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Melanocortin-4 receptor expression in a vago-vagal circuitry involved in postprandial functionsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
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 ...
Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology - October 31, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: Laurent Gautron, Charlotte Lee, Hisayuki Funahashi, Jeffrey Friedman, Syann Lee, Joel Elmquist Tags: Cover Image Source Type: journals

Passages 2010Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
No abstract. (Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology)
Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology - October 30, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: Clifford B. Saper Tags: Editorial Source Type: journals

Two novel neuropeptides in innervation of the salivary glands of the black-legged tick, Ixodes scapularis: Myoinhibitory peptide and SIFamideEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
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)
Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology - October 23, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: Ladislav [Scaron]imo, Du[scaron]an [Zcaron]it[ncaron]an, Yoonseong Park Tags: Cover Image Source Type: journals

Selective projection patterns from subtypes of retinal ganglion cells to tectum and pretectum: Distribution and relation to behaviorEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
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...
Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology - October 1, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: Marcus Robert Jones, Sten Grillner, Brita Robertson Tags: Cover Image Source Type: journals

Changes in synaptic populations in the spinal dorsal horn following a dorsal rhizotomy in the monkeyEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
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 ...
Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology - September 16, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: Corinna Darian-Smith, Stephanie Hopkins, Henry J. Ralston III Tags: Articles Source Type: journals

Distribution of prolactin-responsive neurons in the mouse forebrainEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
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 for...
Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology - September 16, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: Rosemary S.E. Brown, Ilona C. Kokay, Allan E. Herbison, David R. Grattan Tags: Articles Source Type: journals

Quantitative study of the developmental changes in calcium-permeable AMPA receptor-expressing neurons in the rat somatosensory cortexEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
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 wide...
Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology - September 16, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: Cheng-I Hsu, Tzu-Chien Wang, Szu-Yu T. Hou, Ting-Yu Chin, Yen-Chung Chang Tags: Articles Source Type: journals

Depression of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II in dorsal root ganglion neurons after spinal nerve ligationEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
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 ...
Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology - September 16, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: Sanja Lovric Kojundzic, Livia Puljak, Quinn Hogan, Damir Sapunar Tags: Articles Source Type: journals

Angiotensin type-1 receptor inhibition is neuroprotective to amacrine cells in a rat model of retinopathy of prematurityEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
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)
Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology - September 16, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: Laura E. Downie, Kate M. Hatzopoulos, Michael J. Pianta, Algis J. Vingrys, Jennifer L. Wilkinson-Berka, Michael Kalloniatis, Erica L. Fletcher Tags: Articles Source Type: journals

Neuroprotection of midbrain dopaminergic cells in MPTP-treated mice after near-infrared light treatmentEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
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 treatm...
Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology - September 16, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: Victoria E. Shaw, Sharon Spana, Keyoumars Ashkan, Alim-Louis Benabid, Jonathan Stone, Gary E. Baker, John Mitrofanis Tags: Articles Source Type: journals

Melanocortin-4 receptor expression in a vago-vagal circuitry involved in postprandial functionsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
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 ...
Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology - September 16, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: Laurent Gautron, Charlotte Lee, Hisayuki Funahashi, Jeffrey Friedman, Syann Lee, Joel Elmquist Tags: Articles Source Type: journals

Inward rectifier channel, ROMK, is localized to the apical tips of glial-like cells in mouse taste budsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
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 s...
Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology - September 4, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: Gennady Dvoryanchikov, Michael S. Sinclair, Isabel Perea-Martinez, Tong Wang, Nirupa Chaudhari Tags: Cover Image Source Type: journals

Increase of intracellular Ca2+ by P2Y but not P2X receptors in cultured cortical multipolar neurons of the ratEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
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 ...
Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology - August 13, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: Wolfgang Fischer, Wolfgang Nörenberg, Heike Franke, Michael Schaefer, Peter Illes Tags: Cover Image Source Type: journals

Expression of the diabetes-associated gene TCF7L2 in adult mouse brainEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
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 ho...
Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology - August 12, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: Syann Lee, Charlotte E. Lee, Carol F. Elias, Joel K. Elmquist Tags: Articles Source Type: journals

Expression profile of PTPIP51 in mouse brainEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
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 an...
Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology - August 12, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: P. Koch, M. Viard, A. Stenzinger, A. Brobeil, C. Tag, K. Steger, M. Wimmer Tags: Articles Source Type: journals

