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Scientific Reports Jan 2020Various neural systems cooperate in feeding behaviour, and olfaction plays crucial roles in detecting and evaluating food objects. While odour-mediated feeding behaviour...
Various neural systems cooperate in feeding behaviour, and olfaction plays crucial roles in detecting and evaluating food objects. While odour-mediated feeding behaviour is highly adaptive and influenced by metabolic state, hedonic cues and learning processes, the underlying mechanism is not well understood. Feeding behaviour is regulated by orexigenic and anorexigenic neuromodulatory molecules. However, knowledge of their roles especially in higher olfactory areas is limited. Given the potentiation of feeding behaviour in hunger state, we systemically examined the expression of feeding-related neuromodulatory molecules in food-restricted mice through quantitative PCR, in the olfactory bulb (OB), olfactory tubercle (OT), and remaining olfactory cortical area (OC). The OT was further divided into attraction-related anteromedial, aversion-related lateral and remaining central regions. Examination of 23 molecules including neuropeptides, opioids, cannabinoids, and their receptors as well as signalling molecules showed that they had different expression patterns, with many showing elevated expression in the OT, especially in the anteromedial and central OT. Further, in mice trained with odour-food association, the expression was significantly altered and the increase or decrease of a given molecule varied among areas. These results suggest that different olfactory areas are regulated separately by feeding-related molecules, which contributes to the adaptive regulation of feeding behaviour.
Topics: Animals; Blood Glucose; Feeding Behavior; Gene Expression Regulation; Insulin; Male; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Neurotransmitter Agents; Odorants; Olfactory Bulb; Olfactory Tubercle; Receptors, Neurotransmitter; Reward; Signal Transduction
PubMed: 31964903
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-57605-7 -
Brain and Behavior Dec 2023Since 2002, when we published our article about the anterior perforated substance (APS), the knowledge about the region has grown enormously.
INTRODUCTION
Since 2002, when we published our article about the anterior perforated substance (APS), the knowledge about the region has grown enormously.
OBJECTIVE
To make a better description of the anatomy of the zone with new dissection material added to the previous, to sustain the anatomical analysis of the MRI employing the SPACE sequence, interacting with our imagenology colleagues. Especially, we aim to identify and topographically localize by MRI the principal structures in APS-substantia innominata (SI).
METHOD
The presentation follows various steps: (1) location and boundaries of the zone and its neighboring areas; (2) schematic description of the region with simple outlines; (3) cursory revision of the SI and its three systems; (4) serial images of the dissections of the zone and its vessels, illustrated and completed when possible, by MRI images of a voluntary experimental subject (ES).
RESULTS
With this method, we could expose most of the structures of the region anatomically and imagenologically.
DISCUSSION
The zone can be approached for dissection with magnification and the habitual microsurgical instruments with satisfactory results. We think that fibers in this region should be followed by other anatomical methods in addition to tractography. The principal structures of ventral striopallidum and extended amygdala (EA) can be identified with the SPACE sequence. The amygdala and the basal ganglion of Meynert (BGM) are easily confused because of their similar signal. Anatomical clues can orient the clinician about the different clusters of the BGM in MRI.
CONCLUSIONS
The dissection requires a previous knowledge of the zone and a good amount of patience. The APS is a little space where concentrate essential vessels for the telencephalon, "en passage" or perforating, and neural structures of relevant functional import. From anatomical and MRI points of view, both neural and vascular structures follow a harmonious and topographically describable plan. The SPACE MRI sequence has proved to be a useful tool for identifying different structures in this area as the striatopallidal and EA. Anatomical knowledge of the fibers helps in the search of clusters of the basal ganglion.
Topics: Basal Ganglia; Substantia Innominata; Amygdala; Olfactory Tubercle; Basal Nucleus of Meynert
PubMed: 38010896
DOI: 10.1002/brb3.3029 -
Frontiers in Neurology 2020Autoimmune encephalitic syndromes include mutism, somnolence, movement disorder, and behavioral, or psychiatric symptoms. When paired with bilateral basal ganglia...
