GABAergic synaptic transmission and plasticity oscillate across sleep and wake

Sleep is a widely expressed behavior across the animal kingdom. In addition to the numerous health benefits that are associated with sleep, it is believed that sleep plays a pivotal role in mental processes such as learning and memory. Indeed, it has been demonstrated that learning and memory benefit from sleep, whereas sleep loss causes cognitive impairment(Rasch and Born, 2013). Changing the strength of synapses.

Neonatal Exposure to Propofol Interferes with the Proliferation and Differentiation of Hippocampal Neural Stem Cells and the Neurocognitive Function of Rats in Adulthood via the Akt/p27 Signaling Pathway

Objective Neonatal exposure to propofol has been reported to cause neurotoxicity and neurocognitive decline in adulthood;however,the underlying mechanism has not been established.Methods SD rats were exposed to propofol on postnatal day 7(PND-7).Double-immunofluorescence staining was used to assess neurogenesis in the hippocampal dentate gyrus(DG).The expression of pAkt and p27 were measured by western blotting.The Morris water maze,novel object recognition test,and object location test were used to evaluate neurocognitive function 2-month-old rats.Results Phosphorylation of Akt was inhibited,while p27 expression was enhanced after neonatal exposure to propofol.Propofol also inhibited proliferation of neural stem cells(NSCs)and decreased differentiation to neurons and astroglia.Moreover,the neurocognitive function in 2-month-old rats was weakened.Of significance,intra-hippocampal injection of the Akt activator,SC79,attenuated the inhibition of p-AKT and increase of p27 expression.SC79 also rescued the propofol-induced inhibition of NSC proliferation and differentiation.The propofol-induced neurocognition deficit was also partially reversed by SC79.Conclusion Taken together,these results suggest that neurogenesis is hindered by neonatal propofol exposure.Specifically,neonatal propofol exposure was shown to suppress the proliferation and differentiation of NSCs by inhibiting Akt/p27 signaling pathway.

Genetic Architecture and Functional Implications of the CSF‑Contacting Nucleus

We previously identified a unique nucleus,the cerebrospinal fluid(CSF)-contacting nucleus.This study aims to understand its gene architecture and preliminarily suggest its functions.The results showed that there were about 19,666 genes in this nucleus,of which 913 were distinct from the dorsal raphe nucleus(non-CSF contacting).The top 40 highly-expressed genes are mainly related to energy metabolism,protein synthesis,transport,secretion,and hydrolysis.The main neurotransmitter is 5-HT.The receptors of 5-HT and GABA are abundant.The channels for Cl–,Na+,K+,and Ca2+are routinely expressed.The signaling molecules associated with the CaMK,JAK,and MAPK pathways were identified accurately.In particular,the channels of transient receptor potential associated with nociceptors and the solute carrier superfamily members associated with cell membrane transport were significantly expressed.The relationship between the main genes of the nucleus and life activities is preliminarily verified.

The antiestrogen-like activity and reproductive toxicity of 2,6-DCBQ on female zebrafish upon sub-chronic exposure

2,6-Dichloro-1,4-benzoquinone(2,6-DCBQ), an emerging water disinfection by-product, is widely detected in water resources. However, its potential effects on the reproductive system are largely unknown. Here, we investigated the long-term effects of 2,6-DCBQ on gonadal development by exposing zebrafish from 15 to 180 days postfertilization(dpf). Following exposure to 2,6-DCBQ(20 and 100 μg/L), female-specific effects including delayed puberty onset, retarded ovarian growth and breakdown of the zona radiata were observed, resulting in subfertility in adult females. Adverse effects in folliculogenesis disappeared two months after cessation of 2,6-DCBQ administration. In contrast, no adverse impacts were noted in male testes. The effects on females were associated with significant reduction in 17 β-estradiol(E2) level, suggesting a role for 2,6-DCBQ in anti-estrogenic activity. E2 level change in blood was further supported by dysregulated expression of genes( cyp19a1a, fshb, kiss3, esr2b, vtg1, and vtg3) related to the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonad-liver(HPGL) axis. The present study demonstrates for the first time that 2,6-DCBQ induces reproductive impairments in female zebrafish through disrupting 17 β-estradiol level.

Projections from the Prefrontal Cortex to Zona Incerta Mediate Fear Generalization

Dear Editor,Depending on the perceived threat in the environment,organisms can express a broad spectrum of behaviors,ranging from exploration to defensive behaviors[1,2],such as fear response and avoidance.Generalization of fear memory can generate anxiety-related disorders that afflict 10%-30%of individuals worldwide,especially during the epidemic situation[3,4].