reactivity

From the first spark to catching your breath: A love story in neuroscience

What are the things that draw us to a particular field of science and what is it that keeps us there? For Dr. Bahia, there was a particular attraction to sensory nerves; the monitors of the worlds inside and outside of our bodies. In this talk, Dr. Bahia will outline her career path as a neuroscientist resulting in the title of Research Associate. She will also talk about the longest project she has participated in, 'exploring the role of ion channels in sensory nerves' (rupress.org/jgp/article/147/6/451/43495/The-exceptionally-high-reactivity-of-Cys-621-is)

Role of Oxytocin in regulating microglia functions to prevent brain damage of the developing brain

Every year, 30 million infants worldwide are delivered after intra-uterine growth restriction (IUGR) and 15 million are born preterm. These two conditions are the leading causes of ante/perinatal stress and brain injury responsible for neurocognitive and behavioral disorders in more than 9 million children each year. Both prematurity and IUGR are associated with perinatal systemic inflammation, a key factor associated with neuroinflammation and identified to be the best predictor of subsequent neurological impairments. Most of pharmacological candidates have failed to demonstrate any beneficial effect to prevent perinatal brain damage. In contrast, environmental enrichment based on developmental care, skin-to-skin contact and vocal/music intervention appears to confer positive effects on brain structure and function. However, mechanisms underlying these effects remain unknown. There is strong evidence that an adverse environment during pregnancy and the perinatal period can influence hormonal responses of the newborn with long-lasting neurobehavioral consequences in infancy and adulthood. Excessive cortisol release in response to perinatal stress induces pro-inflammatory and brain-programming effects. These deleterious effects are known to be balanced by Oxytocin (OT), a neuropeptide playing a key role during the perinatal period and parturition, in social behavior and regulating the central inflammatory response to injury in the adult brain. Using a rodent model of IUGR associated with perinatal brain damage, we recently reported that Carbetocin, a brain permeable long-lasting OT receptor (OTR) agonist, was associated with a significant reduction of activated microglia, the primary immune cells of the brain. Moreover this reduced microglia reactivity was associated to a long-term neuroprotection. These findings make OT a promising candidate for neonatal neuroprotection through neuroinflammation regulation. However, the causality between the endogenous OT and central inflammation response to injury has not been established and will be further studied by the lab.

What about antibiotics for the treatment of the dyskinesia induced by L-DOPA?

L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia is a debilitating adverse effect of treating Parkinson’s disease with this drug. New therapeutic approaches that prevent or attenuate this side effect is clearly needed. Wistar adult male rats submitted to 6-hydroxydopamine-induced unilateral medial forebrain bundle lesions were treated with L-DOPA (oral or subcutaneous, 20 mg kg-1) once a day for 14 days. After this period, we tested if doxycycline (40 mg kg-1, intraperitoneal, a subantimicrobial dose) and COL-3 (50 and 100 nmol, intracerebroventricular) could reverse LID. In an additional experiment, doxycycline was also administered repeatedly with L-DOPA to verify if it would prevent LID development. A single injection of doxycycline or COL-3 together with L-DOPA attenuated the dyskinesia. Co-treatment with doxycycline from the first day of L-DOPA suppressed the onset of dyskinesia. The improved motor responses to L-DOPA remained intact in the presence of doxycycline or COL-3, indicating the preservation of L-DOPA-produced benefits. Doxycycline treatment was associated with decreased immunoreactivity of FosB, cyclooxygenase-2, the astroglial protein GFAP and the microglial protein OX-42 which are elevated in the basal ganglia of rats exhibiting dyskinesia. Doxycycline also decreased metalloproteinase-2/-9 activity, metalloproteinase-3 expression and reactive oxygen species production. Metalloproteinase-2/-9 activity and production of reactive oxygen species in the basal ganglia of dyskinetic rats showed a significant correlation with the intensity of dyskinesia. The present study demonstrates the anti-dyskinetic potential of doxycycline and its analog compound COL-3 in hemiparkinsonian rats. Given the long-established and safe clinical use of doxycycline, this study suggests that these drugs might be tested to reduce or to prevent L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia in Parkinson’s patients.

