Background:Qingyangshen(Cynanchum otophyllum C.K.Schneid)is a folk drug for treating depression and other mental disorders induced by social defeat stress.Neuroplasticity in the hippocampus is essential for the modula...Background:Qingyangshen(Cynanchum otophyllum C.K.Schneid)is a folk drug for treating depression and other mental disorders induced by social defeat stress.Neuroplasticity in the hippocampus is essential for the modulation of cognition and emotion,and its impairment may contribute to the development and progression of depression.Our previous studies have found that Qingyangshen glycosides(QYS)can improve depression-like behavior in social failure mouse models,mainly through PGC-1α/FNDC5/BDNF signaling pathways activation,but its effects and mechanisms on hippocampal neuroplasticity remain unknown.Methods:Chronic social defeat stress(CSDS)was used to induce social defeat in mice.Morphological changes in the hippocampus were observed by H&E staining and Golgi staining.Immunofluorescence double staining was used to detect the expression of synaptophysin(SYN)and postsynaptic density protein-95(PSD-95),while western blot was employed to evaluate PSD-95,SYN,and doublecortin(DCX)proteins.The pathological processing of social defeat and the therapeutic effects of QYS on it was confirmed through behavioral assessment associated with morpho-logic observation.Results:During the whole study,the sucrose preference indices and OFT activity time of CSDS mice were significantly decreased(p≤0.05),and the tail suspension immobil-ity time was significantly increased(p≤0.05),suggesting that the mice had significant depressive symptoms.Treatment with QYS(25,50,and 100 mg/kg)significantly al-leviated depressive symptoms in CSDS mice,which was demonstrated by significantly(p≤0.05 or p≤0.01)reducing the duration of tail-hanging immobility and increasing the tendency of sucrose preference indices and OFT activity time.QYS treatment also significantly increased the expression of DCX,PSD-95,and SYN proteins,which play a crucial role in depression.Conclusions:QYS alleviated these symptoms by enhancing hippocampal neuroplasti-city through upregulating the expression of synapse-associated proteins(SAPs).The therapeutic mechanism of QYS may involve modulating the neuroplasticity of hip-pocampus neurons by altering the expression of SAPs.展开更多
Gait disorders drastically affect the quality of life of stroke survivors,making post-stroke rehabilitation an important research focus.Noninvasive brain stimulation has potential in facilitating neuroplasticity and i...Gait disorders drastically affect the quality of life of stroke survivors,making post-stroke rehabilitation an important research focus.Noninvasive brain stimulation has potential in facilitating neuroplasticity and improving post-stroke gait impairment.However,a large inter-individual variability in the response to noninvasive brain stimulation interventions has been increasingly recognized.We first review the neurophysiology of human gait and post-stroke neuroplasticity for gait recovery,and then discuss how noninvasive brain stimulation techniques could be utilized to enhance gait recovery.While post-stroke neuroplasticity for gait recovery is characterized by use-dependent plasticity,it evolves over time,is idiosyncratic,and may develop maladaptive elements.Furthermore,noninvasive brain stimulation has limited reach capability and is facilitative-only in nature.Therefore,we recommend that noninvasive brain stimulation be used adjunctively with rehabilitation training and other concurrent neuroplasticity facilitation techniques.Additionally,when noninvasive brain stimulation is applied for the rehabilitation of gait impairment in stroke survivors,stimulation montages should be customized according to the specific types of neuroplasticity found in each individual.This could be done using multiple mapping techniques.展开更多
Lactulose is known to improve cognitive function in patients with early hepatic encephalopa- thy; however, the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. In the present study, we investigated the behavioral and n...Lactulose is known to improve cognitive function in patients with early hepatic encephalopa- thy; however, the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. In the present study, we investigated the behavioral and neurochemical effects of lactulose in a rat model of early hepatic encephalopathy induced by carbon tetrachloride. Immunohistochemistry showed that lactulose treatment promoted neurogenesis and increased the number of neurons and astrocytes in the hippocampus. Moreover, lactulose-treated rats showed shorter escape latencies than model rats in the Morris water maze, indicating that lactulose improved the cognitive impairments caused by hepatic encephalopathy. The present findings suggest that lactulose effectively improves cog- nitive function by enhancing neuroplasticity in a rat model of early hepatic encephalopathy.展开更多
