Molecular NeurobiologyThis is an RSS file. You can use it to subscribe to this data in your favourite RSS reader, such as GoogleReader, or to display this data on your own website or blog. Subscribe to this data using MyMedWorm.Subscribe to this data using GoogleReader.Subscribe to this data using Bloglines.Subscribe to this data using MyYahoo.

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326 records returned

The Roles of the Dystrophin-Associated Glycoprotein Complex at the SynapseEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract Duchenne muscular dystrophy is caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene and is characterized by progressive muscle wasting. A number of Duchenne patients also present with mental retardation. The dystrophin protein is part of the highly conserved dystrophin-associated glycoprotein complex (DGC) which accumulates at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) and at a variety of synapses in the peripheral and central nervous systems. Many years of research into the roles of the DGC in muscle have revealed its structural function in stabilizing the sarcolemma. In addition, the DGC also acts as a scaffold for v...
Source: Molecular Neurobiology - November 9, 2009 Category: Neurology Tags: Molecular Neurobiology Source Type: journals

Ionotropic Glutamate Receptors in Spinal Nociceptive ProcessingEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract Glutamate is the predominant excitatory transmitter used by primary afferent synapses and intrinsic neurons in the spinal cord dorsal horn. Accordingly, ionotropic glutamate receptors mediate basal spinal transmission of sensory, including nociceptive, information that is relayed to supraspinal centers. However, it has become gradually more evident that these receptors are also crucially involved in short- and long-term plasticity of spinal nociceptive transmission, and that such plasticity have an important role in the pain hypersensitivity that may result from tissue or nerve injury. This review w...
Source: Molecular Neurobiology - October 30, 2009 Category: Neurology Tags: Molecular Neurobiology Source Type: journals

The molecular biology of addictive drugsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This article reviews those experiments that have studied drug-induced alterations in gene transcription. Ethanol has diverse effects on the amounts of messenger RNA molecules within the central nervous system. Ion channels, neuropeptides, membrane receptors, and immediate early genes represent several regulated mRNAs. The effects are selective, however, as many other specific products are not altered. Evidence for a genetic predisposition to ethanol use reinforces the importance of the genotype. Opioids, cocaine, and amphetamine also affect gene transcription. Messenger RNAs studied have included many of those...
Source: Molecular Neurobiology - October 29, 2009 Category: Neurology Tags: Molecular Neurobiology Source Type: journals

Structural Basis of Activation of Cys-Loop Receptors: the Extracellular–Transmembrane Interface as a Coupling RegionEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract Cys-loop receptors mediate rapid transmission throughout the nervous system by converting a chemical signal into an electric one. They are pentameric proteins with an extracellular domain that carries the transmitter binding sites and a transmembrane region that forms the ion pore. Their essential function is to couple the binding of the agonist at the extracellular domain to the opening of the ion pore. How the structural changes elicited by agonist binding are propagated through a distance of 50 Å to the gate is therefore central for the understanding of the receptor function. A step forward to...
Source: Molecular Neurobiology - October 27, 2009 Category: Neurology Tags: Molecular Neurobiology Source Type: journals

The main immunogenic region (MIR) of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor and the anti-MIR antibodiesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract Myasthenia gravis (MG) is caused by autoantibodies against the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) of the neuromuscular junction. The anti-AChR antibodies are heterogeneous. However, a small region on the extracellular part of the AChR α subunit, called the main immunogenic region (MIR), seems to be the major target of the anti-AChR antibodies, but not of the specific T-cells, in experimental animals and possibly in MG patients. The major loop of the overlapping epitopes for all testable anti-MIR monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) was localized within residues 67–76 (WNPADYGGIK forTorpedo and WNPDD...
Source: Molecular Neurobiology - October 22, 2009 Category: Neurology Tags: Molecular Neurobiology Source Type: journals

Determining the Neurotransmitter Concentration Profile at Active SynapsesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract Establishing the temporal and concentration profiles of neurotransmitters during synaptic release is an essential step towards understanding the basic properties of inter-neuronal communication in the central nervous system. A variety of ingenious attempts has been made to gain insights into this process, but the general inaccessibility of central synapses, intrinsic limitations of the techniques used, and natural variety of different synaptic environments have hindered a comprehensive description of this fundamental phenomenon. Here, we describe a number of experimental and theoretical findings tha...
Source: Molecular Neurobiology - October 21, 2009 Category: Neurology Tags: Molecular Neurobiology Source Type: journals

