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A central role for BDNF and Sonic Hedgehog in controlling synaptic plasticity in motoneuron-depleted spinal cord
Gulino R, Gulisano M (2011) A central role for BDNF and Sonic Hedgehog in controlling synaptic plasticity in motoneuron-depleted spinal cord. IBRO 2011 Abstracts International Brain Research Organization, Florence, Italy.
Summary: Here, we measured the expression levels of several proteins involved in synaptic plasticity and motoneuronal function (ChAT, Synapsin-I, Shh, Notch-1, AMPA receptor subunits, NMDA receptor and BDNF) in a mouse SC lesion model obtained by intramuscular injection of Cholera toxin-B-saporin, which selectively kills motoneurons
Related Products: CTB-SAP (Cat. #IT-14)
Cerebellar modules: individual or composite entities?
Cerminara NL (2010) Cerebellar modules: individual or composite entities?. J Neurosci 30(48):16065-16067. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4823-10.2010
Summary: This short review discusses the compartmentalization of cerebellar modules. Much research has been done to associate particular motor control functions with particular modules. Chemical lesioning is an inadequate technique because the lesion is non-specific. The use of CTB-SAP (Cat. #IT-14) to affect the function of a single module is discussed.
Related Products: CTB-SAP (Cat. #IT-14)
The recovery of locomotion after lumbar spinal cord motoneuron depletion is affected by the modulation of Sonic Hedgehog and Notch-1 pathways
Gulino R, Gulisano M (2010) The recovery of locomotion after lumbar spinal cord motoneuron depletion is affected by the modulation of Sonic Hedgehog and Notch-1 pathways. Neuroscience 2010 Abstracts 259.19/W12. Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, CA.
Summary: Sonic hedgehog (Shh) and Notch-1 are involved in the regulation of stem cell function. Additionally, Notch-1 has a role as modulator of synaptic plasticity. In our previous work, we injected Cholera toxin-B saporin (CTB-sap) into the gastrocnemius muscle to induce a selective depletion of motoneurons within lumbar mice spinal cord (SC) and analysed the expression levels of Shh, Notch-1, Numb, Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and Synapsin-I proteins. The functional outcome of the lesion was monitored by grid walk test and rotarod. Shh and Notch-1 appeared reduced in the lesioned tissue and correlated with ChAT and Synapsin-I levels, suggesting a role in modulating synaptic plasticity. Numb expression was also reduced after lesion and appeared correlated with motor performance but not with synaptic plasticity. We sought to determine if the pharmacological manipulation of the expression of Shh and Notch-1 could affect functional recovery by a mechanism involving synaptic plasticity. Therefore, we used CTB-sap to induce lesion as above, and injected Cyclopamine, recombinant Shh or recombinant DLL4 chronically into the intrathecal space by means of osmotic minipumps for two weeks. The functional recovery was monitored for one month after lesion by means of grid walk test, two times a week, whereas the modifications of Shh, Notch-1, ChAT and Synapsin-I protein expression levels were measured by western blot and immunohistochemistry. Here, we show that the modulation of Shh or Notch-1 pathways could affect the recovery of locomotion. Moreover, the molecular mechanisms underlying this process is discussed.
Related Products: CTB-SAP (Cat. #IT-14)
Featured Article: Targeted ablation of sympathetic neurons reduces ventricular arrhythmias and autonomic dysreflexia
Lujan HL, DiCarlo SE (2010) Featured Article: Targeted ablation of sympathetic neurons reduces ventricular arrhythmias and autonomic dysreflexia. Targeting Trends 11(4)
Related Products: CTB-SAP (Cat. #IT-14)
Read the featured article in Targeting Trends.
See Also:
- Lujan HL et al. Targeted Ablation of Cardiac Sympathetic Neurons Reduces the Susceptibility to Ischemia-Induced Sustained Ventricular Tachycardia in Conscious Rats. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 298:H1330-H1339, 2010.
- Lujan HL et al. Targeted Ablation of Mesenteric Projecting Sympathetic Neurons Reduces the Hemodynamic Response to Pain in Conscious Spinal Cord Transected Rats. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 298(5):R1358-1365, 2010.
Featured Article: Role of cell fate determinants in a model of spinal cord neurotoxic lesion induced by cholera toxin b-saporin
Gulino R, Perciavalle V, Gulisan M (2010) Featured Article: Role of cell fate determinants in a model of spinal cord neurotoxic lesion induced by cholera toxin b-saporin. Targeting Trends 11(3)
Related Products: CTB-SAP (Cat. #IT-14)
Read the featured article in Targeting Trends.