Localization of relaxin-3 in brain of Macaca fascicularis: Identification of a nucleus incertus in primateEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
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, ento...
Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology - August 12, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: Sherie Ma, Qian Sang, José L. Lanciego, Andrew L. Gundlach Tags: Articles Source Type: journals

Birthdays of retinal amacrine cell subtypes are systematically related to their molecular identity and soma positionEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
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 subset...
Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology - August 12, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: P. Emanuela, Jeremy N. Kay, Joshua R. Sanes Tags: Articles Source Type: journals

Structural alterations of spiny stellate cells in the somatosensory cortex in ephrin-A5-deficient miceEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
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...
Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology - August 12, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: André Guellmar, Judith Rudolph, Jürgen Bolz Tags: Articles Source Type: journals

The dual dopamine-glutamate phenotype of growing mesencephalic neurons regresses in mature rat brainEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
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...
Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology - August 9, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: Noémie Bérubé-Carrière, Mustapha Riad, Grégory Dal Bo, Daniel Lévesque, Louis-Éric Trudeau, Laurent Descarries Tags: Articles Source Type: journals

Expression and regulation of vitamin D3 upregulated protein 1 (VDUP1) is conserved in mammalian and insect brainEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
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 ...
Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology - August 9, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: Mark C. Levendusky, Jacilyn Basle, Solomon Chang, Neil V. Mandalaywala, Jeffrey M. Voigt, Richard E. Dearborn Jr. Tags: Articles Source Type: journals

Gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone identification, cDNA cloning, and distribution in rhesus macaque brainEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
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 iden...
Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology - August 6, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: Takayoshi Ubuka, Hank Lai, Mari Kitani, Akane Suzuuchi, Viet Pham, Penelope A. Cadigan, Ariel Wang, Vishwajit S. Chowdhury, Kazuyoshi Tsutsui, George E. Bentley Tags: Articles Source Type: journals

Organization of the posterior parietal cortex in galagos: II. Ipsilateral cortical connections of physiologically identified zones within anterior sensorimotor regionEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
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 su...
Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology - August 6, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: Iwona Stepniewska, Christina M. Cerkevich, Pei-Chun Y. Fang, Jon H. Kaas Tags: Articles Source Type: journals

Fate of marginal neuroblasts in the vomeronasal epithelium of adult miceEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
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 locall...
Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology - August 6, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: C. De La Rosa-Prieto, D. Saiz-Sanchez, I. Ubeda-Bañon, L. Argandoña-Palacios, S. Garcia-Muñozguren, A. Martinez-Marcos Tags: Articles Source Type: journals

Increase of intracellular Ca2+ by P2Y but not P2X receptors in cultured cortical multipolar neurons of the ratEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
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 ...
Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology - August 6, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: Wolfgang Fischer, Wolfgang Nörenberg, Heike Franke, Michael Schaefer, Peter Illes Tags: Cover Image Source Type: journals

Neuronal expression of Cd36, Cd44, and Cd83 antigen transcripts maps to distinct and specific murine brain circuitsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
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 beh...
Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology - August 5, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: Isaias Glezer, Jackson C. Bittencourt, Serge Rivest Tags: Articles Source Type: journals

Distribution and axonal projections of neurons coexpressing thyrotropin-releasing hormone and urocortin 3 in the rat brainEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
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 fluoresce...
Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology - August 5, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: Gábor Wittmann, Tamás Füzesi, Zsolt Liposits, Ronald M. Lechan, Csaba Fekete Tags: Articles Source Type: journals

Synaptic organization in the adult Drosophila mushroom body calyxEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
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. Throughou...
Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology - August 5, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: Florian Leiss, Claudia Groh, Nancy J. Butcher, Ian A. Meinertzhagen, Gaia Tavosanis Tags: Articles Source Type: journals

Organization of the posterior parietal cortex in galagos: I. Functional zones identified by microstimulationEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
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 defensiv...
Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology - August 5, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: Iwona Stepniewska, Pei-Chun Y. Fang, Jon H. Kaas Tags: Articles Source Type: journals

Photoreceptor and ganglion cell topographies correlate with information convergence and high acuity regions in the adult pigeon (Columba livia) retinaEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
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 out...
Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology - August 5, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: Angeliza Querubin, Hie Rin Lee, Jan M. Provis, Keely M. Bumsted O'Brien Tags: Articles Source Type: journals

