Neuroscience
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Diabetic encephalopathy is a central nervous complication of diabetes mellitus which is characterized by cognitive impairment and structural and neurochemical abnormalities, which is easily neglected. Lipocalin-2 (LCN2) is a 25 kDa transporter in the lipocalin family that can transport small molecules, including fatty acids, iron, steroids, and lipopolysaccharides in the circulation. ⋯ Nevertheless, its precise role in the pathogenesis of diabetic encephalopathy remains to be determined. In this paper, we review recent evidence on the role of LCN2 in diabetic encephalopathy from multiple perspectives in order to decipher the impact of LCN2 in both the aetiology and treatment of diabetic encephalopathy.
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Exercise supports brain health in part by enhancing hippocampal function. The leading hypothesis is that muscles release factors when they contract (e.g., lactate, myokines, growth factors) that enter circulation and reach the brain where they enhance plasticity (e.g., increase neurogenesis and synaptogenesis). However, it remains unknown how the muscle signals are transduced by the hippocampal cells to modulate network activity and synaptic development. ⋯ This was accompanied by a 4.4- and 1.4-fold increase in the proliferation of astrocytes and neurons, respectively. Further, experiments established that factors released by astrocytes inhibit neuronal hyper-excitability induced by muscle media, and facilitate network development. Results provide new insight into how exercise may support hippocampal function by regulating astrocyte proliferation and subsequent taming of neuronal activity into an integrated network.
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There are numerous clinical reports that youth with cerebral palsy (CP) have proprioceptive, stereognosis and tactile discrimination deficits. The growing consensus is that the altered perceptions in this population are attributable to aberrant somatosensory cortical activity seen during stimulus processing. It has been inferred from these results that youth with CP likely do not adequately process ongoing sensory feedback during motor performance. ⋯ Furthermore, the strength of the somatosensory cortical responses during the passive condition were positively associated with the strength of somatosensory cortical responses during the haptic condition (r = 0.75, P = 0.004). This indicates that the aberrant somatosensory cortical responses seen in youth with CP during rest are a good predictor of the extent of somatosensory cortical dysfunction during the performance of motor actions. These data provide novel evidence that aberrations in somatosensory cortical function in youth with CP likely contribute to the difficulties in sensorimotor integration and the ability to effectively plan and execute motor actions.
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Prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) are socially monogamous rodents that form selective, long-lasting relationships with mates and with same-sex peers. It is unknown to what extent mechanisms supporting 'peer relationships' are similar to those involved in mate relationships. The formation of pair bonds is dependent on dopamine neurotransmission, whereas the formation of peer relationships is not, providing evidence of relationship type-specificity. ⋯ These findings suggest that elevated D1 binding may be both a cause and a consequence of reduced prosociality. These results highlight the neural and behavioral consequences of different non-reproductive social environments and contribute to growing evidence that the mechanisms underlying reproductive and non-reproductive relationship formation are distinct. Elucidation of the latter is necessary to understand mechanisms underlying social behavior beyond a mating context.