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    26 October 2018, Volume 8 Issue 5 Previous Issue    Next Issue

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    Cognitive and Pharmacological Assays to Characterize both the Deleterious and Medicinal Effects of Cannabinoids in Monkeys
    Brian D Kangas
    2018, 8 (5):  63-64. 
    Abstract ( 210 )  
    Rationale:Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States with recent surveys estimating over 22 million current users. However,there is growing acceptance of its recreational use,evident by successful efforts to decriminalize and,in some states,legalize use. In addition,although the full medicinal value of cannabis is not yet understood,such cannabinergic effects are of known benefit in the palliative care of anorectic patients undergoing chemotherapy or suffering debilitating conditions such as AIDS or Alzheimer’s disease and,as well,may be an effective analgesic under certain painful conditions. Objective:This current state of affairs has led to a broadening interest in the clinical utility of drugs that target the endocannabinoid system. In this regard,however,delta-9- tetrahydrocannabinol (THC),the primary psychoactive ingredient in marijuana,is generally acknowledged to produce some unwanted effects in humans. These include deleterious effects on several types of complex behavior,especially related to learning,memory,and vigilance. Unfortunately,synthetic cannabinoid agonists appear to share these adverse side effect profiles. Recently,however,a greater understanding has developed of the two primary endocannabinoid neurotransmitters,anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) and,as well,ligands that inhibit the activity of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) and monoacylglycerol lipase (MGL), which can indirectly increase the concentrations of,respectively,anandamide and 2-AG. Methods:Employing operant techniques in nonhuman primates such as drug discrimination, emetic observation,nociception assays,and touchscreen-based models of learning and memory,this presentation will highlight recent advances in the understanding of THC’s effects on complex behavioral processes and,as well,efforts to develop drugs that engage the cannabinergic system and retain medicinal value,yet produce lesser adverse psychoactive effects. Results:Synthetic and phyto-cannabinoids produce highly consistent effects on most behavioral endpoints despite efficacy differences identified in vitro. However,engaging the endogenous cannabinoid system,either via exogenous administration of endocannabinoids or indirect endocannabinoid elevation via inhibition of catabolic enzyme inhibition,produced lesser disruptive effects on cognitive behavior with similar effectiveness of medicinal endpoints (e.g.,analgesia and emesis). Conclusion:Engagement of the endogenous cannabinoid system via endocannabinoid administration or indirect elevation via FAAH and/or MGL inhibition may represent a therapeutic advantage in clinical settings relative to THC or other typical cannabinoid agonists.
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    Role of Trace Amine-Associated Receptor 1 (TAAR 1) in Nicotine Addiction
    LI Jun-xu
    2018, 8 (5):  64-65. 
    Abstract ( 210 )  
    Background and Purpose:Nicotine addiction and abuse remains a global health issue. To date,the fundamental neurobiological mechanism of nicotine addiction remains incompletely understood. Trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1) is thought to directly modulate dopaminergic system and are thought to be a neural substrate underlying addictivelike behaviors. We aimed to investigate the role of TAAR1 in nicotine addictive-like behaviors. Experimental Approach:TAAR1 expression after nicotine treatment was evaluated by western blotting. c-Fos immunofluorescence and in vivo fast-scan cyclic voltammetry were used to examine the activation of brain regions and dopamine release,respectively. We then thoroughly and systematically examined the role of TAAR1 in mediating nicotine-induced sensitization,nicotine discrimination,nicotine self-administration,nicotine demand curve,and the reinstatement of nicotine-seeking. Local pharmacological manipulation was conducted to determine the role of TAAR1 in the nucleus accumbens (NAcs) in the reinstatement of nicotine-seeking. Minipump was implanted into TAAR 1 knockout mice and their wildtype counterparts to establish physical dependence. One week after the minipump implantation, the pump was retrieved and mecamylamine was used to precipitate physical withdrawal signs including observable signs and anxiety-like behaviors (elevated plus maze). Key Results:We found that the expression of TAAR1 protein was selectively downregulated in the NAc, with no change in either dorsal striatum or prefrontal cortex. TAAR1 activation was sufficient to block nicotine-induced c-Fos expression in the NAc,while also reducing nicotine-induced dopamine release in the NAc. Systemic administration of TAAR1 agonists attenuated the expression and development of nicotine-induced sensitization,nicotine self-administration, the reinstatement of nicotine-seeking,and increased the elasticity of nicotine demand curve,while intra-NAc infusions of a TAAR1 agonist was sufficient to attenuate nicotine reinstatement. Moreover,TAAR1-knockout rats showed augmented cue-induced and druginduced reinstatement of nicotine-seeking. Mice that were physically dependent on chronic nicotine exposure demonstrated significant withdrawal signs after mecamylamine treatment,and TAAR 1 knockout mice demonstrated more severe withdrawal signs. TAAR 1 agonist reduced the withdrawal signs in the wildtype mice. Conclusions and Implications:These results indicated that modulation of TAAR1 activity regulates nicotine addictive-like behaviors and TAAR1 represents a novel target towards the treatment of nicotine addiction.
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    The Small GTPase Rac1 Contributes to Extinction of Aversive Memories of Drug Withdrawal by Facilitating GABAA Receptor Endocytosis in the vmPFC
    WANG Wei-sheng,JU Yun-yue,WANG Yu-jun,LIU Jing-gen
    2018, 8 (5):  65-66. 
    Abstract ( 168 )  
    Aim:Extinction of aversive memories associated with drug withdrawal has been proposed as a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of drug addiction. However,the mechanisms underlying extinction of such memory are poorly understood. This study was,therefore,undertaken to investigate the role of Rho GTPase Rac1-mediated GABAAR endocytosis in the vmPFC in extinction of aversive memories associated with drug withdrawal. Methods:conditioned place aversion (CPA) was used as a model for measurement of the aversive memories of opiate withdrawal. Extinction experiments were performed as described in our previous study (Wang et al.,2012). Results:we found that extinction of CPA required activation of Rac1 in the vmPFC in a brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)-dependent manner,which triggers actin polymerization via Pak1-cofilin signaling pathway,leading to synaptic localization of activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (Arc) in the vmPFC. The synaptic Arc further determines GABAA receptor( GABAAR) endocytosis that is necessary and sufficient for vmPFC long-term potentiation and CPA extinction. Thus,extinction of an aversive memory associated with drug withdrawal is intriguingly controlled by Rac1-dependent GABAAR endocytosis in the vmPFC,thereby suggesting therapeutic targets to promote extinction of the unwanted memory. Conclusion:BDNF dependent Rac1 GTPase activation in the vmPFC contributes to aversive memory extinction by Arc-mediated GABAA receptor
    endocytosis.