Expression and localization of the calmodulin-binding protein neurogranin in the adult mouse olfactory bulbEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
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...
Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology - August 5, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: S. Gribaudo, S. Bovetti, D. Garzotto, A. Fasolo, S. De Marchis Tags: Articles Source Type: journals

SynCAM1 expression correlates with restoration of central synapses on spinal motoneurons after two different models of peripheral nerve injuryEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
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 ...
Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology - August 5, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: Johan Zelano, Alexander Berg, Sebastian Thams, Nils P. Hailer, Staffan Cullheim Tags: Articles Source Type: journals

Synaptic inputs onto small bistratified (blue-ON/yellow-OFF) ganglion cells in marmoset retinaEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
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 b...
Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology - August 5, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: Kumiko A. Percival, Patricia R. Jusuf, Paul R. Martin, Ulrike Grünert Tags: Articles Source Type: journals

Differential role for synaptojanin 1 in rod and cone photoreceptorsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
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 Jo...
Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology - August 5, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: Lars C. Holzhausen, Alaron A. Lewis, Kimberly K. Cheong, Susan E. Brockerhoff Tags: Articles Source Type: journals

Dorsal horn neurons presynaptic to lamina I spinoparabrachial neurons revealed by transynaptic labelingEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
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 quantit...
Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology - August 5, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: Matilde Cordero-Erausquin, Simon Allard, Tiphaine Dolique, Karine Bachand, Alfredo Ribeiro-da-Silva, Yves De Koninck Tags: Articles Source Type: journals

Two novel neuropeptides in innervation of the salivary glands of the black-legged tick, Ixodes scapularis: Myoinhibitory peptide and SIFamideEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
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)
Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology - August 5, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: Ladislav [Scaron]imo, Du[scaron]an [Zcaron]it[ncaron]an It[ncaron]an, Yoonseong Park Tags: Articles Source Type: journals

Evidence of early nervous differentiation and early catecholaminergic sensory system during Sepia officinalis embryogenesisEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
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-li...
Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology - August 5, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: S. Baratte, L. Bonnaud Tags: Articles Source Type: journals

Lack of evidence for the [mu]-opioid receptor splice variant MOR1C in ratsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
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 pr...
Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology - August 5, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: Stephen A. Schnell, Martin W. Wessendorf Tags: Articles Source Type: journals

Prominent system of RFamide immunoreactive neurons in the rhopalia of box jellyfish (cnidaria: Cubozoa)Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
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 rhopa...
Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology - July 28, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: Linda Parkefelt, Peter Ekström Tags: Cover Image Source Type: journals

Mapping of Wnt, frizzled, and Wnt inhibitor gene expression domains in the avian otic primordiumEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
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...
Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology - July 16, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: Ulrike J. Sienknecht, Donna M. Fekete Tags: Articles Source Type: journals

Characterization of two melanin-concentrating hormone genes in zebrafish reveals evolutionary and physiological links with the mammalian MCH systemEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
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 pr...
Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology - July 16, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: Jennifer R. Berman, Gemini Skariah, Géraldine S. Maro, Emmanuel Mignot, Philippe Mourrain Tags: Articles Source Type: journals

Comparative, three-dimensional anterior sensory reconstruction of Aphelenchus avenae (nematoda: Tylenchomorpha)Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The anterior sensory anatomy (not including amphids) of the nematode Aphelenchus avenae (Tylenchomorpha) has been three-dimensionally reconstructed from serial, transmission electron microscopy thin sections. Models, showing detailed morphology and spatial relationships of cuticular sensilla and internal sensory receptors, are the first computerized reconstruction of sensory structures of a Tylenchomorpha nematode. Results are analyzed with respect to similarly detailed reconstructions of Rhabditida outgroup nematodes, Acrobeles complexus (Cephalobomorpha) and Caenorhabditis elegans (Rhabditomorpha). Homologies identified ...
Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology - July 16, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: Erik J. Ragsdale, Phuong T. Ngo, John Crum, Mark H. Ellisman, James G. Baldwin Tags: Articles Source Type: journals

