Behavioral And Brain Functions[JOURNAL]
Sun
200 papers
NLRP1 inflammasome involves in learning and memory impairments and neuronal damages during aging process in mice.
Sun D, Gao G, Zhong B … +5 more , Zhang H, Ding S, Sun Z, Zhang Y, Li W
Behav Brain Funct · 2021 Dec · PMID 34920732 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Brain aging is an important risk factor in many human diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). The production of excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) mediated by nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate...
BACKGROUND: Brain aging is an important risk factor in many human diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). The production of excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) mediated by nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase 2 (NOX2) and the maturation of inflammatory cytokines caused by activation of the NOD-like receptor protein 1 (NLRP1) inflammasome play central roles in promoting brain aging. However, it is still unclear when and how the neuroinflammation appears in the brain during aging process. METHODS: In this study, we observed the alterations of learning and memory impairments, neuronal damage, NLRP1 inflammasome activation, ROS production and NOX2 expression in the young 6-month-old (6 M) mice, presenile 16 M mice, and older 20 M and 24 M mice. RESULTS: The results indicated that, compared to 6 M mice, the locomotor activity, learning and memory abilities were slightly decreased in 16 M mice, and were significantly decreased in 20 M and 24 M mice, especially in the 24 M mice. The pathological results also showed that there were no significant neuronal damages in 6 M and 16 M mice, while there were obvious neuronal damages in 20 M and 24 M mice, especially in the 24 M group. Consistent with the behavioral and histological changes in the older mice, the activity of β-galactosidase (β-gal), the levels of ROS and IL-1β, and the expressions of NLRP1, ASC, caspase-1, NOX2, p47phox and p22phox were significantly increased in the cortex and hippocampus in the older 20 M and 24 M mice. CONCLUSION: Our study suggested that NLRP1 inflammasome activation may be closely involved in aging-related neuronal damage and may be an important target for preventing brain aging.
Sex-specific effects of neonatal progestin receptor antagonism on juvenile social play behavior in rats.
Forbes-Lorman RM
Behav Brain Funct · 2021 Nov · PMID 34740365 · Full text
Developing mammals are exposed to progesterone through several sources; however, the role of progesterone in early development is not well understood. Males express more progestin receptors (PRs) than females within seve...
Developing mammals are exposed to progesterone through several sources; however, the role of progesterone in early development is not well understood. Males express more progestin receptors (PRs) than females within several brain regions during early postnatal life, suggesting that PRs may be important for the organization of the sex differences in the brain and behavior. Indeed, previous studies showed cognitive impairments in male rats treated neonatally with a PR antagonist. In the present study, we examined the role of PRs in organizing juvenile behaviors. Social play behavior and social discrimination were examined in juvenile male and female rats that had been treated with CDB, a PR antagonist, during the first week of postnatal life. Interestingly, neonatal PR antagonism altered different juvenile behaviors in males and females. A transient disruption in PR signaling during development had no effect on social discrimination but increased play initiation and pins in females. These data suggest that PRs play an important role in the organization of sex differences in some social behaviors.
Sex differences in spatial learning and memory and hippocampal long-term potentiation at perforant pathway-dentate gyrus (PP-DG) synapses in Wistar rats.
Safari S, Ahmadi N, Mohammadkhani R … +6 more , Ghahremani R, Khajvand-Abedeni M, Shahidi S, Komaki A, Salehi I, Karimi SA
Behav Brain Funct · 2021 Nov · PMID 34724971 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Recent studies show that gender may have a significant impact on brain functions. However, the reports of sex effects on spatial ability and synaptic plasticity in rodents are divergent and controversial. Her...
BACKGROUND: Recent studies show that gender may have a significant impact on brain functions. However, the reports of sex effects on spatial ability and synaptic plasticity in rodents are divergent and controversial. Here spatial learning and memory was measured in male and female rats by using Morris water maze (MWM) task. Moreover, to assess sex difference in hippocampal synaptic plasticity we examined hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) at perforant pathway-dentate gyrus (PP-DG) synapses. RESULTS: In MWM task, male rats outperformed female rats, as they had significantly shorter swim distance and escape latency to find the hidden platform during training days. During spatial reference memory test, female rats spent less time and traveled less distance in the target zone. Male rats also had larger LTP at PP-DG synapses, which was evident in the high magnitude of population spike (PS) potentiation and the field excitatory post synaptic potentials (fEPSP) slope. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our results suggest that sex differences in the LTP at PP-DG synapses, possibly contribute to the observed sex difference in spatial learning and memory.