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    Cognitive Enhancers as A Treatment for Heroin Relapse
    ZHOU Wen-hua
    2018, 8 (5):  66-67. 
    Abstract ( 180 )  
    Rationale: Heroin addiction is a disorder that stems from maladaptive plasticity within neural circuits and produces broad cognitive deficits. Despite considerable advances in psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy for heroin addiction, but there are a few treatments for the heroin relapse after long term abstinence. Preclinical and clinical evidence indicates that the cognitive deficit during the addiction and withdrawal process, thus, cognitive enhancers may be used to treatment for heroin addiction. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the cognitive enhancers would reduce the heroin relapse induced by cues which was associated with heroin reward or heroin priming in rat. Methods: Rats were trained to self-administer heroin under fixed ratio 1 schedule for two weeks and extinguished for 10 days, then the reinstatement of drug seeking induced by conditioned cues or heroin priming (250 µg/kg, sc) was used. Results: We evaluated systemically the effects of acetylcholinase inhibitor, PDE4 inhibitor, mGlu2/3 agonist or mGlu1/5 antagonist, etc on heroin relapse. The data showed that pretreatment with acetylcholinase inhibitor, PDE4 inhibitor, mGlu2/3 agonist or mGlu1/5 antagonist could inhibit the heroin relapse induced by cues or heroin priming in a dose-dependent manner. Meanwhile, we also illustrated the circuits and signal pathway of these compounds. Conclusion: The data demonstrated that Cognitive enhancers could be used as the   pharmacological treatments for heroin relapse or addiction.
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    Screening of μ Opioid Receptor-Interacting Proteins and Effects of ABIN-1 on Receptor Function
    ZHOU Pei-lan, JIANG Jie-bing, YAN Hui, LI Yu-lei, ZHAO Jun-ru, WANG Xiao,
    2018, 8 (5):  67-69. 
    Abstract ( 195 )  
    Aim: To determine the proteins that interact with the carboxyl-terminal of the μ opioid receptor (MOR-C) after chronic morphine exposure. Methods: The brain cDNA library of chronic morphine treatment rats was screened using rat MOR-C to investigate the regulator of opioids dependence in the present study. The brain cDNA library from chronic morphine-dependent rats was constructed using the SMART (Switching Mechanism At 5′ end of RNA Transcript) technique. Bacterial two-hybrid system was used to screening the rat MOR-C interacting proteins from the cDNA library. RT-qPCR and immunoblotting were used to determine the variation of MOR-C interacting proteins in rat brain after chronic morphine treatment. Column overlay assays, immunocytochemistry and coimmunoprecipitation were used to demonstrate the interaction of MOR-C and p75NTR-associated cell death executor (NADE)or A20-binding inhibitor of nuclear factor kB (ABIN-1). Results: 21 positive proteins, including 19 known proteins were screened to interact with rat MOR-C. Expression of several of these proteins was altered in specific rat brain regions after chronic morphine treatment. Among these proteins, ABIN-1 and NADE were confirmed to interact with rat MOR-C by in vitro protein–protein binding and coimmunoprecipitation in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and rat brain with or without chronic morphine treatment. Saturation binding studies showed that ABIN-1 had no effect on MOR binding. However, the interaction of ABIN-1 and MOR inhibited the activation of G proteins induced by DAMGO ([D-Ala2,N-Me-Phe4,Gly5-ol]-Enkephalin). MOR phosphorylation, ubiquitination, and internalization induced by DAMGO were decreased in Chinese hamster ovary cells that coexpressed MOR and ABIN-1. The suppression of forskolin-stimulated adenylylcyclase by DAMGO was also inhibited by the interaction of ABIN-1with MOR. In addition, extracellular signal-regulated kinase activation was also negatively regulated by overexpression of ABIN-1.These data suggest that ABIN-1 is a negative coregulator of MOR activation, phosphorylation, and internalization in vitro. ABIN-1 also inhibited morphine-induced hyperlocomotion in zebrafish larvae (AB strain). By utilization of an antisense morpholino oligonucleotide (MO) gene knockdown technology, the ABIN-1MO-injected zebrafish larvae showed a significant increase (approximately 60%) in distance moved compared with control MO-injected larvae after acute morphine treatment (P≤0.01). Conclusion: Understanding the rat MOR-C interacting proteins and the proteins variation under chronic morphine treatment may be critical for determining the pathophysiological basis of opioid tolerance and addiction. Among these proteins, ABIN-1 negatively regulates MOR function in vitro and in vivo. Other MOR-C interacting proteins’ influence on the opioid tolerance and addiction need further study.
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    Molecular Dissection of Parkinson’s Disease
    HAN Hai-long,WANG Ruo-xi,TAN Jie-qiong,ZHANG Zhuo-hua
    2018, 8 (5):  70-71. 
    Abstract ( 210 )  
    Human Genetic studies result in identification of causative genes in Parkinson’s Disease (PD). The pathophysiological function of these genes remains largely unknown. During the past decade, we focus on dissecting genetic and epigenetic controls of PD pathogenesis. In this presentation, we will focus on how PD associated genes functions in cells and animal models and their potential link to PD pathogenesis. Our studies suggest that multiple PD associated genes functionally collaborative to regulate protein and cellular organelle quality control. We also identify PD associated gene ATP13A2 as an essential component to mediate fusion of autophagosome and lysosome. However, our study indicate that autophagy participates in PD but is not essential for initiation of PD. Interestingly, mitochondrial dynamics is potentially dysregulated in the early stage of pathogenesis. Our finding opens a new direction of PD research and design of clinical diagnosis and treatment.
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    Bushen-Yizhi Formula Inhibits the NLRP3/NFκB Mediated Neuroinflammation and Improves the Motor Dysfunction in a Mouse Model of Parkinson's Disease
    王奇
    2018, 8 (5):  71-72. 
