targeted-toxins

Abbott SB, Stornetta RL, Fortuna MG, Depuy SD, West GH, Harris TE, Guyenet PG (2009) Photostimulation of retrotrapezoid nucleus phox2b-expressing neurons in vivo produces long-lasting activation of breathing in rats. J Neurosci 29:5806-5819. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1106-09.2009

Summary: The retrotrapezoid nucleus (RTN) contains a subpopulation of cells that are thought to function as central respiratory chemoreceptors. The authors used bilateral 22-ng injections of anti-DBH-SAP (Cat. #IT-03) into the lateral horn of the second thoracic segment to investigate this hypothesis. Coupled with data generated by lentivirus-driven transgenic expression of a light-activated cationic channel, it is demonstrated that noncatecholaminergic neurons in the RTN function as central respiratory chemoreceptors.

Related Products: Anti-DBH-SAP (Cat. #IT-03)

Truitt WA, Johnson PL, Dietrich AD, Fitz SD, Shekhar A (2009) Anxiety-like behavior is modulated by a discrete subpopulation of interneurons in the basolateral amygdala. Neuroscience 160:284-294. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2009.01.083

Summary: It is thought that the basolateral nucleus of the amygdala (BL) is an anxiety regulator. The authors previously demonstrated that SSP-SAP (Cat. #IT-11) lesions of the BL increase anxiety-like behaviors in rats. Using a series of 6 bilateral injections of SSP-SAP (4 ng per injection), the NK-1 receptor-expressing cells of the BL are further characterized.

Related Products: SSP-SAP (Cat. #IT-11)

Brightwell JJ, Taylor BK (2009) Noradrenergic neurons in the locus coeruleus contribute to neuropathic pain. Neuroscience 160:174-185. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2009.02.023

Summary: Noradrenergic neurons were eliminated with 5 µg intracerebroventricular injections of anti-DBH-SAP (Cat. #IT-03). Mouse IgG-SAP (Cat. #IT-18) was used as a control. Animals lesioned with anti-DBH-SAP displayed a reduction in behavioral signs of several kinds of allodynia.

Related Products: Anti-DBH-SAP (Cat. #IT-03), Mouse IgG-SAP (Cat. #IT-18)

Craig LA, Hong NS, Kopp J, McDonald RJ (2009) Cholinergic depletion of the medial septum followed by phase shifting does not impair memory or rest-activity rhythms measured under standard light/dark conditions in rats. Brain Res Bull 79(1):53-62. doi: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2008.10.013

Summary: It has been theorized that cognitive decline observed in Alzheimer’s disease is in part due to disruption of the circadian rhythm (CR) in these patients. Some basal forebrain cholinergic neurons project to the suprachiasmatic nucleus, which is responsible for maintenance of CR. Rats received two injections totaling 7.5 ng of 192-IgG-SAP (Cat. #IT-01) into the medial septum/diagonal band of Broca. Lesioned animals did not show any evidence of CR disruption.

Related Products: 192-IgG-SAP (Cat. #IT-01)

Q: We are using SSP-SAP (Cat. #IT-11) to lesion NK-1r-bearing neurons. I have the conjugate diluted in solution and was wondering whether or not it is okay to leave it out at room temperature overnight? I would like to use an aliquot over a period of two days. Also, would it be okay to combine it the next day to a new, thawed aliquot?

A: We suggest, instead of leaving material out at room temperature, that you store at 4°C over the two days. Yes, you can combine samples.

Related: SSP-SAP (Cat. #IT-11)

Khan AM, Rapp KL, Ponzio TA, Sanchez-Watts G, Watts AG (2009) Featured Article: Deletion of catecholaminergic neurons by anti-DBH-saporin disrupts hypothalamic MAP kinase and CREB activation. Targeting Trends 10(2)

Related Products: Anti-DBH-SAP (Cat. #IT-03), Mouse IgG-SAP (Cat. #IT-18)

Read the featured article in Targeting Trends.

See Also:

• Khan AM et al. Stimulus-, circuit- and intracellular-level determinants of MAP kinase and CREB activation in parvicellular hypothalamic paraventricular neurons. Neuroscience 2008 Abstracts 865.23/MM24, 2008. Society for Neuroscience, Washington, DC

Botly LC, De Rosa E (2009) Cholinergic deafferentation of the neocortex using 192 IgG-saporin impairs feature binding in rats. J Neurosci 29:4120-4130. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0654-09.2009

Summary: It has been hypothesized that the nucleus basalis magnocellularis (NBM) is the source of cholinergic input to the neocortex that is responsible for incorporating different features of an object into a unified neural representation of said object. Rats received 0.04-µg bilateral injections of 192-IgG-SAP (Cat. #IT-01) into the NBM. In lesioned animals modes of learning requiring feature binding were impaired, while processes not using feature binding were left intact.

Related Products: 192-IgG-SAP (Cat. #IT-01)

Montero Dominguez M, Gonzalez B, Zimmer J (2009) Neuroprotective effects of the anti-inflammatory compound triflusal on ischemia-like neurodegeneration in mouse hippocampal slice cultures occur independent of microglia. Exp Neurol 218:11-23. doi: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2009.03.023

Summary: In this work the authors looked to clarify the role of microglia in an experimental stroke model. Hippocampal slices were subject to oxygen-glucose deprivation to establish the stroke model. Slices were exposed to 1.3 nM Mac-1-SAP (Cat. #IT-06) for 7 days prior to the experiments. This treatment depleted virtually all of the microglia. The lesioned slices were more susceptible to neurodegeneration, but the anti-inflammatory drug triflusal was still able to fulfill its neuroprotective role in treated slices.

Related Products: Mac-1-SAP mouse/human (Cat. #IT-06)

Read the featured article in Targeting Trends.

Lujan HL, Palani G, Chen Y, Peduzzi JD, Dicarlo SE (2009) Targeted ablation of cardiac sympathetic neurons reduces resting, reflex and exercise-induced sympathetic activation in conscious rats. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 296:H1305-H1311. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00095.2009

Summary: This work examines the capability of CTB-SAP (Cat. #IT-14) to eliminate cardiac sympathetic neurons. The right and left stellate ganglia of rats were each injected with 10 µg of CTB-SAP. Lesioned animals displayed physiolo-gical differences from controls, as well as specific reduction of numbers of neurons in the stellate ganglion and spinal cord.

Related Products: CTB-SAP (Cat. #IT-14)

Tronson NC, Schrick C, Guzman YF, Huh KH, Srivastava DP, Penzes P, Guedea AL, Gao C, Radulovic J (2009) Segregated populations of hippocampal principal CA1 neurons mediating conditioning and extinction of contextual fear. J Neurosci 29:3387-3394. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5619-08.2009

Summary: This work examines what cell groups are responsible for controlling contextual fear. 180 ng of mu p75-SAP (Cat. #IT-16) was injected into the medial septum of mice. Saporin (Cat. #PR-01) was used as a control. In lesioned animals, fear extinction was lost along with the cholinergic input from the medial septum, while fear conditioning was left intact.

Related Products: mu p75-SAP (Cat. #IT-16), Saporin (Cat. #PR-01)