Presynaptic and Postsynaptic Cortical Mechanisms of Chronic PainEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract Long-term potentiation (LTP) is a cellular model for learning and memory and believed to be critical for plastic changes in the brain. Depending on the central nervous system region, LTP has been proposed to contribute to many key physiological functions and pathological conditions, such as learning/memory, chronic pain, and drug addiction. While the induction of LTP in general requires activation of postsynaptic glutamate receptors, the expression of LTP can be mediated by postsynaptic mechanisms and/or presynaptic enhancement of glutamate release. In this review, we will evaluate recent progress m...
Source: Molecular Neurobiology - October 11, 2009 Category: Neurology Tags: Molecular Neurobiology Source Type: journals

Central Nervous System Regeneration Inhibitors and their Intracellular SubstratesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract Injury to the central nervous system (CNS) initiates a cascade of responses that is inhibitory to the regeneration of neurons and full recovery. At the site of injury, glial cells conspire with an inhibitory biochemical milieu to construct both physical and chemical barriers that prevent the outgrowth of axons to or beyond the lesion site. These inhibitors include factors derived from myelin, repulsive guidance cues, and chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans. Each bind receptors on the axon surface to initiating intracellular signaling cascades that ultimately result in cytoskeletal reorganization and g...
Source: Molecular Neurobiology - September 18, 2009 Category: Neurology Tags: Molecular Neurobiology Source Type: journals

Pluripotent Hair Follicle Neural Crest Stem-Cell-Derived Neurons and Schwann Cells Functionally Repair Sciatic Nerves in RatsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract In this paper, we constructed a novel acellular nerve xenograft (ANX) seeded with neurons and Schwann cells to bridge long-distance gaps in rat sciatic nerves. The neurons and Schwann cells were induced from Sprague Dawley (SD) rat hair follicle neural crest stem cells with sonic hedgehog/retinoic acid and neuregulin 1, respectively. Fifty male SD rats were randomly divided into two groups (n = 25): ANX + cells group and ANX group. A 4-cm-long sciatic nerve defect was created on the right hind limb and bridged with cell-seeded ANX in ANX + cells group or ANX alone in ANX group. We found that the...
Source: Molecular Neurobiology - September 3, 2009 Category: Neurology Tags: Molecular Neurobiology Source Type: journals

The Insulin-Like Growth Factor (IGF) Receptor Type 1 (IGF1R) as an Essential Component of the Signalling Network Regulating NeurogenesisEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract The insulin-like growth factor receptor type 1 (IGF1R) signalling pathway is activated in the mammalian nervous system from early developmental stages. Its major effect on developing neural cells is to promote their growth and survival. This pathway can integrate its action with signalling pathways of growth and morphogenetic factors that induce cell fate specification and selective expansion of specified neural cell subsets. This suggests that during developmental and adult neurogenesis cellular responses to many signalling factors, including ligands of Notch, sonic hedgehog, fibroblast growth fact...
Source: Molecular Neurobiology - August 28, 2009 Category: Neurology Tags: Molecular Neurobiology Source Type: journals

Synergistic Effect of Glucagon-Like Peptide 2 (GLP-2) and of Key Growth Factors on the Proliferation of Cultured Rat Astrocytes. Evidence for Reciprocal Upregulation of the mRNAs for GLP-2 and IGF-I ReceptorsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract The aim of this work was to determine whether the stimulating effect of glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-2 on astrocyte proliferation could be reinforced by proliferating substances, including growth factors such as EGF, platelet-derived growth factor, insulin-like growth factor type I (IGF-I) or a hormone such as insulin. Both DNA synthesis and astrocyte density, as well as the expression of c-Fos, Ki-67, proliferating cell nuclear antigen and glial fibrillary acidic proteins, were found to be higher in the presence of GLP-2 than in its absence. In an attempt to get a better understanding of this proces...
Source: Molecular Neurobiology - August 12, 2009 Category: Neurology Tags: Molecular Neurobiology Source Type: journals

Chronic Stress- and Sex-Specific Neuromorphological and Functional Changes in Limbic StructuresEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract Chronic stress produces sex-specific neuromorphological changes in a variety of brain regions, which likely contribute to the gender differences observed in stress-related illnesses and cognitive ability. Here, we review the literature investigating the relationship between chronic stress and sex differences on brain plasticity and function, with an emphasis on morphological changes in dendritic arborization and spines in the hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, and amygdala. These brain structures are highly interconnected and sensitive to stress and gonadal hormones, and influence a variety of cognitiv...
Source: Molecular Neurobiology - August 3, 2009 Category: Neurology Tags: Molecular Neurobiology Source Type: journals

