Brain research
-
Previous studies have shown that the morphology and number of cells in the spinal cord dorsal horn could change following peripheral nerve injury and that the Hippo signaling pathway plays an important role in cell growth, proliferation, apoptosis, and dendritic remolding. In the present study, we examined whether the expression of YAP and TAZ, two critical components regulated by Hippo signaling, in the spinal cord dorsal horn would be altered by chronic constriction sciatic nerve injury (CCI). ⋯ These findings indicate that peripheral nerve injury induced time-dependent and region-specific changes in the spinal YAP and TAZ expression. A role for Hippo signaling in synaptic and structural plasticity is discussed in relation to the cellular mechanism of neuropathic pain.
-
Assays on "ex vivo" sections of rat hippocampus and rat cerebral cortex, subjected to oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) and a three-hour reperfusion-like (RL) recovery, were performed in the presence of either GABA or the GABA(A) receptor binding site antagonist, bicuculline. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and propidium iodide were used to quantify cell mortality. We also measured, using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), the early transcriptional response of a number of genes of the glutamatergic and GABAergic systems. ⋯ Mortality assays revealed that GABAA receptor chloride channels play an important role in the neuroprotective effect of GABA in the cerebral cortex, but have a much smaller effect in the hippocampus. We also found that GABA reverses the OGD-dependent decrease in GABA(A) receptor transcript levels, as well as mRNA levels of the membrane and vesicular glutamate transporter genes. Based on the markers used, we conclude that OGD results in differential responses in the GABAergic presynaptic and postsynaptic systems.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell transplantation significantly improves neurological function in patients with sequelae of traumatic brain injury.
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of transplantation with umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells in patients with sequelae of traumatic brain injury (TBI). The study hypothesis was that umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell transplantation could safely and effectively improve neurological function in patients with sequelae of traumatic brain injury. Forty patients with sequelae of TBI were randomly assigned to the stem cell treatment group or the control group. ⋯ All in all, the study results confirmed that the umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell transplantation improved the neurological function and self-care in patients with TBI sequels. Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell transplantation may be a potential treatment for patients with sequelae of TBI. Further research, including a multicenter and large sample size prospective randomized clinical trial, will be required to define definitively the role of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell transplantation on sequelae of TBI.
-
Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) treatment yields conflicting results on blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity under various pathological conditions and the effects of HBO on healthy brain is poorly understood. In this experimental study, the effects of HBO on BBB integrity were investigated in comparison with hyperbaric air (HBA) in intact rats. Four sessions of HBA or HBO were applied to intact rats in 24h. ⋯ Ultrastructurally, frequent vesicles containing HRP reaction products were observed in capillary endothelial cells in cerebral cortex and hippocampus of rats subjected to both HBA and HBO. Our results indicate that the HBO administration to intact rats increased BBB permeability to both EB and HRP while HBA increased only HRP extravasation in these animals. The results of this study suggest that HBA also impairs the BBB integrity in intact rats as well as HBO.
-
Exposure to addictive drugs has been associated with disrupted brain white matter integrity. A few studies have examined the white matter deficits in heroin users; however, the results were influenced by the use of substitution drugs such as methadone and buprenorphine. The present study assessed the alteration in white matter integrity and heroin-related neuropathology in heroin dependents who had not received any replacement therapy using quantitative diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). ⋯ In addition, there were no significant correlations between duration of heroin use or accumulated dosage and FA or λ┴ values. In conclusion, chronic heroin-dependent subjects had widespread disruption of white matter structural connectivity located mainly in anterior and superior regions of the brain. Damage to myelin other than axons was the primary pathological feature in the brain of the heroin user.