Biomarkers for Addiction Treatment Development: fMRI Drug Cue Reactivity as an Example

This webinar is mainly focused on “Biomarkers for Addiction Treatment Development: fMRI Drug Cue Reactivity as an Example”. Biomarkers and Biotypes of Drug Addiction: funding opportunities at NIDA, Tanya Ramey (NIDA, US) Neuroimaging-based Biomarker Development for Clinical Trials, Owen Carmicheal (Pennington Biomedical Research Center, USA) ENIGMA-Addiction Cue Reactivity Initiative (ACRI) and Checklist, Hamed Ekhtiari (Laureate Institute for Brain Research, USA) ENIGMA-ACRI Checklist: Participant Characteristics, General fMRI Information, General Task Information, Cue Information, Task-related Assessments, Pre-Post Scanning Consideration (James Prisciandaro, Medical University of South Carolina, USA; Marc Kaufman, McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School, USA; Anna Zilverstand, University of Minnesota; Torsten Wüstenberg, Charité Medical University Berlin, Germany; Falk Kiefer, University of Heidelberg, Germany; Amy Janes, Harvard Medical School, USA) How to Add fMRI Drug Cue Reactivity to the ENIGMA Consortium: Road Ahead, Hugh Garavan, University of Vermont)

Assessing the hyperexcitability of the epileptic brain by burst-suppression EEG reactivity

Assessment of the rat ischemic brain by burst-suppression EEG reactivity

Cerebrovascular reactivity to hypercapnia and neurovascular coupling explore different vascular beds

Characterization of astrocyte reactivity in a model of encephalopathy of prematurity

A common mechanism for saliency detection and motor reactivity in humans and rhesus monkeys

Contribution of peripheral neuronal activity to spinal microglial reactivity in chronic pain

The default EEG macrostate reactivity to the subject’s own name depends on awareness

Drebrin controls scar formation and astrocyte reactivity upon traumatic brain injury by regulating membrane trafficking

Impact of astrocyte reactivity in cocaine addiction

Impact of calorie-restricted cafeteria feeding and treadmill exercise on sucrose intake, sensitivity and reactivity in diet-induced obese male and female rats

Investigating the effects of acute THC vapour exposure on stress reactivity and fear conditioning

Investigation of Microglial and Astrocytic Reactivity in Mouse Models of Down Syndrome

Macrophage-derived amphiregulin modulates astrocyte network reactivity

Reactivity to conditioned threat cues is distinct from exploratory drive in the elevated plus-maze

Repeated stress in the early adolescent period: Are CB1 receptors mediating stress-reactivity in a sex-specific manner?

STAT3-mediated astrocytic reactivity in glioblastoma multiforme

Ubiquinol supplementation improves gender-dependent cerebral vasoreactivity and ameliorates chronic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction associated with mild cognitive impairment

What is the contribution of cerebrovascular reactivity to measures of haemodynamic lags in patients with left hemisphere stroke?

Adenosine triggers astrocyte reactivity to drive the pathogenesis of sepsis-associated encephalopathy

FENS Forum 2024

Assessing the EEG reactivity to photic stimulation in the sedated epileptic brain

FENS Forum 2024

The default EEG reactivity to photic stimulation is impaired following global cerebral ischaemia and reperfusion

FENS Forum 2024

Epigenetic modulation of astrocyte reactivity to prevent neurodegeneration

FENS Forum 2024

Loss of cyclooxygenase-1 attenuates microglia reactivity after optic nerve injury

FENS Forum 2024

Modulating the astrocyte reactivity by blocking P2X7R and Panx1 in vitro – intercepting the neuroinflammation chronicity development

FENS Forum 2024

Newly synthesized fatty acid analogue (NKS-3) rescues microglial reactivity in a murine model of diet-induced obesity

FENS Forum 2024

Cue reactivity in electronic cigarette users is unrelated to sign-tracking propensity

FENS Forum 2024

Cue reactivity of non-dopamine neurons in the midbrain

FENS Forum 2024

Unraveling the neurogenic niche symphony: Hippocampal astrocytes mitigate microglial reactivity to inflammation

FENS Forum 2024