Autoimmune encephalitic syndromes include mutism, somnolence, movement disorder, and behavioral, or psychiatric symptoms. When paired with bilateral basal ganglia lesions on magnetic resonance imaging, these support the diagnosis of basal ganglia encephalitis (BGE). BGE is a rare but distinct entity of putative autoimmune etiology, with specific basal ganglia inflammation and acute movement disorders. A previous study identified dopamine-2 receptors (D2R) antibody to be positive in most BGE children, indicating that the D2R antibody may trigger the downstream pathological process in BGE patients. The highest levels of D2R are found in the striatum, the nucleus accumbens, and the olfactory tubercle. D2R antibody-positive BGE is widely reported in children. Here we present a 17-year-old girl with a typical clinical feature of basal ganglia encephalitis, who benefited from immune therapy.
PubMed: 32612568
DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.00471 -
Annals of Translational Medicine Dec 2019Endometriosis (EM) is a common gynecological disease in women of reproductive age. These patients in approximately 80% suffer the various degree pain. This study will...
BACKGROUND
Endometriosis (EM) is a common gynecological disease in women of reproductive age. These patients in approximately 80% suffer the various degree pain. This study will investigate synergistically the mechanism of the higher-position central sensitization and offer a pre-clinical experiment evidence for treatment of various location-EM patients with pain.
METHODS
Twenty Sprague-Dawley rats were induced three types EM including abdominal EM (n=5), gastrocnemius EM (n=5) and ovary EM group (n=5) and one sham control group (n=5). All groups were measured the pain sensitization by hotplate test, then scanned by the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The resting-state fMRI (rs-fMRI) date was analyzed using regional homogeneity (ReHo) approach to find out the abnormal functional activity brain regions. Nissl staining method observed the state of neurons in aberrant ReHo signal brain regions.
RESULTS
Rats with EM pain sensitization were increased in abdominal EM and gastrocnemius EM than ovary EM group and sham control. The ReHo value is decreased in gastrocnemius EM in right thalamus and left olfactory tubercle compared with other three groups. The number of neurons was decreased; cavitation around nucleus, and pyknotic homogenous nuclei. Nissl bodies were stained deeply, and the shape was irregular in gastrocnemius EM by Nissl staining in right thalamus. In left olfactory tubercle, there was no significant difference in 4 groups.
CONCLUSIONS
The thalamus may be the potential key brain region for the central sensitization mechanism of various location-EM pain. The oxidative activation may be weakened in thalamus in gastrocnemius EM group with more severe pain. This finding could lend support for future research on the imageology and pathology of various location-EM pain.
PubMed: 32042783
DOI: 10.21037/atm.2019.11.73 -
Biology Letters Apr 2021Developmental studies of brain volumes can reveal which portions of neural circuits are sensitive to environmental inputs. In social insects, differences in relative...
Developmental studies of brain volumes can reveal which portions of neural circuits are sensitive to environmental inputs. In social insects, differences in relative investment across brain regions emerge as behavioural repertoires change during ontogeny or as a result of experience. Here, we test the effects of maturation and social experience on morphological brain development in paper wasps focusing on brain regions involved in visual and olfactory processing. We find that mature wasps regardless of social experience have relatively larger brains than newly emerged wasps and this difference is driven by changes to mushroom body calyx and visual regions but not olfactory processing neuropils. Notably, social wasps invest more in the anterior optic tubercle (AOT), a visual glomerulus involved in colour and object processing in other taxa, relative to other visual integration centres the mushroom body calyces compared with aged socially naive wasps. Differences in developmental plasticity between visual and olfactory neuropil volumes are discussed in light of behavioural maturation in paper wasps, especially as it relates to social recognition. Previous research has shown that need social experience to develop specialized visual processing of faces, which is used to individually recognize conspecifics. The present study suggests that the AOT is a candidate brain region that could mediate facial processing in this species.
Topics: Animals; Brain; Cognition; Recognition, Psychology; Wasps
PubMed: 33849349
DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2021.0073 -
Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience 2022The methyl-CpG binding protein 2 gene () encodes an epigenetic transcriptional regulator implicated in neuronal plasticity. Loss-of-function mutations in this gene are...
