The Infona portal uses cookies, i.e. strings of text saved by a browser on the user's device. The portal can access those files and use them to remember the user's data, such as their chosen settings (screen view, interface language, etc.), or their login data. By using the Infona portal the user accepts automatic saving and using this information for portal operation purposes. More information on the subject can be found in the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By closing this window the user confirms that they have read the information on cookie usage, and they accept the privacy policy and the way cookies are used by the portal. You can change the cookie settings in your browser.
We evaluated sequential changes in rat brain function up to 14 days after focal ischemic insult with a small animal positron emission tomography (PET). Unilateral focal ischemic cerebral damage was induced by left middle cerebral artery occlusion with a photochemically induced thrombosis (PIT) method. PET scans were conducted with [11C](R)‐PK11195 ([11C](R)‐PK) for peripheral benzodiazepine receptor...
Recent studies have identified disrupted‐in‐schizophrenia‐1 (DISC1) as a strong genetic risk factor associated with schizophrenia. Previously, we have reported that a mutation in the second exon of the DISC1 gene [leucine to proline at amino acid position 100, L100P] leads to the development of schizophrenia‐related behaviors in mice. Glycogen synthase kinase‐3 (GSK‐3) is a serine/threonine protein...
The impact of theta patterning of the stimulation on the kindling effects of pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) was studied in rat hippocampus area CA1 in vitro. A potential involvement of adenosine A1 receptors was also examined. Primed‐bursts stimulation (PBs) and theta pulse stimulation (TPS) were used as patterned activities. Stimulus patterns were applied to the Schaffer collateral afferents of hippocampal...
Schizophrenia (SZ) is a severe mental illness with neuropathology in many regions, including the striatum. The typical symptoms of this disease are psychosis (such as hallucinations and delusions), cognitive impairments, and the deficit syndrome. Not all patients respond to treatment and, in those who do, only psychotic symptoms are improved. Imaging studies support a biological distinction between...
Microtubules are well known to play a key role in the trafficking of neurotransmitters to the synapse. However, less attention has been paid to their role as downstream effectors of neurotransmitter signaling in the target neuron. Here, we show that neurotransmitter‐based signaling to the microtubule cytoskeleton regulates downstream microtubule function through several mechanisms. These include tubulin...
Adenosine A2A receptor antagonists are one of the most attractive classes of drug for the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD) as they are effective in counteracting motor dysfunctions and display neuroprotective and anti‐inflammatory effects in animal models of PD. In this study, we evaluated the neuroprotective and anti‐inflammatory properties of the adenosine A2A receptor antagonist ST1535 in...
Nicotine promotes glutamatergic synaptic plasticity in dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), which is thought to be an important mechanism underlying nicotine reward. However, it is unclear whether exposure of nicotine alone to VTA slice is sufficient to increase glutamatergic synaptic strength on DA neurons and which nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subtype mediates...
The critical brain areas and molecular mechanisms involved in drug abuse and dependence have been extensively studied. Drug‐induced persistent behaviors such as sensitization, tolerance, or relapse, however, far outlast any previously reported mechanisms. A challenge in the field of addiction, therefore, has been to identify drug‐induced changes in brain circuitry that may subserve long‐lasting changes...
Methamphetamine (METH) is a psychostimulant that induces long‐term deficits of dopamine terminal markers and apoptotic cell death in the striatum. Our laboratory demonstrated that pharmacological blockade of the neurokinin‐1 receptor attenuated the METH‐induced damage to the striatal dopamine terminals and the apoptotic cell death of some striatal neurons. Here, we used histological methods to assess...
The release of transmitter at neuromuscular junctions (NMJ) of the opener muscle in crayfish is quantal in nature. This NMJ offers the advantage of being able to record quantal events at specific visually identified release sites, thus allowing measurement of the physiological parameters of vesicle release and its response to be directly correlated with synaptic structure. These experiments take advantage...
The goal of the present investigation was to determine the persistence of striatal (DA) dopaminergic dysfunction after a mild chemically induced hypoxic event in Fisher 344 rats. To this end, we gave a single injection of the mitochondrial complex II inhibitor 3‐nitropropionic acid (3‐NP; 16.5 mg/kg, i.p.) to 2‐month old male F344 rats and measured various indices of striatal DA functioning and lipid...
Cannabis use during adolescence is associated with an increased risk for schizophrenia and other disorders. The neuronal basis is unclear, but prefrontal cortical mechanisms have been implicated. Here, we investigated developmental changes in the endocannabinoid system by assessing expression and function of the CB1 cannabinoid receptor in prefrontal and other cortical areas in juvenile (postnatal...
The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) plays a role in anticipation of rewards and goal orientation, properties that are influenced by cocaine administration. Single‐unit firing was measured in the mPFC of seven male rats during the expression of approach responses toward a sexually receptive female. Nose‐poking in male rats was used as a measure of approach behavior during the following periods: a baseline,...
Neurons in the hippocampus exhibit subpopulations of dendritic spines that contain endoplasmic reticulum (ER). ER in spines is important for synaptic activity and its associated Ca2+ signaling. The dynamic distribution of ER to spines is regulated by diacylglycerol and partly mediated by protein kinase C, metalloproteinases and γ‐secretase. In this study, we explored whether pharmacological activation...
Most antipsychotic (AP) drugs are dopamine (DA) D2 receptor (DRD2) antagonists and remain the main pharmacological treatment of schizophrenia. Long‐term AP use can give rise to tardive dyskinesia. It has been reported that chronic treatment with APs induces DRD2 upregulation and oxidative stress, which have been associated with tardive dyskinesia. We showed previously that H2O2‐induced oxidative stress...
Two positron emission tomography radiotracers for the glycine transporter 1 (GlyT1) are reported here. Each radiotracer is a propylsulfonamide‐containing benzamide and was labeled with either carbon‐11 or fluorine‐18. [11C]CMPyPB was synthesized by the alkylation of a 3‐hydroxypyridine precursor using [11C]MeI, and [18F]MK‐6577 was synthesized by a nucleophilic aromatic substitution reaction using...
In the rat superior cervical ganglion, a form of long term potentiation (LTP) can be elicited by a brief high frequency stimuli applied to the preganglionic nerve. Cumulative evidence shows that a transient increase in cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration is essential for the generation of the ganglionic LTP. Calcium influx and calcium release from intracellular calcium stores contribute to LTP. However,...
Escitalopram, the S‐enantiomer of citalopram, possesses superior efficacy compared to other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in the treatment of major depression. Escitalopram binds to an allosteric site on the serotonin transporter, which further enhances the blockade of serotonin reuptake, whereas R‐citalopram antagonizes this positive allosteric modulation. Escitalopram's effects...
Cannabinoid effects are mediated through two receptors, CB1 and CB2. In the retina CB1 has been reported in bipolar cells, gabaergic amacrine cells, horizontal cells, and inner plexiform layer. CB2 receptor mRNA localization was shown in photoreceptors, inner nuclear layer, and ganglion cell layer by using RT‐PCR. The aim of this work was to localize CB2 receptor in the rat retina by using immunocytochemistry...
Set the date range to filter the displayed results. You can set a starting date, ending date or both. You can enter the dates manually or choose them from the calendar.