The pathophysiology of depression has been traditionally attributed to a chemical imbalance and critical interactions between genetic and environmental risk factors, and antidepressant drugs suggested to act predomina...The pathophysiology of depression has been traditionally attributed to a chemical imbalance and critical interactions between genetic and environmental risk factors, and antidepressant drugs suggested to act predominantly amplifying monoaminergic neurotransmission. This conceptualization may be currently considered reductive. The current literature about the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying depression, stress-related disorders and antidepressant treatment was examined. In order to provide a critical overview about neuroplasticity, depression and antidepressant drugs, a detailed Pubmed/Medline, Scopus, Psyc Lit, and Psyc Info search to identify all papers and book chapters during the period between 1980 and 2011 was performed. Pathological stress and depression determine relevant brain changes such as loss of dendritic spines and synapses, dendritic atrophy as well as reduction of glial cells(both in number and size) in specific areas such as the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. An increased dendritic arborisation and synaptogenesis may instead be observed in the amygdala as a consequence of depression and stress-related disorders. While hippocampal and prefrontal functioning was impaired, amygdala functioning was abnormally amplified. Most of molecular abnormalities and biological changes of aberrant neuroplasticity may be explained by the action of glutamate. Antidepressant treatment is associated with neurogenesis, gliogenesis, dendritic arborisation, new synapse formation and cell survival both in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. Antidepressants(ADs) induce neuroplasticity mechanisms reversing the pathological effects of depression and stress-related disorders. The neuroplasticity hypothesis may explain the therapeutic and prophylactic action of ADs representing a new innovative approach to the pathophysiology of depression and stress-related disorders.展开更多
Dear editors,Neurodegenerative diseases are now associated with the global obesity and diabetes epidemic in the developing and developed world.Neurodegenerative diseases are a heterogeneous group of disorders with com...Dear editors,Neurodegenerative diseases are now associated with the global obesity and diabetes epidemic in the developing and developed world.Neurodegenerative diseases are a heterogeneous group of disorders with complex factors such as neurohumoral,endocrine and environmental factors involved in induction of these neurodegenerative diseases.The future of science and medicine in neurodegenerative diseases is now dependent on nutritional genomics with insulin resistance a major factor in the induction of neurodegenerative diseases.Nutritional genomics now involves the anti-aging gene Sirtuin 1(Sirt 1)that is important to the prevention of insulin resistance with its critical involvement in the immune system(Martins,2018a,b).Sirt 1 inactivation leads to toxic immune reactions connected to the acceleration of neuron death in various communities.Appetite control with relevance to immunometabolism has become of critical importance to the treatment of neurodegeneration(Figure 1).Nutritional diets activate the heat shock gene Sirt 1 to prevent the increase in heat shock proteins connected to autoimmune disease,mitophagy(Martins,2018a,b)and irreversible programmed cell death in global populations(Figure 1).展开更多
The brain is a dynamic organ of the biological renaissance due to the existence of neuroplasticity. Adult neurogenesis abides by every aspect of neuroplasticity in the intact brain and contributes to neural regenerati...The brain is a dynamic organ of the biological renaissance due to the existence of neuroplasticity. Adult neurogenesis abides by every aspect of neuroplasticity in the intact brain and contributes to neural regeneration in response to brain diseases and injury. The occurrence of adult neurogenesis has unequivocally been witnessed in human subjects, experimental and wildlife research including rodents, bats and cetaceans. Adult neurogenesis is a complex cellular process, in which generation of neuroblasts namely, neuroblastosis appears to be an integral process that occur in the limbic system and basal ganglia in addition to the canonical neurogenic niches. Neuroblastosis can be regulated by various factors and contributes to different functions of the brain. The characteristics and fate of neuroblasts have been found to be different among mammals regardless of their cognitive functions. Recently, regulation of neuroblastosis has been proposed for the sensorimotor interface and regenerative neuroplasticity of the adult brain. Hence, the understanding of adult neurogenesis at the functional level of neuroblasts requires a great scientific attention. Therefore, this mini-review provides a glimpse into the conceptual development of neuroplasticity, discusses the possible role of different types of neuroblasts and signifies neuroregenerative failure as a potential cause of dementia.展开更多
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a relentlessly progressive multi-system condition.The clinical picture is dominated by upper and lower motor neuron degeneration,but extra-motor pathology is increasingly recognized,in...Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a relentlessly progressive multi-system condition.The clinical picture is dominated by upper and lower motor neuron degeneration,but extra-motor pathology is increasingly recognized,including cerebellar pathology.Post-mortem and neuroimaging studies primarily focus on the chara cterization of supratentorial disease,des pite emerging evidence of cerebellar degeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.Cardinal clinical features of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,such as dysarthria,dysphagia,cognitive and behavioral deficits,saccade abnormalities,gait impairment,respiratory weakness and pseudobulbar affect are likely to be exacerbated by co-existing cerebellar pathology.This review summarizes in vivo and post mortem evidence for cerebellar degeneration in amyotrophic lateral scle rosis.Structural imaging studies