The mystery of claustral neural circuits and recent updates on its role in neurodegenerative pathology.
Nikolenko VN, Rizaeva NA, Beeraka NM … +7 more , Oganesyan MV, Kudryashova VA, Dubovets AA, Borminskaya ID, Bulygin KV, Sinelnikov MY, Aliev G
Behav Brain Funct · 2021 Jul · PMID 34233707 · Full text
INTRODUCTION: The claustrum is a structure involved in formation of several cortical and subcortical neural microcircuits which may be involved in such functions as conscious sensations and rewarding behavior. The claust...
INTRODUCTION: The claustrum is a structure involved in formation of several cortical and subcortical neural microcircuits which may be involved in such functions as conscious sensations and rewarding behavior. The claustrum is regarded as a multi-modal information processing network. Pathology of the claustrum is seen in certain neurological disorders. To date, there are not enough comprehensive studies that contain accurate information regarding involvement of the claustrum in development of neurological disorders. OBJECTIVE: Our review aims to provide an update on claustrum anatomy, ontogenesis, cytoarchitecture, neural networks and their functional relation to the incidence of neurological diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A literature review was conducted using the Google Scholar, PubMed, NCBI MedLine, and eLibrary databases. RESULTS: Despite new methods that have made it possible to study the claustrum at the molecular, genetic and epigenetic levels, its functions and connectivity are still poorly understood. The anatomical location, relatively uniform cytoarchitecture, and vast network of connections suggest a divergent role of the claustrum in integration and processing of input information and formation of coherent perceptions. Several studies have shown changes in the appearance, structure and volume of the claustrum in neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's disease (PD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), autism, schizophrenia, and depressive disorders. Taking into account the structure, ontogenesis, and functions of the claustrum, this literature review offers insight into understanding the crucial role of this structure in brain function and behavior.
Schizophrenia, the gut microbiota, and new opportunities from optogenetic manipulations of the gut-brain axis.
Patrono E, Svoboda J, Stuchlík A
Behav Brain Funct · 2021 Jun · PMID 34158061 · Full text
Schizophrenia research arose in the twentieth century and is currently rapidly developing, focusing on many parallel research pathways and evaluating various concepts of disease etiology. Today, we have relatively good k...
Schizophrenia research arose in the twentieth century and is currently rapidly developing, focusing on many parallel research pathways and evaluating various concepts of disease etiology. Today, we have relatively good knowledge about the generation of positive and negative symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. However, the neural basis and pathophysiology of schizophrenia, especially cognitive symptoms, are still poorly understood. Finding new methods to uncover the physiological basis of the mental inabilities related to schizophrenia is an urgent task for modern neuroscience because of the lack of specific therapies for cognitive deficits in the disease. Researchers have begun investigating functional crosstalk between NMDARs and GABAergic neurons associated with schizophrenia at different resolutions. In another direction, the gut microbiota is getting increasing interest from neuroscientists. Recent findings have highlighted the role of a gut-brain axis, with the gut microbiota playing a crucial role in several psychopathologies, including schizophrenia and autism.There have also been investigations into potential therapies aimed at normalizing altered microbiota signaling to the enteric nervous system (ENS) and the central nervous system (CNS). Probiotics diets and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) are currently the most common therapies. Interestingly, in rodent models of binge feeding, optogenetic applications have been shown to affect gut colony sensitivity, thus increasing colonic transit. Here, we review recent findings on the gut microbiota-schizophrenia relationship using in vivo optogenetics. Moreover, we evaluate if manipulating actors in either the brain or the gut might improve potential treatment research. Such research and techniques will increase our knowledge of how the gut microbiota can manipulate GABA production, and therefore accompany changes in CNS GABAergic activity.
Molecular and cellular pathways contributing to brain aging.
Zia A, Pourbagher-Shahri AM, Farkhondeh T … +1 more , Samarghandian S
Behav Brain Funct · 2021 Jun · PMID 34118939 · Full text
Aging is the leading risk factor for several age-associated diseases such as neurodegenerative diseases. Understanding the biology of aging mechanisms is essential to the pursuit of brain health. In this regard, brain ag...
