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 'The Journal of Comparative Neurology' source. Sun, 21 Mar 2010 15:31:53 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3384483&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22377 A hierarchical scheme proposed by Kaas and colleagues suggests that primate auditory cortex can be divided into core and belt regions based on anatomic connections with thalamus and distinctions among response properties. According to their model, core auditory cortex receives predominantly unimodal sensory input from the ventral nucleus of the medial geniculate body (MGBv); whereas belt cortex receives predominantly cross-modal sensory input from nuclei outside the MGBv. We previously characterized distinct response properties in rat primary (A1) versus ventral auditory field (VAF) cortex; however, it has been unclear whether VAF should be categorized as a core or belt auditory cortex. The current study employed high-resolution functional imaging to map intrinsic metabolic responses to to... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3384483 Sat, 20 Mar 2010 14:38:28 +0100 3384483 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3380836&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22377 Although it has been shown repeatedly that minimum response times in sensory systems can be quite short, organisms more often continue to respond to sensory stimuli over considerably longer periods of time. The continuing response to sensory stimulation may be a more realistic assessment of natural sensory responses, so we determined for how long a stimulus would evoke a response in naïve, freely moving animals. Specifically, we determined for how long such rats responded to odorants during continuous passive exposures by monitoring their sniffing with whole-body plethysmography. We found that naïve rats continue to sniff odorants vigorously for up to 3 minutes, much longer than what has been reported for highly trained, highly motivated rats. Patterns of 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) uptake in ... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3380836 Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:46:51 +0100 3380836 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3309011&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22362 In this study we characterize the distribution of substances related to Dip-allatostatin I in the honeybee brain, which belongs to the allatostatin-A (AST) peptide family sharing the conserved c-terminal sequence -YXFGL-NH2. We found about 500 AST-immunoreactive (ASTir) neurons in the brain, scattered in 18 groups that varied in their precise location across individuals. Almost all areas of the brain were innervated by ASTir fibers. Most ASTir neurites formed networks within functionally distinct areas, e.g., the antennal lobes, the mushroom bodies, or the optic lobes, indicating local functions of the peptide. A small number of very large neurons had widespread arborizations and neurites were found in the corpora cardiaca and in the cervical connectives, suggesting that AST also has globa... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3309011 Fri, 26 Feb 2010 14:42:50 +0100 3309011 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3380838&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22345 A hierarchical scheme proposed by Kaas and colleagues suggests that primate auditory cortex can be divided into core and belt regions based on anatomic connections with thalamus and distinctions among response properties. According to their model, core auditory cortex receives predominantly unimodal sensory input from the ventral nucleus of the medial geniculate body (MGBv); whereas belt cortex receives predominantly cross-modal sensory input from nuclei outside the MGBv. We previously characterized distinct response properties in rat primary (A1) versus ventral auditory field (VAF) cortex; however, it has been unclear whether VAF should be categorized as a core or belt auditory cortex. The current study employed high-resolution functional imaging to map intrinsic metabolic responses to to... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3380838 Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3380838 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3268394&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22344 We followed the development of the nitric oxide-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (NO-cGMP) system during locust embryogenesis in whole mount nervous systems and brain sections by using various cytochemical techniques. We visualized NO-sensitive neurons by cGMP immunofluorescence after incubation with an NO donor in the presence of the soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) activator YC-1 and the phosphodiesterase-inhibitor isobutyl-methyl-xanthine (IBMX). Central nervous system (CNS) cells respond to NO as early as 38% embryogenesis. By using the NADPH-diaphorase technique, we identified somata and neurites of possible NO-synthesizing cells in the CNS. The first NADPH-diaphorase-positive cell bodies appear around 40% embryogenesis in the brain and at 47% in the ventral nerve cord. The number of posi... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3268394 Sat, 13 Feb 2010 14:37:59 +0100 3268394 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3229339&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22342 In conclusion, this study reveals a unique expression pattern of tight junction proteins in hypothalamic tanycytes, which yields new insights into their barrier properties. J. Comp. Neurol. 518:943-962, 2010. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. (Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology) The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3229339 Tue, 02 Feb 2010 14:49:10 +0100 3229339 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3229352&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22315 No Abstract (Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology) The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3229352 Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3229352 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3309012&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22343 In this study we characterize the distribution of substances related to Dip-allatostatin I in the honeybee brain, which belongs to the allatostatin-A (AST) peptide family sharing the conserved c-terminal sequence -YXFGL-NH2. We found about 500 AST-immunoreactive (ASTir) neurons in the brain, scattered in 18 groups that varied in their precise location across individuals. Almost all areas of the brain were innervated by ASTir fibers. Most ASTir neurites formed networks within functionally distinct areas, e.g., the antennal lobes, the mushroom bodies, or the optic lobes, indicating local functions of the peptide. A small number of very large neurons had widespread arborizations and neurites were found in the corpora cardiaca and in the cervical connectives, suggesting that AST also has globa... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3309012 Fri, 29 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3309012 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3169371&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22314 Dopamine is a key neuromodulatory transmitter in the brain. It acts through dopamine receptors to affect changes in neural activity, gene expression, and behavior. In songbirds, dopamine is released into the striatal song nucleus area X, and the levels depend on social contexts of undirected and directed singing. This differential release is associated with differential expression of activity-dependent genes, such as egr1 (avian zenk), which in mammalian brain are modulated by dopamine receptors. Here we cloned from zebra finch brain cDNAs of all avian dopamine receptors: the D1 (D1A, D1B, D1D) and D2 (D2, D3, D4) families. Comparative sequence analyses of predicted proteins revealed expected phylogenetic relationships, in which the D1 family exists as single exon and the D2 family exists ... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3169371 Thu, 14 Jan 2010 14:39:44 +0100 3169371 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3123858&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22313 An imbalance of excitatory and inhibitory functions has been shown to contribute to numerous pathological disorders. Accumulating evidence supports the idea that a change in hypothalamic [gamma]-aminobutyic acid (GABA)-ergic inhibitory and glutamatergic excitatory synaptic functions contributes to exacerbated neurohumoral drive in prevalent cardiovascular disorders, including hypertension. However, the precise underlying mechanisms and neuronal substrates are still not fully elucidated. In the present study, we combined quantitative immunohistochemistry with neuronal tract tracing to determine whether plastic remodeling of afferent GABAergic and glutamatergic inputs into identified RVLM-projecting neurons of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN-RVLM) contributes to an imbalanced e... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3123858 Mon, 28 Dec 2009 14:32:08 +0100 3123858 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3117076&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22287 The birth of small-diameter TrkA+ neurons that mediate pain and thermoreception begins [ap]24 hours after the cessation of neural crest cell migration from progenitors residing in the nascent dorsal root ganglion. Although multiple geographically distinct progenitor pools have been proposed, this study is the first to comprehensively characterize the derivation of small-diameter neurons. In the developing chick embryo we identify novel patterns in neural crest cell migration and colonization that sculpt the incipient ganglion into a postmitotic neuronal core encapsulated by a layer of proliferative progenitor cells. Furthermore, we show that this outer progenitor layer is composed of three spatially, temporally, and molecularly distinct progenitor zones, two of which give rise to distinct ... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3117076 Thu, 24 Dec 2009 14:32:36 +0100 3117076 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3380851&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22308 The preBötzinger Complex (preBötC) contains neural microcircuitry essential for normal respiratory rhythm generation in rodents. A subpopulation of preBötC neurons expresses somatostatin, a neuropeptide with a modulatory action on breathing. Acute silencing of a subpopulation of preBötC neurons transfected by a virus driving protein expression under the somatostatin promoter results in persistent apnea in awake adult rats. Given the profound effect of silencing these neurons, their projections are of interest. We used an adeno-associated virus to overexpress enhanced green fluorescent protein driven by the somatostatin promoter in preBötC neurons to label their axons and terminal fields. These neurons send brainstem projections to: 1) contralateral preBötC; 2) ipsi- and contralateral... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3380851 Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3380851 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3380845&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22301 The cerebellar cortex is organized by transverse foliation and longitudinal compartmentalization. Although the latter, which is recognized through the molecular expression in subsets of Purkinje cells (PCs), is closely related to topographic axonal projection and represents functional divisions, the details have not been fully clarified in mammals other than rodents. Therefore, we examined folial and compartmental organization of the marmoset cerebellum, which resembles the macaque cerebellum, and compared it with that of the rodent cerebellum by aldolase C immunostaining, three-dimensional reconstruction of the PC layer, and labeling of olivocerebellar and corticonuclear projections. Longitudinal stripes of different aldolase C expression intensities separated the entire cerebellar cortex... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3380845 Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3380845 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3380843&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22298 Hair cells, the inner ear's sensory cells, are characterized by tens to hundreds of actin-rich stereocilia that form the hair bundle apparatus necessary for mechanoelectrical transduction. Both the number and length of actin filaments are precisely regulated in stereocilia. Proper cochlear and vestibular function also depends on actin filaments in nonsensory supporting cells. The formation of actin filaments is a dynamic, treadmill-like process in which actin-binding proteins play crucial roles. However, little is known about the presence and function of actin binding molecules in the inner ear, which set up, and maintain, actin-rich structures and regulate actin turnover. Here we examined the expression and subcellular location of the actin filament depolymerizing factor (ADF) in the coch... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3380843 Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3380843 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3380841&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22296 The amino acid D-serine is an endogenous coagonist of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in mammals that has been shown to play an important role in synaptic function, behavior, learning, and memory. The distribution and cellular location of D-serine in the brain of the sea lamprey was investigated by using immunofluorescence methods. One major finding of our study, unlike early studies of mammals, was the localization of D-serine immunoreactivity in perikarya and dendrites of neurons, whereas D-serine immunoreactivity was not generally observed in the lamprey glia. D-serine-immunoreactive neurons were observed in different brain regions, including the olfactory bulb, medial pallium, thalamus, torus semicircularis, isthmus, and reticular formation. The colocalization of D-serine with [g... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3380841 Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3380841 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3380839&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22294 This study has evaluated key components of the GABA system in the outer retina of guinea pig, an emerging retinal model system. The presence of GABA, its rate-limiting synthetic enzyme glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD65 and GAD67 isoforms), the plasma membrane GABA transporters (GAT-1 and GAT-3), and the vesicular GABA transporter (VGAT) was evaluated by using immunohistochemistry with well-characterized antibodies. The presence of GAD65 mRNA was also evaluated by using laser capture microdissection and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Specific GABA, GAD65, and VGAT immunostaining was localized to horizontal cell bodies, as well as to their processes and tips in the outer plexiform layer. Furthermore, immunostaining of retinal whole mounts and acutely dissociated retinas sh... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3380839 Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3380839 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3309020&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22291 Previous studies have suggested that the patterns of innervation and high interconnectivity of the piriform cortex (PC) provide for strong olfactory hippocampal memory; however, these same attributes may create high seizurogenic tendencies. Thus, understanding this wiring is important from a physiological and pathophysiological perspective. Distinct interneurons expressing differing calcium binding proteins (CBPs), parvalbumin (PV), calbindin (CB), and calretinin (CR), have been shown to exist in PC. However, a comprehensive examination of the distribution and innervation patterns of these neurons has not been done. Thus the purpose of this study was to combine the analysis of the CBP cell localization with analysis of their innervation patterns. Each type was differentially localized in t... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3309020 Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3309020 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3309019&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22290 Neuroglobin (Ngb) is a myoglobin-like (Mb) heme-globin, belonging the globin family located only in neuronal tissue of the central nervous system. Ngb has been shown to be upregulated in and to protect neurons from hypoxic and ischemic injury, but the function of Ngb - in particular how Ngb may protect neurons - remains largely elusive. We have previously described the localization of Ngb in the rat brain and found it to be expressed in areas primarily involved in sleep/wake, circadian, and food regulation. The present study was undertaken, using immunohistochemistry, to characterize the localization, colocalization, innervation, and response to light of Ngb-immunoreactive (IR) cells in the rat suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). Our results demonstrate that the majority of Ngb-expressing neuro... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3309019 Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3309019 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3309018&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22289 To determine how responses evoked by natural odorant mixtures compare to responses evoked by individual odorant chemicals, we mapped 2-deoxyglucose uptake during exposures to vapors arising from a variety of odor objects that may be important to rodents in the wild. We studied 21 distinct natural odor stimuli ranging from possible food sources such as fruits, vegetables, and meats to environmental odor objects such as grass, herbs, and tree leaves. The natural odor objects evoked robust and surprisingly focal patterns of 2-deoxyglucose uptake involving clusters of neighboring glomeruli, thereby resembling patterns evoked by pure chemicals. Overall, the patterns were significantly related to patterns evoked by monomolecular odorant components that had been studied previously. Object pattern... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3309018 Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3309018 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3380850&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22307 The olfactory bulb (OB) retains a remarkable capacity to renew its interneuronal populations throughout the lifespan of animals. Neuronal precursors giving rise to the bulbar interneurons are generated in the subventricular zone and have to migrate long distances before reaching the OB. In the adult OB these neuronal precursors differentiate into distinct neuronal types, including GABAergic cells located in the granule cell layer and a diverse set of neurons in the glomerular layer comprising GABAergic and dopaminergic interneurons, as well as other neuronal subtypes expressing calretinin and calbindin. While the role of sensory activity in the integration and/or survival of newly generated cells in the olfactory system is well established, very little is known about how odorant-induced ac... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3380850 Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3380850 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3380849&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22306 We cloned the homologue of the clock gene Bmal from a cephalochordate, Branchiostoma lanceolatum (syn. amphioxus). Amphioxus possesses a single copy of this gene (amphiBmal) that encodes for a protein of 649 amino acids, which is quite similar to BMALs of other chordates. The gene is expressed by a restricted cell group in the anterior vesicle of the neural tube, and its expression site coincides with that of another clock gene, namely, amphiPer. The expression of amphiBmal shows a rhythmic fluctuation that persists under constant darkness and is, thus, circadian. Similar to the situation in craniates, the peak phases of the amphiBmal and amphiPer expression are offset by 12 hours. Based on these observations and the putative homology between the diencephalon of vertebrates and the anterio... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3380849 Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3380849 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3380848&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22305 More than any other neuron, olfactory sensory neurons are exposed to environmental insults. Surprisingly, their only documented response to damaging stress is apoptosis and subsequent replacement by new neurons. However, they expressed unfolded protein response genes, a transcriptionally regulated defense mechanism activated by many types of insults. The unfolded protein response transcripts Xbp1, spliced Xbp1, Chop (Ddit3), and BiP (Hspa5) were decreased when external access of stressors was reduced by blocking a nostril (naris occlusion). These transcripts and Nrf2 (Nfe2l2) were increased by systemic application of tunicamycin or the selective olfactotoxic chemical methimazole. Methimazole's effects overcame naris occlusion, and the unfolded protein response was independent of odor-evoke... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3380848 Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3380848 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3380847&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22304 Neurogenin 3 (Ngn3), a proneural gene controlled by the Notch receptor, is implicated in the control of dendrite morphology and synaptic plasticity of cultured hippocampal neurons. Here we report the localization and subcellular distribution of Ngn3 in the hippocampus in vivo and in neuronal cultures. In situ hybridization showed Ngn3 mRNA expression in the pyramidal layer and dentate gyrus of adult mouse hippocampus. Immunohistochemistry studies revealed that Ngn3 localization is mostly cytoplasmic in the hippocampal eminence at embryonic day (E)17 and postnatal day (P)0. At P10 it is cytoplasmic in CA1-CA3 pyramidal neurons and nuclear in granule cells of the dentate gyrus. In the adult hippocampus Ngn3 is localized in the nucleus and cytoplasm of both pyramidal neurons and granule cells... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3380847 Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3380847 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3380846&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22302 African mole-rats provide a unique taxonomic group for investigating the evolution and neurobiology of sociality. The two species investigated here display extreme differences in social organization and reproductive strategy. Naked mole-rats (NMRs) live in colonies, dominated by a queen and her consorts; most members remain nonreproductive throughout life but cooperate in burrowing, foraging, and caring for pups, for which they are not biological parents (alloparenting). In contrast, Cape mole-rats (CMRs) are solitary and intolerant of conspecifics, except during fleeting seasonal copulation or minimal maternal behavior. Research on other mammals suggests that oxytocin receptors at various telencephalic sites regulate social recognition, monogamous pair bonding, and maternal/allomaternal b... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3380846 Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3380846 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3380844&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22300 We examined the functional maturation of canal-related brainstem neurons in Sprague-Dawley rats at postnatal day (P)1 to adult. Conscious animals were subjected to cycles of angular acceleration and deceleration so as to selectively activate hair cells of the horizontal semicircular canals. Brainstem neurons were monitored for c-fos expression by immuno-hybridization histochemistry as an indicator of neuronal activation. Fos-immunoreactive canal-related neurons were identifiable from P4 onwards in the vestibular nucleus and downstream vestibular relay stations, prepositus hypoglossal nucleus, and inferior olive. In the vestibular nucleus and prepositus hypoglossal nucleus, the number of canal-related neurons increased progressively with age, reaching the adult level by P21. Those in the in... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3380844 Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3380844 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3380842&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22297 The rodent somatosensory barrel cortex is an ideal model for studying the impact of sensory experience on developing brain circuitry. To examine whether and how interference with sensory perception in the early postnatal period can affect the development of synaptic networks in this system, we took advantage of a transgenic mouse strain expressing the yellow fluorescent protein in layer 5B pyramidal neurons of the somatosensory cortex. By using ex vivo confocal imaging, we first demonstrate a cortical-layer-specific increase in the number of dendritic spines during postnatal development on apical dendritic shafts of these cells extending up to cortical layer 1. Next, by performing bilateral whisker trimming at distinct developmental stages, we show that disruption of sensory perception bef... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3380842 Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3380842 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3380840&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22295 The primary olfactory cortex (or piriform cortex, PC) is attracting increasing attention as a model system for the study of cortical sensory processing, yet little is known about inhibitory neurons in the PC. Here we provide the first systematic classification of GABA-releasing interneurons in the anterior PC of mice, based on the expression of molecular markers. Our experiments used GAD67-GFP transgenic mice, in which gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-containing cells are labeled with green fluorescent protein (GFP). We first confirmed, using paired whole-cell recordings, that GFP+ neurons in the anterior PC of GAD67-GFP mice are functionally GABAergic. Next, we performed immunolabeling of GFP+ cells to quantify their expression of every possible pairwise combination of seven molecular marke... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3380840 Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3380840 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3380837&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22299 Although it has been shown repeatedly that minimum response times in sensory systems can be quite short, organisms more often continue to respond to sensory stimuli over considerably longer periods of time. The continuing response to sensory stimulation may be a more realistic assessment of natural sensory responses, so we determined for how long a stimulus would evoke a response in naïve, freely moving animals. Specifically, we determined for how long such rats responded to odorants during continuous passive exposures by monitoring their sniffing with whole-body plethysmography. We found that naïve rats continue to sniff odorants vigorously for up to 3 minutes, much longer than what has been reported for highly trained, highly motivated rats. Patterns of 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) uptake in ... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3380837 Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3380837 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3309022&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22293 The anterior olfactory nucleus (AON) occupies a crucial position within the olfactory circuit, as it is able to influence function in nearly every major synaptic processing stage of both the ipsilateral and the contralateral pathways. Nevertheless, very little is known about the region's internal organization and circuitry. The present study provides basic quantitative and qualitative data on the morphology of several cell types within the two major regions of the AON, pars externa and pars principalis. In pars externa two types of cells are analyzed, the "classical" cell (type I), containing only apically directed dendrites with large spines, and a previously unreported cell with basilar dendrites and complex, spiny apical processes (type II). In pars principalis the characteristic pyrami... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3309022 Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3309022 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3309021&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22292 We studied the retinal photoreceptors in the mouse opossum Thylamys elegans, a nocturnal South American marsupial. A variety of photoreceptor properties and color vision capabilities have been documented in Australian marsupials, and we were interested to establish what similarities and differences this American marsupial showed. Thylamys opsin gene sequencing revealed two cone opsins, a longwave-sensitive (LWS) opsin and a shortwave-sensitive (SWS1) opsin with deduced peak sensitivities at 560 nm and 360 nm (ultraviolet), respectively. Immunocytochemistry located these opsins to separate cone populations, a majority of LWS cones (density range 1,600-5,600/mm2) and a minority of SWS1 cones (density range 100-690/mm2). With rod densities of 440,000-590,000/mm2, the cones constituted 0.4-1.2... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3309021 Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3309021 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3268395&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22303 We followed the development of the nitric oxide-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (NO-cGMP) system during locust embryogenesis in whole mount nervous systems and brain sections by using various cytochemical techniques. We visualized NO-sensitive neurons by cGMP immunofluorescence after incubation with an NO donor in the presence of the soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) activator YC-1 and the phosphodiesterase-inhibitor isobutyl-methyl-xanthine (IBMX). Central nervous system (CNS) cells respond to NO as early as 38% embryogenesis. By using the NADPH-diaphorase technique, we identified somata and neurites of possible NO-synthesizing cells in the CNS. The first NADPH-diaphorase-positive cell bodies appear around 40% embryogenesis in the brain and at 47% in the ventral nerve cord. The number of posi... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3268395 Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3268395 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3041825&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22288 Dopamine (DA) modulates motor systems in phyla as diverse as nematodes and arthropods up through chordates. A comparison of dopaminergic systems across a broad phylogenetic range should reveal shared organizing principles. The pyloric network, located in the stomatogastric ganglion (STG), is an important model for neuromodulation of motor networks. The effects of DA on this network have been well characterized at the circuit and cellular levels in the spiny lobster, Panulirus interruptus. Here we provide the first data about the physical organization of the DA signaling system in the STG and the function of D2 receptors in pyloric neurons. Previous studies showed that DA altered intrinsic firing properties and synaptic output in the pyloric dilator (PD) neuron, in part by reducing calcium ... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3041825 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:37:58 +0100 3041825 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3024639&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22286 PTPRO is a receptor-type protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) with a single catalytic domain in its cytoplasmic region and multiple fibronectin type III-like domains in its extracellular region. In the chick, PTPRO mRNA has been shown to be particularly abundant in embryonic brain, and PTPRO is implicated in axon growth and guidance during embryonic development. However, the temporal and spatial expression of PTPRO protein in the mammalian CNS, particularly in the juvenile and adult mammalian brain, has not been evaluated in any detail. By immunohistofluorescence analysis with a monoclonal antibody to PTPRO, we show that PTPRO is widely expressed throughout the mouse brain from embryonic day 16 to postnatal day 1, while expression is largely confined to the olfactory bulb (OB) and olfactory ... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3024639 Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:39:26 +0100 3024639 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3309017&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22285 The distinctive midline neuropil, the central complex (CX), is one of the most prominent features of the insect brain. We investigated the development of the four CX structures and several sets of CX neurons in the Drosophila brain using immunostaining for two cell adhesion molecules, DN-cadherin and Echinoid, and a set of seven enhancer trap lines. Our results showed that the CX is first identifiable in the third instar larva and that it elaborates over the first 48 hours of metamorphosis. The first identifiable structures to appear in their immature form are the protocerebral bridge and fan-shaped body, which are present in the brain of the third instar larva, followed by the noduli (from P12h), and finally the ellipsoid body (from P24h). We observed that neurons are added incrementally ... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3309017 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3309017 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3309016&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22284 This study provides a novel insight into CX structure and connectivity and provides a set of characterized enhancer trap lines that will be valuable for future study. J. Comp. Neurol. 518:1500-1524, 2010. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. (Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology) The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3309016 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3309016 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3309015&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22283 The paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (PVH) contains many neurons that innervate the brainstem, but information regarding their target sites remains incomplete. Here we labeled neurons in the rat PVH with an anterograde axonal tracer, Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin (PHAL), and studied their descending projections in reference to specific neuronal subpopulations throughout the brainstem. While many of their target sites were identified previously, numerous new observations were made. Major findings include: 1) In the midbrain, the PVH projects lightly to the ventral tegmental area, Edinger-Westphal nucleus, ventrolateral periaqueductal gray matter, reticular formation, pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus, and dorsal raphe nucleus. 2) In the dorsal pons, the PVH projects heavily to the... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3309015 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3309015 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3309014&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22281 Neuron recruitment has been implicated in morphological and functional plasticity in the adult brain. Whereas mammals restrict neuron recruitment specifically to two regions of known plasticity, the hippocampus and olfactory bulb, newborn neurons are found throughout the forebrain of adult songbirds. In order to study the area-specificity of the widespread proliferation and recruitment in the songbird brain, six adult male canaries received repetitive intraperitoneal injections of the mitotic marker BrdU (5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine) and were sacrificed after 24 hours to study proliferation or after 38 days to study recruitment. Migration and incorporation of new neurons was apparent throughout many but not all parts of the canary forebrain and was quantitatively related to mitotic levels in th... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3309014 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3309014 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3309013&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22278 The [beta]2-adrenergic receptors (ARs) are G-protein-coupled receptors that mediate the physiological responses to adrenaline and noradrenaline. The present study aimed to determine the regional distribution of [beta]2-ARs in the adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) brain by means of in vitro autoradiographic and immunohistochemical methods. The immunohistochemical localization of [beta]2-ARs, in agreement with the quantitative [beta]-adrenoceptor autoradiography, showed a wide distribution of [beta]2-ARs in the adult zebrafish brain. The cerebellum and the dorsal zone of periventricular hypothalamus exhibited the highest density of [3H]CGP-12177 binding sites and [beta]2-AR immunoreactivity. Neuronal cells strongly stained for [beta]2-ARs were found in the periventricular ventral telencephalic a... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3309013 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3309013 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3268407&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22282 Astrocytes and their precursors respond to spinal cord injury (SCI) by proliferating, migrating, and altering phenotype. This contributes to glial scar formation at the lesion border and gliosis in spared gray and white matter. The present study was undertaken to evaluate astrocyte changes over time and determine when and where interventions might be targeted to alter the astrocyte response. Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) was administered to mice 3 days after SCI, and cells expressing BrdU and the astrocyte marker, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), were counted at 3, 7, and 49 days post-injury (DPI). BrdU-labeled cells accumulated at the lesion border by 7 DPI and approximately half of these expressed GFAP. In spared white matter, the total number of BrdU+ cells decreased, while the percen... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3268407 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3268407 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3268406&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22280 To understand the catapult mechanism that propels jumping in a planthopper insect, the innervation and action of key muscles were analyzed. The large trochanteral depressor muscle, M133b,c, is innervated by two motor neurons and by two dorsal unpaired median (DUM) neurons, all with axons in N3C. A smaller depressor muscle, M133a, is innervated by two neurons, one with a large-diameter cell body, a large, blind-ending dendrite, and a giant ovoid, axon measuring 50 [mu]m by 30 [mu]m in nerve N5A. The trochanteral levator muscles (M132) and (M131) are innervated by N4 and N3B, respectively. The actions of these muscles in a restrained jump were divisible into a three-phase pattern. First, both hind legs were moved into a cocked position by high-frequency bursts of spikes in the levator muscle... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3268406 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3268406 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3268405&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22279 This study is the first demonstration of neuroanatomical sex differences in the NAc and provides evidence that structural differences in synaptic connectivity and glutamatergic input may contribute to behavioral sex differences in reward and addiction. J. Comp. Neurol. 518:1330-1348, 2010. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. (Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology) The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3268405 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3268405 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3268404&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22277 Changes in glutamatergic transmission in the nucleus accumbens play a key role in mediating reward-related behaviors and addiction to psychostimulants. Glutamatergic inputs to the accumbens originate from multiple sources, including the prefrontal cortex, basolateral amygdala, and midline thalamus. The group I metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) are found throughout the core and shell of the nucleus accumbens, but their localization and function at specific glutamatergic synapses remain unknown. To further characterize the substrate that underlies group I mGluR functions in the accumbens, we combined anterograde tract tracing method with electron microscopy immunocytochemistry to study the ultrastructural relationships between specific glutamatergic afferents and mGluR1a- or mGluR5-c... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3268404 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3268404 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3268403&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22276 Kv7.5/KCNQ5, a voltage-dependent potassium channel that generates a subthreshold K+ current (also called M-current), is localized in excitatory endings of auditory brainstem nuclei in the adult rat. Here, we focus on how specific targeting develops from birth to adulthood in the rat. We first analyzed by immunocytochemistry the distribution of KCNQ5 during postnatal development of neurons in the anteroventral cochlear nucleus (AVCN) and their targets in the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB). From postnatal days (P) 0 to 12, KCNQ5 immunoreactivity was restricted to cell bodies, whereas from P13 onward a shift in labeling pattern was seen, with KCNQ5 immunoreactivity becoming confined to synaptic endings in both the AVCN and MNTB. The developmental synaptic targeting was also accom... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3268403 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3268403 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3268402&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22275 The most caudally located dopaminergic (DA) ventral tier neurons of the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) form typical cell clusters that are deeply embedded in the substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr). Here we examine the efferent projections of 35 neurons located in the SNr region where these SNc cell clusters reside. The neuronal cell body was injected with biotinylated dextran amine so as to trace each complete axon in the sagittal or the coronal plane. Electrophysiological guidance guaranteed that the tracer was ejected among neurons displaying a typical SNc discharge pattern. Furthermore, double immunofluorescence and immunohistochemical labeling ensured that the tracer deposits were placed within the DA cell clusters. Three types of projection neurons occurred in the SNc ventra... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3268402 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3268402 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3268401&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22274 The brain of larval Rhodnius prolixus releases neurohormones with a circadian rhythm, indicating that a clock system exists in the larval brain. Larvae also possess a circadian locomotor rhythm. The present paper is a detailed analysis of the distribution and axonal projections of circadian clock cells in the brain of the fifth larval instar. Clock cells are identified as neurons that exhibit circadian cycling of both PER and TIM proteins. A group of eight lateral clock neurons (LNs) in the proximal optic lobe also contain pigment-dispersing factor (PDF) throughout their axons, enabling their detailed projections to be traced. LNs project to the accessory medulla and thence laterally toward the compound eye and medially into a massive area of arborizations in the anterior protocerebrum. Fi... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3268401 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3268401 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3268400&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22272 The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus regulates daily rhythms in physiology and behavior. It is composed of a heterogeneous population of cells that together form the circuits underlying its master clock function. Numerous studies suggest the existence of two regions that have been termed core and shell. At a gross level, differences between these regions map to distinct functional differences, although the specific role(s) of various peptidergic cellular phenotypes remains unknown. In mouse, gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) cells lie in the core, are directly retinorecipient, and lack detectable rhythmicity in clock gene expression, raising interest in their role in the SCN. Here, we provide evidence that calbindin-expressing cells of perinatal mouse SCN express GRP, identi... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3268400 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3268400 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3268399&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22271 [gamma]-Aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic interneurons play a vital role in modulating the activity of the cerebral cortex, and disruptions to their function have been linked to neurological disorders such as schizophrenia and epilepsy. These cells originate in the ganglionic eminences (GE) of the ventral telencephalon and undergo tangential migration to enter the cortex. Currently, little is known about the signaling mechanisms that regulate interneuron migration. We therefore performed a microarray analysis comparing the changes in gene expression between the GABAergic interneurons that are actively migrating into the cortex with those in the GE. We were able to isolate pure populations of GABAergic cells by fluorescence-activated cell sorting of cortex and GE from embryonic brains of glutam... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3268399 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3268399 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3268398&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22270 To determine the role of homotypic interactions between neighboring dopaminergic amacrine (DA) cells upon dendritic morphogenesis, the morphology of single cells was examined relative to the positioning of all neighboring homotypic cells. For each labeled cell, the dendritic field was reconstructed, its Voronoi domain was calculated, and the two were related. The dendritic fields of DA cells were observed to be large, sparse, and highly irregular. Dendrites readily overlapped those of neighboring cells, showing no evidence for dendritic tiling or inter-digitation consistent with homotypic repulsion or avoidance. Furthermore, a direct comparison of dendritic field area with the Voronoi domain area of the same cell showed no evidence for dendritic growth being constrained or biased by the lo... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3268398 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3268398 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3268397&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22269 The auditory midbrain is a site of convergence of multiple auditory channels from the brainstem. In birds, two separate ascending channels have been identified, through which time and intensity information is sent to the nucleus mesencephalicus lateralis, pars dorsalis (MLd), the homologue of the central nucleus of the mammalian inferior colliculus. Using in vivo anterograde and retrograde tracing techniques, the current study provides two lines of anatomical evidence supporting the presence of a third ascending channel to the chick MLd. First, three non-overlapping zones of the MLd receive inputs from three distinct cell groups in the caudodorsal brainstem. The projections from the nucleus angularis (NA) and nucleus laminaris (NL) are predominantly contralateral and may correspond to the ... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3268397 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3268397 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3268396&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22264 The amygdaloid complex (AC), a key component of the limbic system, is a brain region critical for the detection and interpretation of emotionally salient information. Therefore, changes in its structure and function are likely to provide correlates of mood and emotion disorders, diseases that afflict a large portion of the human population. Previous gross comparisons of the AC in control and diseased individuals have, however, mainly failed to discover these expected correlations with diseases. We have characterized AC nuclei in different nonhuman primate species to establish a baseline for more refined comparisons between the normal and the diseased amygdala. AC nuclei volume and neuron number in 19 subdivisions are reported from 13 Old and New World primate brains, spanning five primate ... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3268396 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3268396 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3229351&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22268 The location of proteins that contribute to synaptic function has been widely studied in vertebrate synapses, far more than at model synapses of the genetically manipulable fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. Drosophila photoreceptor terminals have been extensively exploited to characterize the actions of synaptic genes, and their distinct and repetitive synaptic ultrastructure is anatomically well suited for such studies. Synaptic release sites include a bipartite T-bar ribbon, comprising a platform surmounting a pedestal. So far, little is known about the composition and precise location of proteins at either the T-bar ribbon or its associated synaptic organelles, knowledge of which is required to understand many details of synaptic function. We studied the localization of candidate prot... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3229351 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3229351 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3229350&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22267 Mutations in the human L1CAM gene cause X-linked hydrocephalus and MASA (Mental retardation, Aphasia, Shuffling gait, Adducted thumbs) syndrome. In vitro studies have shown that the L1 cytoplasmic domain (L1CD) is involved in L1 trafficking, neurite branching, signaling, and interactions with the cytoskeleton. L1cam knockout (L1KO) mice have hydrocephalus, a small cerebellum, hyperfasciculation of corticothalamic tracts, and abnormal peripheral nerves. To explore the function of the L1CD, we made three new mice lines in which different parts of the L1CD have been altered. In all mutant lines L1 protein is expressed and transported into the axon. Interestingly, these new L1CD mutant lines display normal brain morphology. However, the expression of L1 protein in the adult is dramatically red... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3229350 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3229350 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3229349&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22266 Purkinje cell protein 2 (PCP2), a member of the family of guanine dissociation inhibitors and a strong interactor with the G-protein subunit G[alpha]o, localizes to retinal ON bipolar cells. The retina-specific splice variant of PCP2, Ret-PCP2, accelerates the light response of rod bipolar cells by modulating the mGluR6 transduction cascade. All ON cone bipolar cells express mGluR6 and G[alpha]o, but only a subset expresses Ret-PCP2. Here we test the hypothesis that Ret-PCP2 contributes to shaping the various temporal bandwidths of ON cone bipolar cells in monkey retina. We found that the retinal splice variants in monkey and mouse are similar and longer than the cerebellar variants. Ret-PCP2 is strongly expressed by diffuse cone bipolar type 4 cells (DB4; marked with anti-PKC[alpha]) and ... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3229349 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3229349 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3229348&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22265 Previously, we found that the brainstem neuronal network in normal rats undergoes abrupt neurochemical, metabolic, and physiological changes around postnatal days (P) 12-13, a critical period when the animal's response to hypoxia is also the weakest. This has special implications for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), insofar as seemingly normal infants succumb to SIDS when exposed to respiratory stressors (e.g., hypoxia) during a narrow postnatal window. Because an abnormal serotonergic system has recently been implicated in SIDS, we conducted a large-scale investigation of the 5-HT-synthesizing enzyme tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) and serotonin transporter (SERT) with semiquantitative immunohistochemistry in multiple brainstem nuclei of normal rats aged P2-21. We found that 1) TPH and S... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3229348 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3229348 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3229347&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22263 Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)-3, a receptor for VEGF-C and VEGF-D, is expressed in neural progenitor cells, but there has been no comprehensive study of its distribution in the developing brain. Here, the temporal and cell-specific expression of VEGFR-3 mRNA was studied in the developing rat forebrain and eye. Expression appeared along the ventricular and subventricular zones of the lateral and third ventricles showing ongoing neurogenesis as early as embryonic day 13 but was progressively down-regulated during development and remained in the subventricular zone and rostral migratory stream of the adult forebrain. VEGFR-3 expression was also detectable in some differentiating and postmitotic neurons in the developing cerebral cortex, including Cajal-Retzius cells, cor... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3229347 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3229347 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3229346&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22262 This report describes the morphologic plasticity of auditory nerve synapses in response to ototoxic deafening and chronic electrical stimulation of the auditory nerve. Normal kittens were deafened by neonatal administration of neomycin that eliminated auditory receptor cells. Some of these cats were raised deaf, whereas others were chronically implanted with cochlear electrodes at 2 months of age and electrically stimulated for up to 12 months. The large endings of the auditory nerve, endbulbs of Held, were studied because they hold a key position in the timing pathway for sound localization, are readily identifiable, and exhibit deafness-associated abnormalities. Compared with those of normal hearing cats, synapses of ototoxically deafened cats displayed expanded postsynaptic densities, a... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3229346 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3229346 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3229345&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22261 Loss of teeth is associated with changes in somatosensory inputs and altered patterns of mastication, but it is unclear whether tooth loss is associated with changes in motor representations within face sensorimotor cortex of rats. We used intracortical microstimulation (ICMS) and recordings of cortically evoked muscle electromyographic (EMG) activities to test whether changes occur in the ICMS-defined motor representations of the left and right jaw muscles [masseter, anterior digastric (LAD, RAD)] and tongue muscle [genioglossus (GG)] within the cytoarchitectonically defined face primary motor cortex (face-M1) and adjacent face primary somatosensory cortex (face-S1) 1 week following extraction of the right mandibular incisor in anesthetized (ketamine-HCl) adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. U... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3229345 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3229345 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3229344&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22260 Bassoon and Piccolo contribute to the cytomatrix of active zones (AZ), the sites of neurotransmitter release in nerve terminals. Here, we examined the 3D localization of Bassoon and Piccolo in the rat calyx of Held between postnatal days 9 and 21, the period of hearing onset characterized by pronounced structural and functional changes. Bassoon and Piccolo were identified by immunohistochemistry (IHC) on slices of the brainstem harboring calyces labeled with membrane-anchored green fluorescent protein (mGFP). By using confocal microscopy and 3D reconstructions, we examined the distribution of Bassoon and Piccolo in calyces delineated by mGFP. This allowed us to discriminate calyceal IHC signals from noncalyceal signals located in the spaces between the calyceal stalks, which could mimic a ... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3229344 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3229344 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3229343&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22259 In conclusion, the results presented here indicate that MHC I up-regulation during the course of EAE correlates with the periods of synaptic plasticity induced by the infiltration of autoreactive immune cells and that synaptic plasticity decreases after recurrent peaks of inflammation. J. Comp. Neurol. 518:990-1007, 2010. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. (Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology) The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3229343 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3229343 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3229342&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22258 Synaptogenesis is a dynamic process that involves structural changes in developing axons and dendrites as synapses form and mature. The visual system of Xenopus laevis has been used as a model to study dynamic changes in axons and dendrites as synapses form in the living brain and the molecular mechanisms that control these processes. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) contributes to the establishment and refinement of visual connectivity by modulating retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axon arborization and presynaptic differentiation. Here, we have analyzed the ultrastructural organization of the Xenopus retinotectal system to understand better the maturation of this synaptic circuit and the relation between synapse ultrastructure and the structural changes in connectivity that take place... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3229342 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3229342 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3229340&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22273 In conclusion, this study reveals a unique expression pattern of tight junction proteins in hypothalamic tanycytes, which yields new insights into their barrier properties. J. Comp. Neurol. 518:943-962, 2010. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. (Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology) The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3229340 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3229340 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3169382&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22257 Neurolathyrism is a motor neuron disease characterized by lower limb paraparesis. It is associated with ingestion of a plant excitotoxin, [beta]-N-oxalyl-L-[alpha][beta]-diaminopropionic acid (L-[beta]-ODAP), an agonist of [alpha]-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA)/kainate-type glutamatergic receptors. Previously, a limited model of neurolathyrism was reported for the rat. To improve upon the model, we stressed rat pups by separation from their mothers, followed by the subcutaneous L-[beta]-ODAP treatment, resulting in a 4.6-fold higher incidence (14.0-15.6%) of the paraparesis compared with the prior study. The number and size of motor neurons in these rats were decreased only in the lumbar and sacral cord segments, at approximately 13-36 weeks after treatment. Only... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3169382 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3169382 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3169381&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22254 Converging evidence indicates that electrical synaptic transmission via gap junctions plays a crucial role in signal processing in the retina. In particular, amacrine and ganglion cells express numerous gap junctions, resulting in extensive electrical networks in the proximal retina. Both connexin36 (Cx36) and connexin45 (Cx45) subunits are widely distributed in the inner plexiform layer (IPL) and therefore are likely contribute to gap junctions formed by a number of ganglion cell subtypes. In the present study, we used the gap junction-permeant tracer Neurobiotin to compare the coupling pattern of different ganglion cell subtypes in wild-type (WT) and Cx36 knockout (KO) mouse retinas. We found that homologous ganglion-to-ganglion cell coupling was lost for two subtypes after deletion of C... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3169381 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3169381 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3169372&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22255 Dopamine is a key neuromodulatory transmitter in the brain. It acts through dopamine receptors to affect changes in neural activity, gene expression, and behavior. In songbirds, dopamine is released into the striatal song nucleus Area X, and the levels depend on social contexts of undirected and directed singing. This differential release is associated with differential expression of activity-dependent genes, such as egr1 (avian zenk), which in mammalian brain are modulated by dopamine receptors. Here we cloned from zebra finch brain cDNAs of all avian dopamine receptors: the D1 (D1A, D1B, D1D) and D2 (D2, D3, D4) families. Comparative sequence analyses of predicted proteins revealed expected phylogenetic relationships, in which the D1 family exists as single exon and the D2 family exists ... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3169372 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3169372 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3123859&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22256 An imbalance of excitatory and inhibitory functions has been shown to contribute to numerous pathological disorders. Accumulating evidence supports the idea that a change in hypothalamic [gamma]-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic inhibitory and glutamatergic excitatory synaptic functions contributes to exacerbated neurohumoral drive in prevalent cardiovascular disorders, including hypertension. However, the precise underlying mechanisms and neuronal substrates are still not fully elucidated. In the present study, we combined quantitative immunohistochemistry with neuronal tract tracing to determine whether plastic remodeling of afferent GABAergic and glutamatergic inputs into identified RVLM-projecting neurons of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN-RVLM) contributes to an imbalanced ... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3123859 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3123859 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3024647&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22253 No abstract. (Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology) The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3024647 Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3024647 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2945539&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22252 Vagal afferents regulate energy balance by providing a link between the brain and postprandial signals originating from the gut. In the current study, we investigated melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) expression in the nodose ganglion, where the cell bodies of vagal sensory afferents reside. By using a line of mice expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) under the control of the MC4R promoter, we found GFP expression in approximately one-third of nodose ganglion neurons. By using immunohistochemistry combined with in situ hybridization, we also demonstrated that [sim]20% of GFP-positive neurons coexpressed cholecystokinin receptor A. In addition, we found that the GFP is transported to peripheral tissues by both vagal sensory afferents and motor efferents, which allowed us to assess the si... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2945539 Sat, 31 Oct 2009 14:30:09 +0100 2945539 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2945540&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22246 No abstract. (Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology) The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2945540 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2945540 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3229341&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22249 In this study we used Nissl staining and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunoreactivity to compare the human LC with that of closely related primate species, including great and lesser apes, and macaque monkeys. TH catalyzes the initial and rate-limiting step in catecholamine biosynthesis. The number of TH-immunoreactive (TH-ir) neurons was estimated in each species using stereologic methods. In the LC of humans the mean total number of TH-ir neurons was significantly higher compared to the other primates. Because the total number of TH-ir neurons in the LC was highly correlated with the species mean volume of the medulla oblongata, cerebellum, and neocortical gray matter, we conclude that much of the observed phylogenetic variation can be explained by anatomical scaling. Notably, the total nu... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3229341 Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3229341 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3169380&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22251 The gene transcripts encoding both the AF8 and AF2 neuropeptides of the nematode Ascaris suum have been identified, cloned, and sequenced. The AF8 transcript (afp-3) encodes five identical copies of AF8; each peptide-encoding region is flanked by the appropriate dibasic or monobasic cleavage processing sites. The AF2 transcript (afp-4) encodes three identical copies of AF2 along with the appropriate cleavage sites. In contrast, the afp-1 transcript (Edison et al. [1997] Peptides 18:929-935) encodes six different AF peptides (AF3, 4, 10, 13, 14, 20) which all share a -PGVLRFamide C-terminus but have different N-terminal sequences. By using in situ hybridization, gene transcript expression patterns of afp-1, afp-3, and afp-4 (As-flp-18, As-flp-6, and As-flp-14, respectively, in the naming co... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3169380 Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3169380 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3169379&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22250 Information about the position and movement of the head in space is coded by vestibular receptors and relayed to four nuclei that comprise the vestibular nuclear complex (VNC). Many additional brainstem nuclei are involved in the processing of vestibular information, receiving signals either directly from the eighth nerve or indirectly via projections from the VNC. In cats, squirrel monkeys, and macaque monkeys, we found neurochemically defined subdivisions within the medial vestibular nucleus (MVe) and within the functionally related nucleus prepositus hypoglossi (PrH). In humans, different studies disagree about the borders, sizes, and possible subdivisions of the vestibular brainstem. In an attempt to clarify this organization, we have begun an analysis of the neurochemical characterist... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3169379 Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3169379 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3169378&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22247 In the anamniote model animals, zebrafish and Xenopus laevis, highly comparable early forebrain expression patterns of proneural basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) genes relevant for neurogenesis (atonal homologs, i.e., neurogenins/NeuroD and achaete-scute homologs, i.e., Ascl/ash) were previously revealed during a particular period of development (zebrafish: 3 days; frog: stage 48). Neurogenins/NeuroD on the one hand and Ascl1/ash1 on the other hand exhibit essentially mutually exclusive spatial patterns, probably reflecting different positional information received within the neural tube, and appear to underlie glutamatergic versus GABAergic neuronal differentiation, respectively. Significant data suggest that similar complementary localizations of these proneural genes and corresponding diff... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3169378 Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3169378 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3117077&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22248 The birth of small-diameter TrkA+ neurons that mediate pain and thermoreception begins [ap]24 hours after the cessation of neural crest cell migration from progenitors residing in the nascent dorsal root ganglion. Although multiple geographically distinct progenitor pools have been proposed, this study is the first to comprehensively characterize the derivation of small-diameter neurons. In the developing chick embryo we identify novel patterns in neural crest cell migration and colonization that sculpt the incipient ganglion into a postmitotic neuronal core encapsulated by a layer of proliferative progenitor cells. Furthermore, we show that this outer progenitor layer is composed of three spatially, temporally, and molecularly distinct progenitor zones, two of which give rise to distinct ... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3117077 Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3117077 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2918165&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22231 In this report, we describe the anatomical structure of specific central neurons innervating salivary gland acini and identify different neuropeptides and their precursors expressed by these neurons. Our data provide evidence for neural control of salivary gland by MIP and SIFamide from the synganglion, thus lending a basis for functional studies of these two distinct classes of neuropeptides. J. Comp. Neurol. 517:551-563, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. (Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology) The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2918165 Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:30:44 +0100 2918165 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2892502&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22230 In this report, we describe the anatomical structure of specific central neurons innervating salivary gland acini and identify different neuropeptides and their precursors expressed by these neurons. Our data provide evidence for neural control of salivary gland by MIP and SIFamide from the synganglion, thus lending a basis for functional studies of these two distinct classes of neuropeptides. J. Comp. Neurol. 517:551-563, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. (Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology) The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2892502 Thu, 15 Oct 2009 13:31:54 +0100 2892502 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3169377&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22245 Somatostatin and cortistatin are neuromodulators with divergent expression patterns and biological roles. Whereas expression and function of genes encoding somatostatin (PSS1) and the related peptide cortistatin (PSS2) have been studied in detail for the central nervous system (CNS) and immune system, relatively little is known about their expression patterns in the peripheral nervous system (PNS). We compare the expression patterns of PSS1 and PSS2 in chicken embryos. At E14, PSS1 is higher in the CNS versus PNS, whereas PSS2 is higher in the PNS. During early development, PSS1 is transiently expressed in lumbar sympathetic ganglia and is detectable at low levels throughout the development of dorsal root and ciliary ganglia. In contrast, PSS2 expression increases as development progresses... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3169377 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3169377 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3169376&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22244 Glial cells have several critical roles in the developing and adult olfactory (antennal) lobe of the moth Manduca sexta. Early in development, glial cells occupy discrete regions of the developing olfactory pathway and processes of [gamma]-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic neurons extend into some of these regions. Because GABA is known to have developmental effects in a variety of systems, we explored the possibility that the glial cells express a GABA transporter that could regulate GABA levels to which olfactory neurons and glial cells are exposed. By using an antibody raised against a characterized high-affinity M. sexta GABA transporter with high sequence homology to known mammalian GABA transporters (Mbungu et al. [] Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 318:489-497; Umesh and Gill [] J. Comp. Neurol.... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3169376 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3169376 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3169375&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22243 The adult zebrafish retina continuously produces rod photoreceptors from infrequent Müller glial cell division, yielding neuronal progenitor cells that migrate to the outer nuclear layer and become rod precursor cells that are committed to differentiate into rods. Retinal damage models suggested that rod cell death induces regeneration from rod precursor cells, whereas loss of any other retinal neurons activates Müller glia proliferation to produce pluripotent neuronal progenitors that can generate any other neuronal cell type in the retina. We tested this hypothesis by creating two transgenic lines that expressed the E. coli nitroreductase enzyme fused to EGFP (NTR-EGFP) in only rods. Treating transgenic adults with metronidazole resulted in two rod cell death models. First, killing all... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3169375 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3169375 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3169374&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22242 The transcription factor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-[delta] promotes oligodendrocyte differentiation and myelin formation in vitro and is prevalent throughout the brain and spinal cord. Its expression after injury, however, has not been examined. Thus, we used a spinal contusion model to examine the spatiotemporal expression of PPAR-[delta] in naïve and injured spinal cords from adult rats. As previously reported, PPAR-[delta] was expressed by neurons and oligodendrocytes in uninjured spinal cords; PPAR-[delta] was also detected in NG2 cells (potential oligodendrocyte progenitors) within the white matter and gray matter. After spinal cord injury (SCI), PPAR-[delta] mRNA and protein were present early and increased over time. Overall PPAR-[delta]+ cell numbers declin... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3169374 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3169374 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3123867&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22241 Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are part of a system that links epigenetic control of gene expression to a variety of environmental stimuli. Some HDACs, including HDAC4, shuttle between the cytoplasm and nucleus in response to physiological cues such as calcium signaling. HDAC4 mRNA is enriched in the brain, but the regional and subcellular protein expression pattern of HDAC4 is not known. Here we show that HDAC4 is more highly expressed in some brain regions than in others. HDAC4 is present in the perikaryial cytoplasm of most neurons but its nuclear localization is variable. In some areas, such as the dentate gyrus, nuclear expression is not detectable, whereas in other areas some neuronal nuclei contain HDAC4 immunoreactivity whereas others do not. In the cytoplasm, HDAC4 immunoreactivity ... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3123867 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3123867 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3123866&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22240 Generation of new axonal sprouts plays an important role in neural repair. In the current study, we examined the appearance, composition and effects of gene deletions on intrabrainstem sprouts following peripheral facial nerve axotomy. Axotomy was followed by the appearance of galanin+ and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)+ sprouts peaking at day 14, matching both large, neuropeptide+ subpopulations of axotomized facial motoneurons, but with CGRP+ sprouts considerably rarer. Strong immunoreactivity for vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) and retrogradely transported MiniRuby following its application on freshly cut proximal facial nerve stump confirmed their axotomized motoneuron origin; the sprouts expressed CD44 and alpha7beta1 integrin adhesion molecules and grew apparently... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3123866 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3123866 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3123865&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22238 Transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1), responding to noxious cold and pungent compounds, is implicated in the mediation of nociception, but little is known about the processing of the TRPA1-mediated nociceptive information within the trigeminal sensory nuclei (TSN) and the spinal dorsal horn (DH). To address this issue, we characterized the TRPA1-positive (+) neurons in the trigeminal ganglion (TG) and investigated the distribution of TRPA1+ afferent fibers and their synaptic connectivity within the rat TSN and DH by using light and electron microscopic immunohistochemistry. In the TG, TRPA1 was expressed in unmyelinated and small myelinated axons and also occasionally in large myelinated axons. Many TRPA1+ neurons costained for the marker for peptidergic neurons substance P (26.8... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3123865 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3123865 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3123864&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22237 We previously reported that about 80% of vesicular glutamate transporter 3 (VGLUT3)-positive cells displayed immunoreactivity for serotonin, but the others were negative in the rat midbrain raphe nuclei, such as the dorsal (DR) and median raphe nuclei (MnR). In the present study, to investigate the precise distribution of VGLUT3-expressing nonserotonergic neurons in the DR and MnR, we performed double fluorescence in situ hybridization for VGLUT3 and tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (TPH2). According to the distribution of VGLUT3 and TPH2 mRNA signals, we divided the DR into six subregions. In the MnR and the rostral (DRr), ventral (DRV), and caudal (DRc) parts of the DR, VGLUT3 and TPH2 mRNA signals were frequently colocalized (about 80%). In the lateral wings (DRL) and core region of the dorsal ... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3123864 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3123864 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3123863&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22235 Many patients with temporal lobe epilepsy display neuron loss in the dentate gyrus. One potential epileptogenic mechanism is loss of GABAergic interneurons and inhibitory synapses with granule cells. Stereological techniques were used to estimate numbers of gephyrin-positive punctae in the dentate gyrus, which were reduced short-term (5 days after pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus) but later rebounded beyond controls in epileptic rats. Stereological techniques were used to estimate numbers of synapses in electron micrographs of serial sections processed for postembedding GABA-immunoreactivity. Adjacent sections were used to estimate numbers of granule cells and glutamic acid decarboxylase-positive neurons per dentate gyrus. GABAergic neurons were reduced to 70% of control levels short... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3123863 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3123863 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3123862&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22232 Polysialic acid (polySia) is a posttranslational modification of the neural cell adhesion molecule NCAM, which in the vertebrate brain is dynamically regulated during development and crucially involved in developmental and adult neurogenesis. In the fish retina, new neurons are persistently generated, but the possible contribution of polySia has not yet been addressed. Here we used immunohistochemistry with NCAM- and polySia-specific antibodies to study spatiotemporal expression patterns of NCAM and polySia in the developing and mature zebrafish retina. As early as 2.3 days postfertilization (dpf), NCAM but not polySia was detected on cell somata and fibers of the developing retina. At 4.3 dpf polySia immunoreactivity first appeared in the ventral retina and was localized to the nascent ou... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3123862 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3123862 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3117084&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22236 We report efficient generation of differentiating, photoreceptor-like neurons from chick retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells propagated in culture through reprogramming with neurogenin1 (ngn1). In reprogrammed culture, a large number of the cells (85.0% ± 5.9%) began to differentiate toward photoreceptors. Reprogrammed cells expressed transcription factors that set in motion photoreceptor differentiation, including Crx, Nr2E3, NeuroD, and RXR[gamma], and phototransduction pathway components, including transducin, cGMP-gated channel, and red opsin of cone photoreceptors (equivalent to rhodopsin of rod photoreceptors). They developed inner segments rich in mitochondria. Furthermore, they responded to light by decreasing their cellular free calcium (Ca2+) levels and responded to 9-cis-ret... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3117084 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3117084 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3117083&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22234 Secretagogin, a recently cloned member of the EF-hand family of calcium binding proteins, was localized in the mouse, rat, and rabbit retina using immunofluorescence immunohistochemistry. Secretagogin is expressed in subpopulations of ON and OFF cone bipolar cells; however, no immunoreactivity was observed in rod bipolar cells in any of these species. Using subtype-specific markers and mice expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) within specific cell classes, we found that secretagogin is expressed in Types 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and possibly Type 8 cone bipolar cells in the mouse retina. The expression pattern in the rat retina differs slightly with expression in cone bipolar cell Types 2, 5, 6, 7, and 8. Evaluation of secretagogin in the developing mouse retina revealed expression as early as ... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3117083 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3117083 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3117082&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22233 Across all major vertebrate groups, androgen receptors (ARs) have been identified in neural circuits that shape reproductive-related behaviors, including vocalization. The vocal control network of teleost fishes presents an archetypal example of how a vertebrate nervous system produces social, context-dependent sounds. We cloned a partial cDNA of AR that was used to generate specific probes to localize AR expression throughout the central nervous system of the vocal plainfin midshipman fish (Porichthys notatus). In the forebrain, AR mRNA is abundant in proposed homologs of the mammalian striatum and amygdala, and in anterior and posterior parvocellular and magnocellular nuclei of the preoptic area, nucleus preglomerulosus, and posterior, ventral and anterior tuberal nuclei of the hypothala... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3117082 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3117082 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3024640&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22239 PTPRO is a receptor-type protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) with a single catalytic domain in its cytoplasmic region and multiple fibronectin type III-like domains in its extracellular region. In the chick, PTPRO mRNA has been shown to be particularly abundant in embryonic brain, and PTPRO is implicated in axon growth and guidance during embryonic development. However, the temporal and spatial expression of PTPRO protein in the mammalian CNS, particularly in the juvenile and adult mammalian brain, has not been evaluated in any detail. By immunohistofluorescence analysis with a monoclonal antibody to PTPRO, we show that PTPRO is widely expressed throughout the mouse brain from embryonic day 16 to postnatal day 1, while expression is largely confined to the olfactory bulb (OB) and olfactory ... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3024640 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3024640 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2848818&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22204 An important issue to understand is how visual information can influence the motor system and affect behavior. Using the lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) as an experimental model we examined the morphological subtypes of retinal ganglion cells and their projection pattern to the tectum, which controls eye, head, and body movements, and to the pretectum, which mediates both visual escape responses and the dorsal light response. We identified six distinct morphological types of retinal ganglion cell. Four of these distribute their dendrites in the inner plexiform layer (image forming layer) and project in a retinotopic manner to all areas of the tectum. The posterior part of the retina has the highest density of ganglion cells and projects to the rostral part of the tectum, in which the visual f... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2848818 Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:59:38 +0100 2848818 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2802506&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22203 An important issue to understand is how visual information can influence the motor system and affect behavior. Using the lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) as an experimental model we examined the morphological subtypes of retinal ganglion cells and their projection pattern to the tectum, which controls eye, head, and body movements, and to the pretectum, which mediates both visual escape responses and the dorsal light response. We identified six distinct morphological types of retinal ganglion cell. Four of these distribute their dendrites in the inner plexiform layer (image forming layer) and project in a retinotopic manner to all areas of the tectum. The posterior part of the retina has the highest density of ganglion cells and projects to the rostral part of the tectum, in which the visual f... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2802506 Thu, 17 Sep 2009 16:50:26 +0100 2802506 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3169373&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22226 The main olfactory bulb (OB) is made up of several concentric layers, forming circuitries often involving dendro-dendritic synapses. Important interactions between OB neurons occur in the external plexiform layer (EPL), where dendrites of tufted and Van Gehuchten cells form synapses with dendrites of deeper lying mitral, tufted, and granule cells. OB neurons display a variety of neurotransmitters. Here, the focus is on calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), a 37-amino acid neuropeptide transmitter that is widely distributed in the central and peripheral nervous system. In the OB, CGRP-immunoreactive (ir) cell bodies were mostly observed in the mitral cell layer (MCL) of normal mice, and their number increased following colchicine treatment. Sparsely distributed CGRP-ir cell bodies were al... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3169373 Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3169373 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3123861&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22223 We examined the synaptic organization of the developing mouse dLGN in the common pigmented C57/BL6 strain, by recording the synaptic responses evoked by electrical stimulation of optic tract axons, and by investigating the ultrastructure of identified synapses. At early postnatal ages (P14), when optic tract stimulation routinely evoked an excitatory postsynaptic potential/inhibitory postsynaptic potential (EPSP/IPSP) sequence, with the latter having both a GABAA and GABAB component. Electrophysiological and ultrastructural observations were consistent. At P7, many synapses were present, but synaptic profiles lacked the ultrastructural features characteristic of the adult dLGN, and little [gamma]-aminobutyric acid (GABA) could be detected by using immunocytochemical techniques. In contrast... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3123861 Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3123861 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3123860&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22218 Brain injury affecting the frontal motor cortex or its descending axons often causes contralateral upper extremity paresis. Although recovery is variable, the underlying mechanisms supporting favorable motor recovery remain unclear. Because the medial wall of the cerebral hemisphere is often spared following brain injury and recent functional neuroimaging studies in patients indicate a potential role for this brain region in the recovery process, we investigated the long-term effects of isolated lateral frontal motor cortical injury on the corticospinal projection (CSP) from intact, ipsilesional supplementary motor cortex (M2). After injury to the arm region of the primary motor (M1) and lateral premotor (LPMC) cortices, upper extremity recovery is accompanied by terminal axon plasticity i... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3123860 Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3123860 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3117085&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22222 During the metamorphosis of tunicate ascidians, the swimming larva uses its three anterior papillae to detect the substrate for settlement, reabsorbs its chordate-like tail, and becomes a sessile oozooid. In view of the crucial role played by the anterior structures and their nerve relations, we applied electron microscopy and immunocytochemistry to study the larva of the colonial ascidian Botryllus schlosseri, following differentiation of the anterior epidermis during late embryogenesis, the larval stage, and the onset of metamorphosis. Rudiments of the papillae appear in the early tail-bud stage as ectodermic protrusions, the apexes of which differentiate into central and peripheral bipolar neurons. Axons fasciculate into two nerves direct to the brain. Distally, the long, rod-like dendr... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3117085 Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3117085 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3117081&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22227 The microglial response elicited by degeneration of retinal photoreceptor cells was characterized in BALB/c mice exposed to bright light for 7 hours and then kept in complete darkness for survival times ranging from 0 hours to 10 days. Photodegeneration resulted in extensive cell death in the retina, mainly in the outer nuclear layer (ONL), where the photoreceptor nuclei are located. Specific immunolabeling of microglial cells with anti-CD11b, anti-CD45, anti-F4/80, anti-SRA, and anti-CD68 antibodies revealed that microglial cells were activated in light-exposed retinas. They migrated to the ONL, changed their morphology, becoming rounded cells with short and thick processes, and, finally, showed immunophenotypic changes. Specifically, retinal microglia began to strongly express antigens r... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3117081 Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3117081 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3117080&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22219 Leptin plays a pivotal role in the regulation of energy homeostasis and neuroendocrine functions, and increasing evidence indicates that leptin acts on the brain to mediate many of these effects. Recent data have also suggested that leptin influences brain development during early postnatal life. Here we examined the distribution of cells that express mRNA encoding the long form of the leptin receptor (LepRb) in postnatal and adult mouse brains by using in situ hybridization. In both adults and neonates, LepRb mRNA was largely restricted to regions known to control energy balance. Labeled cells were found in the arcuate, ventromedial, and dorsomedial nuclei of the hypothalamus as well as in the lateral hypothalamic area. Heavily labeled cells were also found in the median preoptic and vent... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3117080 Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3117080 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3117079&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22214 The catecholamines dopamine and noradrenaline provide some of the major neuromodulatory systems with far-ranging projections in the brain and spinal cord of vertebrates. However, development of these complex systems is only partially understood. Zebrafish provide an excellent model for genetic analysis of neuronal specification and axonal projections in vertebrates. Here, we analyze the ontogeny of the catecholaminergic projections in zebrafish embryos and larvae up to the fifth day of development and establish the basic scaffold of catecholaminergic connectivity. The earliest dopaminergic diencephalospinal projections do not navigate along the zebrafish primary neuron axonal scaffold but establish their own tracts at defined ventrolateral positions. By using genetic tools, we study quanti... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3117079 Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3117079 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3117078&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22213 The development of dopaminergic and noradrenergic neurons has received much attention based on their modulatory effect on many behavioral circuits and their involvement in neurodegenerative diseases. The zebrafish (Danio rerio) has emerged as a new model organism with which to study development and function of catecholaminergic systems. Tyrosine hydroxylase is the entry enzyme into catecholamine biosynthesis and is frequently used as a marker for catecholaminergic neurons. A genome duplication at the base of teleost evolution resulted in two paralogous zebrafish tyrosine hydroxylase-encoding genes, th1 and th2, the expression of which has been described previously only for th1. Here we investigate the expression of th2 in the brain of embryonic and juvenile zebrafish. We optimized whole-mo... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3117078 Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3117078 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3041833&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22229 The cerebral cortex has diverse types of inhibitory neurons. In rat cortex, past research has shown that parvalbumin (PV), somatostatin (SOM), calretinin (CR), and cholecystokinin (CCK) label four distinct chemical classes of GABAergic interneurons. However, in contrast to rat cortex, previous studies indicate that there is significant colocalization of SOM and CR in mouse cortical inhibitory neurons. In the present study we further characterized immunochemical distinctions among mouse inhibitory cortical neurons by double immunochemical labeling with chemical markers. We found that, PV, SOM, and vasointenstinal peptide (VIP) reliably identify three nonoverlapping distinct subpopulations, as there was no overlap of immunoreactivity between PV and all the other chemical markers tested, and ... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3041833 Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3041833 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3041832&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22224 The lateral accessory lobe (LAL) and the ventral protocerebrum (VPC) are a pair of symmetrical neural structures in the insect brain. The LAL-VPC is regarded as the major target of olfactory responding neurons as well as the control center for olfactory-evoked sequential zigzag turns. Previous studies of the silkworm moth Bombyx mori showed that these turns are controlled by long-lasting anti-phasic activities of the flip-flopping descending neurons with dendrites in the LAL-VPC. To elucidate the neural mechanisms underlying the generation of this alternating activity between the LAL-VPC units of both hemispheres, we first analyzed the detailed neural architecture of the LAL-VPC and identified five subregions. We then investigated the morphology and physiological responses of the LAL-VPC n... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3041832 Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3041832 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3041831&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22217 In this study, we first compared selected neuropils, in particular, the antennal lobes (AL) in males, queens, and workers. The males' ALs contain three extremely large, sex-specific glomeruli (macroglomeruli; MGs) and in total comprise fewer glomeruli (242) than the ALs of queens (about 346 glomeruli). In contrast to males, the queen ALs contain only one large glomerulus at a lateral position. The largest number of glomeruli was found in workers (396-442). In a previous paper, we described an MG in the workers' AL, and, in the second part of this study, we show that within workers two distinct, size-related AL phenotypes exist: the MG phenotype (containing a macroglomerulus) and the RG phenotype, with all glomeruli of regular size. This neuroanatomical polyphenism is established during pup... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3041831 Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3041831 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3041830&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22215 In conclusion, our findings identify Ikaros-1 as a modulator of cell cycle exit of neural progenitors that gives rise to the neurogenesis of ENK-positive striatal neurons. J. Comp. Neurol. 518:329-351, 2010. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. (Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology) The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3041830 Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3041830 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3041829&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22212 Gephyrin is a multifunctional protein responsible for the clustering of glycine receptors (GlyR) and [gamma]-aminobutyric acid type A receptors (GABAAR). GlyR and GABAAR are heteropentameric chloride ion channels that facilitate fast-response, inhibitory neurotransmission in the mammalian brain and spinal cord. We investigated the immunohistochemical distribution of gephyrin and the major GABAAR and GlyR subunits in the human light microscopically in the rostral and caudal one-thirds of the pons, in the middle and caudal one-thirds of the medulla oblongata, and in the first cervical segment of the spinal cord. The results demonstrate a widespread pattern of immunoreactivity for GlyR and GABAAR subunits throughout these regions, including the spinal trigeminal nucleus, abducens nucleus, fac... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3041829 Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3041829 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3041828&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22210 Recent studies in Drosophila melanogaster indicate that the neuropeptide pigment-dispersing factor (PDF) is an important output signal from a set of major clock neurons, s-LNvs (small ventral lateral neurons), which transmit the circadian phase to subsets of other clock neurons, DNs (dorsal neurons). Both s-LNvs and DNs have fiber projections to the dorsal protocerebrum of the brain, so that this area is a conspicuous locus for coupling between different subsets of clock neurons. To unravel the neural circuits underlying the fly's circadian rhythms, we examined the detailed subcellular morphology of the PDF-positive fibers of the s-LNvs in the dorsal protocerebrum, focusing on their synaptic connections, using preembedding immunoelectron microscopy. To examine the distribution of synapses,... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3041828 Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3041828 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3041827&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22206 In this study the density of different types of interneurons and medium spiny neurons (MSNs) in the striatum was assessed in the postmortem brains of 5 TS subjects as compared with normal controls (NC) by unbiased stereological analyses. TS patients demonstrated a 50%-60% decrease of both parvalbumin (PV)+ and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT)+ cholinergic interneurons in the Cd and the putamen (Pt). Cholinergic interneurons were decreased in TS patients in the associative and sensorimotor regions but not in the limbic regions of the striatum, such that the normal gradient in density of cholinergic cells (highest in associative regions, intermediate in sensorimotor and lowest in limbic regions) was abolished. No significant difference was present in the densities of medium-sized calretinin ... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3041827 Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3041827 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3041826&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22225 Dopamine (DA) modulates motor systems in phyla as diverse as nematodes and arthropods up through chordates. A comparison of dopaminergic systems across a broad phylogenetic range should reveal shared organizing principles. The pyloric network, located in the stomatogastric ganglion (STG), is an important model for neuromodulation of motor networks. The effects of DA on this network have been well characterized at the circuit and cellular levels in the spiny lobster, Panulirus interruptus. Here we provide the first data about the physical organization of the DA signaling system in the STG and the function of D2 receptors in pyloric neurons. Previous studies showed that DA altered intrinsic firing properties and synaptic output in the pyloric dilator (PD) neuron, in part by reducing calcium ... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3041826 Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3041826 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3024646&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22228 Extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules contribute to the formation and maintenance of synapses in the mammalian nervous system. We previously discovered a family of nonfibrillar collagens that organize synaptic differentiation at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ). Although many NMJ-organizing cues contribute to central nervous system (CNS) synaptogenesis, whether similar roles for collagens exist at central synapses remained unclear. In the present study we discovered that col19a1, the gene encoding nonfibrillar collagen XIX, is expressed by subsets of hippocampal neurons. Colocalization with the interneuron-specific enzyme glutamate decarboxylase 67 (Gad67), but not other cell-type-specific markers, suggests that hippocampal expression of col19a1 is restricted to interneurons. However, not a... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3024646 Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3024646 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3024645&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22220 Protein kinase C (PKC) is essential for signal transduction in a variety of cells, including neurons and myocytes, and is involved in both acetylcholine release and muscle fiber contraction. Here, we demonstrate that the increases in synaptic activity by nerve stimulation couple PKC to transmitter release in the rat neuromuscular junction and increase the level of [alpha], [beta]I, and [beta]II isoforms in the membrane when muscle contraction follows the stimulation. The phosphorylation activity of these classical PKCs also increases. It seems that the muscle has to contract in order to maintain or increase classical PKCs in the membrane. We use immunohistochemistry to show that PKC[alpha] and PKC[beta]I were located in the nerve terminals, whereas PKC[alpha] and PKC[beta]II were located i... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3024645 Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3024645 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2945547&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22216 Studies in monkeys have shown substantial neuronal reorganization and behavioral recovery during the months following a cervical dorsal root lesion (DRL; Darian-Smith [2004] J. Comp. Neurol. 470:134-150; Darian-Smith and Ciferri [2005] J. Comp. Neurol. 491:27-45, [2006] J. Comp. Neurol. 498:552-565). The goal of the present study was to identify ultrastructural synaptic changes post-DRL within the dorsal horn (DH). Two monkeys received a unilateral DRL, as described previously (Darian-Smith and Brown [2000] Nat. Neurosci. 3:476-481), which removed cutaneous and proprioceptive input from the thumb, index finger, and middle finger. Six weeks before terminating the experiment at 4 post-DRL months, hand representation was mapped electrophysiologically within the somatosensory cortex, and anter... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2945547 Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2945547 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2945546&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22208 Prolactin has numerous biological actions in the brain, and transgenic mice are increasingly being used to investigate these actions. The present study aimed to provide a detailed mapping of the prolactin-responsive neurons in the female mouse forebrain by describing the distribution of prolactin receptor mRNA by in situ hybridization, and measuring prolactin-induced phosphorylation of signal transducer and activation of transcription 5 (pSTAT5) by immunohistochemistry. For in situ hybridization, a probe designed to detect both long and short receptor isoforms showed mRNA expression in a heterogeneous manner within the forebrain. Strong expression was observed in the rostral hypothalamus, particularly in periventricular regions, as well as in the arcuate and ventromedial nuclei of the medi... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2945546 Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2945546 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2945545&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22211 The distribution of cells expressing calcium-permeable [alpha]-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptors (CP-AMPARs) in the somatosensory cortex of rats at different developmental stages was studied using a kainate-stimulated Co2+-labeling assay in a quantitative manner. The applicability of this assay for identifying CP-AMPAR-expressing cells was first verified using cultured rat cortical neurons by means of fluorescence Ca2+ imaging and pharmacological tools. Cells positively identified by the Co2+-labelinig assay resided primarily in the marginal zone and subplate of young fetuses and became more widely distributed throughout the cortex as the fetus matured. The majority, >80%, of these Co2+-positive cells were neurons, exhibiting immunoreactivity with the neuronal ma... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2945545 Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2945545 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2945544&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22209 The enzyme calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) is associated with memory and its [alpha] isoform is critical for development of activity-induced synaptic changes. Therefore, we hypothesized that CaMKII is involved in altered function of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons after neuronal injury. To test this hypothesis, Sprague-Dawley rats were made hyperalgesic by L5 and L6 spinal nerve ligation (SNL), and changes in total phosphorylated and unphosphorylated CaMKII (tCaMKII) and phosphorylated form of its [alpha] isoform (pCaMKII[alpha]) were analyzed using immunochemistry in different subpopulations of DRG. SNL did not induce any changes in tCaMKII between experimental groups, while the overall percentage of pCaMKII[alpha]-positive neurons in injured L5 DRG SNL (24.8%) ... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2945544 Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2945544 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2945543&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22205 This study suggests that deficits in scotopic vision during ROP may be associated with loss of AII amacrine cells. In addition, this study highlights the potential of AT1R blockade in preventing neuronal anomalies in this condition. J. Comp. Neurol. 