    Abstract ( 209 )  
    Objective:Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second largest neurodegenerative disease following Alzheimer's disease (AD), which associated with aging. There are many similarities in pathology and pathogenesis, even in the TCM theory understanding, so we can learn from each other in the process of drug discovery. The clinical results showed that Bushen-Yizhi formula (BSYZ) could effectively improve the neurological function score of senile dementia patients and had a better anti-dementia effect. Further pharmacological studies showed that BSYZ had neuroprotective effects, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidation, anti-apoptosis and neurotrophic effects. In this study, the therapeutic effect of BSYZ on PD was evaluated in vivo and in vivo, and its molecular mechanism was discussed in order to expand the scope of application of BSYZ and to provide strategies for drug discovery of related neurodegenerative diseases. Methods:C57BL/6 mice were injected intraperitoneally with MPTP to construct a PD mouse model. BSYZ (1.46, 2.92, 5.84g/ Kg) was administered for two weeks, and the positive control group was given a NSAID,piroxicam (12.5 mg/ Kg) . After 1 week of pretreatment, MPTP was used to construct a PD mouse model. The mice were subjected to Rotation test on days 1, 3 and 5, 6th day. and the movement coordination and exercise ability of the drug on PD mice were observed on theThe number of TH - positive cells, Iba1 and CD68 - labeled microglial cells in SNpc region were observed by immunofluorescence to observe the proliferation and activation of microglial cells and GFAP - labeled astrocytes .Western blotting was used to detect the nuclear transfer of NLRP3, Caspase-1, ASC, pro-IL-1β, IL-1β and NF-κB in the midbrain. Results: 1. BSYZ could significantly improve the expression of MPTP model mice in the experiment of fatigue and Y-maze, increase the number of neurons in SNpc region and the positive expression of TH protein. 2. BSYZ significantly inhibited the number of Iba1/CD68-positive microglial cells in MPTP-model mice and decreased the number of GFAP-positive astrocytes. 3. BSYZ significantly inhibited the expression of NLRP3-associated protein in BV2 microglial cells induced by LPS+ATP and inhibited the nuclear transfer of NF-κB. Conclusion: BSYZ can effectively relieve the motor dysfunction of PD model mice, improve the damage of dopaminergic neurons, inhibit the proliferation and activation of microglial cells and astrocytes, and have good anti-MPTP -induced neuroinflammation and neuroinflammation mediated by nuclear transfer of NF-κB. The results show that BSYZ has a good prospect of anti - Parkinson's disease and provides valuable drug discovery strategies for the related neurodegenerative diseases.
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    Targeted to Serotonergic and Adenosine Systems in Parkinsons Disease Drug Development
    ZHEN Xue-chu
    2018, 8 (5):  72-73. 
    Abstract ( 199 )  
    Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder. While dopaminergic agents are effective in reliving the motor symptoms, however, chronic dopamine replacement treatment  could also induce motor fluctuation and dyskinesia. In addition,  there is still a clinical unmet need for novel medications that can treat the non-motor symptoms.  Recent evidence suggests that the serotonergic nervous system may be an important target for both motor and non-motor symptoms for PD Meanwhile, adenosine A2A receptors enriched in basal ganglia areas and their antagonistic role towards dopamine receptor stimulation, have positioned A2A receptor antagonists as an a promising target to improve the motor deficits. We have developed a series of dual dopamine receptor and 5-HT1A receptor ligands and A2A receptor antagonists either through natural resource or rational design. We pharmacologically characterized those compounds and provided  clear evidences that dual 5-HT/dopamine or  A2A receptor antagonist exhibited excellent anti-Parkinsonian effect while  it reduced the development of dyskinesia and effectively relieved some of the non-motor symptoms  in PD animal models.
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    A Novel Allosteric Phosphodiesterase 4D Inhibitor BPN14770 Reverses Cognitive Impairment in Humanized PDE4D Mice
    XU Ying 1,ZHANG Chong 1,YANG Ming-xin 1,ZHANG Han-Ting 2,Mark Gurney 3,James M. O’Donnell 1*
    2018, 8 (5):  73-74. 
    Abstract ( 248 )  
    Classical inhibitors of PDE4 lack subtype selectivity due to exact amino acid sequence conservation of the catalytic site,and consequently,development of these drugs has stalled due to dose-limiting side effects of nausea and emesis. While use of subtype-selective inhibitors (i.e.,for PDE4A,B,or D) could overcome this issue,conservation of the catalytic region,to which classical inhibitors bind,limits this approach. The present study examined the effects of BPN14770,an allosteric inhibitor of PDE4D,which binds to a primate-specific,N-terminal region,conferring greater than 260-fold selectivity for PDE4D. BPN14770 was 100- fold more potent for improving memory and cognition in humanized PDE4D (hPDE4D) mice,which expressed the primate-specific binding sequence,compared to wild-type mice;meanwhile,it exhibited low potency in a mouse surrogate model for emesis. The behavioral and matching neurochemical data presented established a relationship between PDE4D target engagement and effects on cognition for BPN14770. Furthermore,BPN14770 reversed memory and cognitive deficits induced by β-amyloid peptide 1-42 (Aβ42) in Morris water maze,Y maze and novel object recognition tests in the humanized PDE4D mice. The morphological analyses suggested that the number of dendrites and the dendritic length in the CA1 of hippocampus were significantly increased after the Aβ42-treated hPDE4D mice were administered of BPN14770 for two weeks. The neurochemical and molecular biological assays suggested that neuroplasticity-related proteins and neurotrophic factor BDNF in the hippocampus of hPDE4D mice were significantly increased after the hPDE4D mice were treated with BPN14770. These findings suggest clinical potential for PDE4D selective inhibitors in disorders with cognitive deficits such as Alzheimer’s disease,which affects approximately 20 million people worldwide and nearly 5 million people in the United States.
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    Effect of Fasudil on Remyelination Following the Cuprizone-Induced Demyelination in Male C57BL/6 Mice
    WANG Jing1,3,SUI Ruo-xuan2,MIAO Qiang2,WANG Qing2,SONG Li-juan2,YU Jie-zhong1,LI Yan-hua1,XIAO
    2018, 8 (5):  74-76. 