Aging is the leading risk factor for several age-associated diseases such as neurodegenerative diseases. Understanding the biology of aging mechanisms is essential to the pursuit of brain health. In this regard, brain aging is defined by a gradual decrease in neurophysiological functions, impaired adaptive neuroplasticity, dysregulation of neuronal Ca homeostasis, neuroinflammation, and oxidatively modified molecules and organelles. Numerous pathways lead to brain aging, including increased oxidative stress, inflammation, disturbances in energy metabolism such as deregulated autophagy, mitochondrial dysfunction, and IGF-1, mTOR, ROS, AMPK, SIRTs, and p53 as central modulators of the metabolic control, connecting aging to the pathways, which lead to neurodegenerative disorders. Also, calorie restriction (CR), physical exercise, and mental activities can extend lifespan and increase nervous system resistance to age-associated neurodegenerative diseases. The neuroprotective effect of CR involves increased protection against ROS generation, maintenance of cellular Ca homeostasis, and inhibition of apoptosis. The recent evidence about the modem molecular and cellular methods in neurobiology to brain aging is exhibiting a significant potential in brain cells for adaptation to aging and resistance to neurodegenerative disorders.
The effects of naloxone, diazepam, and quercetin on seizure and sedation in acute on chronic tramadol administration: an experimental study.
Nakhaee S, Farrokhfall K, Miri-Moghaddam E … +6 more , Foadoddini M, Askari M, Amirabadizadeh A, Brent J, Megarbane B, Mehrpour O
Behav Brain Funct · 2021 May · PMID 34051813 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Tramadol is a widely used synthetic opioid. Substantial research has previously focused on the neurological effects of this drug, while the efficacy of various treatments to reduce the associated side effects...
BACKGROUND: Tramadol is a widely used synthetic opioid. Substantial research has previously focused on the neurological effects of this drug, while the efficacy of various treatments to reduce the associated side effects has not been well studied. This study aimed to evaluate the protective effects of naloxone, diazepam, and quercetin on tramadol overdose-induced seizure and sedation level in male rats. METHODS: The project was performed with 72 male Wistar rats with an average weight of 200-250 g. The rats were randomly assigned to eight groups. Tramadol was administered intraperitoneally at an initial dose of 25 mg/kg/day. On the 14th day, tramadol was injected at 75 mg/kg, either alone or together with naloxone, diazepam, and quercetin (acute and chronic) individually or in combination. The rats were monitored for 6 h on the last day, and the number, the duration, and the severity of seizures (using the criteria of Racine) were measured over a 6-h observation period. The sedation level was also assessed based on a 4-point criterion, ranging from 0 to 3. Data were analyzed in SPSS software using Kruskal-Wallis, Chi-square, regression analysis, and generalized estimating equation (GEE) tests. The significance level was set at P < 0.05. RESULTS: The naloxone-diazepam combination reduced the number, severity, and cumulative duration of seizures compared to tramadol use alone and reduced the number of higher-intensity seizures (level 3, 4) to a greater extent than other treatments. Naloxone alone reduced the number and duration of seizures but increased the number of mild seizures (level 2). Diazepam decreased the severity and duration of seizures. However, it increased the number of mild seizures (level 2). In comparison with the tramadol alone group, the acute quercetin group exhibited higher numbers of mild (level 2) and moderate (level 3) seizures. Chronic quercetin administration significantly increased the number of mild seizures. In the GEE model, all groups had higher sedation levels than the saline only group (P < 0.001). None of the protocols had a significant effect on sedation levels compared to the tramadol group. CONCLUSION: The combined administration of naloxone and diazepam in acute-on-chronic tramadol poisoning can effectively reduce most seizure variables compared to tramadol use alone. However, none of the treatments improved sedation levels.
Distinct behavioral traits and associated brain regions in mouse models for obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Chen X, Yue J, Luo Y … +3 more , Huang L, Li B, Wen S
Behav Brain Funct · 2021 May · PMID 34006308 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental disease with heterogeneous behavioral phenotypes, including repetitive behaviors, anxiety, and impairments in cognitive functions. The brain regions related to...
