (lower limbs) and dorsal column nuclei (upper limbs) mossy fibers. In the cerebellum, mossy fibers terminate in bands that are topographically aligned with stripes of Purkinje cells. While much is known about the molecular heterogeneity of Purkinje cell stripes, little is known about whether mossy fiber compartments have distinct molecular profiles. Here, we show that the vesicular glutamate transporters VGLUT1 and VGLUT2, which mediate glutamate uptake into synaptic vesicles of excitatory neurons, are expressed in complementary bands of mossy fibers in the adult mouse cerebellum. Using a combination of immunohistochemistry and anterograde tracing, we found heavy VGLUT2 and weak VGLUT... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5103067 Wed, 03 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5103067 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008818&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21735296%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, we have examined the spinal projections of the mouse precuneiform nucleus (PrCnF), which lies within the boundaries of the presumptive MLR. We used both retrograde and anterograde labeling techniques. Small clusters of labeled neurons were seen in the medial portion of the PrCnF following fluoro-gold injections in the upper cervical spinal cord. Fewer labeled neurons were seen in the PrCnF after upper thoracic injections. Following the injection of anterograde tracer (biotinylated dextran amine) into the PrCnF, labeled fibers were clearly observed in the spinal cord. These fibers traveled in the ventral and lateral funiculi, and terminated mainly in the medial portions of laminae 7, 8, and 9, as well as area 10, with an ipsilateral predominance. Our observations indicate tha... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008818 Wed, 06 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5008818 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008819&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21706330%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Sekeljic V, Bataveljic D, Stamenkovic S, Ułamek M, Jabłoński M, Radenovic L, Pluta R, Andjus PR MRI was employed to follow the neurodegenerative foci and the localization of inflammatory cells by magnetically labeled CD4+ or CD8+ lymphocytes in the ischemia/reperfusion long-lived rats (9 and 13 months after 10 min of cardiac arrest). MRI of ischemic rats showed: (1) blood-brain barrier (BBB) leakage in the area of the dorsal hippocampus and brainstem-hindbrain level in basal cerebellum, (2) unlike anti-CD8 magnetic antibodies anti-CD4 ultra small paramagnetic iron oxide particles (USPIO) antibodies revealed hypointense areas in the brainstem-interbrain region and caudoputamen not found in animals that were not injected with USPIO antibodies, and (3) dilation in the retros... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008819 Sat, 25 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5008819 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4961165&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21695503%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ghafari M, Falsafi SK, Hoeger H, Lubec G A series of studies has shown the importance of AMPA-type glutamate receptors (AMPARs) for memory formation. The aim of the current study was to show whether GluR1 and GluR2 complexes rather than subunits in mouse hippocampus were involved in training in the multiple T-Maze (MTM). C57BL/6J mice were trained in the MTM and compared to yoked controls. 6 h following the completion of the fourth day training, mice were euthanized, hippocampi were taken and proteins extracted, run on blue native gels with subsequent immunoblotting with antibodies against mouse GluR1 and GluR2. On blue-native western blotting, GluR1 protein was represented by a single band at the apparent molecular weight of about 480 kDa probably indicating a tetrameric as... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4961165 Tue, 21 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4961165 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4961167&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21667303%26dopt%3DAbstract This study provides convergent evidence of a distinct neuroanatomical pattern in MCI. The correlation analysis with cognitive-mnestic decline further highlights the impact of limbic structures and the linkage with data from a functional neuroimaging database provides additional insight into underlying functions. Although different pathologies are underlying MCI, the observed neuroanatomical pattern of structural changes may reflect the common clinical denominator of cognitive impairment. PMID: 21667303 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Brain Structure and Function) Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4961167 Sat, 11 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4961167 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4961166&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21667304%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Loureiro M, Lecourtier L, Engeln M, Lopez J, Cosquer B, Geiger K, Kelche C, Cassel JC, Pereira de Vasconcelos A Current views posit the dorsal hippocampus (DHipp) as contributing to spatial memory processes. Conversely, the ventral hippocampus (VHipp) modulates stress, emotions and affects. Arguments supporting this segregation include differences in (i) connectivity: the DHipp is connected with the entorhinal cortex which receives visuospatial neocortical inputs; the VHipp is connected with both the amygdala and hypothalamus, (ii) electrophysiological characteristics: there is a larger proportion of place cells in the DHipp than in the VHipp, and an increasing dorsoventral gradient in the size of place fields, suggesting less refined spatial coding in the VHipp, and (iii) con... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4961166 Sat, 11 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4961166 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4961168&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21656307%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ouda L, Druga R, Syka J SMI-32 antibody recognizes a non-phosphorylated epitope of neurofilament proteins, which are thought to be necessary for the maintenance of large neurons with highly myelinated processes. We investigated the distribution and quantity of SMI-32-immunoreactive(-ir) neurons in individual parts of the rat auditory system. SMI-32-ir neurons were present in all auditory structures; however, in most regions they constituted only a minority of all neurons (10-30%). In the cochlear nuclei, a higher occurrence of SMI-32-ir neurons was found in the ventral cochlear nucleus. Within the superior olivary complex, SMI-32-ir cells were particularly abundant in the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB), the only auditory region where SMI-32-ir neurons constituted ... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4961168 Wed, 08 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4961168 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4961169&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21656017%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Izumi H, Ishimoto T, Yamamoto H, Nishijo H, Mori H PMID: 21656017 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Brain Structure and Function) Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4961169 Tue, 07 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4961169 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4912356&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21643647%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Papp E, Borhegyi Z, Tomioka R, Rockland KS, Mody I, Freund TF The nucleus accumbens (NAc) is positioned to integrate signals originating from limbic and cortical areas and to modulate reward-related motor output of various goal-directed behaviours. The major target of the NAc GABAergic output neurons is the ventral pallidum (VP). VP is part of the reward circuit and controls the ascending mesolimbic dopamine system, as well as the motor output structures and the brainstem. The excitatory inputs governing this system converge in the NAc from the prefrontal cortex (PFC), ventral hippocampus (vHC), midline and intralaminar thalamus (TH) and basolateral nucleus of the amygdala (BLA). It is unclear which if any of these afferents innervate the medium spiny neurons of the NAc, that ... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4912356 Sat, 04 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4912356 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4912357&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21638204%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Künzle H The present study analyses the overall extrinsic connectivity of the non-olfactory amygdala (Ay) in the lesser hedgehog tenrec. The data were obtained from tracer injections into the lateral and intermediate portions of the Ay as well as several non-amygdalar brain regions. Both the solitary and the parabrachial nucleus receive descending projections from the central nucleus of the Ay, but only the parabrachial nucleus appears to project to the Ay. There is one prominent region in the ventromedial hypothalamus connected reciprocally with the medial and central Ay. Amygdalar afferents clearly arise from the dorsomedial thalamus, the subparafascicular nuclei and the medial geniculate complex (GM). Similar to other subprimate species, the latter projections originate in... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4912357 Fri, 03 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4912357 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4912358&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21626305%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Paulussen M, Arckens L Thymosin beta 4 (Tβ4), a small acidic peptide isolated originally from calf thymus, is recognized as a regulator of actin polymerization. It is widely distributed in the brain, in neurons as well as in microglia, and it has been implicated in lesion-induced neuroplasticity. In the present study, we quantitatively analyzed the immunocytochemical expression pattern of Tβ4 in the superior colliculus (SC) of the adult mouse following monocular enucleation. Immunocytochemistry revealed a remarkable neuronal profile in the SC of 2, 5 and 7-week enucleated animals. We investigated the morphology, number and layer-specific localization of these immunoreactive neurons. Neuronal Tβ4-immunoreactive cell bodies were only sparsely found in the deep layers of the S... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4912358 Mon, 30 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4912358 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4863559&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21597965%26dopt%3DAbstract In conclusion, the primary motor cortex exerts a modest role on ipsilateral manual dexterity, most likely in the form of indirect hand postural control. PMID: 21597965 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Brain Structure and Function) Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4863559 Thu, 19 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4863559 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4863557&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21597966%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, we investigated outcomes following continuous slow systemic infusion of manganese chloride (MnCl(2)) into the mouse via mini-osmotic pump administration. The effects of increasing fractionated rates of Mn(2+) infusion on signal enhancement in regions of the brain were analyzed in a three-treatment study. We acquired whole-brain 3-D T1-weighted images and performed region of interest quantitative analysis to compare mean normalized signal in Mn(2+) treatments spanning 3, 7, or 14 days of infusion (rates of 1, 0.5, and 0.25 μL/h, respectively). Evidence of Mn(2+) transport at the conclusion of each infusion treatment was observed throughout the brains of normally behaving mice. Regions of particular Mn(2+) accumulation include the olfactory bulbs, cortex, infralimbic cortex... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4863557 Thu, 19 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4863557 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4863556&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21597967%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Lifshitz J, Lisembee AM Disruption and consequent reorganization of central nervous system circuits following traumatic brain injury may manifest as functional deficits and behavioral morbidities. We previously reported axotomy and neuronal atrophy in the ventral basal (VB) complex of the thalamus, without gross degeneration after experimental diffuse brain injury in adult rats. Pathology in VB coincided with the development of late-onset aberrant behavioral responses to whisker stimulation, which lead to the current hypothesis that neurodegeneration after experimental diffuse brain injury includes the primary somatosensory barrel cortex (S1BF), which receives projection of VB neurons and mediates whisker somatosensation. Over 28 days after midline fluid percussion brain inju... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4863556 Thu, 19 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4863556 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4863555&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21597968%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Slomianka L, Amrein I, Knuesel I, Sørensen JC, Wolfer DP The increasing resolution of tract-tracing studies has led to the definition of segments along the transverse axis of the hippocampal pyramidal cell layer, which may represent functionally defined elements. This review will summarize evidence for a morphological and functional differentiation of pyramidal cells along the radial (deep to superficial) axis of the cell layer. In many species, deep and superficial sublayers can be identified histologically throughout large parts of the septotemporal extent of the hippocampus. Neurons in these sublayers are generated during different periods of development. During development, deep and superficial cells express genes (Sox5, SatB2) that also specify the phenotypes of superfic... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4863555 Thu, 19 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4863555 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4863560&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21584649%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Müller M, Faber-Zuschratter H, Yanagawa Y, Stork O, Schwegler H, Linke R GABAergic neurons of the amygdala are thought to play a critical role in establishing networks for feedback and feedforward inhibition and in mediating rhythmic network activity patterns relevant for emotional behavior, determination of stimulus salience, and memory strength under stressful experiences. These functions are typically fulfilled in interplay of amygdala and hippocampus. Therefore, we explored the putative connectivity of GABAergic neurons with the hippocampo-amygdalar projection with the anterograde tracers Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin (Phal) and Miniruby injected to GAD67-GFP knock-in mice in which GABAergic neurons are labeled by the expression of the gene for green fluorescent prot... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4863560 Mon, 16 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4863560 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4863561&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21562906%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, we investigate the in vivo fetal cortical folding pattern in healthy fetuses between 25 and 35 weeks gestational age using 3-D reconstructed fetal cortical surfaces. We describe the in vivo fetal gyrification process using a robust feature extraction algorithm applied directly on the cortical surface, providing an explicit delineation of the sulcal pattern during fetal brain development. We also delineate cortical surface measures, including surface area and gyrification index. Our data support an exuberant third trimester gyrification process and suggest a non-linear evolution of sulcal development. The availability of normative indices of cerebral cortical developing in the living fetus may provide critical insights on the timing and progression of impaired cerebral devel... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4863561 Wed, 11 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4863561 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4863562&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21559982%26dopt%3DAbstract This study was cross-sectional and therefore additional longitudinal studies are needed to confirm our findings. PMID: 21559982 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Brain Structure and Function) Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4863562 Tue, 10 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4863562 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4808669&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21556793%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Holmstrand EC, Sesack SR Cholinergic and non-cholinergic neurons in the brainstem pedunculopontine (PPT) and laterodorsal tegmental (LDT) nuclei innervate diverse forebrain structures. The cholinergic neurons within these regions send heavy projections to thalamic nuclei and provide modulatory input as well to midbrain dopamine cells in the ventral tegmental area (VTA). Cholinergic PPT/LDT neurons are known to send collateralized projections to thalamic and non-thalamic targets, and previous studies have shown that many of the afferents to the VTA arise from neurons that also project to midline and intralaminar thalamic nuclei. However, whether cholinergic projections to the VTA and anterior thalamus (AT) are similarly collateralized is unknown. Ultrastructural work from our l... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4808669 Mon, 09 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4808669 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4808670&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21541715%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Cilia R, van Eimeren T The development of an impulse control disorder (ICD) is now recognized as a potential nonmotor adverse effect of dopamine replacement therapy in Parkinson's disease (PD). Here, recent epidemiological, neurophysiological and genetic advances are summarized to outline potential mechanisms involved. It is safe to say that dopaminergic drugs, particularly dopamine agonists, are able to induce ICDs only in a minority of patients, while the majority are somehow protected from this adverse effect. While it seems clear that men with early-onset PD are more vulnerable, other predisposing factors, such as various current or pre-PD personality traits, are a matter of debate. In terms of neurophysiological advances, one may find striking analogies to the addiction l... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4808670 Tue, 03 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4808670 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4808672&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21512896%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Conte-Perales L, Rico AJ, Barroso-Chinea P, Gómez-Bautista V, Roda E, Luquin N, Sierra S, Lanciego JL GABAergic neurons within the internal division of the globus pallidus (GPi) are the main source of basal ganglia output reaching the thalamic ventral nuclei in monkeys. Following dopaminergic denervation, pallidothalamic-projecting neurons are known to be hyperactive, whereas a reduction in GPi activity is typically observed in lesioned animals showing levodopa-induced dyskinesia. Besides the mRNAs coding for GABAergic markers (GAD65 and GAD67), we show that all GPi neurons innervating thalamic targets also express transcripts for the isoforms 1 and 2 of the vesicular glutamate transporter (vGlut1 and vGlut2 mRNA). Indeed, dual immunofluorescent detection of GAD67 and vGlut1/... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4808672 Thu, 21 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4808672 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4808671&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21512897%26dopt%3DAbstract This study was designed to understand molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying aggressive behaviors in mice exposed to repeated interactions in their homecage with conspecifics. A resident-intruder procedure was employed whereby two males were allowed to interact for 10 min trials, and aggressive and/or submissive behaviors (e.g., degree of attacking, biting, chasing, grooming, rearing, or upright posture) were assessed. Following 10 days of behavioral trials, brains were removed and dissected into specific regions including the cerebellum, frontal cortex, hippocampus, midbrain, pons, and striatum. Gene expression analysis was performed using real-time quantitative polymerase-chain reaction (qPCR) for catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). Compared to naiv... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4808671 Thu, 21 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4808671 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4808673&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21509614%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Brooks E, Waters E, Farrington L, Canal MM In mammals, early light experience during a critical period within the first 3 weeks of postnatal development has long-lasting effects on circadian locomotor activity behaviour and neuropeptide expression in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus, site of the principal pacemaker. Dopamine is thought to be involved in the modulation of photic input within the SCN and in tadpoles, the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), a rate-limiting enzyme in the synthesis of dopamine, in the SCN is altered by previous light history. We thus hypothesised that dopaminergic neurons may be important for the development of the adapted responses to light that we have previously observed. To test this, we raised mice in either constant... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4808673 Wed, 20 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4808673 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4808674&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21499800%26dopt%3DAbstract In conclusion, our data suggest that the ascending projections from the PPN that reach basal ganglia-related targets could play an important role in the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease. PMID: 21499800 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Brain Structure and Function) Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4808674 Fri, 15 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4808674 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4808675&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21479949%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ngwenya A, Patzke N, Ihunwo AO, Manger PR The olfactory system of mammals can be divided into a main and accessory olfactory system with initial processing for each system occurring in the olfactory bulb. The main and accessory olfactory bulbs have similar structural features, even though they appear to be functionally independent. In mammals the main olfactory bulb (MOB) is also one of two established sites of lifelong generation of new cells. The present study describes the histological and immunohistochemical neuroanatomy of the olfactory bulb of the African elephant (Loxodonta africana). The morphology of MOB of the elephant does not differ significantly from that described in other mammals; however, it lacks the internal plexiform layer. In addition, the glomeruli of the ... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4808675 Sun, 10 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4808675 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4808676&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21465412%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Paulussen M, Jacobs S, Van der Gucht E, Hof PR, Arckens L The expression patterns of the medium- and high-molecular-weight subunits of the neurofilament protein triplet have been extensively studied in several neuroanatomical studies. In the present study, we report the use of the low-molecular-weight neurofilament protein subunit (NF-L) as a reliable marker within the neurofilament protein family to reveal the regional architecture of mammalian neocortex. We document clearly its usefulness in anatomical parcellation studies and report unique expression patterns of NF-L throughout the mouse neocortex. NF-L was most abundant in the somatosensory cortex, the lateral secondary visual area, the granular insular cortex, and the motor cortex. Low NF-L staining intensity was observed... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4808676 Mon, 04 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4808676 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4808678&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21461741%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Spiga S, Acquas E, Puddu MC, Mulas G, Lintas A, Diana M Visualization of neuronal elements is of fundamental importance in modern neuroscience. Golgi-Cox impregnation is a widely employed method that provides detailed information about morphological characteristics of neurons, but none regarding their neurochemical features. Immunocytochemical procedures, on the other hand, can provide a high degree of biochemical specificity but poorer morphological details, in particular if compared to Golgi-Cox impregnation. Hence, the combined use of these two approaches is highly desirable, especially for confocal microscopy that can exploit the advantages of both methods simultaneously. Here we show an innovative procedure of perfusion and fixation of brain tissue, that allows, by applyi... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4808678 Fri, 01 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4808678 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4808677&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21461742%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: D'Agata F, Caroppo P, Boghi A, Coriasco M, Caglio M, Baudino B, Sacco K, Cauda F, Geda E, Bergui M, Geminiani G, Bradac GB, Orsi L, Mortara P Spinocerebellar ataxias type 2 (SCA2) is a rare genetic disorder characterised by the degeneration of the Cerebellum, its connections and many Brainstem areas. A voxel-based morphometry (VBM) analysis was performed on 12 genetically determined SCA2 patients and 31 controls, normalising the brains with two different atlases: one was created in-house with DARTEL (a diffeomorphic registration method) and the other was SUIT (an exclusive Cerebellum atlas). We administered two versions of a popular executive/planning functions test: the Tower of London, in the traditional and in a computerised version that does not require the use of hands, t... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4808677 Fri, 01 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4808677 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4808679&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21455797%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Abdelalim EM, Tooyama I C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP), the most abundant natriuretic peptide hormone in the brain, plays an important role in neuroendocrine function. The physiological effects of CNP are mediated by the natriuretic peptide receptor-B (NPR-B). Although CNP and NPR-B have been detected in several brain regions, little is known about the neuroanatomical localization of NPR-B protein in the brainstem. In the present study, we investigated the topographical distribution of NPR-B immunoreactivity in the monkey brainstem. The data demonstrate widespread NPR-B immunoreactivity throughout the brainstem. NPR-B immunoreactivity was located in the superior colliculus, inferior colliculus, periaqueductal gray, oculomotor nucleus, red nucleus, ventral tegmental area, sub... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4808679 Thu, 31 Mar 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4808679 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4643390&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21442415%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Cremer CM, Lübke JH, Palomero-Gallagher N, Zilles K Mapping of multiple receptors of neurotransmitters provides insight into the spatial distribution of neurotransmission-relevant molecules in the cerebral cortex. During development, lack of reelin leads to impaired migration, disturbed lamination of the hippocampus and inverted neocortical layering. In the adult, reelin may regulate synaptic plasticity by modulating neurotransmitter receptor function. Using quantitative in vitro receptor autoradiography, different receptors, in particular, the binding site densities and laminar distribution of various glutamate, GABA, muscarinic and nicotinic acetylcholine, serotonin, dopamine and adenosine receptors, were analyzed in cortical and subcortical structures of reeler and wild-ty... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4643390 Sun, 27 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4643390 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4643391&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21437655%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Dalal SS, Vidal JR, Hamamé CM, Ossandón T, Bertrand O, Lachaux JP, Jerbi K PMID: 21437655 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Brain Structure and Function) Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4643391 Fri, 25 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4643391 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4643392&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21431333%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Pannese E During normal aging, widespread loss of nerve cells does not occur. Neuronal loss is limited to restricted regions of the nervous system and is slight (probably no more than 10%). The commonest age-related structural changes undergone by nerve cells are as follows: dendrites decrease in number and length and many dendritic spines are lost; axons decrease in number and their myelin sheaths may become less compact and undergo segmental demyelination followed by remyelination; and significant loss of synapses occurs. These changes probably make a significant contribution to the behavioral impairment and cognitive decline that often accompany normal aging. PMID: 21431333 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Brain Structure and Function) Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4643392 Wed, 23 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4643392 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4643394&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21409416%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Hervé PY, Cox EF, Lotfipour AK, Mougin OE, Bowtell RW, Gowland PA, Paus T Several fibre tracts can be accurately located using conventional Magnetic Resonance Images (MRI) of the human brain, including the corticospinal tract (CST), which appears as a T (1)-weighted hypointense/T (2)-weighted hyperintense patch in the posterior part of the posterior-limb of the internal capsule (PLIC). Here we use high-field MRI (7T) to assess the quantitative MRI properties of the CST at the PLIC level in 22 healthy young male participants. We used three different imaging modalities: the T (1) and T (2) relaxation times (T (1) and T (2)) and the Magnetization Transfer Ratio (MTR). These measurements obtained in the CST were compared with those in the anterior two-thirds of the PLIC. We obser... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4643394 Wed, 16 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4643394 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4643393&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21409417%26dopt%3DAbstract In conclusion, the APP/PS1KI mice provide novel insights into the regional selective vulnerability in the frontal cortex during AD that, together with previous findings in the hippocampus, are remarkably similar to the human situation. PMID: 21409417 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Brain Structure and Function) Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4643393 Wed, 16 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4643393 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4582138&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21387082%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Reeber SL, Gebre SA, Sillitoe RV Neural circuits are organized into complex topographic maps. Although several neuroanatomical and genetic tools are available for studying circuit architecture, a limited number of methods exist for reliably revealing the global patterning of multiple topographic projections. Here we used wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) conjugated to Alexa 555 and 488 for dual color fluorescent mapping of parasagittal spinocerebellar topography in three dimensions. Using tissue section and wholemount imaging we show that WGA-Alexa tracers have three main characteristics that make them ideal tools for analyses of neural projection topography. First, the intense brightness of Alexa fluorophores allows multi-color imaging of patterned afferent projections in wholemoun... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4582138 Wed, 09 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4582138 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4528224&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21318476%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Yakushev I, Gerhard A, Müller MJ, Lorscheider M, Buchholz HG, Schermuly I, Weibrich C, Hammers A, Stoeter P, Schreckenberger M, Fellgiebel A Abnormal microstructural integrity and glucose metabolism of the hippocampus are common in subjects with Alzheimer's disease (AD) that typically manifest as episodic memory impairment. The above-tissue alterations can be captured in vivo using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and positron emission tomography with [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG-PET). Here, we explored relationships between the above neuroimaging and cognitive markers of early AD-specific hippocampal damage. Twenty patients with early AD (MMSE 25.7 ± 1.7) were studied using DTI and FDG-PET. Episodic memory performance was assessed using the free delayed verbal recall task (... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4528224 Sun, 13 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4528224 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4473253&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21293877%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Herold C, Palomero-Gallagher N, Hellmann B, Kröner S, Theiss C, Güntürkün O, Zilles K The avian nidopallium caudolaterale is a multimodal area in the caudal telencephalon that is apparently not homologous to the mammalian prefrontal cortex but serves comparable functions. Here we analyzed binding-site densities of glutamatergic AMPA, NMDA and kainate receptors, GABAergic GABA(A), muscarinic M(1), M(2) and nicotinic (nACh) receptors, noradrenergic α(1) and α(2), serotonergic 5-HT(1A) and dopaminergic D(1)-like receptors using quantitative in vitro receptor autoradiography. We compared the receptor architecture of the pigeons' nidopallial structures, in particular the NCL, with cortical areas Fr2 and Cg1 in rats and prefrontal area BA10 in humans. Our results confirmed tha... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4473253 Fri, 04 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4473253 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4473254&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21287201%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Wu YC, Wang YJ, Tseng GF Hypobaric hypoxia, encountered at high altitude, could result in severe consequences. Ascorbic acid (AA) and α-tocopherol (αTC), the two readily available over-the-counter antioxidants, are known to protect nervous tissue against oxidative stress. Here we study whether AA or αTC supplement starting prenatally protects animals against hypobaric hypoxic challenge at adulthood. Expressions of c-fos and the NR1 subunit of the N-methyl-D: -aspartate receptors in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) subserving cardiorespiratory functions were investigated. AA and αTC supplement reduced the number of c-fos immunoreactive neurons and intensity of NR1 expression in young and adult animals under normoxia. The treatment, in addition, attenuated the activation... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4473254 Wed, 02 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4473254 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4342846&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21225282%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, we used tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) to analyze diffusion tensor MR imaging (DTI) data acquired from the rat brain, ex vivo, for the first time. The aim was to highlight potential changes in the whole brain anatomy in the kainic acid model of epilepsy, and further characterize the changes with histology. Increased FA was observed in dorsal endopiriform nucleus, external capsule, corpus callosum, dentate gyrus, thalamus, and optic tract. A decrease in FA was seen in the horizontal limb of the diagonal band, stria medullaris, habenula, entorhinal cortex, and superior colliculus. Some of the areas have been described in kainic acid model before. However, we also found regions that to our knowledge have not been previously reported to undergo structural changes, in this... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4342846 Wed, 12 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4342846 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4342847&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21212978%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Sperduti M, Delaveau P, Fossati P, Nadel J Several neuroimaging studies have consistently shown activations of areas surrounding the temporo-parietal junction (TPJ) during tasks exploring the sense of agency. Beyond TPJ, activations in different structures, such as the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dLPFC), the pre-supplementary motor area (pre-SMA), the insula and the precuneus have been reported. Moreover, a possible dissociation between self- and external-agency attribution has been suggested. To test the hypothesis of distinct neural correlates for self- and external-agency attribution a quantitative meta-analysis, based on activation likelihood estimation (ALE) method, across 15 PET and fMRI studies (228 subjects) was conducted. Results show converging activations includ... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4342847 Fri, 07 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4342847 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4342848&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21170725%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Izumi H, Ishimoto T, Yamamoto H, Nishijo H, Mori H Induction of the activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein gene (Arc), one of the immediate early genes, in the brain correlates with various sensory processes, natural behaviors, and pathological conditions. Arc is also involved in synaptic plasticity during development. Thus, in vivo monitoring of Arc expression is useful for the analysis of physiological and pathological conditions in the brain. Recently, in vivo imaging of Arc expression using various green fluorescent protein-based probes has been reported; however, these probes can only be applied for the detection of fluorescence signals from superficial layers of the cortex with some autofluorescence noise. Here, we generated a novel transgenic mouse strain to... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4342848 Sun, 19 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4342848 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4342850&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21153903%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Stephani C, Fernandez-Baca Vaca G, Maciunas R, Koubeissi M, Lüders HO The insula is the fifth lobe of the brain and it is the least known. Hidden under the temporal, frontal and parietal opercula, as well as under dense arterial and venous vessels, its accessibility is particularly restricted. Functional data on this region in humans, therefore, are scarce and the existing evidence makes conclusions on its functional and somatotopic organization difficult. 5 patients with intractable epilepsy underwent an invasive presurgical evaluation with implantation of diagnostic invasive-depth electrodes, including insular electrodes that were inserted using a mesiocaudodorsal to laterorostroventral approach. Altogether 113 contacts were found to be in the insula and were stimulated wit... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4342850 Tue, 14 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4342850 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4342849&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21153904%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Negishi Y, Kawai Y Is microcircuit wiring designed deterministically or probabilistically? Does geometric architecture predict functional dynamics of a given neuronal microcircuit? These questions were addressed in the visceral sensory microcircuit of the caudal nucleus of the tractus solitarius (NTS), which is generally thought to be homogeneous rather than laminar in cytoarchitecture. Using in situ hybridization histochemistry and whole-cell patch clamp recordings followed by neuronal reconstruction with biocytin filling, anatomical and functional organization of NTS microcircuitry was quantified to determine associative relationships. Morphologic and chemical features of NTS neurons displayed different patterns of process arborization and sub-nuclear localization according ... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4342849 Tue, 14 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4342849 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4342851&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21152933%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ludvigson AE, Luebke JI, Lewis J, Peters A rTg4510 transgenic (TG) mice overexpress mutant (P301L) human tau protein. We have compared the dorsal premotor cortex of TG mice versus non-transgenic (NT) mice at 4, 9, and 13 months of age, using light (LM) and electron microscopy (EM). LM assessment shows that cortical thickness in TG mice is reduced by almost 50% from 4 to 13 months of age, while at the same time layer I thickness is reduced by 80%, with most of the cortical thinning occurring between 4 and 9 months. In TG mice, spherical, empty vacuoles, up to 60 μm in diameter, become increasingly abundant with age and by 9 months, pyramidal and non-pyramidal neurons with large intracellular tangles of tau protein are common throughout the cortex. These tangles occur in t... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4342851 Thu, 09 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4342851 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4251658&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21132509%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Gerbella M, Belmalih A, Borra E, Rozzi S, Luppino G We traced the cortical connections of the anterior sector (F5a) of the macaque ventral premotor (PMv) area F5 and compared them with those of the adjacent F5 sectors, F5c and F5p. F5a displays a very dense "intrinsic" connectivity with F5c and F5p, premotor connections limited to F4 and F6/pre-SMA, relatively robust prefrontal connections with areas 46v and 12, and dense connections with rostral opercular frontal areas. Outside the frontal cortex, connections of F5a are dense with the SII region, relatively robust with inferior parietal areas PFG and AIP, weak with the inferior parietal area PF, and moderate with area 24. The comparison with data from injections in F5c and F5p showed that F5a, though sharing some common parie... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4251658 Sun, 05 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4251658 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4251657&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21132510%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Palande NV, Biswas S, Jadhao AG Nitric oxide (NO) is well demonstrated to act as a neuronal messenger in neurotransmission in vertebrate animals. We are for the first time reporting nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase (NADPH-d) and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in the Mauthner cells (MC) of the carp, Labeo rohita brain during post-embryonic development. The NADPH-d and nNOS-positive MC were seen intensely labeled in all young stages on either side of the ventricle in the hindbrain. In adult, these cells were moderately stained with NADPH-d but not with nNOS. Further, the morphometeric analysis of the staining intensities showed the decrease in the optical densities of the MC as the development progresses. The gradual increase in cell diameter was evi... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4251657 Sun, 05 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4251657 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4251659&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21128083%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ropireddy D, Scorcioni R, Lasher B, Buzsáki G, Ascoli GA Axonal arbors of principal neurons form the backbone of neuronal networks in the mammalian cortex. Three-dimensional reconstructions of complete axonal trees are invaluable for quantitative analysis and modeling. However, digital data are still sparse due to labor intensity of reconstructing these complex structures. We augmented conventional tracing techniques with computational approaches to reconstruct fully labeled axonal morphologies. We digitized the axons of three rat hippocampal pyramidal cells intracellularly filled in vivo from different CA3 sub-regions: two from areas CA3b and CA3c, respectively, toward the septal pole, and one from the posterior/ventral area (CA3pv) near the temporal pole. The reconstruction... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4251659 Fri, 03 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4251659 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4220630&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21113619%26dopt%3DAbstract This study was aimed to determine at what period of ontogenesis: (1) VP neurons begin to react to OS by modifying simultaneously VP and TH gene expression and synthesis, (2) the noradrenergic control of VP neurons is established. Rats on the 21st embryonic day (E), third postnatal day (P), P13 were salt loaded or salt loaded and treated with an antagonist (prazosin) or agonist (phenylephrine) of α1-adrenoreceptors. According to our immunocytochemical and in situ hybridization data, OS resulted in an increased amount of VP mRNA in each age group and of VP on E21 and P3. TH gene and synthesis was initially expressed under OS on P3. The number of TH-expressing neurons diminished by threefold in salt loaded rats from P3 to P13. OS combined with prazosin administration resulted in an increased... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4220630 Sat, 27 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4220630 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4186757&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21079992%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Jacobs B, Lubs J, Hannan M, Anderson K, Butti C, Sherwood CC, Hof PR, Manger PR Virtually nothing is known about the morphology of cortical neurons in the elephant. To this end, the current study provides the first documentation of neuronal morphology in frontal and occipital regions of the African elephant (Loxodonta africana). Cortical tissue from the perfusion-fixed brains of two free-ranging African elephants was stained with a modified Golgi technique. Neurons of different types (N = 75), with a focus on superficial (i.e., layers II-III) pyramidal neurons, were quantified on a computer-assisted microscopy system using Neurolucida software. Qualitatively, elephant neocortex exhibited large, complex spiny neurons, many of which differed in morphology/orientation from typi... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4186757 Tue, 16 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4186757 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4139821&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21052715%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Huster RJ, Westerhausen R, Herrmann CS Sex differences in the processing of cognitively demanding tasks have attracted much attention in recent years. While there seems to be some agreement on differences between males and females concerning spatial abilities and language skills, a consensus regarding executive functions or cognitive control has not been reached yet. In the present study, male and female subjects participated in a lateralized, tactile Stop-Signal task. Although the behavioral data did not show any differences between sexes, event-related potentials pointed to varieties in neurocognitive processing. As inferred from N200 amplitudes, differences between left- and right-hand stimulation suggested a strong degree of functional lateralization in males in accordance... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4139821 Fri, 05 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4139821 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4139822&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21046152%26dopt%3DAbstract We describe a reliable segmentation protocol to delineate the boundaries of the subplate from T2-W MRI. The reliability of the protocol was evaluated in terms of intra-rater reproducibility on a subset of the subjects. We also present the first 3D quantitative analyses of temporal changes in subplate volume, thickness, and contrast from 18 to 24 PCW. Our analysis shows that firstly, global subplate volume increases in proportion with the supratentorial volume; the subplate remained approximately one-third of supratentorial volume. Secondly, we found both global and regional growth in subplate thickness and a linear increase in the median and maximum subplate thickness through the waiting period. Furthermore, we found that posterior regions-specifically the occipital pole, ventral occipito... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4139822 Fri, 29 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4139822 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4108079&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20978908%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Bzdok D, Langner R, Caspers S, Kurth F, Habel U, Zilles K, Laird A, Eickhoff SB Faces convey a multitude of information in social interaction, among which are trustworthiness and attractiveness. Humans process and evaluate these two dimensions very quickly due to their great adaptive importance. Trustworthiness evaluation is crucial for modulating behavior toward strangers; attractiveness evaluation is a crucial factor for mate selection, possibly providing cues for reproductive success. As both dimensions rapidly guide social behavior, this study tests the hypothesis that both judgments may be subserved by overlapping brain networks. To this end, we conducted an activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis on 16 functional magnetic resonance imaging studies pertaining to fa... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4108079 Tue, 26 Oct 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4108079 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4108080&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20976604%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Nieuwenhuys R The Actinopterygii or ray-finned fishes comprise, in addition to the large superorder of teleosts, four other superorders, namely the cladistians, the chondrosteans, the ginglymodes, and the halecomorphs, each with a limited number of species. The telencephalon of actinopterygian fishes differs from that in all other vertebrates in that it consists of a pair of solid lobes. Lateral ventricles surrounded by nervous tissue are entirely lacking. At the end of the nineteenth century, the theory was advanced that the unusual configuration of the forebrain in actinopterygians results from an outward bending or eversion of its lateral walls. This theory was accepted by some authors, rejected or neglected by others, and modified by some other authors. The present paper i... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4108080 Mon, 25 Oct 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4108080 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4088714&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20957494%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Echávarri C, Aalten P, Uylings HB, Jacobs HI, Visser PJ, Gronenschild EH, Verhey FR, Burgmans S The main aim of the present study was to compare volume differences in the hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus as biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Based on the previous findings, we hypothesized that there would be significant volume differences between cases of healthy aging, amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), and mild AD. Furthermore, we hypothesized that there would be larger volume differences in the parahippocampal gyrus than in the hippocampus. In addition, we investigated differences between the anterior, middle, and posterior parts of both structures. We studied three groups of participants: 18 healthy participants without memory decline, 18 patients with a... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4088714 Mon, 18 Oct 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4088714 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4088716&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20953625%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Staffend NA, Loftus CM, Meisel RL Estradiol affects a variety of brain regions by modulating physiological and cellular functions as well as neuronal morphology. Within the striatum, estradiol is known to induce physiological and molecular changes, yet estradiol's effects on striatal dendritic morphology have not yet been evaluated. Using ballistic delivery of the lipophilic dye DiI to tissue sections, we were able to evaluate estradiol's effects on striatal morphology in female Syrian hamsters. We found that estradiol significantly decreased spine density within the nucleus accumbens core, with no effect in the nucleus accumbens shell or caudate. Interestingly, estradiol treatment caused a significant deconstruction of spines from more to less mature spine subtypes in both th... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4088716 Fri, 15 Oct 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4088716 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4088715&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20953626%26dopt%3DAbstract In conclusion, the hitherto undescribed PVP of the human fetal cerebrum contains forerunners of adult associative and projection pathways. Its transient chemical properties and relative exuberance suggest that the PVP may exert influence on the development of cortical connectivity (intermediate targeting) and other neurogenetic events such as neuronal proliferation. The PVP's topographical position also indicates that it is a major site of vulnerability in hypoxic-ischaemic perinatal brain injury. PMID: 20953626 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Brain Structure and Function) Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4088715 Thu, 14 Oct 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4088715 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4064488&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20938680%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, the possibility that intrastriatal infusions of BDNF would elevate gene expression in the striatum of Bdnf (+/-) mice was investigated. Wildtype and Bdnf (+/-) mice received a single, bilateral microinjection of BDNF or PBS into the dorsal striatum. Mice were killed 24 h later and semi-quantitative in situ hybridization histochemical analysis confirmed that PPD, PPE, and D(3) receptor mRNA was less in the caudate-putamen (CPu) and nucleus accumbens (NAc) core of Bdnf (+/-) mice than in wildtype mice. A BDNF infusion increased PPD mRNA in the CPu and NAc core of wildtype mice and restored PPD mRNA levels in the NAc core of Bdnf (+/-) mice. BDNF also restored the gene expression of PPE in the CPu of Bdnf (+/-) mice to wildtype levels; however, PPE mRNA in the NAc did not diff... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4064488 Mon, 11 Oct 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4064488 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4064487&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20938681%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Marchand WR There is considerable evidence that dysfunction of the cortico-basal ganglia circuits may be associated with several mood and anxiety disorders. However, it is unclear whether circuit abnormalities contribute directly either to the neurobiology of these conditions or to the manifestation of symptoms. Understanding the role of these pathways in psychiatric illness has been limited by an incomplete characterization of normal function. In recent years, studies using animal models and human functional imaging have greatly expanded the literature describing normal cortico-basal ganglia circuit function. In this paper, recent key studies of circuit function using human and animal models are reviewed and integrated with findings from other studies conducted over the previ... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4064487 Mon, 11 Oct 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4064487 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4064489&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20936329%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Liang H, Paxinos G, Watson C The cells that project from the brain to the spinal cord have previously been mapped in a wide range of mammalian species, but have not been comprehensively studied in the mouse. We have mapped these cells in the mouse using retrograde tracing after large unilateral Fluoro-Gold (FG) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) injections in the C1 and C2 spinal cord segments. We have identified over 30 cell groups that project to the spinal cord, and have confirmed that the pattern of major projections from the cortex, diencephalon, midbrain, and hindbrain in the mouse is typically mammalian, and very similar to that found in the rat. However, we report two novel findings: we found labeled neurons in the precuneiform area (an area which has been associated wit... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4064489 Fri, 08 Oct 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4064489 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4045459&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20890614%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Nunez PL, Srinivasan R PMID: 20890614 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Brain Structure and Function) Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4045459 Fri, 01 Oct 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4045459 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4027031&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20878181%26dopt%3DAbstract We report that radial glial cells represent the stem cell population of the neuroepithelium of the neural tube, and act as progenitors for both neurons and neuroglia. In addition, radial glial cells not only give rise to the principal cells of the cerebellar cortex, the Purkinje and granule cells, but they also provide a scaffold for the migration of these cells. We conclude that radial glial cells play a pivotal role in establishing the laminar structure of the cerebellar cortex. PMID: 20878181 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Brain Structure and Function) Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4027031 Mon, 27 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4027031 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3988286&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20853181%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Keilholz SD, Magnuson M, Thompson G Correlated low frequency fluctuations in the blood oxygenation level dependent signal have been widely observed in highly connected brain regions and are considered to be indicative of coordinated activity within those regions. A typical functional connectivity MRI study consists of hundreds of time points acquired from thousands of image voxels, and thus exploratory data analysis is a significant challenge. This paper investigates the utilization of analytical methods based upon graph theory that can potentially provide a data-driven approach to examining the relationships between and within groups of voxels. Three algorithms, based on reachable groups, path-length analysis, and hierarchical clustering, are described and evaluated in the re... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3988286 Mon, 20 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3988286 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3900511&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20734063%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Innocenti GM, Caminiti R, Hof PR In humans the planum temporale is usually larger in the left hemisphere and related to Wernicke's language complex. A slighter leftward asymmetry, unrelated to vocal perception, was reported in the chimpanzee. Searching for differences between the human brain and that of the chimpanzee, we analyzed the fiber composition in the sector of the corpus callosum containing fibers from the planum temporale. This sector was identified in chimpanzee and human myelin-stained materials by comparison with anatomical tract-tracing in the macaque monkey. The axon diameters in the planum temporale sector of the corpus callosum were not different in human and chimpanzee, suggesting that this feature of the output of the planum temporale was preserved since the... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3900511 Mon, 23 Aug 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3900511 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3786412&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20652310%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Hildebrandt S, Schmidt A, Stoll A, Schmitt O, Köhling R, Wree A, Haas SJ, Pützer BM Adult hippocampal neural stem cells (NSC) are an intriguing source for cell replacement or could serve as delivery vehicles for therapeutic genes. We recently reported selective transduction of adult mouse NSC in the DG by in vivo injection of GFP encoding adenoviral (Ad) vectors engineered to bind NSC-specific peptides. Here, we investigated the specificity of these peptide-tagged vectors in the adult rat DG, and whether they can be used to follow differentiation of infected cells over time. The virus-containing solution was injected into the DG by stereotaxic surgery. Specific transduction of NSC was demonstrated by the radial glia-like morphology of GFP-expressing type-1 cells and co-l... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3786412 Wed, 21 Jul 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3786412 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3645355&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20526850%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Boucher J, Kröger H, Sík A Chemically mediated synaptic transmission results from fusion of synaptic vesicles with the presynaptic plasma membrane, subsequent release of the vesicular content into the cleft and binding to postsynaptic receptors. Previous modelling studies of excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate were based on simplified geometries failing to account for the biologically realistic synaptic environment, in particular, the presence of astrocytes, the geometry of extracellular space, and the neurotransmitter uptake mechanism. Using 3-dimensional reconstructions of hippocampal glutamatergic synapses including the surrounding astrocytic processes we have developed a biologically realistic model to analyse receptor activation in different conditions. We used th... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3645355 Sat, 05 Jun 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3645355 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3618150&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20512361%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Thiessen JD, Glazner KA, Nafez S, Schellenberg AE, Buist R, Martin M, Albensi BC Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that has been characterized by gross cortical atrophy, cellular neurodegeneration, reactive gliosis, and the presence of microscopic extracellular amyloid plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles. Earlier diagnoses of AD would be in the best interest of managing the patient and would allow for earlier therapeutic intervention. By measuring the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) using diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), a type of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), one can quantify alterations in water diffusivity resulting from microscopic structural changes in the cell at early stages that are associated with pathophysiol... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3618150 Fri, 28 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3618150 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3618149&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20512362%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Craig AD PMID: 20512362 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Brain Structure and Function) Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3618149 Fri, 28 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3618149 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3618148&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20512363%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Brass M, Haggard P Cognitive neuroscience research has begun to reveal the functional neuroanatomy of intentional action. This research has primarily pointed to the role of the medial frontal cortex for the voluntary control of behaviour. However, a closer inspection of the literature reveals that the anterior insular cortex (AIC) is also routinely activated in tasks that involve different aspects of intentional action. In the present article, we outline studies that have found AIC activation in various intentional action paradigms. Based on these findings, we discuss two hypotheses about the AIC's contribution to voluntary control. One hypothesis states that AIC is involved in forming intentions, by providing information about the internal states of the system. The alternativ... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3618148 Fri, 28 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3618148 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3618147&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20512364%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Naqvi NH, Bechara A We have recently shown that damage to the insula leads to a profound disruption of addiction to cigarette smoking (Naqvi et al., Science 315:531-534, 2007). Yet, there is little understanding of why the insula should play such an important role in an addictive behavior. A broad literature (much of it reviewed in this issue) has addressed the role of the insula in processes related to conscious interoception, emotional experience, and decision-making. Here, we review evidence for the role of the insula in drug addiction, and propose a novel theoretical framework for addiction in which the insula represents the interoceptive effects of drug taking, making this information available to conscious awareness, memory and executive functions. A central theme of thi... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3618147 Fri, 28 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3618147 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3618146&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20512365%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kosillo P, Smith AT The anterior portion of the human insula is implicated in a wide range of tasks that involve judgements of short periods of time (a few seconds or less). However, it is only one of several brain regions that share this property. We review the evidence for its involvement and discuss the nature of the contribution it might make to time judgements. The anterior insula is frequently identified in functional MRI studies that require participants to generate a time interval to match an internal or external template, or to discriminate between the durations of two stimuli. It is involved in many different timing tasks and is active irrespective of the stimulus modality used to present the stimuli. However, the role of the anterior insula in timing remains uncerta... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3618146 Fri, 28 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3618146 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3618145&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20512366%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Small DM The sense of taste exists so that organisms can detect potential nutrients and toxins. Despite the fact that this ability is of critical importance to all species there appear to be significant interspecies differences in gustatory organization. For example, monkeys and humans lack a pontine taste relay, which is a critical relay underlying taste and feeding behavior in rodents. In addition, and of particular relevance to this special issue, the primary taste cortex appears to be located further caudally in the insular cortex in humans compared to in monkeys. The primary aim of this paper is to review the evidence that supports this possibility. It is also suggested that one parsimonious explanation for this apparent interspecies differences is that if, as Craig sugge... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3618145 Fri, 28 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3618145 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3618144&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20512367%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Medford N, Critchley HD There is now a wealth of evidence that anterior insular and anterior cingulate cortices have a close functional relationship, such that they may be considered together as input and output regions of a functional system. This system is typically engaged across cognitive, affective, and behavioural contexts, suggesting that it is of fundamental importance for mental life. Here, we review the literature and reinforce the case that these brain regions are crucial, firstly, for the production of subjective feelings and, secondly, for co-ordinating appropriate responses to internal and external events. This model seeks to integrate higher-order cortical functions with sensory representation and autonomic control: it is argued that feeling states emerge from t... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3618144 Fri, 28 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3618144 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3618143&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20512368%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Butti C, Hof PR The human insular cortex is involved in a variety of viscerosensory, visceromotor, and interoceptive functions, and plays a role in complex processes such as emotions, music, and language. Across mammals, the insula has considerable morphologic variability. We review the structure and connectivity of the insula in laboratory animals (mouse, domestic cat, macaque monkey), and we present original data on the morphology and cytoarchitecture of insular cortex in less common species including a large carnivore (the Atlantic walrus, Odobenus rosmarus), two artiodactyls (the pigmy hippopotamus, Hexaprotodon liberiensis, and the Western bongo, Tragelaphus eurycerus), two cetaceans (the beluga whale, Delphinapterus leucas, and the minke whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3618143 Fri, 28 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3618143 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3618142&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20512369%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Seeley WW The human anterior insula is anatomically and functionally heterogeneous, containing key nodes within distributed speech-language and viscero-autonomic/social-emotional networks. The frontotemporal dementias selectively target these large-scale systems, leading to at least three distinct clinical syndromes. Examining these disorders, researchers have begun to dissect functions which rely on specific insular nodes and networks. In the behavioral variant of frontotemporal dementia, early-stage frontoinsular degeneration begets progressive "Salience Network" breakdown that leaves patients unable to model the emotional impact of their own actions or inactions. Ongoing studies seek to clarify local microcircuit- and cellular-level factors that confer selective frontoinsul... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3618142 Fri, 28 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3618142 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3618141&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20512370%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Menon V, Uddin LQ The insula is a brain structure implicated in disparate cognitive, affective, and regulatory functions, including interoceptive awareness, emotional responses, and empathic processes. While classically considered a limbic region, recent evidence from network analysis suggests a critical role for the insula, particularly the anterior division, in high-level cognitive control and attentional processes. The crucial insight and view we present here is of the anterior insula as an integral hub in mediating dynamic interactions between other large-scale brain networks involved in externally oriented attention and internally oriented or self-related cognition. The model we present postulates that the insula is sensitive to salient events, and that its core function ... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3618141 Fri, 28 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3618141 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3618140&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20512371%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ullsperger M, Harsay HA, Wessel JR, Ridderinkhof KR To detect erroneous action outcomes is necessary for flexible adjustments and therefore a prerequisite of adaptive, goal-directed behavior. While performance monitoring has been studied intensively over two decades and a vast amount of knowledge on its functional neuroanatomy has been gathered, much less is known about conscious error perception, often referred to as error awareness. Here, we review and discuss the conditions under which error awareness occurs, its neural correlates and underlying functional neuroanatomy. We focus specifically on the anterior insula, which has been shown to be (a) reliably activated during performance monitoring and (b) modulated by error awareness. Anterior insular activity appears to be clo... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3618140 Fri, 28 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3618140 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3618139&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20512372%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Nelson SM, Dosenbach NU, Cohen AL, Wheeler ME, Schlaggar BL, Petersen SE In humans, the anterior insula (aI) has been the topic of considerable research and ascribed a vast number of functional properties by way of neuroimaging and lesion studies. Here, we argue that the aI, at least in part, plays a role in domain-general attentional control and highlight studies (Dosenbach et al. 2006; Dosenbach et al. 2007) supporting this view. Additionally, we discuss a study (Ploran et al. 2007) that implicates aI in processes related to the capture of focal attention. Task-level control and focal attention may or may not reflect information processing supported by a single functional area (within the aI). Therefore, we apply a novel technique (Cohen et al. 2008) that utilizes resting st... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3618139 Fri, 28 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3618139 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3618138&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20512373%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Garavan H This paper reviews the role of the insula in drug craving. Evidence is presented that drug craving may be a particular instance of the anterior insula's broader role in interoception and subjective feeling states similar, for example, to thirst and hunger. An important role for the insula in craving is supported by evidence of insular activity changing with satiety and with the top-down cognitive modulation of cravings. Cognitive processes involving the insula's role in awareness of one's own behaviour may also contribute to craving insofar as the avoidance of craving might require subjective awareness of the endogenous and exogenous cues that initiate it. Finally, some consideration is given to sex differences and developmental processes in craving. PMID: 205123... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3618138 Fri, 28 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3618138 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3618137&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20512374%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ackermann H, Riecker A Skilled spoken language production requires fast and accurate coordination of up to 100 muscles. A long-standing concept-tracing ultimately back to Paul Broca-assumes posterior parts of the inferior frontal gyrus to support the orchestration of the respective movement sequences prior to innervation of the vocal tract. At variance with this tradition, the insula has more recently been declared the relevant "region for coordinating speech articulation", based upon clinico-neuroradiological correlation studies. However, these findings have been criticized on methodological grounds. A survey of the clinical literature (cerebrovascular disorders, brain tumours, stimulation mapping) yields a still inconclusive picture. By contrast, functional imaging studies r... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3618137 Fri, 28 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3618137 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3618128&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20512375%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ibañez A, Gleichgerrcht E, Manes F Multiple disturbances following lesions of the insula are reviewed in the present article, including those related to autonomic function; gustatory, olfactory, auditory, somatosensory, and multimodal perception, as well as body awareness; the emotion of disgust; mood and willed action, addiction behavior, and language. Given the multiple and varied nature of the impairments revealed by lesion studies, we suggest that the insula, as a multimodal area, has a major role as a convergence zone implicated in the coordination between internal and external information through emotional subjective awareness. Methodological issues are discussed with attention paid to lesion etiology, and lesions involving adjacent areas to the insular cortex. PM... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3618128 Fri, 28 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3618128 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3618127&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20512376%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kurth F, Zilles K, Fox PT, Laird AR, Eickhoff SB Whether we feel sympathy for another, listen to our heartbeat, experience pain or negotiate, the insular cortex is thought to integrate perceptions, emotions, thoughts, and plans into one subjective image of "our world". The insula has hence been ascribed an integrative role, linking information from diverse functional systems. Nevertheless, various anatomical and functional studies in humans and non-human primates also indicate a functional differentiation of this region. In order to investigate this functional differentiation as well as the mechanisms of the functional integration in the insula, we performed activation-likelihood-estimation (ALE) meta-analyses of 1,768 functional neuroimaging experiments. The analysis revealed... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3618127 Fri, 28 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3618127 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3618125&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20512377%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Allman JM, Tetreault NA, Hakeem AY, Manaye KF, Semendeferi K, Erwin JM, Park S, Goubert V, Hof PR The von Economo neurons (VENs) are large bipolar neurons located in frontoinsular (FI) and anterior cingulate cortex in great apes and humans, but not other primates. We performed stereological counts of the VENs in FI and LA (limbic anterior, a component of anterior cingulate cortex) in great apes and in humans. The VENs are more numerous in humans than in apes, although one gorilla approached the lower end of the human range. We also examined the ontological development of the VENs in FI and LA in humans. The VENs first appear in small numbers in the 36th week post-conception, are rare at birth, and increase in number during the first 8 months after birth. There are significantl... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3618125 Fri, 28 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3618125 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3618123&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20512378%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Bossaerts P Most accounts of the function of anterior insula in the human brain refer to concepts that are difficult to formalize, such as feelings and awareness. The discovery of signals that reflect risk assessment and risk learning, however, opens the door to formal analysis. Hitherto, activations have been correlated with objective versions of risk and risk prediction error, but subjective versions (influenced by pessimism/optimism or risk aversion/tolerance) exist. Activation in closely related cortical structures has been found to be both objective (anterior cingulate cortex) and subjective (inferior frontal gyrus). For this quantitative analysis of uncertainty-induced neuronal activation to further understanding of insula's role in feelings and awareness, however, forma... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3618123 Fri, 28 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3618123 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3618122&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20512379%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Sterzer P, Kleinschmidt A Anterior insular cortex is among the non-sensory brain regions most commonly found activated in functional brain imaging studies on visual and auditory perception. However, most of these studies do not explicitly address the functional role of this specific brain region in perception, but rather report its activation as a by-product. Here, we attempt to characterize the involvement of anterior insular cortex in various perceptual paradigms, including studies of visual awareness, perceptual decision making, cross-modal sensory processes and the role of spontaneous neural activity fluctuations in perception. We conclude that anterior insular cortex may be associated with perception in that it underpins heightened alertness of either stimulus- or task-dr... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3618122 Fri, 28 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3618122 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3618120&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20512380%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Karnath HO, Baier B Normally, we are aware that our arms and legs belong to us and not to someone else. However, some stroke patients with hemiparesis/-plegia after right-sided stroke show a disturbed sensation of limb ownership and a disturbed self-awareness of actions and such patients with anosognosia for hemiparesis/plegia typically deny their paresis/-plegia and are convinced that their limbs function normally. They may experience their limb(s) as not belonging to them and may even attribute them to other persons. Modern lesion analyses techniques in such patients and recent neuroimaging results in healthy subjects suggest a prominent role of the right insula for our sense of limb ownership as well as for our feeling of being involved in a movement-our sense of agency. We... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3618120 Fri, 28 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3618120 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3618117&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20512381%26dopt%3DAbstract This article addresses the neuroanatomical evidence for a progression of integrative representations of affective feelings from the body that lead to an ultimate representation of all feelings in the bilateral anterior insulae, or "the sentient self." Evidence for somatotopy in the primary interoceptive sensory cortex is presented, and the organization of the mid-insula and the anterior insula is discussed. Issues that need to be addressed are highlighted. A possible basis for subjectivity in a cinemascopic model of awareness is presented. PMID: 20512381 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Brain Structure and Function) Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3618117 Fri, 28 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3618117 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3610592&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20503057%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: McDonald AJ, Mascagni F Muscarinic cholinergic neurotransmission in the basolateral nuclear complex (BLC) of the amygdala is critical for memory consolidation in emotional/motivational learning tasks. Although knowledge of the localization of muscarinic receptor subtypes in the BLC would contribute to an understanding of the actions of acetylcholine in mnemonic function, previous receptor binding and in situ hybridization studies lacked the resolution necessary to identify which neurons in the BLC express different receptor subtypes. In the present study immunohistochemistry was used to study the neuronal localization of the m1 receptor. The intensity of m1 immunoreactivity varied in different nuclei of the amygdala, and was most robust in the BLC, and in the adjacent posterol... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3610592 Tue, 25 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3610592 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3590791&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20490545%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Paulus MP, Stein MB We review the literature on interoception as it relates to depression and anxiety, with a focus on belief, and alliesthesia. The connection between increased but noisy afferent interoceptive input, self-referential and belief-based states, and top-down modulation of poorly predictive signals is integrated into a neuroanatomical and processing model for depression and anxiety. The advantage of this conceptualization is the ability to specifically examine the interface between basic interoception, self-referential belief-based states, and enhanced top-down modulation to attenuate poor predictability. We conclude that depression and anxiety are not simply interoceptive disorders but are altered interoceptive states as a consequence of noisily amplified self-re... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3590791 Thu, 20 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3590791 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3522920&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20428887%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Lamm C, Singer T Functional neuroimaging investigations in the fields of social neuroscience and neuroeconomics indicate that the anterior insular cortex (AI) is consistently involved in empathy, compassion, and interpersonal phenomena such as fairness and cooperation. These findings suggest that AI plays an important role in social emotions, hereby defined as affective states that arise when we interact with other people and that depend on the social context. After we link the role of AI in social emotions to interoceptive awareness and the representation of current global emotional states, we will present a model suggesting that AI is not only involved in representing current states, but also in predicting emotional states relevant to the self and others. This model also pro... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3522920 Wed, 28 Apr 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3522920 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3476189&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20390296%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Vertes RP, Linley SB, Hoover WB It is well established that serotonergic (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) fibers, mainly originating from the dorsal and median raphe nuclei of the brainstem, distribute throughout the forebrain, most heavily to 'limbic' forebrain structures. Few reports have examined the distribution of 5-HT fibers to the thalamus and none to our knowledge using immunoprocedures for the detection of the serotonin transporter (SERT)-a very sensitive marker for 5-HT fibers. Using immunohistochemical methods for SERT, we examined the pattern of distribution of 5-HT fibers to the thalamus in the rat. We show that serotonergic fibers are heavily concentrated in midline, intralaminar and association nuclei of the thalamus, and with the exception of the lateral geniculate ... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3476189 Mon, 12 Apr 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3476189 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3435057&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20361208%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Borghammer P, Chakravarty M, Jonsdottir KY, Sato N, Matsuda H, Ito K, Arahata Y, Kato T, Gjedde A Recent cerebral blood flow (CBF) and glucose consumption (CMRglc) studies of Parkinson's disease (PD) revealed conflicting results. Using simulated data, we previously demonstrated that the often-reported subcortical hypermetabolism in PD could be explained as an artifact of biased global mean (GM) normalization, and that low-magnitude, extensive cortical hypometabolism is best detected by alternative data-driven normalization methods. Thus, we hypothesized that PD is characterized by extensive cortical hypometabolism but no concurrent widespread subcortical hypermetabolism and tested it on three independent samples of PD patients. We compared SPECT CBF images of 32 early-stage an... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3435057 Thu, 01 Apr 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3435057 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3381585&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20237799%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Stylianou-Korsnes M, Reiner M, Magnussen SJ, Feldman MW Previous literature suggest that processing of visually presented shapes and textures starts in the early visual areas, but subsequently follow different pathways. The purpose of this experiment was to further investigate differential activation for shapes and textures in order elucidate the pathways involved in visual shape and texture matching. In the present study, brain areas involved in discrimination of shapes and textures are mapped, using the same set of stimuli for shape and texture decisions. Texture matching activates more prefrontal regions than shape matching, particularly regions in the left middle frontal gyrus and bilateral inferior frontal gyrus. Shape specific activation includes an occipital/temporal re... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3381585 Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3381585 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3362823&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20221886%26dopt%3DAbstract This study describes cytoarchitectonic criteria to define the prefrontal cortical areas in the mouse brain (C57BL/6 strain). Currently, well-illustrated mouse brain stereotaxic atlases are available, which, however, do not provide a description of the distinctive cytoarchitectonic characteristics of individual prefrontal areas. Such a description is of importance for stereological, neuronal tracing, and physiological, molecular and neuroimaging studies in which a precise parcellation of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) is required. The present study describes and illustrates: the medial prefrontal areas, i.e., the infralimbic, prelimbic, dorsal and ventral anterior cingulate and Fr2 area; areas of the lateral PFC, i.e., the dorsal agranular insular cortical areas and areas of the ventral PFC, i... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3362823 Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3362823 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3355085&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20213269%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Dickstein DL, Brautigam H, Stockton SD, Schmeidler J, Hof PR Neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) are composed of insoluble, hyperphosphorylated aggregates of the microtubule-associated protein tau and are present in various neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). To investigate how tau affects neuronal function during NFT formation and subsequent neurodegeneration, we examined the morphology, spine density, spine type, and spine volume of layer III pyramidal neurons from the prefrontal cortex of mice expressing wild-type human tau (htau) over time. There were no significant alterations in apical dendritic arbor length in 3-, 6-, and 12-month-old htau mice; however, 12-month-old mice exhibited more complex arborization patterns. In addition, we observed a shi... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3355085 Sun, 07 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3355085 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3355084&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20213270%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Takahashi H, Brasnjevic I, Rutten BP, Van Der Kolk N, Perl DP, Bouras C, Steinbusch HW, Schmitz C, Hof PR, Dickstein DL Hippocampal atrophy and neuron loss are commonly found in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the underlying molecular mechanisms and the fate in the AD hippocampus of subpopulations of interneurons that express the calcium-binding proteins parvalbumin (PV) and calretinin (CR) has not yet been properly assessed. Using quantitative stereologic methods, we analyzed the regional pattern of age-related loss of PV- and CR-immunoreactive (ir) neurons in the hippocampus of mice that carry M233T/L235P knocked-in mutations in presenilin-1 (PS1) and overexpress a mutated human beta-amyloid precursor protein (APP), namely, the APP(SL)/PS1 KI mice, as well as in APP(SL) m... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3355084 Sun, 07 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3355084 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3312266&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20177698%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Luebke JI, Weaver CM, Rocher AB, Rodriguez A, Crimins JL, Dickstein DL, Wearne SL, Hof PR In neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, neuronal dendrites and dendritic spines undergo significant pathological changes. Because of the determinant role of these highly dynamic structures in signaling by individual neurons and ultimately in the functionality of neuronal networks that mediate cognitive functions, a detailed understanding of these changes is of paramount importance. Mutant murine models, such as the Tg2576 APP mutant mouse and the rTg4510 tau mutant mouse have been developed to provide insight into pathogenesis involving the abnormal production and aggregation of amyloid and tau proteins, because of the key role that these proteins play in neurodegener... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3312266 Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3312266 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3291504&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20169361%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Hof PR, Elder GA PMID: 20169361 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Brain Structure and Function) Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3291504 Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3291504 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3285770&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20162303%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Sager JJ, Bai Q, Burton EA Since the introduction of the zebrafish as a model for the study of vertebrate developmental biology, an extensive array of techniques for its experimental manipulation and analysis has been developed. Recently it has become apparent that these powerful methodologies might be deployed in order to elucidate the pathogenesis of human neurodegenerative diseases and to identify candidate therapeutic approaches. In this article, we consider evidence that the zebrafish central nervous system provides an appropriate setting in which to model human neurological disease and we review techniques and resources available for generating transgenic models. We then examine recent publications showing that appropriate phenotypes can be provoked in the zebrafish thro... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3285770 Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3285770 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3270039&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20148261%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Triarhou LC This paper revisits a concept combining the evolution, ontogeny and histophysiology of the cerebral cortex, presented, in a quest to explain cognition and behavior, by the neurobiologist Christfried Jakob (1866-1956) at the Second Annual Meeting of the International Society for Medical Psychology and Psychotherapy, organized by Oskar Vogt (1870-1959) in Munich in 1911. Jakob suggested a dual onto-phylogenetic origin and a ubiquitous cortical function, claiming that most receptive pathways end up in an 'outer fundamental layer', which derives from the rhinencephalic apparatus, whereas the 'inner fundamental layer' contains effector elements and derives from the striatum. With advancing evolution, the two fundamental layers become intermingled. By attributing a funct... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3270039 Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3270039 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3238827&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20127356%26dopt%3DAbstract This study describes the organisation of the entorhinal cortex of the Megachiroptera, straw-coloured fruit bat and Wahlberg's epauletted fruit bat. Using Nissl and Timm stains, parvalbumin and SMI-32 immunohistochemistry, we identified five fields within the medial (MEA) and lateral (LEA) entorhinal areas. MEA fields E (CL) and E (C) are characterised by a poor differentiation between layers II and III, a distinct layer IV and broad, stratified layers V and VI. LEA fields E (I), E (R) and E (L) are distinguished by cell clusters in layer II, a clear differentiation between layers II and III, a wide columnar layer III and a broad sublayer Va. Clustering in LEA layer II was more typical of the straw-coloured fruit bat. Timm-staining was most intense in layers Ib and II across all fields and ... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3238827 Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3238827 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3238826&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20127357%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Hasan KM, Kamali A, Abid H, Kramer LA, Fletcher JM, Ewing-Cobbs L Using diffusion tensor tractography, we quantified the microstructural changes in the association, projection, and commissural compact white matter pathways of the human brain over the lifespan in a cohort of healthy right-handed children and adults aged 6-68 years. In both males and females, the diffusion tensor radial diffusivity of the bilateral arcuate fasciculus, inferior longitudinal fasciculus, inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, uncinate fasciculus, corticospinal, somatosensory tracts, and the corpus callosum followed a U-curve with advancing age; fractional anisotropy in the same pathways followed an inverted U-curve. Our study provides useful baseline data for the interpretation of data collected fro... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3238826 Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3238826 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3067736&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19967412%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Iijima-Ando K, Iijima K Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of senile dementia. Aggregation of the amyloid-beta42 peptide (Abeta42) and tau proteins are pathological hallmarks in AD brains. Accumulating evidence suggests that Abeta42 plays a central role in the pathogenesis of AD, and tau acts downstream of Abeta42 as a modulator of the disease progression. Tau pathology is also observed in frontotemporal dementia with Parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17 (FTDP-17) and other related diseases, so called tauopathies. Although most cases are sporadic, genes associated with familial AD and FTDP-17 have been identified, which led to the development of transgenic animal models. Drosophila has been a powerful genetic model system used in many fields of biology, and recen... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3067736 Sat, 05 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3067736 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3034126&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19937345%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Gama Sosa MA, De Gasperi R, Elder GA Transgenic animals are extensively used to study in vivo gene function as well as to model human diseases. The technology for producing transgenic animals exists for a variety of vertebrate and invertebrate species. The mouse is the most utilized organism for research in neurodegenerative diseases. The most commonly used techniques for producing transgenic mice involves either the pronuclear injection of transgenes into fertilized oocytes or embryonic stem cell-mediated gene targeting. Embryonic stem cell technology has been most often used to produce null mutants (gene knockouts) but may also be used to introduce subtle genetic modifications down to the level of making single nucleotide changes in endogenous mouse genes. Methods are also a... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3034126 Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3034126 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3034128&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19936783%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Palkovits M, Helfferich F, Dobolyi A, Usdin TB Strong acoustic stimulation (105 dB SPL white noise) elicited c-fos expression in neurons in several acoustic system nuclei and in stress-sensitive hypothalamic nuclei and limbic areas in rats. In the present study, using this type of loud noise for 30 min, Fos-like immunoreactivity (Fos-ir) was investigated in neurons that synthesize tuberoinfundibular peptide of 39 residues (TIP39) in the rat brain: in the subparafascicular area of the thalamus, the posterior intralaminar complex of the thalamus and the medial paralemniscal nucleus in the lateral part of the pons. By double labeling, Fos-ir was shown in nearly 80% of TIP39-positive cells in the medial paralemniscal nucleus, 43% in the posterior intralaminar complex and 18.5% in ... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3034128 Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3034128 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3034127&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19936784%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ribak CE, Shapiro LA, Perez ZD, Spigelman I Microglial cells are constantly monitoring the central nervous system for sick or dying cells and pathogens. Previous studies showed that the microglial cells in the dentate gyrus have a heterogeneous morphology with multipolar cells in the hilus and fusiform cells apposed to the granule cell layer both at the hilar and at the molecular layer borders. Although previous studies showed that the microglia in the dentate gyrus were not activated, the data in the present study show dying granule cells apposed by Iba1-immunolabeled microglial cell bodies and their processes both at hilar and at molecular layer borders of the granule cell layer. Initially, these Iba1-labeled microglial cells surround individual, intact granule cell bodies. ... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3034127 Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3034127 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3009315&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19921519%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Elder GA, Gama Sosa MA, De Gasperi R, Dickstein DL, Hof PR Mutations in presenilin-1 (PS1) and presenilin-2 (PS2) cause familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD). Presenilins influence multiple molecular pathways and are best known for their role in the gamma-secretase cleavage of type I transmembrane proteins including the amyloid precursor protein (APP). PS1 and PS2 FAD mutant transgenic mice have been generated using a variety of promoters. PS1-associated FAD mutations have also been knocked into the endogenous mouse gene. PS FAD mutant mice consistently show elevations of Abeta42 with little if any effect on Abeta40. When crossed with plaque forming APP FAD mutant lines, the PS1 FAD mutants cause earlier and more extensive plaque deposition. Although single transgenic PS1 or PS2 ... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3009315 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3009315 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3003486&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19916020%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Serfőző Z, Elekes K Glycoproteins are complex molecules of the cell surface and the extracellular matrix (ECM) playing a fundamental role in the migration, guidance and synapse formation of neurons. In the present study, the glycosylated protein composition and localization were investigated in the adult and developing CNS of an aquatic (Lymnaea stagnalis) and a terrestrial (Helix pomatia) snail species, applying lectin histochemistry and blotting. Lectin probes that are specific for N-acetyl-glucosamine (GlcNAc) oligomers frequently appeared in anatomically different regions of the adult ganglia of both species, such as, the periganglionic sheath, the interperikaryonal space and the neuropil. Different GlcNAc residues were found to intensively glycosylate five, hi... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3003486 Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3003486 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3003487&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19915864%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Knabe W, Obermayer B, Kuhn HJ, Brunnett G, Washausen S The neurogenic trigeminal placode develops from the crescent-shaped panplacodal primordium which delineates the neural plate anteriorly. We show that, in Tupaia belangeri, the trigeminal placode is represented by a field of focal ectodermal thickenings which over time changes positions from as far rostral as the level of the forebrain to as far caudal as opposite rhombomere 3. Delamination proceeds rostrocaudally from the ectoderm adjacent to the rostral midbrain, and contributes neurons to the trigeminal ganglion as well as to the ciliary ganglion/oculomotor complex. Proliferative events are centered on the field prior to the peak of delamination. They are preceded, paralleled and, finally, outnumbered by apoptotic events... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3003487 Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3003487 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2968546&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19888600%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Chen K, Northington FJ, Martin LJ Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease of motor neurons (MNs). The molecular pathogenesis of ALS is not understood, thus effective therapies for this disease are lacking. Some forms of ALS are inherited by mutations in the superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD1) gene. Transgenic mice expressing human Gly93 --> Ala (G93A) mutant SOD1 (mSOD1) develop severe MN disease, oxidative and nitrative damage, and mitochondrial pathology that appears to involve nitric oxide-mediated mechanisms. We used G93A-mSOD1 mice to test the hypothesis that the degeneration of MNs is associated with an aberrant up-regulation of the inducible form of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS or NOS2) activity within MNs. Western blotting and immunoprecipi... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2968546 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2968546 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2955114&cid=s_37628_168_f&fid=37628&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19882169%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Staiger JF, Zuschratter W, Luhmann HJ, Schubert D Interactions between inhibitory interneurons and excitatory spiny neurons and also other inhibitory cells represent fundamental network properties which cause the so-called thalamo-cortical response transformation and account for the well-known receptive field differences of cortical layer IV versus thalamic neurons. We investigated the currently largely unknown morphological basis of these interactions utilizing acute slice preparations of barrel cortex in P19-21 rats. Layer IV spiny (spiny stellate, star pyramidal and pyramidal) neurons or inhibitory (basket and bitufted) interneurons were electrophysiologically characterized and intracellularly biocytin-labeled. In the same slice, we stained parvalbumin-immunoreactive (PV-ir... Brain Structure and Function journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2955114 Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2955114