Analyzing the role of extracellular matrix during nervous system development to advance new regenerative strategies

Regeneration in the central nervous system （CNS） is limited, and CNS damage often leads to cognitive impairment or permanent functional motor and sensory loss. Impaired regenerative capacity is multifactorial and includes inflammation, loss of the blood-brain barrier, and alteration in the extracellular matrix （ECM）. One of the main problems is the formation of a glial scar and the production of inhibitory ECM, such as proteoglycans, that generates a physical and mechanical barrier, impeding axonal regrowth （Figure 1A）.

Neurotrophic factors: from neurodevelopmental regulators to novel therapies for Parkinson's disease

Neuroprotection and neuroregeneration are two of the most promising disease-modifying ther- apies for the incurable and widespread Parkinson＇s disease. In Parkinson＇s disease, progressive degeneration of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons causes debilitating motor symptoms. Neurotrophic factors play important regulatory roles in the development, survival and maintenance of specific neuronal populations. These factors have the potential to slow down, halt or reverse the loss of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons in Parkinsoffs disease. Several neurotrophic fac- tors have been investigated in this regard. This review article discusses the neurodevelopmental roles and therapeutic potential of three dopaminergic neurotrophic factors： glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor, neurturin and growth/differentiation factor 5.

Expression Pattern of Chlamys farreri sox2 in Eggs, Embryos and Larvae of Various Stages

The SOX2 protein is an important transcription factor functioning during the early development of animals. In this study, we isolated a full-length c DNA sequence of scallop Chlamys farreri sox2, Cf-sox2 which was 2194 bp in length with a 981 bp open reading frame encoding 327 amino acids. With real-time PCR analysis, it was detected that Cf-sox2 was expressed in unfertilized oocytes, fertilized eggs and all the tested embryos and larvae. The expression level increased significantly(P < 0.01) in embryos from 2-cell to blastula, and then decreased significantly(P < 0.01) and reached the minimum in umbo larva. Moreover, location of the Cfsox2 expression was revealed using whole mount in situ hybridization technique. Positive hybridization signal could be detected in the central region of unfertilized oocytes and fertilized eggs, and then strong signals dispersed throughout the embryos from 2-cell to gastrula. During larval development, the signals were concentrated and strong signals were restricted to 4 regions of viscera mass in veliger larva. In umbo larva, weak signals could be detected in regions where presumptive visceral and pedal ganglia may be formed. The expression pattern of Cf-sox2 during embryogenesis was similar to that of mammal sox2, which implied that Cf-SOX2 may participate in the regulation of early development of C. farreri.

Embracing oligodendrocyte diversity in the context of perinatal injury

Emerging evidence is fueling a new appreciation of oligodendrocyte diversity that is overturning the traditional view that oligodendrocytes are a homogenous cell population.Oligodendrocytes of distinct origins,maturational stages,and regional locations may differ in their functional capacity or susceptibility to injury.One of the most unique qualities of the oligodendrocyte is its ability to produce myelin.Myelin abnormalities have been ascribed to a remarkable array of perinatal brain injuries,with concomitant oligodendrocyte dysregulation.Within this review,we discuss new insights into the diversity of the oligodendrocyte lineage and highlight their relevance in paradigms of perinatal brain injury.Future therapeutic development will be informed by comprehensive knowledge of oligodendrocyte pathophysiology that considers the particular facets of heterogeneity that this lineage exhibits.

Effect of Reelin signaling on pre-plate splitting during cerebral cortex development

The development of the 6-layered cerebral neocortex is one of the most important events during nervous system development, and disturbances could result in various malformations, causing clinically intractable diseases, such as epilepsy and cerebral palsy. Pre-plate splitting is the first developmental step of the cortical plate formation. Without correct pre-plate splitting, normal cerebral cortex structures are disturbed. The Reelin-Dabl molecular pathway plays a critical role during cerebral cortex development, and deficiencies in this pathway result in failed pre-plate splitting and an inverted cortical plate. This paper summarizes findings involving Reelin and pre-plate splitting and further explores the precise role of Reelin during pre-plate splitting.