consistently capture cerebellar grey matter volume reductions,diffusivity studies readily detect both intra-cerebellar and cerebellar peduncle white matter alte rations and functional imaging studies commonly report increased functional connectivity with supratentorial regions.Increased functional connectivity is commonly interpreted as evidence of neuro plasticity representing compensatory processes despite the lack of post-mortem validation.There is a scarcity of post-mortem studies focusing on cerebellar alte rations,but these detect pTDP-43 in cerebellar nuclei.Ce rebellar pathology is an overloo ked facet of neurodegeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis despite its contribution to a multitude of clinical symptoms,wides p read connectivity to spinal and supratentorial regions and putative role in compensating for the degeneration of primary motor regions.展开更多
Depression is a common mental disorder and one of the leading causes of disability around the world.Monoaminergic antidepressants often take weeks to months to work and are not effective for all patients.This has led ...Depression is a common mental disorder and one of the leading causes of disability around the world.Monoaminergic antidepressants often take weeks to months to work and are not effective for all patients.This has led to a search for a better understanding of the pathogenesis of depression as well as to the development of novel antidepressants.One such novel antidepressant is ketamine,which has demonstrated both clinically promising results and contributed to new explanatory models of depression,including the potential role of neuroplasticity in depression.Early clinical trials are now showing promising results of serotonergic psychedelics for depression;however,their mechanism of action remains poorly understood.This paper seeks to review the effect of depression,classic antidepressants,ketamine,and serotonergic psychedelics on markers of neuroplasticity at a cellular,molecular,electrophysiological,functional,structural,and psychological level to explore the potential role that neuroplasticity plays in the treatment response of serotonergic psychedelics.展开更多
Blindness provides an unparalleled opportunity to study plasticity of the nervous system in humans.Seminal work in this area examined the often dramatic modifications to the visual cortex that result when visual input...Blindness provides an unparalleled opportunity to study plasticity of the nervous system in humans.Seminal work in this area examined the often dramatic modifications to the visual cortex that result when visual input is completely absent from birth or very early in life（Kupers and Ptito,2014）.More recent studies explored what happens to the visual pathways in the context of acquired blindness.This is particularly relevant as the majority of diseases that cause vision loss occur in the elderly.展开更多
Exploratory studies developed at several neurosciences laboratories at universities around the world show us through the experience that there is a biological process called neuroplasticity. Because of this oldest con...Exploratory studies developed at several neurosciences laboratories at universities around the world show us through the experience that there is a biological process called neuroplasticity. Because of this oldest concept about the neuronal formation, scientists also thought that if a particular area of the adult brain was damaged, the nerve cells could not form new connections and the functions controlled by this field of the brain would be permanently lost or could not be regenerate. However, studies have overturned this old view, and currently, scientists recognize that the brain continues to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections during the life. This phenomenon is called neuroplasticity that refers to the potential which the brain should be reorganized by creating new neural pathways to adapt, as it needs.展开更多
Neuroplasticity is a condition that is present from birth, being found in the central and peripheral nervous system, in both physiological and pathological terms. Based on the findings, therapeutic and non-therapeutic...Neuroplasticity is a condition that is present from birth, being found in the central and peripheral nervous system, in both physiological and pathological terms. Based on the findings, therapeutic and non-therapeutic attempts were tested on spinal cord trauma to recover locomotor function below the level of the injury. The work defined and showed other forms of the term neuroplasticity, talk about some pathological and non-pathological conditions, and, finally, show neuroplasticity and some of its treatments in the spinal cord injury process. A narrative literature review from 2000 to 2020 of the PubMed platform was conducted and analysis of two books for the elaboration of this <span>work. Animal/human studies were included that addressed pathologies,</span> forms of treatment for spinal trauma, and qualis from B1 to A1. Pre-2000 articles, which addressed neuroplasticity only to understand the molecular mechanisms and articles that were not in English, were excluded. As a result, the main molecules and structures that inhibit neuroplasticity were found, and, based on their knowledge, forms of treatments were developed to inhibit these molecules and structures to assist in neuroplasticity and assist in possible functional recovery. It can be concluded that the physiological barriers are already being overcome by the most recent forms of treatment and that soon new studies may propose a form of treatment that is protocoled for all patients.展开更多