See Also:
Expression of cell fate determinants and plastic changes after neurotoxic lesion of adult mice spinal cord by cholera toxin-B saporin.
Gulino R, Perciavalle V, Gulisano M (2010) Expression of cell fate determinants and plastic changes after neurotoxic lesion of adult mice spinal cord by cholera toxin-B saporin. Eur J Neurosci 31(8):1423-1434. doi: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2010.07170.x
Summary: Sonic hedgehog, Notch-1, and Numb are proteins known to be involved in the function of stem cells. Understanding of how they might work in adults may provide methods to improve recovery from spinal cord injury. In this work the authors injected 3 µg of CTB-SAP (Cat. #IT-14) into the medial and lateral gastrocnemius muscles of mice. Analysis of protein levels following motoneuron depletion gives some insight into the molecular framework of nerve injury.
Related Products: CTB-SAP (Cat. #IT-14)
Targeted ablation of mesenteric projecting sympathetic neurons reduces the hemodynamic response to pain in conscious spinal cord transected rats.
Lujan HL, Palani G, Peduzzi J, Dicarlo SE (2010) Targeted ablation of mesenteric projecting sympathetic neurons reduces the hemodynamic response to pain in conscious spinal cord transected rats. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 298(5):R1358-1365. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00755.2009
Summary: Autonomic dysreflexia is a life-threatening hypertension as a result of a spinal cord injury above thoracic level 6. The authors investigated whether reduction of sympathetic activity can reduce the severity of this condition. Rats received 13.5 µg injections of CTB-SAP (Cat. #IT-14) into the celiac ganglion resulting in ablation of mesenteric projecting sympathetic neurons. Lesioned animals displayed a reduced pressor response to pain after spinal cord transection, to some extent ameliorating autonomic dysreflexia.
Related Products: CTB-SAP (Cat. #IT-14)
Targeted ablation of cardiac sympathetic neurons reduces the susceptibility to ischemia-induced sustained ventricular tachycardia in conscious rats.
Lujan HL, Palani G, Zhang L, Dicarlo SE (2010) Targeted ablation of cardiac sympathetic neurons reduces the susceptibility to ischemia-induced sustained ventricular tachycardia in conscious rats. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 298:H1330-H1339. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00955.2009
Summary: It has been shown that reduction of cardiac sympathetic activity protects against ventricular tachy-arrhythmias, which are the leading cause of death in industrially developed countries. Rats received 10 µg injections of CTB-SAP (Cat. #IT-14) into each stellate ganglia. Using comparison of ventricular tachycardia onset times after coronary artery occlusion it was found that lesioned rats were less susceptible to tachycardia events.
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Recent progress in research on ribosome inactivating proteins.
Ng TB, Wong JH, Wang H (2010) Recent progress in research on ribosome inactivating proteins. Curr Protein Pept Sci 11(1):37-53. doi: 10.2174/138920310790274662
Summary: This review discusses recent literature on ribosome inactivating proteins including the use of saporin-based conjugates in neuroscience and cancer research. Brief descriptions of research done using 192-IgG-SAP (Cat. #IT-01), OX7-SAP (Cat. #IT-02), dermorphin-SAP (Cat. #IT-12), anti-SERT-SAP (Cat. #IT-23), SSP-SAP (Cat. #IT-11), anti-DBH-SAP (Cat. #IT-03), CTB-SAP (Cat. #IT-14), and other conjugates are provided along with basic information about ribosome inactivating proteins.
Related Products: 192-IgG-SAP (Cat. #IT-01), OX7-SAP (Cat. #IT-02), Dermorphin-SAP / MOR-SAP (Cat. #IT-12), Anti-SERT-SAP (Cat. #IT-23), SSP-SAP (Cat. #IT-11), Anti-DBH-SAP (Cat. #IT-03), CTB-SAP (Cat. #IT-14)
Neuroprotective effects of testosterone on dendritic morphology following partial motoneuron depletion: efficacy in female rats.
Wilson RE, Coons KD, Sengelaub DR (2009) Neuroprotective effects of testosterone on dendritic morphology following partial motoneuron depletion: efficacy in female rats. Neurosci Lett 465:123-127. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2009.09.007
Summary: Previous work has demonstrated a protective effect from testosterone in a motoneuron nerve injury model for male rats. This work investigated whether testosterone has the same effect in females. Female rats received 2 µg of CTB-SAP (Cat. #IT-14) into the left vastus medialis muscle. 4 weeks later surviving motoneurons were visualized with CTB conjugated to HRP. Testosterone treatment greatly attenuated the atrophy seen in control animals, suggesting that testosterone is also a neurotherapeutic agent in females.
Related Products: CTB-SAP (Cat. #IT-14)