Neuroscience letters
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Neuroscience letters · Jun 2015
Transcranial direct current stimulation over prefrontal cortex diminishes degree of risk aversion.
Previous studies have established that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a powerful technique for manipulating the activity of the human cerebral cortex. Many studies have found that weighing the risks and benefits in decision-making involves a complex neural network that includes the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). We studied whether participants change the balance of risky and safe responses after receiving tDCS applied over the right and left prefrontal cortex. ⋯ We also found gender differences in the participants' choices. These findings extend the notion that DLPFC activity is critical for risk decision-making. Application of tDCS to the right/left DLPFC may impact a person's attitude to taking risks.
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Neuroscience letters · Jun 2015
Deletion of aquaporin-4 is neuroprotective during the acute stage of micro traumatic brain injury in mice.
Micro traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the most common type of brain injury, but the mechanisms underlying it are poorly understood. Aquaporin-4 (AQP4) is a water channel expressed in astrocyte end-feet, which plays an important role in brain edema. However, little is known about the role of AQP4 in micro TBI. ⋯ Our results indicate that AQP4 deletion reduced cell death, water content, astrocyte swelling and lesion volume during the acute stage of micro TBI. Our data revealed that astrocyte swelling is a decisive pathophysiological factor in the acute phase of this form of micro brain injury. Thus, treatments that inhibit AQP4 could be used as a neuroprotective strategy for micro TBI.
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Neuroscience letters · Jun 2015
Antiallodynic effect of tianeptine via modulation of the 5-HT7 receptor of GABAergic interneurons in the spinal cord of neuropathic rats.
Although tianeptine, an atypical antidepressant has been reported to have antinociceptive effects, the mode of action is different from that of tricyclic antidepressants despite structural similarities. We examined the antiallodynic effect of intrathecal tianeptine in neuropathic pain rats and determined the involvement of 5-hydroxytryptamine type 7 (5-HT7) receptor of the GABAergic interneurons in the spinal cord. Neuropathic pain was induced by spinal nerve ligation (SNL). ⋯ Both GAD65 expression and the GABA concentration in the spinal cord were decreased in neuropathic rats but were increased by tianeptine. Additionally, 5-HT7 receptor and GAD65 were co-localized in the spinal cord. Intrathecal tianeptine reduces neuropathic pain. 5-HT7 receptor of the GABAergic interneurons together with GAD65 plays a role in the activity of tianeptine at the spinal cord level.
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Neuroscience letters · Jun 2015
Effects of α2-adorenoceptor agonist dexmedetomidine on respiratory rhythm generation of newborn rats.
Dexmedetomidine, an α2-adrenoceptor agonist which has a slight side effect on breathing, is clinically used as an analgesic and sedative agent. Previous studies have shown depressing or modest effects of α2-adorenoceptor agonists on respiratory rhythm generation in newborn rat preparation in vitro. In contrast, it was recently reported that dexmedetomidine induced long-lasting activation of respiratory rhythm in brainstem-spinal cord preparation isolated from neonatal mice. ⋯ Spinal cord reflex responses were depressed by the application of dexmedetomidine at the range of 0.1-1nM, a lower concentration than that affecting respiratory rhythm. The inhibitory effect was also reversed by atipamezole. Our findings provide neuronal mechanisms that support the clinical use of dexmedetomidine, which shows sedative and antinociceptive effects with minimal side effects on breathing.
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Neuroscience letters · Jun 2015
Neuroprotective effects of MK-801 against traumatic brain injury in immature rats.
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major health problem in pediatric ages and also has major social, economic, and emotional outcomes, with diverse sequelae in many spheres of everyday life. We aimed to investigate the effect of MK-801, a competitive NMDA receptor antagonist, on hippocampal damage and behavioral deficits on 10-day-old rat pups subjected to contusion injury. The aims of the present study were to determine: (i) the short term effects of MK-801 on hippocampal BDNF, NGF and NMDA receptor immunoreactivity and neuron density in hippocampus (ii) long term effects of MK-801 on cognitive dysfunction following TBI in the immature rats. ⋯ Histopathological and immunohistochemical evaluations showed that treatment with a single dose of 1mg/kg MK-801 (i.p.) significantly ameliorated the trauma induced hippocampal neuron loss and decreased BDNF, NGF and NMDAR expressions in CA1, CA3 and DG hippocampal brain regions. Additionally, treatment with MK-801 ameliorated anxiety and hippocampus dependent memory of animals subjected to trauma. These results show that acute treatment of MK-801 has a neuroprotective role against trauma induced hippocampal neuron loss and associated cognitive impairment in immature rats.