BACKGROUND: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental disease with heterogeneous behavioral phenotypes, including repetitive behaviors, anxiety, and impairments in cognitive functions. The brain regions related to the behavioral heterogeneity, however, are unknown. METHODS: We systematically examined the behavioral phenotypes of three OCD mouse models induced by pharmacological reagents [RU24969, 8-hydroxy-DPAT hydrobromide (8-OH-DPAT), and 1-(3-chlorophenyl) piperazine hydrochloride-99% (MCPP)], and compared the activated brain regions in each model, respectively. RESULTS: We found that the mouse models presented distinct OCD-like behavioral traits. RU24969-treated mice exhibited repetitive circling, anxiety, and impairments in recognition memory. 8-OH-DPAT-treated mice exhibited excessive spray-induced grooming as well as impairments in recognition memory. MCPP-treated mice showed only excessive self-grooming. To determine the brain regions related to these distinct behavioral traits, we examined c-fos expression to indicate the neuronal activation in the brain. Our results showed that RU24969-treated mice exhibited increased c-fos expression in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), prelimbic cortex (PrL), infralimbic cortex (IL), nucleus accumbens (NAc), hypothalamus, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, lateral division, intermediate part (BSTLD), and interstitial nucleus of the posterior limb of the anterior commissure, lateral part (IPACL), whereas in 8-OH-DPAT-treated mice showed increased c-fos expression in the ACC, PrL, IL, OFC, NAc shell, and hypothalamus. By contrast, MCPP did not induce higher c-fos expression in the cortex than control groups. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that different OCD mouse models exhibited distinct behavioral traits, which may be mediated by the activation of different brain regions.
Linalool odor-induced analgesia is triggered by TRPA1-independent pathway in mice.
Kashiwadani H, Higa Y, Sugimura M … +1 more , Kuwaki T
Behav Brain Funct · 2021 Apr · PMID 33902628 · Full text
We had recently reported that linalool odor exposure induced significant analgesic effects in mice and that the effects were disappeared in olfactory-deprived mice in which the olfactory epithelium was damaged, thus indi...
We had recently reported that linalool odor exposure induced significant analgesic effects in mice and that the effects were disappeared in olfactory-deprived mice in which the olfactory epithelium was damaged, thus indicating that the effects were triggered by chemical senses evoked by linalool odor exposure. However, the peripheral neuronal mechanisms, including linalool receptors that contribute toward triggering the linalool odor-induced analgesia, still remain unexplored. In vitro studies have shown that the transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) responded to linalool, thus raising the possibility that TRPA1 expressed on the trigeminal nerve terminal detects linalool odor inhaled into the nostril and triggers the analgesic effects. To address this hypothesis, we measured the behavioral pain threshold for noxious mechanical stimulation in TRPA1-deficient mice. In contrast to our expectation, we found a significant increase in the threshold after linalool odor exposure in TRPA1-deficient mice, indicating the analgesic effects of linalool odor even in TRPA1-deficient mice. Furthermore, intranasal application of TRPA1 selective antagonist did not alter the analgesic effect of linalool odor. These results showed that the linalool odor-induced analgesia was triggered by a TRPA1-independent pathway in mice.
Susceptibility to chronic immobilization stress-induced depressive-like behaviour in middle-aged female mice and accompanying changes in dopamine D1 and GABA receptors in related brain regions.
Cao G, Meng G, Zhu L … +5 more , Zhu J, Dong N, Zhou X, Zhang S, Zhang Y
Behav Brain Funct · 2021 Apr · PMID 33863350 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Middle-aged females, especially perimenopausal females, are vulnerable to depression, but the potential mechanism remains unclear. Dopaminergic and GABAergic system dysfunction is involved in the pathophysiol...