    Abstract ( 253 )  
    Background Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune, inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS) characterized by de-/ remyelination, neuroinflammation and oligodendrocyte loss. Although a greater understanding of MS have increased acquaintance of the pathogenesis and pathophysiology, the exploration of treatment is still challenging. Fasudil, one of the most thoroughly studied Rho kinase (ROCK) inhibitors, has been shown to have effects in neurodegenerative diseases. However, the effect of Fasudil on preventing the progression of the demyelination in MS has not been evaluated. Cuprizone (CPZ)-induced demyelination is a model used to study de-/ remyelination in the CNS. Some aspects of the histological pattern induced by CPZ are similar to MS. The aim of the study is to investigate the effect of Fasudil on CPZ-induced demyelination, and to explore the mechanisms for the possible remyelination. Materials and Methods Male C57BL/6 mice (10–12 weeks old) were assigned into normal group, fed a normal diet; CPZ group, fed CPZ and intraperitoneally (i.p.) injected with normal saline after 4 weeks for consecutive 2 weeks; Fasudil-treated CPZ group, which were i.p. injected with Fasudil (40 mg/kg/day) after 4 weeks for consecutive 2 weeks. All groups were assessed by Elevated plus-maze (EPM) test and Pole test at the end of the experiment. For examing the extent of demyelination, Luxol Fast Blue (LFB) staining, Black Gold II and myelin basic protein (MBP) immunohistochemistry staining were used for slides of brains. Splenic MNCs were fixed and stained with the following antibodies: Alexa Fluor B220, FITC-CD4/PE-IFN-γ, FITC-CD4/PE-IL-17. At least 10, 000 events were collected using flow cytometer.  Results Following CPZ-exposure, mice presented a lower density of LFB, Black Gold II and MBP expression, loss of mature oligodendrocytes. Spleen atrophy was observed in CPZ-group compared to normal mice, and we firstly found that CPZ feeding induced the formation of MOG antibody. Fasudil treatment improved behavioral abnormality, promoted remyelination, inhibited spleen atrophy and production of MOG antibodies, prevented the infiltration of peripheral T cells, B cells, macrophages, and declined the neuroinflammation by inhibiting Iba1+iNOS+, Iba1+NF-κB+ microglia. Fasudil treatment also reduced the levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α.  Discussion In this study, we demonstrated that demyelinating model was successfully established. Then we tested whether Fasudil plays a remyelinating role in this model.  Spleen atrophy was observed after CPZ-feeding compared to normal mice. Previous studies have shown that splenic atrophy in experimental stroke may contribute to brain injury possibly through the release of inflammatory mediators and spleen-derived inflammatory cells to the circulation and migration into the brain, which aggravate the brain inflammatory response and led to secondary injure. At present, we lack direct evidence to elucidate the mechanisms for spleen atrophy in CPZ-induced demyelination. We firstly found that CPZ-feeding induced the formation of MOG antibody. Recent study indicated that BBB hyperpermeability precedes demyelination in CPZ-demyelinating model. Another study suggested that debris of damaged cells in the CNS may present as antigens after penetrating the BBB, giving rise to autoantibodies. Therefore, it is possible that the myelin debris produced the destruction of myelin sheath can enter the blood circulation and stimulate the immune response of T and B cells. We found that MOG antibody was elevated in the supernatant of cultured plenocytes, indicating that the MOG antibodies were derived from peripheral immune cells. Our results showed that the level of MOG antibody in the brain homogenate of CPZ-treated mice was higher than that of normal mice, suggesting that antibodies can enter brain tissue and anti a-synuclein antibody was negative, which indicate that anti MOG antibody is a specific antibody. In our study, MOG antibody was capable of being detected in the brain of CPZ-treated mice, providing a possibility for specific MOG antibody-mediated oligodendrocyte damage. CPZ induced a wide range of Iba-1+ microglia, which was inhibited by Fasudil. These results suggest that the suppression of inflammatory microenvironment may contribute to the remyelination. In conclusion, the administration of Fasudil promoted remyelination by multiple mechanisms.
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    Metabolic Syndrome Emerges after Artificial Selection for Low Baroreflex Sensitivity
    刘爱军
    2018, 8 (5):  78-79. 
    Abstract ( 216 )  
    Aim:It’s unclear whether the impaired BRS plays a key role in the incidence of cardiovascular diseases. The molecular mechanism of impaired BRS remains to be fully elucidated. We hypothesized that selection of rats based on deficient and normal intrinsic BRS would yield models that reflect cardiovascular diseases risk. Methods and Results:Twenty generations of selection produced arterial baroreflex low rats and normal rats that differed in BRS by about 2.5-fold change. Metabolic syndrome (including hypertension,overweight,hyperlipemia and hyperglycemia) emerged in ABR-DRs. Although ABR-DRs consumed less food,they gained significantly more body weight. Conclusion:Our study demonstrated that intrinsic low BRS induced hypertension and metabolic disorder. Restoration of impaired BRS might be a potent target of therapeutic intervention in metabolic syndrome.
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    Increased Blood Pressure Variability Impairs Memory in Rats
    ZHU Chao,DU Ning-ning,ZHOU Yan-meng,WANG Hao,HOU Xue-qin,ZHANG Fang-fang,TAN Rui,GAO
    2018, 8 (5):  79-80. 
    Abstract ( 166 )  
    Background and Objective:Increased blood pressure variability (BPV),which has been considered to cause brain damage,can be induced by sinoaortic denervation (SAD) in rats. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that increased BPV impairs learning and memory in rats with SAD. Methods:SAD was performed in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Passive avoidance trial was used to evaluate learning and memory ability. Results:Compared with shamoperated (Sham) group,there was no significant difference in the latency of passive avoidance in adaption trial. The latency of avoiding darkness in retention trial in SAD group was significantly lower than that in Sham group both 2 and 16 weeks after SAD (P<0.05,P<0.01). Westernblot assay revealed that all the expression of choline acetyltransferase,vesicular acetylcholine transporter and α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor decreaed in both cerebral cortex (P<0.05) and hippocampus (P<0.05) 16 weeks after SAD (P<0.05),while only level of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor was reduced in hippocampus 2 weeks after SAD (P<0.05). Conclusion: Increasd BPV reduces memory ability in SAD rats,potentially through cholinergic pathway.
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    SIRT3: A Potential Target for CHF?
    YUE Zhong-bao, YOU Jia,LI Zhuo-ming,CHEN Shao-rui,LIU Pei-qing
    2018, 8 (5):  80-81. 
    Abstract ( 184 )  
    Pathological cardiac hypertrophy is a maladaptive response in a variety of organic heart disease (OHD), which is characterized by mitochondrial dysfunction that results from disturbed energy metabolism. SIRT3, a mitochondria-localized sirtuin, regulates global mitochondrial lysine acetylation and preserves mitochondrial function. However, the mechanisms by which SIRT3 regulates cardiac hypertrophy remains to be further elucidated. In this study, we firstly demonstrated that expression of SIRT3 was decreased in Angiotension II (Ang II)-treated cardiomyocytes and in hearts of Ang II-induced cardiac hypertrophic mice. In addition, SIRT3 overexpression protected myocytes from hypertrophy, whereas SIRT3 silencing exacerbated Ang II-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. In particular, SIRT3-KO mice exhibited significant cardiac hypertrophy. Mechanistically, we identified NMNAT3 (nicotinamide mononucleotide adenylyltransferase 3), the rate-limiting enzyme for mitochondrial NAD biosynthesis, as a new target and binding partner of SIRT3. Specifically, SIRT3 physically interacts with and deacetylates NMNAT3, thereby enhancing the enzyme activity of NMNAT3 and contributing to SIRT3-mediated anti-hypertrophic effects. Moreover, NMNAT3 regulates the activity of SIRT3 via synthesis of mitochondria NAD. Taken together, these findings provide mechanistic insights into the negative regulatory role of SIRT3 in cardiac hypertrophy. Sirtuin 3 (SIRT3), a mitochondrial deacetylase that may play an important role in regulating cardiac function and a potential target for CHF.
