Topic: spatial learning and memory

Activation of microglia by inflammation or chronic disease has profound effects on neurons and synapses. The details of this communication between the immune system and the brain are under active investigation. Common strategies to activate microglia, such as lipopolysaccharide injection or experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) primarily activate the peripheral immune system, triggering a complex and protracted response of the whole organism. In order to activate microglia selectively and with precise timing, we used chemogenetic activation of a Gq-DREADD expressed exclusively in mic

Neuroimmune dysregulations strongly contribute to the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Because pathogens shape the immune system over lifetime, their association with AD has been suggested. Increasing evidence supports a role for the prevalent, brain-persisting parasite Toxoplasma gondii (Tg) in chronic neurological diseases. Yet, the contribution of Tg chronic infection on AD clinical progression and pathogenesis remains unexplored. Considering the temporal relationship between natural Tg infection and AD occurrence, it seems legitimate to evaluate the effects of a seemingly silen

The consumption of diets enriched in fats has been implicated in the impairment of neuronal plasticity and cognitive function. These dietary patterns have been closely associated with disruptions in glutamatergic signaling within the hippocampus, a crucial brain region for learning and memory processes. In the present study, we investigated the enduring effects of lifelong consumption of diets enriched in saturated (SOLF) and unsaturated (UOLF) fats on i) spatial learning and memory, ii) hippocampal synaptic transmission and plasticity, and iii) gene expression of glutamatergic and hormone rec

Neurofilaments, neuron-specific cytoskeletal proteins, are heteropolymers composed of four subunits: NFL, NFM, NFH, and αINTX. The synaptic population (SNFs) differs from the axonal subgroup and subserves unique functions, such as the maintenance of synaptic integrity and the modulation of neurotransmission. During aging, synapses undergo several modifications, contributing to the worsening of cognitive performances and the so-called age-related memory impairment. Despite that, nothing is known about "senescent" SNFs. Our research aimed to study the age-related expression pattern of SNFs subun