The Multifaceted Profile of Activated MicrogliaEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract Although relatively neglected previously, research efforts in the past decade or so have identified a pivotal role for glial cells in regulating neuronal function. Particular emphasis has been placed on increasing our understanding of the function of microglia because a change from the ramified “resting” state of these cells has been associated with the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative diseases, notably Alzheimer’s disease. However, it is not clear whether activation of microglia and the associated inflammatory changes play a part in triggering disease processes or whether cell activa...
Source: Molecular Neurobiology - July 25, 2009 Category: Neurology Tags: Molecular Neurobiology Source Type: journals

The Modulation by Intensity of the Processing of Interaural Timing Cues for Localizing SoundsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract Features of sounds such as time and intensity are important binaural cues for localizing their sources. Interaural time differences (ITDs) and interaural level differences are extracted and processed in parallel by separate pathways in the brainstem auditory nuclei. ITD cues are small, particularly in small-headed animals, and processing of these cues is optimized by both morphological and physiological specializations. Moreover, recent observations in mammals and in some birds indicate that interaural time and level cues are not processed independently but cooperatively to improve the detection of ...
Source: Molecular Neurobiology - July 11, 2009 Category: Neurology Tags: Molecular Neurobiology Source Type: journals

Olfactomedin Domain-Containing Proteins: Possible Mechanisms of Action and Functions in Normal Development and PathologyEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract A family of olfactomedin domain-containing proteins consists of at least 13 members in mammals. Although the first protein belonging to this family, olfactomedin, was isolated and partially characterized from frog olfactory neuroepithelim almost 20 years ago, the functions of many family members remain elusive. Most of the olfactomedin domain-containing proteins, similar to frog olfactomedin, are secreted glycoproteins that demonstrate specific expression patterns. Other family members are membrane-bound proteins that may serve as receptors. More than half of the olfactomedin domain-containing ...
Source: Molecular Neurobiology - June 25, 2009 Category: Neurology Tags: Molecular Neurobiology Source Type: journals

GSK3β in Ethanol NeurotoxicityEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract Alcohol consumption during pregnancy is a significant public health problem and may result in a wide range of adverse outcomes for the child. The developing central nervous system (CNS) is particularly susceptible to ethanol toxicity. Children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) have a variety of cognitive, behavioral, and neurological impairments. FASD currently represents the leading cause of mental retardation in North America ahead of Down syndrome and cerebral palsy. Ethanol exposure during development causes multiple abnormalities in the brain such as permanent loss of neurons, ectopi...
Source: Molecular Neurobiology - June 9, 2009 Category: Neurology Tags: Molecular Neurobiology Source Type: journals

The Role of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) in Morphine Tolerance and DependenceEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract Despite the existence of a large body of information on the subject, the mechanisms of morphine tolerance and dependence are not yet fully understood. There is substantial evidence indicating that mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), a family including extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase, p38 MAPK, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase, can be activated by chronic morphine treatment in the central and peripheral nervous systems and that application of a MAPK inhibitor reduces morphine tolerance and dependence. While the exact mechanism is not completely understood, recent evidence suggests that ...
Source: Molecular Neurobiology - May 26, 2009 Category: Neurology Tags: Molecular Neurobiology Source Type: journals

Myelin Proteomics: Molecular Anatomy of an Insulating SheathEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract Fast-transmitting vertebrate axons are electrically insulated with multiple layers of nonconductive plasma membrane of glial cell origin, termed myelin. The myelin membrane is dominated by lipids, and its protein composition has historically been viewed to be of very low complexity. In this review, we discuss an updated reference compendium of 342 proteins associated with central nervous system myelin that represents a valuable resource for analyzing myelin biogenesis and white matter homeostasis. Cataloging the myelin proteome has been made possible by technical advances in the separation and mass ...
Source: Molecular Neurobiology - May 19, 2009 Category: Neurology Tags: Molecular Neurobiology Source Type: journals