Increased levels of NMDA receptor NR2A subunits at pre- and postsynaptic sites of the hippocampal CA1: An early response to conditional double knockout of presenilin 1 and 2Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
We examined the asymmetric (excitatory) synapses formed on apical dendrites of CA1 pyramidal neurons at 2 months postnatal, an age when AD-like symptoms emerge but brain morphology, as assessed by light microscopy, is still normal. Our quantitative electron microscopic analyses confirm that PS-cDKO hippocampi at 2 months postnatal do not yet exhibit synapse losses or spine size alterations. However, immunocytochemistry reveals that the same region exhibits a 28% increase in the proportion of spines labeled for the NR2A subunits of NMDA receptors (NMDAR), with a 31% increase specifically at postsynaptic densities and a conc...
Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology - July 16, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: Chiye Aoki, Joyce Lee, Hermina Nedelescu, Tunazzina Ahmed, Angela Ho, Jie Shen Tags: Articles Source Type: journals

Developmental expression of prion protein and its ligands stress-inducible protein 1 and vitronectinEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In this study, PrPC, STI1, and Vn protein expression was explored throughout mouse embryonic life. We found that the distributions of the three proteins were spatiotemporally related. STI1 and Vn expression became evident at E8, earlier than PrPC, in the nervous system and heart. At E10, we observed, in the spinal cord, a gradient of expression of the three proteins, more abundant in the notochord and floor plate, suggesting that they can have a role in axonal growth. As development proceeded, the three proteins were detected in other organs, suggesting that they may play a role in the development of nonneural tissues as w...
Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology - July 16, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: Glaucia N.M. Hajj, Tiago G. Santos, Zanith S.P. Cook, Vilma R. Martins Tags: Article Source Type: journals

Effects of developmental age, brain region, and time in culture on long-term proliferation and multipotency of neural stem cell populationsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Neural stem cells (NSCs) in the murine subventricular zone (SVZ) niche allow life-long neurogenesis. During the first postnatal month and throughout aging, the decrease of neuroblasts and the rise of astrocytes results in diminished neurogenesis and increased astrocyte:neuron ratio. Also, a different neurogenic activity characterizes the SVZ periventricular region (LV, lateral ventricle) as compared to its rostral extension (RE). In order to investigate whether and to what extent these physiological modifications may be ascribed to intrinsic changes of the endogenous NSC/progenitor features, we performed a functional analy...
Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology - July 16, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: Angela Gritti, Matteo dal Molin, Chiara Foroni, Luca Bonfanti Tags: Article Source Type: journals

PICK1 expression in the Drosophila central nervous system primarily occurs in the neuroendocrine systemEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The protein interacting with C kinase 1 (PICK1) protein was first identified as a novel binding partner for protein kinase C. PICK1 contains a membrane-binding BAR domain and a PDZ domain interacting with many synaptic proteins, including the [alpha]-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid (AMPA) receptor subunit GluR2 and the dopamine transporter. PICK1 is strongly implicated in GluR2 trafficking and synaptic plasticity. In mammals, PICK1 has been characterized extensively in cell culture studies. To study PICK1 in an intact system, we characterized PICK1 expression immunohistochemically in the adult and larval...
Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology - July 16, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: Anna M. Jansen, Dick R. Nässel, Kenneth L. Madsen, Anita G. Jung, Ulrik Gether, Ole Kjaerulff Tags: Article Source Type: journals

Three-dimensional properties of GnRH neuroterminals in the median eminence of young and old ratsEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The decapeptide gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), which regulates reproduction in all vertebrates, is stored in, and secreted from, large dense-core secretory vesicles in nerve terminals in the median eminence. GnRH is released from these terminals with biological rhythms that are critical for the maintenance of normal reproduction. During reproductive aging in female rats, there is a loss of GnRH pulses and a diminution of the GnRH surge. However, information about the specific role of GnRH nerve terminals is lacking, particularly in the context of aging. We sought to gain novel ultrastructural information about GnRH...
Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology - July 16, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: Weiling Yin, John M. Mendenhall, Monique Monita, Andrea C. Gore Tags: Article Source Type: journals

Selective projection patterns from subtypes of retinal ganglion cells to tectum and pretectum: Distribution and relation to behaviorEmail this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
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...
Source: The Journal of Comparative Neurology - July 16, 2009 Category: Neurology Authors: Marcus Robert Jones, Sten Grillner, Brita Robertson Tags: Article Source Type: journals