Results presented by Lynn Raymond (University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada) at the 2014 Canadian Neuroscience Meeting held 25–28 May in Montreal show that blocking specific glutamate receptors in the brain improved motor learning and coordination and prevented cell death in a mouse model of Huntington disease. Huntington disease can be detected before any clinicalContinueContinue reading “A block that slows neurodegeneration”
Tag Archives: nervous system
Eternal sunshine of the rodent mind
Throughout life, new neurons are generated in the hippocampus, where they form a structure that supports memory creation. When new neurons are integrated into the hippocampus, they compete with existing cells, forging new synaptic connections that may weaken or replace older ones. As a result, high rates of hippocampal neurogenesis may drive the loss ofContinueContinue reading “Eternal sunshine of the rodent mind”
Mechanistic insight into fragile X
Fragile X syndrome (FXS), the most common form of inherited mental retardation, is caused by a lack of fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP), which regulates protein translation in the brain. Lack of FMRP leads to defects in protein translation, but until now, the mechanism underlying this relationship was not known. Simpson Joseph (University ofContinueContinue reading “Mechanistic insight into fragile X”
Releasing the brake on nerve growth
Recovery from peripheral nerve damage is a slow and often incomplete process that may leave behind lasting deficits including severe disability. The poor functional recovery is due in part to limited regrowth of axons. For example, after nerve transection, only 10% of axons from the proximal stump may eventually reach their targets. Axon regrowth canContinueContinue reading “Releasing the brake on nerve growth”
Snail venom speeds pain relief
Cone snails, such as Conus magus, or the magical cone, are predatory marine mollusks that use venom to paralyze their prey. The venom has properties that make it potentially useful to humans, too. Scientists have derived a compound called ziconotide from the venom of C. magus that has painkilling power up to three orders ofContinueContinue reading “Snail venom speeds pain relief”
Mapping the insect brain
An international consortium of neurobiologists called the Insect Brain Name Working Group recently released its magnum opus: a complete atlas of and consensus nomenclature for the structures of the arthropod brain (Neuron 81, 755–765; 2014). The group hopes that this resource will increase efficiency, encourage collaboration and enable comparison of studies among neuroscientists, leading toContinueContinue reading “Mapping the insect brain”
Dual role of cannabinoid receptors in feeding behavior
Activation of cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) receptors is known to increase food intake, but the neuronal mechanisms underlying this relationship are not well understood. The receptors are expressed in many brain regions that control food intake, where they govern both excitatory (GABAergic) and inhibitory (glutamatergic) neurotransmission, in turn possibly suppressing or promoting feeding behavior, respectively.ContinueContinue reading “Dual role of cannabinoid receptors in feeding behavior”
Fisetin protects cognitive function in Alzheimer’s
Fisetin is a compound found in food plants that has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and can improve memory and protect neurons from the effects of aging. Pamela Maher (Salk Institute for Biological Sciences, La Jolla, CA) and her colleagues surmised that many of these attributes could potentially be useful in treating Alzheimer’s disease, the mostContinueContinue reading “Fisetin protects cognitive function in Alzheimer’s”
A wake-up call for injured neurons
After suffering a concussion or other traumatic brain injury (TBI), many people (70% or more) experience disturbances in their sleep–wake cycles, such as daytime sleepiness and nighttime insomnia. Such sleep problems can impair attention and memory formation, disrupt quality of life and delay cognitive recovery from TBI. There are currently no proven therapies available toContinueContinue reading “A wake-up call for injured neurons”
Perioperative morphine prolongs postoperative pain
Morphine is often used to treat pain after surgery. Although it is an effective painkiller, it can also work against itself by exciting glial cells in the brain, thus intensifying pain. To evaluate the potential for perioperative administration of morphine to prolong postoperative pain, a research team from the University of Colorado Boulder, led byContinueContinue reading “Perioperative morphine prolongs postoperative pain”
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