Revisiting the Stimulus-Secretion Coupling in the Adrenal Medulla: Role of Gap Junction-Mediated Intercellular CommunicationEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract The current view of stimulation-secretion coupling in adrenal neuroendocrine chromaffin cells holds that catecholamines are released upon transsynaptic sympathetic stimulation mediated by acetylcholine released from the splanchnic nerve terminals. However, this traditional vertical scheme would merit to be revisited in the light of recent data. Although electrical discharges invading the splanchnic nerve endings are the major physiological stimulus to trigger catecholamine release in vivo, growing evidence indicates that intercellular chromaffin cell communication mediated by gap junctions represent...
Source: Molecular Neurobiology - May 15, 2009 Category: Neurology Tags: Molecular Neurobiology Source Type: journals

Inducible cAMP Early Repressor (ICER) and Brain FunctionsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract The inducible cAMP early repressor (ICER) is an endogenous repressor of cAMP-responsive element (CRE)-mediated gene transcription and belongs to the CRE-binding protein (CREB)/CRE modulator (CREM)/activating transcription factor 1 (ATF-1) gene family. ICER plays an important role in regulating the neuroendocrine system and the circadian rhythm. Other aspects of ICER function have recently attracted heightened attention. Being a natural inducible CREB antagonist, and more broadly, an inducible repressor of CRE-mediated gene transcription, ICER regulates long-lasting plastic changes that occur in the ...
Source: Molecular Neurobiology - May 12, 2009 Category: Neurology Tags: Molecular Neurobiology Source Type: journals

Regulation of Dendrite and Spine Morphogenesis and Plasticity by CateninsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract The appropriate regulation of dendrite, spine, and synapse morphogenesis in neurons both during and after development is critical for the formation and maintenance of neural circuits. It is becomingly increasingly clear that the cadherin–catenin cell adhesion complex, a complex that has been widely studied in epithelia, regulates neuronal morphogenesis. More interestingly, the catenins, cytosolic proteins that bind to cadherins, regulate multiple aspects of neuronal morphogenesis including dendrite, spine, and synapse morphogenesis and plasticity, both independent of and dependent on their ability...
Source: Molecular Neurobiology - April 29, 2009 Category: Neurology Tags: Molecular Neurobiology Source Type: journals

Purinoceptors on NeurogliaEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Content Type Journal ArticleCategory ErratumDOI 10.1007/s12035-009-8070-3Authors Alexei Verkhratsky, The University of Manchester School of Biological Sciences 1.124 Stopford Building, Oxford Road Manchester M13 9PT UKOleg A. Krishtal, Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology Bogomoletz Str. 4 Kiev UkraineGeoffrey Burnstock, Royal Free and University College Medical School Autonomic Neuroscience Centre Rowland Hill Street London NW3 2PF UK Journal Molecular NeurobiologyOnline ISSN 1559-1182Print ISSN 0893-7648 (Source: Molecular Neurobiology)
Source: Molecular Neurobiology - April 28, 2009 Category: Neurology Tags: Molecular Neurobiology Source Type: journals

Focal Nature of Neurological Disorders Necessitates Isotype-Selective Histone Deacetylase (HDAC) InhibitorsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors represent a promising new avenue of therapeutic options for a range of neurological disorders. Within any particular neurological disorder, neuronal damage or death is not widespread; rather, particular brain regions are preferentially affected. Different disorders exhibit distinct focal pathologies. Hence, understanding the region-specific effects of HDAC inhibitors is essential for targeting appropriate brain areas and reducing toxicity in unaffected areas. The outcome of HDAC inhibition depends on several factors, including the diversity in the central nervou...
Source: Molecular Neurobiology - April 27, 2009 Category: Neurology Tags: Molecular Neurobiology Source Type: journals

Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Ecstasy-Induced Neurotoxicity: An OverviewEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract “Ecstasy” [(±)-3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, MDMA, XTC, X, E] is a psychoactive recreational hallucinogenic substance and a major worldwide drug of abuse. Several reports raised the concern that MDMA has the ability to induce neurotoxic effects both in laboratory animals and humans. Despite more than two decades of research, the mechanisms by which MDMA is neurotoxic are still to be fully elucidated. MDMA induces serotonergic terminal loss in rats and also in some mice strains, but also a broader neuronal degeneration throughout several brain areas such as the cortex, hippocampus, and stri...
Source: Molecular Neurobiology - April 17, 2009 Category: Neurology Tags: Molecular Neurobiology Source Type: journals