The methyl-CpG binding protein 2 gene () encodes an epigenetic transcriptional regulator implicated in neuronal plasticity. Loss-of-function mutations in this gene are the primary cause of Rett syndrome and, to a lesser degree, of other neurodevelopmental disorders. Recently, we demonstrated that both haploinsuficiency and mild early life stress decrease anxiety-like behaviours and neuronal activation in brain areas controlling these responses in adolescent female mice. Here, we extend this work to males by using -null and wild type adolescent mice subjected to maternal separation and their non-stressed controls. We assessed their behavioural responses in a battery of anxiety-provoking tests. Upon exposure to an elevated plus maze in aversive conditions, we evaluated changes in c-FOS expression in stress- and anxiety-related brain regions. In addition, we assessed the impact of maternal separation in neuronal maturation using doublecortin and reelin as surrogate markers. Mutant males showed reduced motor abilities, increased activation of the olfactory bulbs, probably due to breathing abnormalities, and decreased activation of the paraventricular thalamic nucleus, when compared to wild type mice. In addition, maternal separation increased the number of immature doublecortin-like neurons found in -null animals. Moreover, this work shows for the first time that reelin is decreased in the mutant animals at the olfactory tubercle, piriform cortex and hippocampal dentate gyrus, an effect also associated to maternal separation. Taken together, our results suggest that maternal separation exacerbates some phenotypical alterations associated with lack of MeCP2 in adolescent males.
PubMed: 36082308
DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.974692 -
Addiction Neuroscience Dec 2023Epidermal/brain fatty acid-binding protein 5 (FABP5) plays an integral role in the intracellular trafficking of bioactive lipids/endocannabinoids and the subsequent...
Epidermal/brain fatty acid-binding protein 5 (FABP5) plays an integral role in the intracellular trafficking of bioactive lipids/endocannabinoids and the subsequent initiation of cellular cascades affecting cannabinoid and dopamine (DA) systems. Social isolation (SI) and environmental enrichment (EE) during adolescence have been shown to impact DA signaling, and, specifically, DA transporter (DAT) and receptor levels of DA type 1 (D1) and 2 (D2); however, the relationship between FABP5, environment and DA signaling remains unclear. The present study quantified DAT and DA receptor levels in male/female FABP5-/- and FABP5+/+ mice raised in either SI or EE. Results showed that FABP5-/- mice had 6.09-8.81% greater D1 levels in striatal sub-regions of the caudal brain, independent of sex or environment. D1 levels were 8.03% greater only in the olfactory tubercle of enrichment-reared animals. In summary, these results supported that FABP5 plays an important function in regulating striatal DA signaling, and this may have important implications as a target with therapeutic potential for various psychiatric disorders.
PubMed: 37664218
DOI: 10.1016/j.addicn.2023.100118 -
Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.) Aug 2020The current study examined whether adolescents with weight status ranging from lean to obesity showed weight-related differences in the default mode network (DMN), the...
OBJECTIVE
The current study examined whether adolescents with weight status ranging from lean to obesity showed weight-related differences in the default mode network (DMN), the executive function network (EFN), and the salience network (SN).
METHODS
One hundred sixty-four adolescents participated in a resting-state functional connectivity scan. A general linear model was used to examine differences in scan patterns among adolescents with lean weight, overweight, and obesity.
RESULTS
Adolescents with obesity compared with those with lean weight showed stronger within-SN connectivity among the medial orbitofrontal cortex, olfactory tubercle, and pallidum; however, they showed lower connectivity between the amygdala and SN regions (nucleus accumbens, thalamus, putamen). Those with obesity also showed lower connectivity between SN (amygdala, caudate) and DMN (parahippocampus, hippocampus, precuneus) regions. Adolescents with obesity compared with those with lean weight showed lower connectivity between SN (medial orbitofrontal cortex) and EFN (ventrolateral prefrontal cortex) regions.
