Short‐term environmental enrichment,in the absence of exercise,improves memory,and increases NGF concentration,early neuronal survival,and synaptogenesis in the dentate gyrus in a time‐dependent manner

Environmental manipulations can enhance neuroplasticity in the brain, with enrichment‐induced cognitive improvements being linked to increased expression of growth factors, such as neurotrophins, and enhanced hippocampal neurogenesis. There is, however, a great deal of variation in environmental enrichment protocols used in the literature, making it difficult to assess the role of particular aspects of enrichment upon memory and the underlying associated mechanisms. This study sought to evaluate the efficacy of environmental enrichment, in the absence of exercise, as a cognitive enhancer and assess the role of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), neurogenesis and synaptogenesis in this process. We report that rats housed in an enriched environment for 3 and 6 weeks (wk) displayed improved recognition memory, while rats enriched for 6 wk also displayed improved spatial and working memory. Neurochemical analyses revealed significant increases in NGF concentration and subgranular progenitor cell survival (as measured by BrdU+ nuclei) in the dentate gyrus of rats enriched for 6 wk, suggesting that these cellular changes may mediate the enrichment‐induced memory improvements. Further analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between recognition task performance and BrdU+ nuclei. In addition, rats enriched for 6 wk showed a significant increase in expression of synaptophysin and synapsin I in the dentate gyrus, indicating that environmental enrichment can increase synaptogenesis. These data indicate a time‐dependent cognitive‐enhancing effect of environmental enrichment that is independent of physical activity. These data also support a role for increased concentration of NGF in dentate gyrus, synaptogenesis, and neurogenesis in mediating this effect. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Direct Measurement of ATP7B Peptides Is Highly Effective in the Diagnosis of Wilson Disease

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Effects of mecamylamine on nicotine-induced conditioned hyperactivity and sensitization in differentially reared rats

Rats reared in an enriched condition (EC) display less sensitization to nicotine than rats reared in an impoverished condition (IC). However, it is unknown what effect differential rearing has on nicotine-induced conditioned hyperactivity. The present study determined whether differential rearing affects nicotine-induced conditioned hyperactivity. This study also examined the effects of mecamylamine on conditioned hyperactivity and sensitization. EC, IC, and social condition (SC) rats were reared from 21 to 51 days of age before receiving repeated nicotine injections (.4 mg/kg) prior to 1-h locomotor sessions. Following the conditioned-hyperactivity test, rats received additional training sessions followed by a drug-free rest period before the sensitization test. Mecamylamine (1.0 mg/kg) was administered prior to the conditioned-hyperactivity test and sensitization test. Nicotine treatment resulted in sensitization and conditioned hyperactivity in all differential rearing groups. EC rats displayed less locomotor activity in response to nicotine than both IC and SC rats. Pretreatment with mecamylamine blocked the expression of conditioned hyperactivity only in EC and SC rats and attenuated sensitization in all three rearing groups. These findings suggest that environmental enrichment may alter nicotinic acetylcholine receptors during development and may be a protective factor in the initiation and relapse of smoking behavior.     

Synthesis of deuterium labelled diclofenac with improved isotopic enrichment

A five‐step synthesis of deuterium‐labelled diclofenac starting from 2‐phenyl[²H₅] acetic acid is described. The synthesis prevents deuterium from scrambling during the reaction. It offers the labelled compound with over 99% isotopic enrichment. It also provides a possible alternative route for the synthesis of deuterium‐labelled 4′‐hydroxydiclofenac, which is the principal human metabolite of diclofenac. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

In vitro selection of structure-switching,self-reporting aptamers

We describe an innovative selection approach to generate self-reporting aptamers (SRAs) capable of converting target-binding events into fluorescence readout without requiring additional modification, optimization, or the use of DNA helper strands. These aptamers contain a DNAzyme moiety that is initially maintained in an inactive conformation. Upon binding to their target, the aptamers undergo a structural switch that activates the DNAzyme, such that the binding event can be reported through significantly enhanced fluorescence produced by a specific stacking interaction between the active-conformation DNAzyme and a small molecule dye, N-methylmesoporphyrin IX. We demonstrate a purely in vitro selection-based approach for obtaining SRAs that function in both buffer and complex mixtures such as blood serum; after 15 rounds of selection with a structured DNA library, we were able to isolate SRAs that possess low nanomolar affinity and strong specificity for thrombin. Given ongoing progress in the engineering and characterization of functional DNA/RNA molecules, strategies such as ours have the potential to enable rapid, efficient, and economical isolation of nucleic acid molecules with diverse functionalities.     