Neuroinflammation and Memory: The Role of ProstaglandinsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract Neuroinflammation is a complex response to brain injury involving the activation of glia, release of inflammatory mediators within the brain, and recruitment of peripheral immune cells. Interestingly, memory deficits have been observed following many inflammatory states including infection, traumatic brain injury (TBI), normal aging, and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Prostaglandins (PGs), a class of lipid mediators which can have inflammatory actions, are upregulated by these inflammatory challenges and can impair memory. In this paper, we critically review the success of nonsteroidal anti-inflammator...
Source: Molecular Neurobiology - April 14, 2009 Category: Neurology Tags: Molecular Neurobiology Source Type: journals

Polarity Regulation in Migrating Neurons in the CortexEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract The formation of the cerebral cortex requires migration of billions of cells from their birth position to their final destination. A motile cell must have internal polarity in order to move in a specified direction. Locomotory polarity requires the coordinated polymerization of cytoskeletal elements such as microtubules and actin combined with regulated activities of the associated molecular motors. This review is focused on migrating neurons in the developing cerebral cortex, which need to attain internal polarity in order to reach their proper target. The position and dynamics of the centrosome pl...
Source: Molecular Neurobiology - March 28, 2009 Category: Neurology Tags: Molecular Neurobiology Source Type: journals

Purinoceptors on NeurogliaEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract Purinergic transmission is one of the most ancient and widespread extracellular signalling systems. In the brain, purinergic signalling plays a unique role in integrating neuronal and glial cellular circuits, as virtually every type of glial cell possesses receptors to purines and pyrimidines. These receptors, represented by metabotropic P1 adenosine receptors, metabotropic P2Y purinoceptors and ionotropic P2X purinoceptors, control numerous physiological functions of glial cells and are intimately involved in virtually every form of neuropathology. In this essay, we provide an in depth overview of ...
Source: Molecular Neurobiology - March 13, 2009 Category: Neurology Tags: Molecular Neurobiology Source Type: journals

Long-Lasting Maintenance of Learning-Induced Enhanced Neuronal Excitability: Mechanisms and Functional SignificanceEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract Pyramidal neurons in the piriform cortex of olfactory discrimination trained rats show enhanced intrinsic neuronal excitability that lasts for several days after learning. Such enhanced intrinsic excitability is mediated by long-term reduction in the postburst after hyperpolarization which is generated by repetitive spike firing. The molecular machinery underlying such long-lasting modulation of intrinsic excitability, as well as its exceptional durability, is yet to be fully described. In this review, we present recent advancements that reveal the identity of the current that is modulated after lea...
Source: Molecular Neurobiology - March 11, 2009 Category: Neurology Tags: Molecular Neurobiology Source Type: journals

Adaptations of Striatal Endocannabinoid System During StressEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract The endocannabinoid system (ECS) plays a fundamental role in the regulation of synaptic transmission. Exposure to stressful events triggers synaptic adaptations in many brain areas. The activity of the ECS in stress-responsive neural circuits suggests that it may be involved in the behavioral responses and synaptic effects typical of stress. In this review, we discuss evidence demonstrating that striatal ECS is modulated by stress. Chronic stress exposure alters endocannabinoid levels, cannabinoid CB1 receptor binding and cannabinoid CB1 receptor-mediated control of inhibitory synaptic transmission ...
Source: Molecular Neurobiology - March 7, 2009 Category: Neurology Tags: Molecular Neurobiology Source Type: journals

Activity-Dependent Bulk Synaptic Vesicle Endocytosis—A Fast, High Capacity Membrane Retrieval MechanismEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract Central nerve terminals are placed under considerable stress during intense stimulation due to large numbers of synaptic vesicles (SVs) fusing with the plasma membrane. Classical clathrin-dependent SV endocytosis cannot correct for the large increase in nerve terminal surface area in the short term, due to its slow kinetics and low capacity. During such intense stimulation, an additional SV retrieval pathway is recruited called bulk endocytosis. Recent studies have shown that bulk endocytosis fulfils all of the physiological requirements to remedy the acute changes in nerve terminal surface area to ...
Source: Molecular Neurobiology - March 6, 2009 Category: Neurology Tags: Molecular Neurobiology Source Type: journals

Protective Actions of the Vesicular Monoamine Transporter 2 (VMAT2) in Monoaminergic NeuronsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract Vesicular monoamine transporters (VMATs) are responsible for the packaging of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, and epinephrine into synaptic vesicles. These proteins evolved from precursors in the major facilitator superfamily of transporters and are among the members of the toxin extruding antiporter family. While the primary function of VMATs is to sequester neurotransmitters within vesicles, they can also translocate toxicants away from cytosolic sites of action. In the case of dopamine, this dual role of VMAT2 is combined—dopamine is more readily oxidized in the c...
Source: Molecular Neurobiology - March 4, 2009 Category: Neurology Tags: Molecular Neurobiology Source Type: journals