BACKGROUND: Middle-aged females, especially perimenopausal females, are vulnerable to depression, but the potential mechanism remains unclear. Dopaminergic and GABAergic system dysfunction is involved in the pathophysiology of depression. In the current study, we used 2-month-old and 11-month-old C57BL/6 mice as young and middle-aged mice, respectively. Chronic immobilization stress (CIS) was used to induce depressive-like behaviour, and the sucrose preference test (SPT), tail suspension test (TST) and forced swim test (FST) were used to assess these behaviours. We then measured the mRNA levels of dopamine receptor D1 (DRD1) and the GABA receptors GABRA1, GABRB2 and GABRG2 in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and prefrontal cortex (PFC). RESULTS: We found that immobility time in the FST was significantly increased in the middle-aged mice compared with the middle-aged control mice and the young mice. In addition, the preference for sucrose water was reduced in the middle-aged mice compared with the middle-aged control mice. However, CIS did not induce obvious changes in the performance of the young mice in our behavioural tests. Moreover, the middle-aged mice exhibited equal immobility times as the young mice in the absence of stress. Decreases in the mRNA levels of DRD1, GABRA1, and GABRB2 but not GABRG2 were found in the NAc and PFC in the middle-aged mice in the absence of stress. Further decreases in the mRNA levels of DRD1 in the NAc and GABRG2 in the NAc and PFC were found in the middle-aged mice subjected to CIS. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggested that ageing could not directly induce depression in the absence of stress. However, ageing could induce susceptibility to depression in middle-aged mice in the presence of stress. CIS-induced decreases in DRD1 and GABRG2 levels might be involved in the increase in susceptibility to depression in this context.
The effect of the mGlu8 receptor agonist, (S)-3,4-DCPG on acquisition and expression of morphine-induced conditioned place preference in male rats.
Kahvandi N, Ebrahimi Z, Karimi SA … +4 more , Shahidi S, Salehi I, Naderishahab M, Sarihi A
Behav Brain Funct · 2021 Feb · PMID 33612106 · Full text
BACKGROUND: The nucleus accumbens (NAc) plays a principal role in drug reward. It has been reported that metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGlu receptors) play a key role in the rewarding pathway(s). Previous studies hav...
BACKGROUND: The nucleus accumbens (NAc) plays a principal role in drug reward. It has been reported that metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGlu receptors) play a key role in the rewarding pathway(s). Previous studies have shown the vast allocation of the different types of mGlu receptors, including mGlu8 receptors, in regions that are associated with opioid rewards, such as the NAc. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of mGlu8 receptors within the NAc in the acquisition and expression phases of morphine induced conditioned place preference (CPP). Adult male Wistar rats were bilaterally implanted by two cannulas' in the NAc and were evaluated in a CPP paradigm. Selective mGlu8 receptor allosteric agonist (S-3,4-DCPG) was administered at doses of 0.03, 0.3, and 3 μg/0.5 μL saline per side into the NAc on both sides during the 3 days of morphine (5 mg/kg) conditioning (acquisition) phase, or before place preference test, or post-conditioning (expression) phase of morphine-induced CPP. RESULTS: The results revealed that intra-accumbal administration of S-3,4-DCPG (0.3 and 3 μg) markedly decreased the acquisition in a dose-dependent manner but had no effect on expression of morphine-induced CPP. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that activation of mGlu8 receptors in the NAc dose-dependently blocks the establishment of morphine-induced CPP and reduces the rewarding properties of morphine which may be related to the glutamate activity into the NAc and in reward pathway(s). These data suggest that mGlu8 receptor may be involved in conditioned morphine reward.
Rapid acquisition of novel written word-forms: ERP evidence.
Bermúdez-Margaretto B, Shtyrov Y, Beltrán D … +2 more , Cuetos F, Domínguez A
Behav Brain Funct · 2020 Dec · PMID 33267883 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Novel word acquisition is generally believed to be a rapid process, essential for ensuring a flexible and efficient communication system; at least in spoken language, learners are able to construct memory tra...
BACKGROUND: Novel word acquisition is generally believed to be a rapid process, essential for ensuring a flexible and efficient communication system; at least in spoken language, learners are able to construct memory traces for new linguistic stimuli after just a few exposures. However, such rapid word learning has not been systematically found in visual domain, with different confounding factors obscuring the orthographic learning of novel words. This study explored the changes in human brain activity occurring online, during a brief training with novel written word-forms using a silent reading task RESULTS: Single-trial, cluster-based random permutation analysis revealed that training caused an extremely fast (after just one repetition) and stable facilitation in novel word processing, reflected in the modulation of P200 and N400 components, possibly indicating rapid dynamics at early and late stages of the lexical processing. Furthermore, neural source estimation of these effects revealed the recruitment of brain areas involved in orthographic and lexico-semantic processing, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest the formation of neural memory traces for novel written word-forms after a minimal exposure to them even in the absence of a semantic reference, resembling the rapid learning processes known to occur in spoken language.