基于网络药理学探讨补肾强督治偻方治疗强直性脊柱炎的作用机理

目的通过网络药理学方法探讨补肾强督治偻方治疗强直性脊柱炎的作用机理。方法运用中药系统药理学成分分析平台(BAT-MAN)数据库获取补肾强督治偻方的作用靶标基因,于CTD数据库中获取强直性脊柱炎疾病相对应的靶标基因,将两者取交集后获取疾病-药物蛋白靶基因,运用网络可视化软件STRING构建蛋白质间相互作用网络,并将结果进行网络可视化展示,通过网络结构和节点间加权重联系的计算分析算法筛选出重要的关键基因。借助DAVID在线工具进行疾病-药物交集靶基因的基因本体论(GO)分析和KEGG通路富集分析。最后在CTD数据库中获取关键基因于强直性脊柱炎的疾病治疗作用。结果补肾强督治偻方靶标基因与强直性脊柱炎疾病靶标基因的交集基因有705个。GO分析结果显示,补肾强督治偻方-强直性脊柱炎交集靶基因的生物功能主要包括基因表达的阳性调控、炎症反应、细胞增殖阳性调控等;信号通路富集结果显示,补肾强督治偻方-强直性脊柱炎交集靶基因的网络主要涉及肿瘤坏死因子信号通路、雌激素信号通路、T细胞受体信号通路等。获得关键基因23个,都与痛症、炎症性疾病及关节炎性疾病相关。结论补肾强督治偻方治疗强直性脊柱炎是多靶点、多通路、多选择的复杂机制过程,其机制多与抗炎和镇痛相关。     

The NCAM1 gene set is linked to depressive symptoms and their brain structural correlates in healthy individuals

Depressive symptoms exist on a continuum, the far end of which is found in depressive disorders. Utilizing the continuous spectrum of depressive symptoms may therefore contribute to the understanding of the biological underpinnings of depression. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) is an important tool for the identification of gene groups linked to complex traits, and was applied in the present study on genome-wide association study (GWAS) data of depression scores and their brain-level structural correlates in healthy young individuals. On symptom level (i.e. depression scores), robust enrichment was identified for two gene sets: NCAM1 Interactions and Collagen Formation. Depression scores were also associated with decreased fractional anisotropy (FA) – a brain white matter property – within the forceps minor and the left superior temporal longitudinal fasciculus. Within each of these tracts, mean FA value of depression score-associated voxels was used as a phenotype in a subsequent GSEA. The NCAM1 Interactions gene set was significantly enriched in these tracts. By linking the NCAM1 Interactions gene set to depression scores and their structural brain correlates in healthy participants, the current study contributes to the understanding of the molecular underpinnings of depressive symptomatology.     

Mid‐life environmental enrichment increases synaptic density in CA1 in a mouse model of Aβ‐associated pathology and positively influences synaptic and cognitive health in healthy ageing

Early‐life cognitive enrichment may reduce the risk of experiencing cognitive deterioration and dementia in later‐life. However, an intervention to prevent or delay dementia is likely to be taken up in mid to later‐life. Hence, we investigated the effects of environmental enrichment in wildtype mice and in a mouse model of Aβ neuropathology (APP_SWE/PS1_dE9) from 6 months of age. After 6 months of housing in standard laboratory cages, APP_SWE/PS1_dE9 (n = 27) and healthy wildtype (n = 21) mice were randomly assigned to either enriched or standard housing. At 12 months of age, wildtype mice showed altered synaptic protein levels and relatively superior cognitive performance afforded by environmental enrichment. Environmental enrichment was not associated with alterations to Aβ plaque pathology in the neocortex or hippocampus of APP_SWE/PS1_dE9 mice. However, a significant increase in synaptophysin immunolabeled puncta in the hippocampal subregion, CA1, in APP_SWE/PS1_dE9 mice was detected, with no significant synaptic density changes observed in CA3, or the Fr2 region of the prefrontal cortex. Moreover, a significant increase in hippocampal BDNF was detected in APP_SWE/PS1_dE9 mice exposed to EE, however, no changes were detected in neocortex or between Wt animals. These results demonstrate that mid to later‐life cognitive enrichment has the potential to promote synaptic and cognitive health in ageing, and to enhance compensatory capacity for synaptic connectivity in pathological ageing associated with Aβ deposition.     

基于网络药理学预测当归贝母苦参丸治疗前列腺癌作用靶点及细胞内信号转导通路

目的:通过网络药理学方法预测分析当归贝母苦参丸治疗前列腺癌的潜在机制。方法:通过TCMSP数据库检索中药的化学成分和作用靶点,并于UniProtKB网络平台获取每种靶蛋白的基因名。借助CTD等数据库查询疾病靶点。在STRING数据库中构建蛋白-蛋白互作网络（PPI）,于Cytoscape中进行网络可视化分析。通过DAVID数据平台对关键靶蛋白进行分析。结果:从TCMSP数据库中共筛选得到26个药物有效成分。PPI网络包括135个药物疾病交集靶基因,关键蛋白为34个。基因本体论（GO）分析这些靶基因涉及生物功能条目最多,共290个。京都基因与基因组百科全书（KEGG）通路主要涉及肿瘤信号通路等。结论:当归贝母苦参丸治疗前列腺癌是多靶点、多通路协同作用的结果,能够通过抑制细胞增殖,促进细胞凋亡,抑制迁移以及抑制肿瘤血管生成等多方面发挥其抗肿瘤作用。