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    Targeted Activation of α7-nAChR for Improvement of Cognitive Impairment
    WANG Ke-wei
    2018, 8 (5):  82-83. 
    Abstract ( 168 )  
    Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are ligand-gated ion channels that are activated by neurotransmitter acetylcholine for signaling, and they also respond to drugs including the nicotinic receptor agonist nicotine. The nAChRs can be classified into 5 muscle nAChR subtypes and 12 neuronal nAChR subtypes. Among the neuronal nAChR subtypes, α7 nAChR (also known as α7 receptor) that was first isolated and evaluated in 1990s from avian and rodents are homomeric pentamers widely distributed in the central nervous system (CNS) and periphery organs such as spleen and lymph nodes. The five identical α7 nAChR subunits are symmetrically organized around the central pore, and each subunit consists of a large amino-terminal extracellular domain (ECD), four transmembrane domains (TMD, TM1-TM4) and a cytoplasmic domain. In each homomeric α7 nAChR, there are 5 acetylcholine (ACh) binding sites within the ECD, which are located at the interface of each two subunites.
    The α7 nAChR exhibits unique functional properties including: 1) fast activation and desensitization by agonists (in millisecond scale); 2) high calcium permeability (PCa / PNa ≈ 10); 3) selective inhibition by α-bungarotoxin (α-Btx) and methyllycaconitine (MLA). In the brain, α7 nAChRs are abundantly expressed in the regions underlying cognition and memory, such as hippocampus and frontal cortex. In neurons, the presynaptically localized α7 nAChRs are physiologically more important although they are widely localized in the synapses (both pre- and postsynaptically) and extra-synapses. Presynaptic α7 nAChRs play major role in facilitating glutamate release in the cerebellum, auditory cortex, hippocampus and many other brain areas. The impairment of α7 nAChR is implicated in cognitive deficits and neuropsychiatric disorders. Thus, enhancement of homomeric α7 nAChR function is considered to be a potential therapeutic strategy aimed at ameliorating cognitive deficits for neuropsychiatric disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and schizophrenia. In this presentation, I will talk about our recent efforts in identification and pharmacological evaluation of novelα7 nAChR agonists and positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) for improvement of cognitive function.
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    Maternal Separation and Chronic Social Defeat Impair Prefrontal Cortical Myelination and Cognitive Functions in Rats
    LI Bao-ming
    2018, 8 (5):  83-84. 
    Abstract ( 182 )  
    Adverse life experience induces permanent phenotypic changes in cognitive functions associated with the prefrontal cortex (PFC). However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this work, we use neonatal maternal separation (NMS) and chronic social defeat (CSD) rat models to address how adverse life experience affects PFC-dependent cognitive functions. Our results show that normal myelination of the medial PFC (mPFC) is necessary for mPFC-dependent behaviors, as experimental blockade of oligodendrocyte differentiation or lysolecithin-induced demyelination impairs mPFC-dependent behaviors. NMS or CSD produces severe deficits in mPFC myelination, while other brain regions, such as the hippocampusa and basal ganglia, remain intact. In parallel, rats with NMS or CSD exhibit anxiety-like behaviors and demonstrate poor performance on mPFC-dependent tasks. Further experiments demonstrate that, histone deacetylases 1/2 (HDAC1/2) are reduced in the mPFC of NMS and CSD rats. Inhibition of HDAC1/2 promotes activation of Wnt signalling, which negatively regulates oligodendrocyte development. Conversely, selective inhibition of Wnt signaling rescues the myelination arrestment and behavioral deficiency induced by NMS or CSD. These findings indicate that NMS or CSD impairs mPFC cognitive functions via regulation of oligodendrogenesis and myelination.
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    Selective deletion of dnmts in excitatory neurons impairs recognition memory and synaptic function in hippocampal network of adult mice
    ZHOU Yu
    2018, 8 (5):  84-85. 
    Abstract ( 174 )  
    Objective: DNA methylation is one of the most important epigenetic modulation, which is catalyzed primarily by three methyltransferases, DNMT1, DNMT3a and DNMT3b. The aim of our study is to investigate the modulatory effect of DNMTs on hippocampus-dependent memory formation, and to explore the underlying molecular, cellular and synaptic mechanisms. Methods:  Dnmt1, 3a and 3b were selectively deleted in the CA1 region of dorsal hippocampus by Cre/LoxP recombinase systerm, either with virus-mediated Cre expression in CA1 of Dnmtsflox/flox mice or conditional αCaMKII-Cre; Dnmtsflox/flox mice. Hippocampus-dependent and hippocampus-independent memory performance were evaluated in adult KO and control mice. RNA-seq analysis was conducted to screen differential expression genes in the hippocampus after conditional Dnmts knockout. Real-time qPCR and Western blot analysis were used to confirm the differential expression. We also analyzed the alteration in DNA methylation by Whole Genome Bisulfite Sequencing. Neuronal excitability, synaptic transmission and plasticity were measured in CA1 pyramidal neurons of hippocampal slices. Finally, we checked whether virus-mediated shRNA expression in hippocampal CA1 could ameliorate abnormal synaptic function and memory deficit observed in αCaMKII-Cre; Dnmstflox/flox mice. Results: We found that both Dnmt1flox/floxDnmt3aflox/flox mice and Dnmt3bflox/flox mice receiving AAV-Cre virus infection into CA1 region displayed recognition memory deficit to object place, but normal memory to novel object. All mice showed similar performance in fear memory tests. Also, virus infection and Dnmts deletion did not changed anxiety- or depression-like behavior. The object place recognition memory deficit was also observed in both αCaMKII-Cre; Dnmt1flox/floxDnmt3aflox/flox mice and αCaMKII-Cre; Dnmt3bflox/flox mice. The Cre expression in αCaMKII-Cre mice was verified to be dominant in hippocampal CA1. RNA-seq based gene expression and followed real-time qPCR and western blot analysis confirmed significant upregulation of certain genes after Dnmts deletion in aCaMKII-expression excitatory neurons in the hippocampus. WGBS analysis showed differentiated DNA methylation in related genes. Normal basal synaptic transmission but impaired LTP was observed in SC-CA1 path of both αCaMKII-Cre; Dnmt1flox/floxDnmt3aflox/flox mice and αCaMKII-Cre; Dnmt3bflox/flox mice. AAV-virus mediated specific shRNA expression in CA1 region of dorsal hippocampus interfered upregulation of candidate genes, rescued abnormal synaptic function, and ameliorated object place cognition impairment in both αCaMKII-Cre;Dnmt1flox/floxDnmt3aflox/flox mice and αCaMKII-Cre;Dnmt3bflox/flox mice. Virus-mediated shRNA expression in CA1 region of dorsal hippocampus did not affect recognition memory to novel object. Conclusion: In conclusion, our findings suggest that Dnmts in CA1 excitatory neurons plays an important role in regulating synaptic function and hippocampus-dependent recognition memory process by control the expression of certain target genes.