The Molecular Architecture of Ribbon Presynaptic TerminalsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract The primary receptor neurons of the auditory, vestibular, and visual systems encode a broad range of sensory information by modulating the tonic release of the neurotransmitter glutamate in response to graded changes in membrane potential. The output synapses of these neurons are marked by structures called synaptic ribbons, which tether a pool of releasable synaptic vesicles at the active zone where glutamate release occurs in response to calcium influx through L-type channels. Ribbons are composed primarily of the protein, RIBEYE, which is unique to ribbon synapses, but cytomatrix proteins that re...
Source: Molecular Neurobiology - March 2, 2009 Category: Neurology Tags: Molecular Neurobiology Source Type: journals

PACAP signaling to DREAM: A cAMP-Dependent Pathway that Regulates Cortical AstrogliogenesisEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract Astrocytes constitute a very abundant cell type in the mammalian central nervous system and play critical roles in brain function. During development, astrocytes are generated from neural progenitor cells only after these cells have generated neurons. This so called gliogenic switch is tightly regulated by intrinsic factors that inhibit the generation of astrocytes during the neurogenic period. Once neural progenitors acquire gliogenic competence, they differentiate into astrocytes in response to specific extracellular signals. Some of these signals are delivered by neurotrophic cytokines via activa...
Source: Molecular Neurobiology - February 24, 2009 Category: Neurology Tags: Molecular Neurobiology Source Type: journals

The Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein in Circadian Rhythmicity and Memory ConsolidationEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract The control of new protein synthesis provides a means to locally regulate the availability of synaptic components necessary for dynamic neuronal processes. The fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP), an RNA-binding translational regulator, is a key player mediating appropriate synaptic protein synthesis in response to neuronal activity levels. Loss of FMRP causes fragile X syndrome (FraX), the most commonly inherited form of mental retardation and autism spectrum disorders. FraX-associated translational dysregulation causes wide-ranging neurological deficits including severe impairments of biol...
Source: Molecular Neurobiology - February 13, 2009 Category: Neurology Tags: Molecular Neurobiology Source Type: journals

A Closer Look at Amphetamine-Induced Reverse Transport and Trafficking of the Dopamine and Norepinephrine TransportersEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract Amphetamine (AMPH) and its derivatives are regularly used in the treatment of a wide array of disorders such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obesity, traumatic brain injury, and narcolepsy (Prog Neurobiol 75:406–433, 2005; J Am Med Assoc 105:2051–2054, 1935; J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 41:514–521, 2002; Neuron 43:261–269, 2004; Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol 47:681–698, 2007; Drugs Aging 21:67–79, 2004). Despite the important medicinal role for AMPH, it is more widely known for its psychostimulant and addictive properties as a drug of abuse. The primary molecular tar...
Source: Molecular Neurobiology - February 7, 2009 Category: Neurology Tags: Molecular Neurobiology Source Type: journals

Cytoprotective Effect of Acetyl-l -Carnitine Evidenced by Analysis of Gene Expression in the Rat BrainEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract Acetyl-l-carnitine (ALC), the acetyl ester of l-carnitine, is a naturally occurring substance that when administered at supraphysiological concentrations is neuroprotective. ALC plays an essential role in intermediary and mitochondrial metabolism. It has also neurotrophic and antioxidant actions. ALC has demonstrated efficacy and high tolerability in the treatment of neuropathies of various etiologies, and it is a molecule of considerable interest for its clinical application in various neural disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease and painful neuropathies, although little is known regarding the e...
Source: Molecular Neurobiology - February 7, 2009 Category: Neurology Tags: Molecular Neurobiology Source Type: journals

ER Stress and Unfolded Protein Response in Amyotrophic Lateral SclerosisEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract Several theories on the pathomechanism of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) have been proposed: misfolded protein aggregates, mitochondrial dysfunction, increased glutamate toxicity, increased oxidative stress, disturbance of intracellular trafficking, and so on. In parallel, a number of drugs that have been developed to alleviate the putative key pathomechanism of ALS have been under clinical trials. Unfortunately, however, almost all studies have finished unsuccessfully. This fact indicates that the key ALS pathomechanism still remains a tough enigma. Recent studies with autopsied ALS patients a...
Source: Molecular Neurobiology - January 30, 2009 Category: Neurology Tags: Molecular Neurobiology Source Type: journals