The rehabilitation of musculoskeletal dysfunctions(MSD)such as osteoarthritis,anterior cruciate ligament injuries and low back pain focuses on symptomatic management of pain followed by stretching and strengthening.Ho...The rehabilitation of musculoskeletal dysfunctions(MSD)such as osteoarthritis,anterior cruciate ligament injuries and low back pain focuses on symptomatic management of pain followed by stretching and strengthening.However,these interventions focus just on symptomatic pain management and addressing musculoskeletal impairments.But it has been found that neuroplastic changes continue to occur throughout these pathologies and sometimes even are persistent,as conventional rehabilitation doesn’t focus on these changes therefore chances of reinjury increase.Therefore this article discusses underlying neuroplastic changes associated with MSD and neuroplasticity-based interventions for better clinical outcomes.展开更多
Major depressive disorder(MDD)is a complex psychiatric condition increasingly linked to chronic neuroinflammation,particularly in the context of aging,stress,and systemic comorbidities.While microglia have traditional...Major depressive disorder(MDD)is a complex psychiatric condition increasingly linked to chronic neuroinflammation,particularly in the context of aging,stress,and systemic comorbidities.While microglia have traditionally been the focus of neuroimmune studies,growing evidence highlights astrocytes as central regulators in the pathogenesis of MDD.This review synthesizes current findings on the multifaceted roles of astrocytes in neuroplasticity,neurotransmission,metabolic support,and blood‐brain barrier regulation.It explores how astrocyte reactivity and the release of pro‐inflammatory cytokines are often triggered by psychosocial stress,aging,and peripheral immune activation and contribute to synaptic dysfunction and cognitive impairment.The review also examines the bidirectional crosstalk between astrocytes and microglia,astrocytic calcium signaling,epigenetic modulation via histone lactylation,and metabolic pathways involving lactate.Special attention is given to the region‐specific and phenotypedependent responses of astrocytes,as well as their influence on the onset and maintenance of depressive symptoms.Additionally,therapeutic strategies targeting astrocyte‐mediated pathways,including anti‐inflammatory agents,metabolic modulators,repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation,and inflammasome inhibitors,are discussed.Finally,methodological challenges and future research directions are outlined,emphasizing the need for precision medicine approaches in developing astrocyte‐targeted interventions for MDD.展开更多
Knee osteoarthritis(KOA)represents one of the most common causes of chronic pain.The high prevalence and disability rates of KOA impose a severe burden on both individuals and society.In contrast to cutaneous pain,KOA...Knee osteoarthritis(KOA)represents one of the most common causes of chronic pain.The high prevalence and disability rates of KOA impose a severe burden on both individuals and society.In contrast to cutaneous pain,KOA-induced joint pain is characterized as a deep tissue pain that potentially involves distinct subgroups of peripheral sensory neurons and central processing mechanisms.Furthermore,KOA pain is closely related to locomotion activity.Impaired sensorimotor integration and pain mutually reinforce each other in KOA,forming a vicious cycle that exacerbates disease progression.In this review,we highlight the key differences between KOA pain and cutaneous pain,and the latter has been extensively studied in the pain field.We hope to offer new insights into the central mechanisms and development of new treatment strategies for KOA based on the interactions between impaired sensorimotor integration and chronic joint pain.展开更多
BACKGROUND:Hemiplegia,a prevalent stroke-related condition,is often studied for motor dysfunction;however,spasticity remains under-researched.Abnormal muscle tone significantly hinders hemiplegic patients’walking rec...BACKGROUND:Hemiplegia,a prevalent stroke-related condition,is often studied for motor dysfunction;however,spasticity remains under-researched.Abnormal muscle tone significantly hinders hemiplegic patients’walking recovery.OBJECTIVE:To determine whether early suspension-protected training with a personal assistant machine for stroke patients enhances walking ability and prevents muscle spasms.METHODS:Thirty-two early-stage stroke patients from Shenzhen University General Hospital and the China Rehabilitation Research Center were randomly assigned to the experimental group(n=16)and the control group(n=16).Both groups underwent 4 weeks of gait training under the suspension protection system for 30 minutes daily,5 days a week.The experimental group used the personal assistant machine during training.Three-dimensional gait analysis(using the Cortex motion capture system),Brunnstrom staging,Fugl-Meyer Assessment for lower limb motor function,Fugl-Meyer balance function,and the modified Ashworth Scale were evaluated within 1 week before the intervention and after 4 weeks of intervention.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After the 4-week intervention,all outcome measures showed significant changes in each group.The experimental group had a small but significant increase in the modified Ashworth Scale score(P<0.05,d=|0.15|),while the control group had a large significant increase(P<0.05,d=|1.48|).The experimental group demonstrated greater improvements in walking speed(16.5 to 38.44 cm/s,P<0.05,d=|4.01|),step frequency(46.44 to 64.94 steps/min,P<0.05,d=|2.32|),stride length(15.50 to 29.81 cm,P<0.05,d=|3.44|),and peak hip and knee flexion(d=|1.82|to|2.17|).After treatment,the experimental group showed significantly greater improvements than the control group in walking speed(38.44 vs.26.63 cm/s,P<0.05,d=|2.75|),stride length,peak hip and knee flexion(d=|1.31|to|1.45|),step frequency(64.94 vs.59.38 steps/min,P<0.05,d=|0.85|),and a reduced support phase(bilateral:24.31%vs.28.38%,P<0.05,d=|0.88|;non-paretic:66.19%vs.70.13%,P<0.05,d=|0.94|).For early hemiplegia,personal assistant machine-assisted gait training under the suspension protection system helps establish a correct gait pattern,prevents muscle spasms,and improves motor function.展开更多