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    Parvalbumin-Expressing Cells Network Plasticity and Fear Extinction
    GAO Tian-ming
    2018, 8 (5):  85-87. 
    Abstract ( 204 )  
    Learning to fear threats in the environment is highly adaptive. However, this form of learning can also lead to pathological fear memories that fuel disorders of fear and anxiety,such as panic disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in humans. Increasingly evidence suggests that the ventral medial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) is involved in fear retrieval and fear extinction. However,no studies have as yet addressed the network plasticity in fear extinction. Here,we studied the role of PV network plasticity in the extinction of cued fear memory and the underlying molecular mechanisms. vmPFC is composed of prelimbic cortex (PL) and infrelimbic cortex (IL). We found that fear extinction induced a low PV-network configuration (low PV and GAD67 expression) in IL cortex but not PL cortex. To characterize the molecular mechanisms that underlie PV network plasticity in fear extinction,we analyzed an
    amount of molecules that are known to regulate GABAergic neuronal development and found that fear extinction induced an increased expression of NRG1. We would ask whether NRG1 regulates fear extinction. We found that neutralizing endogenous NRG1,inhibition,or genetic deletion of ErbB4,the functional receptor of NRG1,in the IL cortex impaired fear extinction,whereas local infusion of exogenous NRG1 in this region enhanced fear extinction. Specific ablation of ErbB4 in PV positive neurons impaired fear extinction. Notably,overexpression of ErbB4 in the IL cortex is sufficient to reverse impaired fear extinction in PV-Cre;ErbB4-/- mice. Together,these results demonstrated that NRG1 facilitated fear extinction through ErbB4 receptors on PV neurons.
    Next,we investigated the role of NRG1 signaling in modulating PV-network plasticity. We found that NRG1 induced a low PV-network configuration in IL cortex. In contrast,administration of ecto-ErbB4 to neutralize endogenous NRG1 induced a high PV-network configuration,suggesting an involvement of NRG1 signaling in regulating PV-network plasticity. Selective knockout or knockdown of ErbB4 receptors from PV neurons induced a high PV-network configuration in the IL cortex while NRG1 failed to induce a low PV-network configuration in PV-Cre;ErbB4-/- mouse. These observations suggested that NRG1 regulated PV- network plasticity through ErbB4. Does NRG1 regulate fear extinction through modulating PV-network plasticity? We found that pharmacogenetic activation of PV neurons induced a high PV-network,and reversed the facilitation of fear extinction by NRG1. Similarly,pharmacogenetic inhibition of PV neurons induced a low PV-network,and reversed the inhibitory effect of ecto-ErbB4 on fear extinction. These results suggested that NRG1 facilitated fear extinction by regulating PV- network plasticity. Taken together,we provided evidence that NRG1-ErbB4 signaling in IL is essential for regulating fear extinction via modulation of PV-networks plasticity and suggested that this signaling may be a target for the treatment of fear-related diseases.
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    Dissection of the Role of Cell Type Specific Histamine Receptors in Central Nervous System Disorders
    HU Wei-wei, CHEN Zhong
    2018, 8 (5):  88-89. 
    Abstract ( 156 )  
    The neurotransmitter histamine receives less attention compared with other biogenic amines, because of its moderate action in the central nervous system (CNS). Recent evidence suggests that histamine plays an important role in multiple CNS disorders, however histamine receptors in different cells may have distinct actions. So, we generated mice with selective deletion of histamine receptors in different types of neuron and glia to dissect the role of cell type specific histamine receptors in CNS disorders. We discovered that histamine H2/H3 receptors in neurons, H1/H2 receptors in astrocytes, H2 receptors in oligodendrocytes are implicated in the process of excitotoxicity, neuronal autophagy, glial scar formation and remyelination following cerebral ischemia. Recently, we found that deletion of H1 receptors in cholinergic neurons (Hrh1fl/fl;ChATCre), but not the glutamatergic (Hrh1fl/fl;CaMKII?Cre) or dopaminergic neurons (Hrh1fl/fl;DATCre), selectively leads to schizophrenia-like negative symptoms, suggesting H1R in cholinergic neurons could serve as a therapeutic target for the negative symptoms of schizophrenia. The in-depth understanding of the potential action of cell type specific histamine receptors are necessary stepping stones to unlock the wide-ranging applications of histamine related agents in the clinical arena.
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    Neurocognitive Impairment in Schizophrenia: Clinical Correlates and Pathophysiological Mechanisms
    ZHANG Xiang-yang
    2018, 8 (5):  89-90. 
    Abstract ( 165 )  
    Background: Cognitive deficits in learning, memory, attention, executive functioning, spatial working memory and cognitive processing speed are core features of schizophrenia, which may be associated with clinical variables. However, the pathological mechanisms of cognitive deficits in schizophrenia are still unclear. We have investigated the demographic and clinical characteristics that may be related to cognitive deficits and their possible underlying mechanism in schizophrenia. Methods: We examined the cognitive functions in both chronic medicated and first-episode drug-naïve schizophrenia patients versus healthy controls by using the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) or the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB). We assessed patient psychopathology using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. At the same time, some biomarkers in serum and the related gene polymorphisms were measured in both groups. Results: We found significantly lower cognitive scores on the RBANS or MCCB total score and mostly of their subscales in both chronic and first-episode patients than healthy controls.  Compared to first-episode patients, chronic patients displayed worse cognitive performance in some domains. Some clinical variables, such as clinical symptoms, tardive dyskinesia, smoking, and comorbid diabetes were associated with cognitive impairments in schizophrenia patients.  Meanwhile, some biomarkers such as BDNF, cytokine, and free radical parameters were found to be associated with cognitive deficits in patients. Also, some gene polymorphisms, such as BDNF and MnSOD were also involved in cognitive deficits in patients. Conclusions: The extensive compromised cognition is present in the early stage of schizophrenia, some of which could be more severe in the chronic stage of illness. Some demographic and clinical variables are risk factors for cognitive deficits in schizophrenia. Some biomarkers may play important roles for the cognitive impairments in schizophrenia.
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    Integrative Omics Reveals Novel Genetic and Gene Regulatory Mechanisms Underpinning Schizophrenia
    LUO Xiong-jian
    2018, 8 (5):  90-91. 