N-cadherin expression in the midbrain substantia nigra of perinatal rats

BACKGROUND： Cellular adhesion molecule mediates the effects of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor in dopaminergic neurons during nervous system development. It is assumed that cellular adhesion molecule plays an important role in dopaminergic neuron development. OBJECTIVE： To investigate N-cadherin expression in the midbrain substantia nigra during rat development. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： The developmental biology, controlled study was performed at the Laboratory of Research Center of Neurobiology, Xuzhou Medical College, China from April to October 2007. MATERIALS： Sprague Dawley rats （embryonic days 16, 18, and 20, as well as postnatal days 1, 3, 7, 14, and 21） were selected for this study. N-cadherin antibody was purchased from Santa Cruz, USA. METHODS： N-cadherin expression in the midbrain substantia nigra of perinatal rats was detected using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry methods. N-cadherin-positive cells were counted. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： N-cadherin mRNA, protein, and positive cells in the rat midbrain substantia nigra were quantified. RESULTS： The results of reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blot demonstrated that altered N-cadherin mRNA levels were similar to protein levels in the midbrain substantia nigra. N-cadherin mRNA and protein expression was low in the midbrain substantia nigra of embryonic day 16 rats but gradually increased, and reached a peak at postnatal day 1. N-cadherin mRNA and protein levels were still high at postnatal days 3 and 7, but significantly decreased at postnatal day 14. There was no significant difference in N-cadherin mRNA and protein expression between postnatal days 14 and 21 （P 〉 0.05）. The immunohistochemistry results demonstrated that there was no significant difference in the quantity of N-cadherin-positive cells per area in rats from embryonic day 16 to postnatal day 7 （P 〉 0.05）. The quantity of N-cadherin-positive cells per area was significantly decreased in rats at postnatal day 14. There was no significant difference in the number of N-cadherin-positive cells per area between postnatal days 14 and 21 （P 〉 0.05）. CONCLUSION： N-cadherin expression was reduced during embryonic stages, but reached a peak at postnatal days 1-7, and then gradually decreased in the rat midbrain substantia nigra.

Clinical Observation on Treatment of Clearing the Governor Vessel and Refreshing the Mind Needling in Neural Development and Remediation of Children with Cerebral Palsy

To investigate the effects of clearing the Governor Vessel and refreshing the mind needling in neural development and remediation of children with cerebral palsy. Methods： A total of 200 cases of children with cerebral palsy were randomly assigned to the treatment group （100 patients） and the control group （100 patients）. The treatment group was given the combined therapy of acupuncture and rehabilitation training, and the chosen acupoints were 13 points of the Governor Vessel, Shenshu （BL 23）, Taixi （KI 3）, Yanglingquan （GB 34）, Zusanli （ST 36） and Sanyinjiao （SP 6）, and points of refreshing the mind were also selected, which included puncturing Shenting （GV 24） toward Qianding （GV 21）, puncturing Qianding （GV 21） toward Baihui （GV 20）, puncturing Baihui （GV 20） toward Naohu （GV 17） and Sishencong （Ex-HN 1）. The control group was only treated with rehabilitation training. A contrastive analysis of the therapeutic effect between acupuncture combined with rehabilitation training and rehabilitation training alone was made after a treatment course of 3 months. The Gross Motor Function Measure （GMFM） and Beijing Gesell Developmental Scale were adopted to assess the neural development and rehabilitation outcomes of the two groups. In addition, skull CT/MRI was adopted to evaluate the plerosis of injured cerebral nerve after treatment. Results： The total effective rate in treatment group was 87% （87/100）, significantly higher than the 55% （55/100） in the control group. The children＇s development quotient （DQ） tested by Gesell Developmental Scale and scores tested by GMFM in the treatment group were obviously higher than those in the control group （P〈0.01）. The improving and curing rates presented by skull CT/MRI in the treatment group were higher than those in the control group （P〈0.01）. Conclusions： Clearing the Governor Vessel and refreshing the mind needling could accelerate the recovery of injured brain nerve and the reconstruction of brain function. The acupuncture therapy could ameliorate both the motor development and cognitive development. On the other hand, the forward curative effect of acupuncture combined with rehabilitation training was significantly better than the rehabilitation training alone.

Characterization and expression analysis of sox3 in medaka gonads

Numerous studies have showed that sox3 is involved in neurogenesis and sex differentiation in vertebrates.However,the accurate expression pattern is still unclear in fish.In this study,medaka sox3 was isolated and its expression patterns were compared with germ cell gene vasa in adult gonads.By reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)analysis,sox3 RNA expression was detected in the brain,eyes and gonads.By chromogenic and fluorescent in situ hybridization,sox3 was present in the oogonia and early stages of oocytes as well as granulosa cells and theca cells in the later stages;in the testis,sox3 was occurred in the Sertoli cells and sperm with a specific signal in the location of chromatid body of sperm;in the embryos,sox3 was expressed in the central nervous.These results suggest that medaka sox3 gene was occurred in somatic and germ cells in adult gonads of both sexes,involved in the process of spermatogenesis,as well as the development of the nervous system.This study provides a precise expression pattern of sox3 and suggests that sox3 may be involved in gonadal and nervous system development of fish.