The dentate gyrus of the hippocampus is a plastic structure that displays modifications at different levels in response to positive stimuli as well as to negative conditions such as brain damage.The latter involves gl...The dentate gyrus of the hippocampus is a plastic structure that displays modifications at different levels in response to positive stimuli as well as to negative conditions such as brain damage.The latter involves global alterations,making understanding plastic responses triggered by local damage difficult.One key feature of the dentate gyrus is that it contains a well-defined neurogenic niche,the subgranular zone,and beyond neurogenesis,newly born granule cells may maintain a“young”phenotype throughout life,adding to the plastic nature of the structure.Here,we present a novel experimental model of local brain damage in organotypic entorhino-hippocampal cultures that results in the activation of adjacent newly born granule cells.A small piece of filter paper was placed on the surface of the granule cell layer of the dentate gyrus,which evoked a foreign body reaction of astrocytes,along with the activation of local young neurons expressing doublecortin.Forty-eight hours after foreign body placement,the number of doublecortin-immunoreactive cells increased in the subgranular zone in the direct vicinity of the foreign body,whereas overall increased doublecortin immunoreactivity was observed in the granule cell layer and molecular layer of the dentate gyrus.Foreign body placement in the pyramidal layer of the CA1 region evoked a comparable local astroglial reaction but did not lead to an increase in doublecortin-immunoreactive in either the CA1 region or the adjacent dentate gyrus.Seven days after foreign body placement in the dentate gyrus,the increase in doublecortin-immunoreactivity was no longer observed,indicating the transient activation of young cells.However,7 days after foreign body placement,the number of doublecortin-immunoreactive granule cells coimmunoreactive for calbindin was lower than that under the control conditions.As calbindin is a marker for mature granule cells,this result suggests that activated young cells remain at a more immature stage following foreign body placement.Live imaging of retrovirally green fluorescent protein-labeled newly born granule cells revealed the orientation and growth of their dendrites toward the foreign body placement.This novel experimental model of foreign body placement in organotypic entorhino-hippocampal cultures could serve as a valuable tool for studying both glial reactivity and neuronal plasticity,specifically of newly born neurons under controlled in vitro conditions.展开更多
Neurite outgrowth and synaptogenesis are critical steps for functional recovery following ischemic stroke.Damaged axons of the central nervous system in adult mammals exhibit limited regenerative capacity,resulting in...Neurite outgrowth and synaptogenesis are critical steps for functional recovery following ischemic stroke.Damaged axons of the central nervous system in adult mammals exhibit limited regenerative capacity,resulting in enduring neurological deficits.Recent findings from our research indicate that inhibition of Rho-associated kinase(ROCK)2 facilitates neuroprotection in different models of central nervous system diseases.In addition,our prior studies have demonstrated that axonal protection enhances the regeneration of injured axons.However,it remains unclear whether the axonal protection mediated by ROCK2 inhibition also facilitates synaptogenesis.In this study,we aimed to investigate the effects of inhibiting ROCK2 expression on synaptogenesis and neurogenesis in ischemic stroke using an shRNA-expressing adeno-associated virus(AAV)vector(AAV-sh.ROCK2).We demonstrated that AAV-sh.ROCK2 increased neurite outgrowth and facilitated synaptogenesis in vivo.Furthermore,AAV-sh.ROCK2 increased neuronal survival and promoted neurogenesis following middle cerebral artery occlusion surgery as well as long-term motor functional recovery after ischemia/reperfusion injury.Notably,AAV-sh.ROCK2 also stimulated serotonergic and dopaminergic axon sprouting after ischemia/reperfusion injury.Mechanistically,AAV-sh.ROCK2 activity resulted in increased anti-collapsin response mediator protein 2 activation and reductions in RhoA and ROCK2 expression.Our study identified ROCK2 as a critical regulator of synaptogenesis and neurogenesis,highlighting it as a promising target to facilitate neuroprotection and regeneration in ischemic stroke.展开更多