The Ca2+-dependent Activator Protein for Secretion CAPS: Do I Dock or do I Prime?Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract The “Ca2+-dependent activator protein for secretion” (CAPS) is a protein which reconstitutes regulated secretion in permeabilized neuroendocrine cells. It is generally accepted that CAPS plays an important role in the release of the contents of dense core vesicles in the nervous system as well as in a variety of other secretory tissues. At which step in the exocytotic process CAPS functions as well as its role in the fusion of synaptic vesicles is still under dispute. A recent growth spurt in the CAPS field has been fueled by genetic approaches in Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila as well as...
Source: Molecular Neurobiology - January 22, 2009 Category: Neurology Tags: Molecular Neurobiology Source Type: journals

Activity-Dependent Dendritic Release of BDNF and Biological ConsequencesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract Network construction and reorganization is modulated by the level and pattern of synaptic activity generated in the nervous system. During the past decades, neurotrophins, and in particular brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), have emerged as attractive candidates for linking synaptic activity and brain plasticity. Thus, neurotrophin expression and secretion are under the control of activity-dependent mechanisms and, besides their classical role in supporting neuronal survival neurotrophins, modulate nearly all key steps of network construction from neuronal migration to experience-dependent re...
Source: Molecular Neurobiology - January 22, 2009 Category: Neurology Tags: Molecular Neurobiology Source Type: journals

Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology of Brain PreconditioningEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract The tolerant brain which is a consequence of adaptation to repeated nonlethal insults is accompanied by the upregulation of protective mechanisms and the downregulation of prodegenerative pathways. During the past 20 years, evidence has accumulated to suggest that protective mechanisms include increased production of chaperones, trophic factors, and other antiapoptotic proteins. In contrast, preconditioning can cause substantial dampening of the organism’s metabolic state and decreased expression of proapoptotic proteins. Recent microarray analyses have also helped to document a role of sever...
Source: Molecular Neurobiology - January 20, 2009 Category: Neurology Tags: Molecular Neurobiology Source Type: journals

Targeting the Hippocampal Mossy Fiber Synapse for the Treatment of Psychiatric DisordersEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract It is widely known that new neurons are continuously generated in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus in the adult mammalian brain. This neurogenesis has been implicated in depression and antidepressant treatments. Recent evidence also suggests that the dentate gyrus is involved in the neuropathology and pathophysiology of schizophrenia and other related psychiatric disorders. Especially, abnormal neuronal development in the dentate gyrus may be a plausible risk factor for the diseases. The synapse made by the mossy fiber, the output fiber of the dentate gyrus, plays a critical role in regulating n...
Source: Molecular Neurobiology - January 8, 2009 Category: Neurology Tags: Molecular Neurobiology Source Type: journals

Nuclear Factor One Transcription Factors in CNS DevelopmentEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract Transcription factors are key regulators of central nervous system (CNS) development and brain function. Research in this area has now uncovered a new key player–the nuclear factor one (NFI) gene family. It has been almost a decade since the phenotype of the null mouse mutant for the nuclear factor one A transcription factor was reported. Nfia null mice display a striking brain phenotype including agenesis of the corpus callosum and malformation of midline glial populations needed to guide axons of the corpus callosum across the midline of the developing brain. Besides NFIA, there are three other ...
Source: Molecular Neurobiology - December 5, 2008 Category: Neurology Tags: Molecular Neurobiology Source Type: journals

Axon Guidance Events in the Wiring of the Mammalian Olfactory SystemEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract The detection of odorant signals from the environment and the generation of appropriate behavioral outputs in response to these signals rely on the olfactory system. Olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) of the olfactory epithelium are located in the nasal cavity and project axons that synapse onto dendrites of second-order neurons in the olfactory bulb (OB) that in turn relay the information gathered to higher order regions of the brain. The connections formed are remarkably accurate such that axons of OSNs expressing the same olfactory receptor innervate specific glomeruli within the complex three-dime...
Source: Molecular Neurobiology - December 2, 2008 Category: Neurology Tags: Molecular Neurobiology Source Type: journals