518:41-63, 2010. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. (Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology) The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2945543 Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2945543 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2945542&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22207 This study explores whether near-infrared (NIr) light treatment neuroprotects dopaminergic cells in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) and the zona incerta-hypothalamus (ZI-Hyp) from degeneration in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-treated mice. BALB/c albino mice were divided into four groups: 1) Saline, 2) Saline-NIr, 3) MPTP, 4) MPTP-NIr. The injections were intraperitoneal and they were followed immediately by NIr light treatment (or not). Two doses of MPTP, mild (50 mg/kg) and strong (100 mg/kg), were used. Mice were perfused transcardially with aldehyde fixative 6 days after their MPTP treatment. Brains were processed for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunochemistry. The number of TH+ cells was estimated using the optical fractionator method. Our major finding w... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2945542 Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2945542 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2945541&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22221 Vagal afferents regulate energy balance by providing a link between the brain and postprandial signals originating from the gut. In the current study, we investigated melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) expression in the nodose ganglion, where the cell bodies of vagal sensory afferents reside. By using a line of mice expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) under the control of the MC4R promoter, we found GFP expression in approximately one-third of nodose ganglion neurons. By using immunohistochemistry combined with in situ hybridization, we also demonstrated that [sim]20% of GFP-positive neurons coexpressed cholecystokinin receptor A. In addition, we found that the GFP is transported to peripheral tissues by both vagal sensory afferents and motor efferents, which allowed us to assess the si... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2945541 Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2945541 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2764275&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22202 Cells in taste buds are closely packed, with little extracellular space. Tight junctions and other barriers further limit permeability and may result in buildup of extracellular K+ following action potentials. In many tissues, inwardly rectifying K channels such as the renal outer medullary K (ROMK) channel (also called Kir1.1 and derived from the Kcnj1 gene) help to redistribute K+. Using reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), we defined ROMK splice variants in mouse kidney and report here the expression of a single one of these, ROMK2, in a subset of mouse taste cells. With quantitative (q)RT-PCR, we show the abundance of ROMK mRNA in taste buds is vallate > foliate [Gt] palate [Gt] fungiform. ROMK protein follows the same pattern of prevalence as mRNA, and is essentia... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2764275 Fri, 04 Sep 2009 16:53:13 +0100 2764275 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2735993&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22196 Cells in taste buds are closely packed, with little extracellular space. Tight junctions and other barriers further limit permeability and may result in buildup of extracellular K+ following action potentials. In many tissues, inwardly rectifying K channels such as the renal outer medullary K (ROMK) channel (also called Kir1.1 and derived from the Kcnj1 gene) help to redistribute K+. Using reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), we defined ROMK splice variants in mouse kidney and report here the expression of a single one of these, ROMK2, in a subset of mouse taste cells. With quantitative (q)RT-PCR, we show the abundance of ROMK mRNA in taste buds is vallate > foliate [Gt] palate [Gt] fungiform. ROMK protein follows the same pattern of prevalence as mRNA, and is essentia... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2735993 Thu, 27 Aug 2009 12:22:26 +0100 2735993 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2693579&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22173 The expression and functionality of P2X/P2Y receptor subtypes in multipolar nonpyramidal neurons of mixed cortical cell cultures were investigated by means of immunocytochemistry and fura-2 microfluorimetry. The morphological studies revealed that most of the neurons are immunoreactive for GABA and express a range of P2X/P2Y receptors, predominantly of the P2X2,4,6 and P2Y1,2 subtypes. P2X1 and P2X7 receptor immunoreactivity (IR) was found on thin axon-like processes and presynaptic structures, respectively. Application of ATP caused a small concentration-dependent increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in most investigated neurons, whereas only about the half of these cells responded to 2[prime],3[prime]-O-(benzoyl-4-benzoyl)-ATP (BzATP), ADP[beta]S, 2MeSADP, or 2-MeSATP a... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2693579 Thu, 13 Aug 2009 11:08:17 +0100 2693579 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2918176&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22199 In this study we used in situ hybridization histochemistry to show that TCF7L2 has a unique expression pattern in the mouse brain. TCF7L2 is expressed in two distinct populations. First, it is highly expressed in thalamic and tectal structures. Additionally, TCF7L2 mRNA is expressed at moderate to low levels in specific cells of the hypothalamus, preoptic nucleus, and circumventricular organs. Collectively, these patterns of expression suggest that TCF7L2 has distinct functions within the brain, with a general role in the development and maintenance of thalamic and midbrain neurons, and then a distinct role in autonomic homeostasis. J. Comp. Neurol. 517:925-939, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. (Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology) The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2918176 Wed, 12 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2918176 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2918174&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22201 This study demonstrates the expression of the novel protein protein tyrosine phophatase-interacting protein 51 (PTPIP51) in mammalian brain tissue. Serial sections of the whole adult mouse brain were analyzed for PTPIP51 protein and mRNA by immunohistochemistry, immunoblotting, RT-PCR, and in situ hybridization. Recent investigations by Yu et al. (2008) describe PTPIP51 as being capable of activating Raf-1, thereby modulating the MAPK pathway. The role of Raf-1, as well as of 14-3-3, in neurological disorders is well established. PTPIP51 expression was confined to neurons in the following structures: the piriform cortex and their connections to the anterior commissure, nucleus accumbens, paraventricular and supraoptical nuclei, neurohypophysis, superior colliculus, genu of facialis nerve, ... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2918174 Wed, 12 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2918174 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2918172&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22197 In this study we describe the distribution of RLN3 neurons in the brain of macaque (Macaca fascicularis) using in situ hybridization histochemistry and immunohistochemistry. RLN3 mRNA and high levels of RLN3-like immunoreactivity (-LI) were observed in neurons within a ventromedial region of the central gray of the pons and medulla that appears to represent the primate analog of the nucleus incertus (NI) described in lower species. Nerve fibers and terminals containing RLN3-LI were observed throughout brain regions identical to those known to receive afferents from the NI in the rat, including the septum, hippocampus, entorhinal cortex, lateral, dorsomedial and ventromedial hypothalamus, supramammillary and interpeduncular nuclei, anterodorsal, paraventricular and reuniens thalamic nuclei,... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2918172 Wed, 12 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2918172 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2892516&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22200 The mammalian retina contains six major cell types, several of which are divided into multiple molecularly and morphologically distinct subtypes. To understand how subtype diversity arises during development, we focused on amacrine interneurons in the mouse retina; [sim]30 amacrine subtypes have been identified in mammals. We used antibody markers to identify the two main amacrine subsets - GABAergic and glycinergic - and further subdivided these groups into smaller subsets based on expression of neurotransmitter and transcription factor markers. We then used bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) labeling to see whether amacrine subsets are born (become postmitotic) at different times, as is the case for lamina-specified subsets of cortical projection neurons. We found that GABAergic amacrines are gene... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2892516 Wed, 12 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2892516 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2892509&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22198 Previous studies demonstrated that in ephrin-A5-deficient mice corticothalamic arbors are reduced by more than 50% in layer 4 of the somatosensory cortex (S1), where ephrin-A5 is normally expressed. Here we examined possible consequences of the reduced thalamic input on spiny stellate cells, the target neurons of thalamocortical afferents. Using ballistic delivery of particles coated with lipophilic dyes in fixed slices and confocal laser-microscopy, we could quantitatively analyze the morphology of these neurons. Cells were examined in S1 at postnatal day 8 (P8), when thalamic afferents establish synaptic contacts and the dendrites of their target cells are covered with filopodia, and at P23, after synapse formation and replacement of filopodia by spines. Our results indicate that at P8 t... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2892509 Wed, 12 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2892509 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3024644&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22193 In mammals the mechanisms underlying female sexual and reproductive biology are poorly understood. Little attention has been paid to striated muscles and their neural regulation. The aim of the present study was to describe the components of the vaginocavernosus reflex in adult rabbits. It was found that mechanical stimulation of the glans of the clitoris and the perineal vagina induced electromyographic (EMG) responses in bulbocavernosus (Bcm) and ischiocavernosus (Icm) muscles. Unilateral and bilateral nerve transection indicated that the clitoral nerve is the main afferent path of the reflex and that it recruits ipsilateral and contralateral perineal motoneurons. Injection of horseradish peroxides-wheat germ agglutinin (HRP-WGA) into the Bcm and Icm labeled spinal motoneurons scattered ... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3024644 Mon, 10 Aug 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3024644 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2918173&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22194 Coexpression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (VGLUT2) mRNAs in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and colocalization of these proteins in axon terminals of the nucleus accumbens (nAcb) have recently been demonstrated in immature (15-day-old) rat. After neonatal 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesion, the proportion of VTA neurons expressing both mRNAs and of nAcb terminals displaying the two proteins was enhanced. To determine the fate of this dual phenotype in adults, double in situ hybridization and dual immunolabeling for TH and VGLUT2 were performed in 90-day-old rats subjected or not to the neonatal 6-OHDA lesion. Very few neurons expressed both mRNAs in the VTA and substantia nigra (SN) of P90 rats, even after neonatal 6-OHDA. Dually immunolabeled terminal... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2918173 Sun, 09 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2918173 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2892505&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22195 Originally characterized as a cell-cycle inhibitor induced by vitamin D3, the tumor suppressor vitamin-D3 upregulated protein 1 (VDUP1) has increasingly been shown to play major physiological roles in cell differentiation and glucose metabolism. Here we show evolutionarily conserved expression patterns of VDUP1 in Drosophila and rat nervous systems, including subcellular localization - cytoplasmic enrichment in neurons and nuclear expression in glia. These anatomical correlates suggested conservation of VDUP1 regulation, which was investigated both functionally and through promoter studies. Characterization of orthologous vdup1 cis-regulatory regions identified evolutionarily conserved sequence blocks (CSBs) with similarities to neural enhancers, including basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) tra... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2892505 Sun, 09 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2892505 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3024643&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22192 We examined the concordance of zebrin expression with visual mossy fiber afferents in the vestibulocerebellum (folium IXcd) of pigeons. Visual afferents project directly to folium IXcd as mossy fibers and indirectly as climbing fibers via the inferior olive. These projections arise from two retinal recipient nuclei: the lentiformis mesencephali (LM) and the nucleus of the basal optic root (nBOR). Although it has been shown that these two nuclei project to folium IXcd, the detailed organization of these projections has not been reported. We injected anterograde tracers into LM and nBOR to investigate the organization of mossy fiber terminals and subsequently related this organization to the zebrin antigenic map. We found a parasagittal organization of mossy fiber terminals in folium IXcd an... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3024643 Fri, 07 Aug 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3024643 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3024642&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22189 The mature calyx of Held ending on principal neurons of the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB) has very specialized morphological and molecular features that make it possible to transmit auditory signals with high fidelity. In a previous work we described an increased localization of the ionotropic [alpha]-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4 isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) glutamate receptor (GluA) subunits at postsynaptic sites of the calyx of Held-principal cell body synapses from postnatal development to adult. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the pattern of the synaptic distribution of GluA2/3/4c and -4 in adult MNTB principal cell bodies correlated with preferential subcellular domains (stalks and swellings) of the calyx. We used a postembedding immunocytochemica... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3024642 Fri, 07 Aug 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3024642 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3024641&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22187 C-fiber sensory neurons comprise nociceptors and smaller populations of cells detecting innocuous thermal and light tactile stimuli. Markers identify subpopulations of these cells, aiding our understanding of their physiological roles. The transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) cation channel is characteristic of polymodal C-fiber nociceptors and is sensitive to noxious heat, irritant vanilloids, and protons. By using immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, and retrograde tracing, we anatomically characterize a small subpopulation of C-fiber cells that express high levels of TRPV1 (HE TRPV1 cells). These cells do not express molecular markers normally associated with C-fiber nociceptors. Furthermore, they express a unique complement of neurotrophic factor receptors, namely, ... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3024641 Fri, 07 Aug 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3024641 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2918171&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22191 Gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone (GnIH) is a hypothalamic neuropeptide that modulates the reproductive physiology of birds and mammals by inhibiting gonadotropin secretion from the anterior pituitary gland. GnIH can also directly inhibit reproductive behaviors, possibly via action within the brain. Identification of the distribution of GnIH neurons and fibers may provide us with clues to how the brain controls reproductive activities of the animal. Here, we characterized the location and connectivity of GnIH neurons in the rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) brain. We determined the macaque GnIH precursor mRNA, and further identified a mature GnIH peptide (SGRNMEVSLVRQVLNLPQRF-NH2) by mass spectrometry combined with immunoaffinity purification. The majority of GnIH precursor mRNA-positive and G... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2918171 Thu, 06 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2918171 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2918168&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22190 We studied cortical connections of functionally distinct movement zones of the posterior parietal cortex (PPC) in galagos identified by intracortical microstimulation with long stimulus trains ([sim]500 msec). All these zones were in the anterior half of PPC, and each of them had a different pattern of connections with premotor (PM) and motor (M1) areas of the frontal lobe and with other areas of parietal and occipital cortex. The most rostral PPC zone has major connections with motor and visuomotor areas of frontal cortex as well as with somatosensory areas 3a and 1-2 and higher order somatosensory areas in the lateral sulcus. The dorsal part of anterior PPC region representing hand-to-mouth movements is connected mostly to the forelimb representation in PM, M1, 3a, 1-2, and somatosensory... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2918168 Thu, 06 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2918168 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2892515&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22188 Chemical stimuli are sensed through the olfactory and vomeronasal epithelia, and the sensory cells of both systems undergo neuronal turnover during adulthood. In the vomeronasal epithelium, stem cells adjacent to the basal lamina divide and migrate to replace two classes of sensory neurons: apical neurons that express Gi2[alpha]-linked V1R vomeronasal receptors and project to the anterior accessory olfactory bulb, and basal neurons that express Go[alpha]-linked V2R receptors and project to the posterior accessory olfactory bulb. Most of the dividing cells are present in the margins of the epithelium and only migrate locally. Previous studies have suggested that these marginal cells may participate in growth, sensory cell replacement or become apoptotic before maturation; however, the exact... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2892515 Thu, 06 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2892515 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2672995&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22172 The expression and functionality of P2X/P2Y receptor subtypes in multipolar nonpyramidal neurons of mixed cortical cell cultures were investigated by means of immunocytochemistry and fura-2 microfluorimetry. The morphological studies revealed that most of the neurons are immunoreactive for GABA and express a range of P2X/P2Y receptors, predominantly of the P2X2,4,6 and P2Y1,2 subtypes. P2X1 and P2X7 receptor immunoreactivity (IR) was found on thin axon-like processes and presynaptic structures, respectively. Application of ATP caused a small concentration-dependent increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in most investigated neurons, whereas only about the half of these cells responded to 2[prime],3[prime]-O-(benzoyl-4-benzoyl)-ATP (BzATP), ADP[beta]S, 2MeSADP, or 2-MeSATP a... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2672995 Thu, 06 Aug 2009 11:18:27 +0100 2672995 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2918175&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22185 Cells recruited by the innate immune response rely on surface-expressed molecules in order to receive signals from the local environment and to perform phagocytosis, cell adhesion, and others processes linked to host defense. Hundreds of surface antigens designated through a cluster of differentiation (CD) number have been used to identify particular populations of leukocytes. Surprisingly, we verified that the genes that encode Cd36 and Cd83 are constitutively expressed in specific neuronal cells. For instance, Cd36 mRNA is expressed in some regions related to circuitry involved in pheromone responses and reproductive behavior. Cd44 expression, reanalyzed and detailed here, is associated with the laminar formation and midline thalamic nuclei in addition to striatum, extended amygdala, and... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2918175 Wed, 05 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2918175 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2918170&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22180 Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) decreases food intake when administered intracerebroventricularly or into the ventromedial hypothalamus. However, it is unknown which population of TRH neurons exerts this anorexigenic function. In the rostral perifornical area, the pattern of TRH-expressing neurons is reminiscent of the distribution of neurons expressing urocortin3 (Ucn3) that also inhibits feeding when injected into the hypothalamic ventromedial nucleus (VMN). Since colocalization of TRH and Ucn3 may help to identify feeding-related TRH neurons, the putative coexpression of the two peptides was examined using fluorescent in situ hybridization combined with immunofluorescence. Almost all (95.5 ± 0.2%) Ucn3-immunoreactive neurons in the perifornical area expressed pro-TRH mRNA, while 50... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2918170 Wed, 05 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2918170 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2918169&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22184 Insect mushroom bodies are critical for olfactory associative learning. We have carried out an extensive quantitative description of the synaptic organization of the calyx of adult Drosophila melanogaster, the main olfactory input region of the mushroom body. By using high-resolution confocal microscopy, electron microscopy-based three-dimensional reconstructions, and genetic labeling of the neuronal populations contributing to the calyx, we resolved the precise connections between large cholinergic boutons of antennal lobe projection neurons and the dendrites of Kenyon cells, the mushroom body intrinsic neurons. Throughout the calyx, these elements constitute synaptic complexes called microglomeruli. By single-cell labeling, we show that each Kenyon cell's claw-like dendritic specializati... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2918169 Wed, 05 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2918169 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2918167&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22181 We used half-second trains of intracortical microstimulation to study the functional organization of the posterior parietal cortex (PPC) in prosimian galagos. These trains of current pulses evoked meaningful behaviors from the anterior, but not posterior, half of PPC. Stimulation of dorsal PPC caused contralateral forelimb movements, including defensive, hand-to-mouth, and reaching movements. Defensive and hand-to-mouth movement territories overlapped, although hand-to-mouth movements were usually evoked from more rostrolateral sites than defensive movements. Reaching movement sites were typically more caudal than defensive or hand-to-mouth movement sites. Stimulation of the most medial PPC sites evoked complex movements of forelimbs and hindlimbs. Ventral PPC commonly represented defensiv... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2918167 Wed, 05 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2918167 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2892514&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22178 The fovea and area dorsalis are high acuity vision regions in the pigeon retina. However, the degree of neural convergence (an important determinant of acuity) has not been quantified consistently in this bird. The purpose of the study was to determine the topographic density changes and degree of photoreceptor to ganglion cell convergence in the fovea and the area dorsalis. Total photoreceptor and ganglion cell densities were calculated on the horizontal and vertical meridia. In four eyes, retinal topography was mapped for photoreceptors and ganglion cells. Rod density was quantified by counting anti-rod opsin-stained outer segments across the retina. The ratio of cone photoreceptors to ganglion cells, a rough measure of information convergence, was calculated. The fovea and the red field... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2892514 Wed, 05 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2892514 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2892512&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22177 In this study, using biochemical and immunohistochemical approaches, we demonstrate Ng expression in the adult mouse olfactory bulb (OB), the first relay station in odor information processing. We show that Ng is principally associated with the granule cell layer (GCL), which is composed of granule cell inhibitory interneurons. This cell type is continuously renewed during adult life and plays a key role in OB circuits, integrating and modulating the activity of mitral/tufted cells. Our results indicate that Ng localizes in the soma and dendrites of a defined subpopulation of mature GABAergic granule cells, enriched in the deep portion of the GCL. Ng-immunopositive cells largely coexpress the Ca+/CaM-dependent kinase IV (CaMKIV), a downstream protein of CaM signaling cascade, whereas no co... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2892512 Wed, 05 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2892512 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2892511&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22186 SynCAM1 and neuroligins (NLGs) are adhesion molecules that govern synapse formation in vitro. In vivo, the molecules are expressed during synaptogenesis, and altered NLG function is linked to synapse dysfunction in autism. Less is known about SynCAM1 and NLGs in adult synapse remodeling. CNS synapse elimination occurs after peripheral nerve injury, which causes a transient decrease in synapse number on spinal motoneurons. Here we have studied the expression of SynCAM1 and NLGs in relation to changes in synaptic covering on spinal motoneurons. We performed sciatic nerve transection (SNT) or crush (SNC), axotomy models that result in poor or good conditions for axon regeneration, respectively. The two lesions resulted in similar synapse elimination and in poor (SNT) and good (SNC) return of ... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2892511 Wed, 05 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2892511 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2892510&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22183 The inner plexiform layer of the retina contains functional subdivisions, which segregate ON and OFF type light responses. Here, we studied quantitatively the ON and OFF synaptic input to small bistratified (blue-ON/yellow-OFF) ganglion cells in marmosets (Callithrix jacchus). Small bistratified cells display an extensive inner dendritic tier that receives blue-ON input from short-wavelength-sensitive (S) cones via blue cone bipolar cells. The outer dendritic tier is sparse and is thought to receive yellow-OFF input from medium (M)- and long (L)-wavelength-sensitive cones via OFF diffuse bipolar cells. In total, 14 small bistratified cells from different eccentricities were analyzed. The cells were retrogradely labeled from the koniocellular layers of the lateral geniculate nucleus and sub... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2892510 Wed, 05 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2892510 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2892508&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22176 In this study we continue to examine the role of SynJ1 in photoreceptors. Using a newly generated antibody specific for zebrafish SynJ1, we localized this protein predominantly to cone photoreceptors. We then used blastula stage transplantation experiments to demonstrate that rods from nrc mutants lacking SynJ1 develop normally and do not have the pronounced morphological defects detected in cones. Given the known involvement of SynJ1 in synaptic vesicle endocytosis, we hypothesize that rods and cones use distinct mechanisms for vesicle recycling. J. Comp. Neurol. 517:633-644, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. (Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology) The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2892508 Wed, 05 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2892508 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2892506&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22179 Sensory input to supraspinally projecting lamina I (LI) neurons arises both directly from primary afferents and via neurons intrinsic to the spinal dorsal horn. The types of neurons presynaptic to those projection neurons remain poorly known. To address this question we used retrogradely transported adenoviral vectors encoding green fluorescent protein (GFP) and a GFP-TTC (fragment C of the tetanus toxin) fusion protein, labeling respectively spinoparabrachial projection neurons and neurons presynaptic to them. The expression of GFP by infected neurons labeled the entire dendritic tree, enabling a more complete and quantitative morphological description of spinoparabrachial neurons than previous methods. These neurons were located in spinal LI, with dendritic arbors oriented extensively in... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2892506 Wed, 05 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2892506 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2892503&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22182 In this report, we describe the anatomical structure of specific central neurons innervating salivary gland acini and identify different neuropeptides and their precursors expressed by these neurons. Our data provide evidence for neural control of salivary gland by MIP and SIFamide from the synganglion, thus leading a basis for functional studies of these two distinct classes of neuropeptides. J. Comp. Neurol. 517:551-563, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. (Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology) The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2892503 Wed, 05 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2892503 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2848826&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22174 Within Mollusca, cephalopods exhibit a particularly complex nervous system. The adult brain is formed from the fusion of several "typical" molluscan ganglia but it remains poorly understood how these ganglia emerge, migrate, and differentiate during embryogenesis. We studied the development of both central and peripheral nervous system by antibodies raised against [alpha]-tubulin and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in Sepia officinalis embryos to visualize neurites and catecholamine-containing neurons, respectively. In early embryos, when organs start delineating, some ganglia already exhibited a significant fiber network. TH-like immunoreactivity was detected in these fibers and in some primary sensory neurons in the embryo periphery. These data attest to the occurrence of an early embryonic se... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2848826 Wed, 05 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2848826 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2848820&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22175 We previously reported the existence of MOR1C mRNA and MOR1C-immunoreactivity (-ir) in rats. However, the sequence that we reported for rat MOR1C appears not to be present in the rat genome. We have therefore reexamined whether MOR1C mRNA or MOR1C-ir exist in rats. We used reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to attempt to amplify MOR1, MOR1A, MOR1B, the rat MOR1C sequence we previously reported, and MOR1C1 and MOR1C2 (which have recently been reported to exist in rats). In RNA extracted from rats, we were able to demonstrate PCR products representing MOR1, MOR1A, and MOR1B splice variants. All three products were confirmed as related to MOR1 by Southern blot. However, we were unable to detect either the MOR1C product reported previously by us or the MOR1C-like products... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2848820 Wed, 05 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2848820 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2643142&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22168 The four visual sensory structures of a cubomedusa, the rhopalia, display a surprisingly elaborate organization by containing two lens eyes and four bilaterally paired pigment cup eyes. Peptides containing the peptide sequence Arg-Phe-NH2 (RFamide) occur in close association with visual structures of cnidarians, including the rhopalia and rhopalial stalk of cubomedusae, suggesting that RFamide functions as a neuronal marker for certain parts of the visual system of medusae. Using immunofluorescence we give a detailed description of the organization of the RFamide-immunoreactive (ir) nervous system in the rhopalia and rhopalial stalk of the cubomedusae Tripedalia cystophora and Carybdea marsupialis. The bilaterally symmetric RFamide-ir nervous system contains four cell groups and three morp... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2643142 Tue, 28 Jul 2009 11:15:54 +0100 2643142 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2918166&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22169 We report expression of 23 genes out of 25 tested in situ hybridization probes on tissue serial sections. Sensory primordia and Frizzled gene expression share domains, with Fzd1 being a continuous marker. Prospective nonsensory domains express Wnts, whose transcripts mainly flank prosensory regions. Finally, Wnt inhibitor domains are superimposed over both prosensory and nonsensory otic regions. Three Wnt antagonists, Dkk1, SFRP2, and Frzb are prominent. Their gene expression patterns partly overlap and change over time, which adds to the diversity of molecular microenvironments. Strikingly, prosensory domains express Wnts transiently. This includes: 1) the prosensory otic region of high proliferation, neuroblast delamination, and programmed cell death at stage 20/21 (Wnt3, -5b, -7b, -8b, ... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2918166 Thu, 16 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2918166 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2892513&cid=s_33646_25_f&fid=33646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1002%252Fcne.22171 Melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) regulates feeding and complex behaviors in mammals and pigmentation in fish. The relationship between fish and mammalian MCH systems is not well understood. Here, we identify and characterize two MCH genes in zebrafish, Pmch1 and Pmch2. Whereas Pmch1 and its corresponding MCH1 peptide resemble MCH found in other fish, the zebrafish Pmch2 gene and MCH2 peptide share genomic structure, synteny, and high peptide sequence homology with mammalian MCH. Zebrafish Pmch genes are expressed in closely associated but non-overlapping neurons within the hypothalamus, and MCH2 neurons send numerous projections to multiple MCH receptor-rich targets with presumed roles in sensory perception, learning and memory, arousal, and homeostatic regulation. Preliminary functiona... The Journal of Comparative Neurology journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2892513 Thu, 16 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2892513