Objective: This review aims to explore the efficacy of exercise in the treatment of anxiety disorders and its underlying mechanisms, summarizing recent research advances and focusing on the potential biological and ps...Objective: This review aims to explore the efficacy of exercise in the treatment of anxiety disorders and its underlying mechanisms, summarizing recent research advances and focusing on the potential biological and psychological pathways through which exercise exerts its anxiolytic effects.Methods: To ensure comprehensive coverage of relevant studies, we conducted a systematic search in databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase, combining MeSH terms with free-text terms. Keywords included“exercise,” “physical activity,” and “anxiety disorder.”Results and conclusions: Current research widely supports exercise as a safe and effective intervention for anxiety.Both aerobic exercise and resistance training have shown significant anxiety-reducing effects across various populations. The mechanisms of action can be categorized into three main types: cellular and molecular mechanisms, systemic immune effects, and behavioral and cognitive pathways. Different forms of exercise have distinct advantages: aerobic exercise is suitable for the general population, resistance training is beneficial for individuals with coexisting physical conditions, and low-intensity exercises such as yoga and Tai Chi are suitable for pregnant women, the elderly, or postoperative recovery patients. Given its good safety profile and broad applicability, moderate exercise should be considered a first-line treatment for mild anxiety and an adjunctive intervention for moderate to severe anxiety. Future research should further clarify the mechanistic differences between various exercise modalities and promote the development of individualized exercise prescriptions.展开更多
Pain-induced emotions are the negative moods caused by pain,such as depression and anxiety.Acupunc-ture can effectively relieve pain-induced emotions,and its mechanism is closely related to the regulation of neuroplas...Pain-induced emotions are the negative moods caused by pain,such as depression and anxiety.Acupunc-ture can effectively relieve pain-induced emotions,and its mechanism is closely related to the regulation of neuroplasticity.Neuroplasticity is composed of two types,functional neuroplasticity and structural neuroplasticity.(1)Acupuncture improves functional neuroplasticity by inhibiting the activation of mi-croglia and astrocytes,regulating the expression of neurotransmitters and receptors,modulating cellular signal transduction pathways,and optimizing synaptic transmission efficiency.(2)Acupuncture improves structural neuroplasticity by modulating neuronal synaptic plasticity,inhibiting neuronal apoptosis,and up-regulating the expression of the BDNF/TrKB/CREB signaling pathway.Additionally,acupuncture up-regulates the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factors to improve both the functional and struc-tural neuroplasticity,thus relieves pain-induced emotions.The above discovery provides an approach to the mechanism research of acupuncture for pain-induced emotions.展开更多
Background:The role of neuroplasticity in epilepsy has been widely studied in experimental models and human brain samples.However,the results are contradictory and it remains unclear if neuroplasticity is more related...Background:The role of neuroplasticity in epilepsy has been widely studied in experimental models and human brain samples.However,the results are contradictory and it remains unclear if neuroplasticity is more related to the cause or the consequence of epileptic seizures.Clarifying this issue can provide insights into epilepsy therapies that target the disease mechanism and etiology rather than symptoms.Therefore,this study was aimed to investigate the dynamic changes of structural plasticity in a pilocarpine rat model of epilepsy.Methods:A single acute dose of pilocarpine(380 mg/kg,i.p.)was injected into adult male Wistar rats to induce status epilepticus(SE).Animal behavior was monitored for 2 h.Immunohistochemical staining was performed to evaluate neurogenesis in the CA3 and dentate gyrus(DG)regions of hippocampus using biomarkers Ki67 and doublecortin(DCX).The Golgi-Cox method was performed to analyze dendritic length and complexity.All experiments were performed in control rats(baseline),at 24 h after SE,on day 20 after SE(latent phase),after the first and 10th spontaneous recurrent seizures(SRS;chronic phase),and in non-epileptic rats(which did not manifest SRS 36 days after pilocarpine injection).Results:SE significantly increased the number of Ki67 and DCX-positive cells,suggesting neurogenesis during the latent phase.The dendritic complexity monitoring showed that plasticity was altered differently during epilepsy and epileptogenesis,suggesting that the two processes are completely separate at molecular and physiological levels.The numbers of spines and mushroom-type spines were increased in the latent phase.However,the dendritogenesis and spine numbers did not increase in rats that were unable to manifest spontaneous seizures after SE.Conclusion:All parameters of structural plasticity that increase during epileptogenesis,are reduced by spontaneous seizure occurrence,which suggests that the development of epilepsy involves maladaptive plastic changes.Therefore,the maladaptive plasticity biomarkers can be used to predict epilepsy before development of SRS in the cases of serious brain injury.展开更多
基金Guizhou Administration of TCM,Traditional Chinese medicine,Ethnic Medicine Science and Technology Research Special Project,Grant/Award Number:QZYY-2022-008Subsidy Fund for Scientific Research and Innovation Exploration Project,National Natural Science Foundation of China of Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine,Grant/Award Number:2018YFC170810502+1 种基金Science and Technology Fund Project of Guizhou Provincial Health Commission,Grant/Award Number:gzwkj2023-147Development of animal models for drug discovery-brain diseases.National Research and Development Project of China,MOST,Grant/Award Number:2023YFF0724802.