Astaxanthin protects cognitive function of vascular dementia.
Zhu N, Liang X, Zhang M … +8 more , Yin X, Yang H, Zhi Y, Ying G, Zou J, Chen L, Yao X, Li H
Behav Brain Funct · 2020 Nov · PMID 33208152 · Full text
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of astaxanthin (AST) on cognition function, inflammatory response and oxidative stress in vascular dementia (VD) mice. METHOD: VD mice model was established...
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of astaxanthin (AST) on cognition function, inflammatory response and oxidative stress in vascular dementia (VD) mice. METHOD: VD mice model was established by left unilateral common carotid arteries occlusion (LUCCAO). Following LUCCAO, AST was intragastrically administered for 30 days. Object recognition test and morris water maze test were used to evaluate cognitive function. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was performed to observe the hippocampal neuron structure. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit and bicinchoninic acid kit were respectively adopted to measure IL-1β and IL-4 protein expression and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. RESULTS: AST improved the discrimination ability of VD mice. The escape latency and path length of VD mice treated with AST were dramatically reduced. Besides, AST 200 mg/kg enhanced crossing platform time and the number of times crossing the platform quadrant, and alleviated the morphological impairment in VD mice. Moreover, we found that AST inhibited IL-1β expression and MDA content, whereas promoted IL-4 expression and SOD activity in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: AST could improve cognitive impairment and hippocampal neurons in VD mice, which may be related to suppression of inflammatory response and oxidative stress.
Forced exercise activates the NrF2 pathway in the striatum and ameliorates motor and behavioral manifestations of Parkinson's disease in rotenone-treated rats.
Monir DM, Mahmoud ME, Ahmed OG … +2 more , Rehan IF, Abdelrahman A
Behav Brain Funct · 2020 Nov · PMID 33158454 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive loss of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons leading to dopamine depletion and problems of movement, emotions, and co...
BACKGROUND: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive loss of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons leading to dopamine depletion and problems of movement, emotions, and cognition. While the pathogenesis of PD is not clear, damage of dopaminergic neurons by oxygen-derived free radicals is considered an important contributing mechanism. This study aimed to evaluate the role of treadmill exercise in male Wister rats as a single treatment and as an aid-therapy with L-dopa for rotenone-induced PD. To study the role of the Nrf2- ARE pathway as a mechanism involved in exercise-associated improvement in rotenone-induced PD in rats. METHOD: Animals were divided into 5 groups, (Control, rotenone, rotenone\exercise, rotenone\L-dopa, and rotenone\exercise\L-dopa (combination)groups). After the PD induction, rats in the rotenone\exercise and combination groups were daily treadmill exercised for 4 weeks. RESULTS: Treadmill exercise significantly improved behavioral and motor aspects of rotenone-induced PD. When treadmill exercise was introduced as a single intervention, it amended most behavioral aspects of PD, gait fully corrected, short-term memory, and motor coordination. Where L-dopa corrected locomotor activity and motor coordination but failed to improve short-term memory and only partially corrected the gait of rotenone-treated rats. When treadmill exercise was combined with L-dopa, all features of PD were corrected. It was found that exercise upregulated some of its associative genes to Nrf2 pathways such as TFAM, Nrf2 and NQO.1 mRNA expression. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that forced exercise improved parkinsonian like features by activating the Nrf2 pathway.
Behavioral and Brain Functions at 15.
Crusio WE
Behav Brain Funct · 2020 Oct · PMID 33097086 · Full text
Abstract loading — click title to view on PubMed.
Effect of Curcuma zedoaria hydro-alcoholic extract on learning, memory deficits and oxidative damage of brain tissue following seizures induced by pentylenetetrazole in rat.
Mahmoudi T, Lorigooini Z, Rafieian-Kopaei M … +4 more , Arabi M, Rabiei Z, Bijad E, Kazemi S
Behav Brain Funct · 2020 Oct · PMID 33023622 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that seizures can cause cognitive disorders. On the other hand, the Curcuma zedoaria (CZ) has beneficial effects on the nervous system. However, there is little information on the...
BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that seizures can cause cognitive disorders. On the other hand, the Curcuma zedoaria (CZ) has beneficial effects on the nervous system. However, there is little information on the possible effects of the CZ extract on seizures. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible effects of CZ extract on cognitive impairment and oxidative stress induced by epilepsy in rats. METHODS: Rats were randomly divided into different groups. In all rats (except the sham group), kindling was performed by intraperitoneal injection of pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) at a dose of 35 mg/kg every 48 h for 14 days. Positive group received 2 mg/kg diazepam + PTZ; treatment groups received 100, 200 or 400 mg/kg CZ extract + PTZ; and one group received 0.5 mg/kg flumazenil and CZ extract + PTZ. Shuttle box and Morris Water Maze tests were used to measure memory and learning. On the last day of treatments PTZ injection was at dose of 60 mg/kg, tonic seizure threshold and mortality rate were recorded in each group. After deep anesthesia, blood was drawn from the rats' hearts and the hippocampus of all rats was removed. RESULTS: Statistical analysis of the data showed that the CZ extract significantly increased the tonic seizure threshold and reduced the pentylenetetrazol-induced mortality and the extract dose of 400 mg/kg was selected as the most effective dose compared to the other doses. It was also found that flumazenil (a GABA receptor antagonist) reduced the tonic seizure threshold compared to the effective dose of the extract. The results of shuttle box and Morris water maze behavioral tests showed that memory and learning decreased in the negative control group and the CZ extract treatment improved memory and learning in rats. The CZ extract also increased antioxidant capacity, decreased MDA and NO in the brain and serum of pre-treated groups in compared to the negative control group. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that the CZ extract has beneficial effects on learning and memory impairment in PTZ-induced epilepsy model, which has been associated with antioxidant effects in the brain or possibly exerts its effects through the GABAergic system.
Excitability, synaptic balance, and addiction: The homeostatic dynamics of ionotropic glutamatergic receptors in VTA after cocaine exposure.
Moulin TC, Schiöth HB
Behav Brain Funct · 2020 Jun · PMID 32522229 · Full text
Glutamatergic AMPA and NMDA receptors in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) are central for cocaine first exposure and posterior craving maintenance. However, the exact rules that coordinate the synaptic dynamics of these...
Glutamatergic AMPA and NMDA receptors in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) are central for cocaine first exposure and posterior craving maintenance. However, the exact rules that coordinate the synaptic dynamics of these receptors in dopaminergic VTA neurons and behavioral outcomes are poorly understood. Additionally, synaptic homeostatic plasticity is present in response to chronic excitability changes in neuronal circuits, adjusting the strength of synapses to stabilize the firing rate. Despite having correspondent mechanisms, little is known about the relationship between continuous cocaine exposure and homeostatic synaptic changes in the VTA neurons. Here, we assess the role of homeostatic mechanisms in the neurobiology of cocaine addiction by providing a brief overview of the parallels between cocaine-induced synaptic potentiation and long-term synaptic adaptations, focusing on the regulation of GluA1- and GluN1- containing receptors.
Maternal depression is associated with altered functional connectivity between neural circuits related to visual, auditory, and cognitive processing during stories listening in preschoolers.
Farah R, Greenwood P, Dudley J … +5 more , Hutton J, Ammerman RT, Phelan K, Holland S, Horowitz-Kraus T
Behav Brain Funct · 2020 Apr · PMID 32340619 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Maternal depression can influence the early activity of a mother reading stories to a young child, as depressed mothers are less likely to read to their children. Here, maternal depression association to neur...
BACKGROUND: Maternal depression can influence the early activity of a mother reading stories to a young child, as depressed mothers are less likely to read to their children. Here, maternal depression association to neurobiological circuitry of narrative comprehension, visualization, and executive functions during stories listening was examined in 21 4-year-old girls and their mothers. Maternal depression scores were collected from the mothers, and functional MRI during stories listening was collected from the children. RESULTS: Increased maternal depression was related to decreased functional connectivity between visualization and auditory regions and increased connectivity between the right visual cortex and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in the children. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the need to monitor maternal depression and provide interventions to ensure positive linguistic outcomes in children.
Naringin provides neuroprotection in CCL2-induced cognition impairment by attenuating neuronal apoptosis in the hippocampus.
