Topic: spine density

Patients with tachykinin receptor 3 (TACR3) mutations experience pubertal failure, depression, and anxiety, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. In this study, we found that rats with severe anxiety have reduced expression of TACR3 in the hippocampus. We also observed that TACR3 expression in the hippocampus increases in males during sexual development, parallel to changes in anxiety and serum testosterone levels. Although TACR3 is not highly expressed at synapses, its regulation significantly impacts synapse number, function, and plasticity. In particular, inhibiting TACR3

Early Life Stress (ELS) can result in enduring health consequences, highlighting the need for exploring timely intervention approaches. Our study aims to investigate whether metformin, a long-recognized diabetes medication with neuroprotective and neurotrophic potential, can mitigate ELS-induced disruptions in hippocampal neurogenesis and dendritic growth. To test this hypothesis, both male and female neonatal Wistar rats were allocated into four distinct groups: control, metformin treatment, ELS model, and ELS model with metformin treatment (ELS+M). During the initial two weeks, ELS model was

PhospholipaseC γ2 (PLCG2) is known to have direct link with genetic risk factors for Alzheimer’s like dementia (AD). Previous work showed its action in AD is regulated through microglia. However, the synaptic/ electrophysiological correlates are elusive. In present study, WT mouse were transfected with sh-RNA of LV-PLCG2 (U6 promotor, GFP as reporter; shRNA) or scrambled (used as control; shNT). Whole-cell voltage-clamp recordings were performed on acute slices with glass pipette (<3-4MΩ) at -70mv, followed by morphometry. Two-tailed Mann-Whitney test was used for statistics unless otherwis

The hippocampus is a brain structure renowned for its role in memory formation, learning and the representation of space. Hippocampal circuitry is comprised of a diverse set of excitatory and inhibitory neurons, including a transient population of reelin+ glutamatergic Cajal-Retzius neurons (CR). In contrast to neocortical CR-cells, which disappear soon after birth, hippocampal CR-cells persist for an extended period during postnatal development. These CR-cells are actively integrated into the hippocampal microcircuit; however, their influence on postnatal hippocampal development and function

Type I interferons are most commonly associated with their essential role in the innate immune response. However, the actions of the type I interferon receptor are not limited to the scenario of infection. Previous work from our group revealed that type I interferon receptor signaling, specifically in a subtype of glia cells (astrocytes), critically modulates hippocampal synaptic plasticity and cognitive function in adult mice under physiological conditions. Since cytokines such as type I interferons are implicated in modulation of neurogenesis and brain development, in this work we started to