文摘Background:Qingyangshen(Cynanchum otophyllum C.K.Schneid)is a folk drug for treating depression and other mental disorders induced by social defeat stress.Neuroplasticity in the hippocampus is essential for the modulation of cognition and emotion,and its impairment may contribute to the development and progression of depression.Our previous studies have found that Qingyangshen glycosides(QYS)can improve depression-like behavior in social failure mouse models,mainly through PGC-1α/FNDC5/BDNF signaling pathways activation,but its effects and mechanisms on hippocampal neuroplasticity remain unknown.Methods:Chronic social defeat stress(CSDS)was used to induce social defeat in mice.Morphological changes in the hippocampus were observed by H&E staining and Golgi staining.Immunofluorescence double staining was used to detect the expression of synaptophysin(SYN)and postsynaptic density protein-95(PSD-95),while western blot was employed to evaluate PSD-95,SYN,and doublecortin(DCX)proteins.The pathological processing of social defeat and the therapeutic effects of QYS on it was confirmed through behavioral assessment associated with morpho-logic observation.Results:During the whole study,the sucrose preference indices and OFT activity time of CSDS mice were significantly decreased(p≤0.05),and the tail suspension immobil-ity time was significantly increased(p≤0.05),suggesting that the mice had significant depressive symptoms.Treatment with QYS(25,50,and 100 mg/kg)significantly al-leviated depressive symptoms in CSDS mice,which was demonstrated by significantly(p≤0.05 or p≤0.01)reducing the duration of tail-hanging immobility and increasing the tendency of sucrose preference indices and OFT activity time.QYS treatment also significantly increased the expression of DCX,PSD-95,and SYN proteins,which play a crucial role in depression.Conclusions:QYS alleviated these symptoms by enhancing hippocampal neuroplasti-city through upregulating the expression of synapse-associated proteins(SAPs).The therapeutic mechanism of QYS may involve modulating the neuroplasticity of hip-pocampus neurons by altering the expression of SAPs.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.30973165,81372108a grant from Clinical Research 5010 Program Mission Statement of Sun Yat-Sen University,China,No.2014001
文摘Gait disorders drastically affect the quality of life of stroke survivors,making post-stroke rehabilitation an important research focus.Noninvasive brain stimulation has potential in facilitating neuroplasticity and improving post-stroke gait impairment.However,a large inter-individual variability in the response to noninvasive brain stimulation interventions has been increasingly recognized.We first review the neurophysiology of human gait and post-stroke neuroplasticity for gait recovery,and then discuss how noninvasive brain stimulation techniques could be utilized to enhance gait recovery.While post-stroke neuroplasticity for gait recovery is characterized by use-dependent plasticity,it evolves over time,is idiosyncratic,and may develop maladaptive elements.Furthermore,noninvasive brain stimulation has limited reach capability and is facilitative-only in nature.Therefore,we recommend that noninvasive brain stimulation be used adjunctively with rehabilitation training and other concurrent neuroplasticity facilitation techniques.Additionally,when noninvasive brain stimulation is applied for the rehabilitation of gait impairment in stroke survivors,stimulation montages should be customized according to the specific types of neuroplasticity found in each individual.This could be done using multiple mapping techniques.
基金supported by a grant from the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.30873390
文摘Lactulose is known to improve cognitive function in patients with early hepatic encephalopa- thy; however, the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. In the present study, we investigated the behavioral and neurochemical effects of lactulose in a rat model of early hepatic encephalopathy induced by carbon tetrachloride. Immunohistochemistry showed that lactulose treatment promoted neurogenesis and increased the number of neurons and astrocytes in the hippocampus. Moreover, lactulose-treated rats showed shorter escape latencies than model rats in the Morris water maze, indicating that lactulose improved the cognitive impairments caused by hepatic encephalopathy. The present findings suggest that lactulose effectively improves cog- nitive function by enhancing neuroplasticity in a rat model of early hepatic encephalopathy.
文摘The pathophysiology of depression has been traditionally attributed to a chemical imbalance and critical interactions between genetic and environmental risk factors, and antidepressant drugs suggested to act predominantly amplifying monoaminergic neurotransmission. This conceptualization may be currently considered reductive. The current literature about the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying depression, stress-related disorders and antidepressant treatment was examined. In order to provide a critical overview about neuroplasticity, depression and antidepressant drugs, a detailed Pubmed/Medline, Scopus, Psyc Lit, and Psyc Info search to identify all papers and book chapters during the period between 1980 and 2011 was performed. Pathological stress and depression determine relevant brain changes such as loss of dendritic spines and synapses, dendritic atrophy as well as reduction of glial cells(both in number and size) in specific areas such as the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. An increased dendritic arborisation and synaptogenesis may instead be observed in the amygdala as a consequence of depression and stress-related disorders. While hippocampal and prefrontal functioning was impaired, amygdala functioning was abnormally amplified. Most of molecular abnormalities and biological changes of aberrant neuroplasticity may be explained by the action of glutamate. Antidepressant treatment is associated with neurogenesis, gliogenesis, dendritic arborisation, new synapse formation and cell survival both in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. Antidepressants(ADs) induce neuroplasticity mechanisms reversing the pathological effects of depression and stress-related disorders. The neuroplasticity hypothesis may explain the therapeutic and prophylactic action of ADs representing a new innovative approach to the pathophysiology of depression and stress-related disorders.