Long JY, Chen JM, Liao YJ … +3 more , Zhou YJ, Liang BY, Zhou Y
Behav Brain Funct · 2020 Feb · PMID 32103758 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Chemokine C-C motif ligand 2 (CCL2) is one of the most widely recognised proinflammatory chemokines in cognitive disorders. Currently, CCL2-targeting drugs are extremely limited. Thus, this study aimed to exp...
BACKGROUND: Chemokine C-C motif ligand 2 (CCL2) is one of the most widely recognised proinflammatory chemokines in cognitive disorders. Currently, CCL2-targeting drugs are extremely limited. Thus, this study aimed to explore the neuroprotection afforded by naringin in CCL2-induced cognitive impairment in rats. METHODS: Before the CCL2 intra-hippocampal injection, rats were treated with naringin for 3 consecutive days via intraperitoneal injection. Two days post-surgery, the Morris water maze (MWM) and novel object recognition (NORT) tests were performed to detect spatial learning and memory and object cognition, respectively. Nissl staining and dUTP nick-end labelling (TUNEL) staining were performed to assess histopathological changes in the hippocampus. Commercial kits were used to measure the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA). Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed to examine the relative mRNA expression of interleukin 1β, (IL-1β), interleukin 6 (IL-6), glutamate/aspartate transporter (GLAST), glutamate transporter-1 (GLT-1), phosphate-activated glutaminase (PAG), cysteine aspartic acid-specific protease 8 (caspase-8), cysteine aspartic acid-specific protease 3 (caspase-3), cell lymphoma/leukaemia-2 (Bcl-2), and Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax). RESULTS: In the MWM, the average escape latency and average swimming distance were significantly reduced and the crossing times were increased in the naringin-treated groups, compared with the CCL2 group. The NORT results revealed that, compared with the CCL2 rats, the discrimination index in the naringin-treated rats increased significantly. Nissl and TUNEL staining revealed that naringin protected the structure and survival of the neurons in the CA1 zone of the hippocampus. In the naringin-treated groups, the SOD and GSH-Px activities were increased, whereas the MDA levels were decreased. Furthermore, in the naringin-treated groups, the relative mRNA expression of IL-1β and IL-6 was significantly decreased; GLAST and GLT-1 mRNA expression levels were increased, whereas PAG was decreased. In the naringin-treated groups, the relative mRNA expression levels of caspase-8, caspase-3, and Bax were decreased, whereas that of Bcl-2 was increased. CONCLUSION: Collectively, these data indicated that naringin alleviated the CCL2-induced cognitive impairment. The underlying mechanisms could be associated with the inhibition of neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and the regulation of glutamate metabolism.
Commercial video games and cognitive functions: video game genres and modulating factors of cognitive enhancement.
Choi E, Shin SH, Ryu JK … +3 more , Jung KI, Kim SY, Park MH
Behav Brain Funct · 2020 Feb · PMID 32014027 · Full text
BACKGROUND: Unlike the emphasis on negative results of video games such as the impulsive engagement in video games, cognitive training studies in individuals with cognitive deficits showed that characteristics of video g...
BACKGROUND: Unlike the emphasis on negative results of video games such as the impulsive engagement in video games, cognitive training studies in individuals with cognitive deficits showed that characteristics of video game elements were helpful to train cognitive functions. Thus, this study aimed to have a more balanced view toward the video game playing by reviewing genres of commercial video games and the association of video games with cognitive functions and modulating factors. Literatures were searched with search terms (e.g. genres of video games, cognitive training) on database and Google scholar. RESULTS: video games, of which purpose is players' entertainment, were found to be positively associated with cognitive functions (e.g. attention, problem solving skills) despite some discrepancy between studies. However, the enhancement of cognitive functions through video gaming was limited to the task or performance requiring the same cognitive functions. Moreover, as several factors (e.g. age, gender) were identified to modulate cognitive enhancement, the individual difference in the association between video game playing and cognitive function was found. CONCLUSION: Commercial video games are suggested to have the potential for cognitive function enhancement. As understanding the association between video gaming and cognitive function in a more balanced view is essential to evaluate the potential outcomes of commercial video games that more people reported to engage, this review contributes to provide more objective evidence for commercial video gaming.
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