Topic: vesicular monoamine transporter 2

Achyrocline satureoides aqueous extract (ASAE) protective effects were evaluated on dopaminergic neurodegeneration induced by reserpine in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). Strain BY200 was cultured following standard procedure. The worms (L1 stage) were exposed to the treatments, ASAE (10 or 25 mg/ml) or no for 24 hours, followed by the induction of dopaminergic damage (reserpine, 60 µM, positive control; PC) or no (negative control; NC). Worm’s images (n=20) were captured using a fluorescence microscope and quantified using the ImageJ software. The locomotor behavior (body bends) of the w

Substance use disorders (SUD) has a significant impact on human wellbeing and carries a high economic cost in the modern world. Astrocytes are known to participate in all major aspects of brain functions by regulating extracellular levels of neuroactive molecules. Notably, astrocytes were previously shown to critically adjust levels of dopamine in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) through astroglial vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (aVMAT2). Our recent data also indicate aVMAT2 expression in the nucleus accumbens (NAcc)., As SUD engages common neural pathways involved in natural reward processing i

Brain cognitive performances are typically thought to fully rely on neurons. Yet, recent research has shown that the other major cell type of the brain, the astrocyte, actively influence information processing. Astrocytes are indeed involved in the modulation of neuronal circuit activities underlying behavior, by regulating extracellular concentrations of ion and neurotransmitters. We have previously found that astrocytes control dopamine levels in the prefrontal cortex, thereby modulating synaptic transmission and plasticity. Dopamine release can occur physically, responding to specific stimu