CONCLUSIONS
Obesity appears to be related to stronger connectivity within and between regions implicated in determining the salience of stimuli, which may have implications for reward processing. Lower connectivity between SN and EFN regions may suggest that executive-control efforts are going "off-line" when salience and reward-processing regions are engaged in adolescents who have obesity.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Brain; Child, Preschool; Executive Function; Female; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Neural Pathways; Young Adult
PubMed: 32633100
DOI: 10.1002/oby.22853 -
International Journal of Molecular... Aug 2021Mammalian transglutaminases (TGs) catalyze calcium-dependent irreversible posttranslational modifications of proteins and their enzymatic activities contribute to the...
Mammalian transglutaminases (TGs) catalyze calcium-dependent irreversible posttranslational modifications of proteins and their enzymatic activities contribute to the pathogenesis of several human neurodegenerative diseases. Although different transglutaminases are found in many different tissues, the TG6 isoform is mostly expressed in the CNS. The present study was embarked on/undertaken to investigate expression, distribution and activity of transglutaminases in Huntington disease transgenic rodent models, with a focus on analyzing the involvement of TG6 in the age- and genotype-specific pathological features relating to disease progression in HD transgenic mice and a tgHD transgenic rat model using biochemical, histological and functional assays. Our results demonstrate the physical interaction between TG6 and (mutant) huntingtin by co-immunoprecipitation analysis and the contribution of its enzymatic activity for the total aggregate load in SH-SY5Y cells. In addition, we identify that TG6 expression and activity are especially abundant in the olfactory tubercle and piriform cortex, the regions displaying the highest amount of mHTT aggregates in transgenic rodent models of HD. Furthermore, mHTT aggregates were colocalized within TG6-positive cells. These findings point towards a role of TG6 in disease pathogenesis via mHTT aggregate formation.
Topics: Animals; Disease Models, Animal; Huntingtin Protein; Huntington Disease; Mice; Mice, Transgenic; Mutant Proteins; Mutation; Neurons; Rats; Transglutaminases
PubMed: 34445621
DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168914 -
International Journal of Molecular... Apr 2021Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus‑2 (SARS‑CoV‑2), the causative viral agent for the ongoing COVID‑19 pandemic, enters its host cells primarily...
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus‑2 (SARS‑CoV‑2), the causative viral agent for the ongoing COVID‑19 pandemic, enters its host cells primarily via the binding of the SARS‑CoV‑2 spike (S) proteins to the angiotensin‑converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). A number of other cell entry mediators have also been identified, including neuropilin‑1 (NRP1) and transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2). More recently, it has been demonstrated that transmembrane protease serine 4 (TMPRSS4) along with TMPRSS2 activate the SARS‑CoV‑2 S proteins, and enhance the viral infection of human small intestinal enterocytes. To date, a systematic analysis of TMPRSS4 in health and disease is lacking. In the present study, using tools, the gene expression and genetic alteration of TMPRSS4 were analysed across numerous tumours and compared to controls. The observations were also expanded to the level of the central nervous system (CNS). The findings revealed that TMPRSS4 was overexpressed in 11 types of cancer, including lung adenocarcinoma, lung squamous cell carcinoma, cervical squamous cell carcinoma, thyroid carcinoma, ovarian cancer, cancer of the rectum, pancreatic cancer, colon and stomach adenocarcinoma, uterine carcinosarcoma and uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma, whilst it was significantly downregulated in kidney carcinomas, acute myeloid leukaemia, skin cutaneous melanoma and testicular germ cell tumours. Finally, a high TMPRSS4 expression was documented in the olfactory tubercle, paraolfactory gyrus and frontal operculum, all brain regions which are associated with the sense of smell and taste. Collectively, these data suggest that TMPRSS4 may play a role in COVID‑19 symptomatology as another SARS‑CoV‑2 host cell entry mediator responsible for the tropism of this coronavirus both in the periphery and the CNS.
Topics: Brain; COVID-19; Central Nervous System; Computer Simulation; Databases, Genetic; Female; Gastrointestinal Tract; Gene Expression Profiling; Host Microbial Interactions; Humans; Male; Membrane Proteins; Neoplasms; Pandemics; SARS-CoV-2; Serine Endopeptidases; Virus Internalization
PubMed: 33649798
DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2021.4897