Neuroscience
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Vitamin A (VA) has many functions in the body, some of which are key for the development and functioning of the nervous system, while some others might indirectly influence neural function. Both hypovitaminosis and hypervitaminosis A can lead to clinical manifestations of concern for individuals and for general global health. Scientific evidence on the link between VA and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is growing, with some clinical studies and accumulating results obtained from basic research using cellular and animal models. ⋯ However, it is important to recognize that ASD is a highly heterogeneous condition. Therefore, it is important to clarify how and when VA supplementation can be of benefit for affected individuals. Here we delve into the relationship between VA and ASD, discussing clinical observations and mechanistic insights obtained from research on selected autistic syndromes and laboratory models to advance in defining how the VA signaling pathway can be exploited for treatment of ASD.
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Early childhood serves as a critical period for neural development and skill acquisition when children are extremely susceptible to the external environment and experience. As a crucial experiential stimulus, physical activity is believed to produce a series of positive effects on brain development, such as cognitive function, social-emotional abilities, and psychological well-being. The World Health Organization recommends that children engage in sufficient daily physical activity, which has already been strongly advocated in the practice of preschool education. ⋯ Therefore, we hypothesized that serotonin emerges as a pivotal transmitter that mediates the relationship between physical activity and brain development during early childhood. Further systematic reviews and meta-analyses are needed to specifically explore whether the type, intensity, dosage, duration, and degree of voluntariness of PA may affect the role of serotonin in the relationship between physical activity and brain function. This review not only helps us understand the impact of exercise on development but also provides a solid theoretical basis for increasing physical activity during early childhood.
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Undergraduate students are frequently afflicted by major depressive disorder (MDD). Oxidative and nitrosative stress (O&NS) has been implicated in the pathophysiology of MDD. There is no information regarding whether mild outpatient MDD (SDMD) and first episode SDMD (FE-SDMD) are accompanied by O&NS. ⋯ O&NS pathways, NLEs and ACEs accounted for 51.7 % of the variance in the phenome of depression, and O&NS and NLS explained 42.9 % of the variance in brooding. Overall, these results indicate that SDMD and FE-SDMD are characterized by reduced total antioxidant defenses and increased aldehyde and NOx production. The combined effects of oxidative and psychological stressors are substantially associated with the manifestation of SDMD.
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Glucocorticoids (GCs) are widely used as powerful anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive therapeutics in multiple pathological conditions. However, compelling evidence indicates that they might promote neurodegeneration by altering mitochondrial homeostatic processes. ⋯ In this report, we have compared the neurotoxicity induced by dexamethasone, prednisolone, betamethasone, and hydrocortisone in cultured neuroblastoma cells, through the analysis of several parameters such as cell viability, ER stress, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial fusion and fission markers. Interestingly, we have found that synthetic glucocorticoids may impact neuronal viability by affecting different cellular responses, suggesting that their therapeutic use should be consciously decided after careful consideration of benefits and detrimental effects.
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Cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury (CIRI) is a common feature of ischemic stroke leading to a poor prognosis. Effective treatments targeting I/R injury are still insufficient. The study aimed to investigate the mechanisms, by which glycyrrhizic acid (18β-GA) in ameliorates CIRI. ⋯ However, the JAK2/STAT3 activator colivelin TFA abolished the inhibitory effect of 18β-GA, suppressed autophagy, and significantly decreased the Bcl-2/Bax ratio. Taken together, these findings suggested that 18β-GA pretreatment ameliorated CIRI partly by triggering a protective autophagy via the JAK2/STAT3 pathway. Therefore might be a potential drug candidate for treating ischemic stroke.