The Yin–Yang of Dendrite Morphology: Unity of Actin and MicrotubulesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract Actin and microtubules (MT) are targets of numerous molecular pathways that control neurite outgrowth. To generate a neuronal protrusion, coordinated structural changes of the actin and MT cytoskeletons must occur. Neurite formation occurs when actin filaments (F-actin) are destabilized, filopodia are extended, and MTs invade filopodia. This process results in either axon or dendrite formation. Axonal branching involves interplay between F-actin and MTs, with F-actin and MTs influencing polymerization, stabilization, and maintenance of each other. Our knowledge of the mechanisms regulating developme...
Source: Molecular Neurobiology - November 6, 2008 Category: Neurology Tags: Molecular Neurobiology Source Type: journals

Photoreceptor Cell Death Mechanisms in Inherited Retinal DegenerationEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract Photoreceptor cell death is the major hallmark of a group of human inherited retinal degenerations commonly referred to as retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Although the causative genetic mutations are often known, the mechanisms leading to photoreceptor degeneration remain poorly defined. Previous research work has focused on apoptosis, but recent evidence suggests that photoreceptor cell death may result primarily from non-apoptotic mechanisms independently of AP1 or p53 transcription factor activity, Bcl proteins, caspases, or cytochrome c release. This review briefly describes some animal models used f...
Source: Molecular Neurobiology - November 4, 2008 Category: Neurology Tags: Molecular Neurobiology Source Type: journals

Glutamate Regulates the Activity of Topoisomerase I in Mouse CerebellumEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract Topoisomerase I (topo I) is a nuclear enzyme which participates in most DNA transactions. It was shown to be inhibited in depolarized neurons by poly adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-ribosylation of the enzyme protein. We demonstrated previously an age and sex dependent topo I activity and enzyme protein level in the various regions of mouse brain. A specific distribution pattern of topo I was observed and the inhibitory neurons exhibited the highest enzyme activity and protein level in both the nucleus and the cytoplasm. Here, we show that neurotransmitters (glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA))...
Source: Molecular Neurobiology - November 4, 2008 Category: Neurology Tags: Molecular Neurobiology Source Type: journals

Neurobiology of Stress-Induced Reproductive Dysfunction in Female MacaquesEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract It is now well accepted that stress can precipitate mental and physical illness. However, it is becoming clear that given the same stress, some individuals are very vulnerable and will succumb to illness while others are more resilient and cope effectively, rather than becoming ill. This difference between individuals is called stress sensitivity. Stress sensitivity of an individual appears to be influenced by genetically inherited factors, early life (even prenatal) stress, and by the presence or absence of factors that provide protection from stress. In comparison to other stress-related diseases,...
Source: Molecular Neurobiology - October 18, 2008 Category: Neurology Tags: Molecular Neurobiology Source Type: journals

Targeted Activation of Astrocytes: A Potential Neuroprotective StrategyEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract Astrocytes are involved in many key physiological processes in the brain, including glutamatergic transmission, energy metabolism, and blood flow control. They become reactive in response to pathological situations, a response that involves well-described morphological alterations and less characterized functional changes. The functional consequences of astrocyte reactivity seem to depend on the molecular pathway involved and may result in the enhancement of several neuroprotective and neurotrophic functions. We propose that a selective and controlled activation of astrocytes may switch these highly...
Source: Molecular Neurobiology - October 18, 2008 Category: Neurology Tags: Molecular Neurobiology Source Type: journals

Inclusion Body Myositis: A View from the Caenorhabditis elegans MuscleEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract Inclusion body myositis (IBM) is the most common myopathy in people over 50 years of age. It involves an inflammatory process that, paradoxically, does not respond to anti-inflammatory drugs. A key feature of IBM is the presence of amyloid-β-peptide aggregates called amyloid deposits, which are also characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease. The use of animals that mimic at least some characteristics of a disease has become very important in the quest to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying this and other pathogeneses. Although there are some transgenic mouse strains that recreate some ...
Source: Molecular Neurobiology - September 5, 2008 Category: Neurology Tags: Molecular Neurobiology Source Type: journals

Regulation of Synaptic Transmission by Presynaptic CaMKII and BK ChannelsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Abstract Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) and the BK channel are enriched at the presynaptic nerve terminal, where CaMKII associates with synaptic vesicles whereas the BK channel colocalizes with voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels in the plasma membrane. Mounting evidence suggests that these two proteins play important roles in controlling neurotransmitter release. Presynaptic BK channels primarily serve as a negative regulator of neurotransmitter release. In contrast, presynaptic CaMKII either enhances or inhibits neurotransmitter release and synaptic plasticity depending on experimental or ...
Source: Molecular Neurobiology - August 30, 2008 Category: Neurology Tags: Molecular Neurobiology Source Type: journals