    Abstract ( 185 )  
    Schizophrenia is a debilitating brain disorder with a complex genetic architecture. Genetic studies,especially recent genome-wide association studies (GWAS),have identified multiple variants (loci) conferring risk to schizophrenia. However,how to efficiently extract meaningful biological information from bulk genetic findings of schizophrenia remains a major challenge and it is a daunting task to decipher the pathological role of these risk variants in schizophrenia. There is a pressing need to integrate multiple layers of data from various sources,e.g. genetic findings from GWAS,copy number variations (CNVs),association and linkage studies,gene expression,protein-protein interaction (PPI),co-expression,expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL),and Encyclopedia of DNA Elements (ENCODE) data,to provide a comprehensive resource to facilitate the translation of genetic findings into schizophrenia molecular diagnosis and mechanism study. To elucidate the genetic mechanisms of schizophrenia,we utilized integrative omics to systematically integrate multiple layers of data from diverse studies of schizophrenia. Several novel and pivotal schizophrenia risk genes have been identified
    by using integrative omics,including CAMKK2,ZNF323,MKL1,GLT8D1 and etc. In addition, integrative omics also revealed the potential mechanisms of CNVs in schizophrenia susceptibility. Finally,based on comprehensive and systematic integration of multiple layers of data from various sources,we developed the SZDB database (http://www.szdb.org/),a comprehensive resource for schizophrenia research. Schizophrenia genetic data,gene expression data,network-based data,brain eQTL data,and SNP function annotation information were systematically extracted, curated and deposited in SZDB. In-depth analyses and systematic integration were performed to identify top prioritized schizophrenia genes and enriched pathways. Multiple types of data from various layers of schizophrenia research were systematically integrated and deposited in SZDB. In-depth data analyses and integration identified top prioritized SZ genes and enriched pathways. We further showed that genes implicated in schizophrenia are highly co-expressed in human brain and proteins encoded by the prioritized schizophrenia risk genes are significantly interacted. The user-friendly SZDB provides high-confidence candidate variants and genes for further functional characterization. More important,SZDB provides convenient online tools for data search and browse,data integration,and customized data analyses.
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    K2P Channels and NMDA Receptor as New Targets of Fast Onset Antidepressants
    LI Yang,GUO Fei,MA Yu-qin
    2018, 8 (5):  91-93. 
    Abstract ( 187 )  
    Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by diverse symptoms.There are big limitations of clinic medicine which highlighted an urgent and clear need for more efficacious and faster-acting therapeutic agents to treat patients with MDD,especially those who are refractory to the traditional antidepressants. In the present study,we assessed a novel compound,YY-21,from timosaponin B-Ⅲ derived from sarsasapogenin of Anemarrhenae Rhizoma. We found that YY-21 obviously increased presynaptic glutamate release and enhanced long-term synaptic activity within 10 minutes as determined by excitatory postsynaptic current (EPSC) and field excitatory postsynaptic potential (fEPSP) in medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) slices. YY-21 demonstrated anxiolytic-like effects following acute administration in animals and reversed the depressive-like and anxiety phenotypes induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress (CMS) with a relatively fast therapeutic onset. Our mechanism research reveals that NMDA receptors and K2P(TREK1) channels emerged as new drug targets for faster acting antidepressants. Two-pore domain potassium (K2P) channels generate leak currents that are responsible the maintenance of resting membrane potential. They are potential targets for the treatment of multiple diseases. Here we identify TKDC,an inhibitor of the TREK subfamily,including TREK-1,TREK-2 and TRAAK channels. Using TKDC as a chemical probe,a combined study of computations,mutagenesis,and electrophysiology reveal an allosteric ligand-binding site in the extracellular cap of the channels. The molecular dynamics simulations suggest that ligand-induced allosteric conformational transitions cause a blockage of the ion conductive pathway. The identification of the extracellular ligand-binding site is confirmed by the discovery of new inhibitors targeting this site using virtual screening. These results suggest that the extracellular cap of a K2P channel can act as a new allosteric site and may serve as a direct drug target.
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    The Stress-Inducible Twist1 Regulates Depressive-Like Behaviors Through miR-214 Targeting Brain PPAR-δ
    CHEN Jian-guo
    2018, 8 (5):  93-94. 
    Abstract ( 176 )  
    Background: Depression is a common manifestation of chronic illness, including cancer. Depression has been shown to be predictive of cancer progression, which is promoted via epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) through high expression of Twist1, a helix-loop-helix transcription factor. However, the role of Twist1 in the brain and whether it involves in the pathophysiology of depression remains poorly understood. Methods: Depression model was made by chronic social defeat stress (CSDS) and multiple behavioral tests, gene manipulations and molecular biological analysis were applied. Results: We found that chronic stress elevated Twist1 expression in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of the vulnerable animals, which was reversed by fluoxetine treatment. Overexpression of Twist1 increased susceptibility to stress and knockdown of Twist1 via shRNA normalized defective dendrite morphogenesis in the mPFC layer II/III pyramidal neurons and alleviated depressive-like behaviors in the CSDS model. This pro-depressant properties of Twist1 was mediated, in part, through repression of miR-214- peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR-δ) signaling and mitochondrial function, which was induced after CSDS. We also show that subcutaneous inoculation of 4T1 potentiates depressive-like behaviors in mice through high expression of Twist1 in the mPFC and cancer cells. Conclusion: These findings identify Twist1 in mPFC as a critical mediator of the altered neuronal morphology and depressive-like behaviors induced by chronic stress and 4T1 cells inoculation, providing a potential therapeutic target in depression, especially the cancer induced depression (CID).
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    Epigenetic Regulations and Chronic Pain Hypersensitivity
    XU Guang-yin
    2018, 8 (5):  94-95. 
    Abstract ( 188 )  
    More than 20% of adults worldwide suffer from different types of chronic pain, which are frequently associated with several comorbidities and adverse impact on patient quality of life. Although several approved analgesic drugs are commercially available, they are often hampered by severe side effects and/or insufficient efficacy. One of the most likely possibilities is to develop novel drugs from outcomes of studying the epigenetic mechanisms of chronic pain. A growing body of evidence has emerged in the field of pain epigenetics; however, the field is still very much in its infancy. Epigenetic mechanisms in mammals include DNA methylation, post-translational histone modification, chromatin remodeling and non-coding RNAs. One of the most popular and key epigenetic mechanisms in regulation of gene expression is methylation of cytosines.  In the past decade, our group has been focused on the roles of DNA methylation in the different kinds of chronic pain conditions. Our data strongly suggest that imbalance of DNA demethylation homeostasis contributes to the development of chronic pain hypersensitivity. Obviously, there are many challenging research issues that require to be well addressed to fill in the gaps in our knowledge related to the potential for drugging the pain epigenome.
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    Matrine Inhibits Itching by Lowering the Activity of Calcium Channel
    GENG Xiao1, SHI Hao1, YE Fan1, DU Han2, QIAN Lin-nan1, GU Le-ying1, WU Guan-yi1, ZHU Chan1, YANG Yan1, WANG Chang-ming1, ZHOU Yuan1, YU Guang 1, LIU Qin3, DONG Xin-zhong4,5, YU Lei1, TANG Zong-xiang1,
    2018, 8 (5):  95-96. 
    Abstract ( 173 )  
    Sophorae Flavescentis Radix (SFR) is a medicinal herb with many functions that are involved in anti-inflammation, antinociception, and anticancer. SFR is also used to treat a variety of itching diseases. Matrine (MT) is one of the main constituents in SFR and also has the effect of relieving itching, but the antipruritic mechanism is still unclear. Here, we investigated the effect of MT on antipruritus. In acute and chronic itch models, MT significantly inhibited the scratching behavior not only in acute itching induced by histamine (His), chloroquine (CQ) and compound 48/80 with a dose-depended manner, but also in the chronic pruritus models of Atopic dermatitis (AD) and Acetone-ether-water (AEW) in mice. Furthermore, MT can be detected in the blood after intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) and subcutaneous injection (s.c.). Finally, electrophysiological and calcium image results show that MT inhibits the excitatory synaptic transmission from dorsal root ganglion (DRG) to the dorsal horn of the spinal cord by suppressing presynaptic N-type calcium channels. Taken together, we believe that MT is a novel drug candidate in treating pruritus diseases, especially for histamine-independent and chronic pruritus, which might be attributed to inhibition of presynaptic N-type calcium channels.
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    Intracerebroventricular Streptozocin-induced Alzheimer’s Disease-like Sleep Disorders: Role of the GABAergic System in the Parabrachial Complex
    CUI Su-ying, SONG Jin-zhi, CUI Xiang-yu, HU Xiao, DING Hui, YE Hui, ZHANG Yong-he
    2018, 8 (5):  96-97. 
    Abstract ( 171 )  
    Aim: Sleep disorders are common in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and assumed to directly influence cognitive function and progression of the disease. The present study evaluated sleep characteristics in a rat model of AD that was induced by intracerebroventricular administration of streptozocin, and we assessed the possible underlying mechanisms. Methods: The cognition ability of rats was assessed by Morris water maze (MWM) trails. Sleep parameters were analyzed by electroencephalographic (EEG) and electromyographic (EMG) recordings. The neuronal activity in sleep-wake regulating brain areas was evaluated by double-staining immunohistochemistry test. High performance liquid chromatograph- electrochemical detection (HPLC-ECD) was used for the detection of neurotransmitters. Results: On day 14 after STZ injection, the rats exhibited sleep disorders that are similar to those in AD patients as evidenced by significant increase in wakefulness and decrease in rapid-eye movement sleep (REMS) and non-REMS. The c-Fos expression analysis indicated that neuronal activity and the number of neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus and locus coeruleus decreased in STZ rats. In the ventrolateral preoptic nucleus (VLPO), the activity of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurons was suppressed. In the arousal-driving parabrachial nucleus (PBN), GABAergic activity was suppressed, whereas glutamatergic activity was promoted. The neurotransmitter analysis revealed a reduction of GABA in the VLPO and PBN and elevations of glutamate in the PBN. A direct injection of the GABAA receptor antagonist bicuculline in the PBN in normal rats induced a similar sleep disorder pattern as in STZ rats. Furthermore, a microinjection of GABA in the PBN improved sleep disorders induced by STZ. Conclusion: These results suggest that the reduction of GABAergic inhibition in the PBN and VLPO may be involved in sleep disorders induced by STZ. Our novel findings encourage further study aimed at investigating the new mechanisms of sleep regulation in sporadic AD.
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    Biophotonic Transmission in Relation to Intelligence and Consciousness
    DAI Jia-pei
    2018, 8 (5):  98-99. 
    Abstract ( 250 )  
    Introduction:Recently,biophotonic activities and transmission have been suggested to play an important role in the realization of higher nervous functions such as vision,learning and memory,cognition and consciousness,which may be involved in the generation of the quantum mind,however,the underlying mechanisms are far from being understood. Methods:By developing ultraweak biophoton imaging system (UBIS),we have studied the biophotonic activities and transmission in the brain in relation to the evolution of intelligence and the origin of consciousness in animals and human beings. Results:We have demonstrated that glutamate-induced biophotonic activities and transmission in the brain present a spectral redshift from animals (in order of bullfrog,mouse,chicken,pig,and monkey) to humans,even up to a near-infrared wavelength (~865 nm) in the human brain. These results suggest that the demonstration of spectral redshift from animals to humans may be a key biophysical basis for explaining high intelligence in humans because biophoton spectral redshift could be a more economical and effective measure of biophotonic signal communications and information processing in the human brain. In addition,we found that glutamate-induced biophotonic activities and transmission in the mouse brain slices are enhanced by acetylcholine (ACh), dopamine (DA),norepinephrine (NE) and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA),but inhibited sustainably by 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT). Such synergistic effects of ACh,DA and NE were prevented by 5-HT and a general anesthetic and sedative (propofol),the latter being well known to lead to rapid alteration in states of consciousness. Therefore,we propose that the glutamate-induced tonic biophotonic activity and transmission in different neural circuits in the brain form the basic biophotonic information streams,which represent the quantum state of sub-consciousness or pre-consciousness,called as“ Photon quantum mind”. The positive and negative regulation of glutamate action by other neurotransmitters may lead to altered states of consciousness,and consequently,quantum computation and information transmission and storage could be realized through biophotonic quantum coherence,entanglement,and superposition based on the interactions of the intrinsic and extrinsic biophotonic information fl ows. Conclusion:These results suggest that the neurotransmitter-mediated biophotonic activities and transmission including their mutual effects may be a new mechanism for the processing of neural information,and provide new ideas for explaining the higher brain functions such as intelligence and consciousness in animals and human beings,understanding the pathological mechanisms underlying mental disorders,designing new anesthetics,and developing new drugs for neuropsychiatric disorders.
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    Non-Presentation
    2018, 8 (5):  100-122. 
    Abstract ( 193 )   PDF (22797KB) ( 103 )  
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    2018 Taishan Academic Forum: The Summit on Neuroscience and Psychiatry Index
    2018, 8 (5):  122-128. 
    Abstract ( 209 )   PDF (4500KB) ( 109 )  
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