基金supported by grants from Edith Cowan Universitythe McCusker Alzheimer’s Research Foundationthe National Health and Medical Research Council
文摘Dear editors,Neurodegenerative diseases are now associated with the global obesity and diabetes epidemic in the developing and developed world.Neurodegenerative diseases are a heterogeneous group of disorders with complex factors such as neurohumoral,endocrine and environmental factors involved in induction of these neurodegenerative diseases.The future of science and medicine in neurodegenerative diseases is now dependent on nutritional genomics with insulin resistance a major factor in the induction of neurodegenerative diseases.Nutritional genomics now involves the anti-aging gene Sirtuin 1(Sirt 1)that is important to the prevention of insulin resistance with its critical involvement in the immune system(Martins,2018a,b).Sirt 1 inactivation leads to toxic immune reactions connected to the acceleration of neuron death in various communities.Appetite control with relevance to immunometabolism has become of critical importance to the treatment of neurodegeneration(Figure 1).Nutritional diets activate the heat shock gene Sirt 1 to prevent the increase in heat shock proteins connected to autoimmune disease,mitophagy(Martins,2018a,b)and irreversible programmed cell death in global populations(Figure 1).
基金supported by the FWF Special Research Program(SFB)F44(F4413-B23)"Cell Signaling in Chronic CNS Disorders",and through funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Program(FP7/2007-2013)under grant agreements n°HEALTH-F2-2011-278850(INMi ND),n°HEALTH-F2-2011-279288(IDEA),n°FP7-REGPOT-316120(Glow Brain)a startup grant from the Faculty Recharge Programme,University Grants Commission(UGC-FRP),New Delhi,India(to MK)+1 种基金a research grant from DST-SERB,New Delhi,India(EEQ/2016/000639)(to MK)an Early Career Research Award(ECR/2016/000741)(to MK)
文摘The brain is a dynamic organ of the biological renaissance due to the existence of neuroplasticity. Adult neurogenesis abides by every aspect of neuroplasticity in the intact brain and contributes to neural regeneration in response to brain diseases and injury. The occurrence of adult neurogenesis has unequivocally been witnessed in human subjects, experimental and wildlife research including rodents, bats and cetaceans. Adult neurogenesis is a complex cellular process, in which generation of neuroblasts namely, neuroblastosis appears to be an integral process that occur in the limbic system and basal ganglia in addition to the canonical neurogenic niches. Neuroblastosis can be regulated by various factors and contributes to different functions of the brain. The characteristics and fate of neuroblasts have been found to be different among mammals regardless of their cognitive functions. Recently, regulation of neuroblastosis has been proposed for the sensorimotor interface and regenerative neuroplasticity of the adult brain. Hence, the understanding of adult neurogenesis at the functional level of neuroblasts requires a great scientific attention. Therefore, this mini-review provides a glimpse into the conceptual development of neuroplasticity, discusses the possible role of different types of neuroblasts and signifies neuroregenerative failure as a potential cause of dementia.
基金the Spastic Paraplegia Foundation(SPF)Professor Peter Bede and the Computational Neuroimaging Group are also the Health Research Board(HRB EIA-2017-019)+3 种基金the Irish Institute of Clinical Neuroscience(IICN)the EU Joint Programme-Neurodegenerative Disease Research(JPND)the Andrew Lydon scholarshipthe Iris O'Brien Foundation。
文摘Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a relentlessly progressive multi-system condition.The clinical picture is dominated by upper and lower motor neuron degeneration,but extra-motor pathology is increasingly recognized,including cerebellar pathology.Post-mortem and neuroimaging studies primarily focus on the chara cterization of supratentorial disease,des pite emerging evidence of cerebellar degeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.Cardinal clinical features of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,such as dysarthria,dysphagia,cognitive and behavioral deficits,saccade abnormalities,gait impairment,respiratory weakness and pseudobulbar affect are likely to be exacerbated by co-existing cerebellar pathology.This review summarizes in vivo and post mortem evidence for cerebellar degeneration in amyotrophic lateral scle rosis.Structural imaging studies consistently capture cerebellar grey matter volume reductions,diffusivity studies readily detect both intra-cerebellar and cerebellar peduncle white matter alte rations and functional imaging studies commonly report increased functional connectivity with supratentorial regions.Increased functional connectivity is commonly interpreted as evidence of neuro plasticity representing compensatory processes despite the lack of post-mortem validation.There is a scarcity of post-mortem studies focusing on cerebellar alte rations,but these detect pTDP-43 in cerebellar nuclei.Ce rebellar pathology is an overloo ked facet of neurodegeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis despite its contribution to a multitude of clinical symptoms,wides p read connectivity to spinal and supratentorial regions and putative role in compensating for the degeneration of primary motor regions.
文摘Depression is a common mental disorder and one of the leading causes of disability around the world.Monoaminergic antidepressants often take weeks to months to work and are not effective for all patients.This has led to a search for a better understanding of the pathogenesis of depression as well as to the development of novel antidepressants.One such novel antidepressant is ketamine,which has demonstrated both clinically promising results and contributed to new explanatory models of depression,including the potential role of neuroplasticity in depression.Early clinical trials are now showing promising results of serotonergic psychedelics for depression;however,their mechanism of action remains poorly understood.This paper seeks to review the effect of depression,classic antidepressants,ketamine,and serotonergic psychedelics on markers of neuroplasticity at a cellular,molecular,electrophysiological,functional,structural,and psychological level to explore the potential role that neuroplasticity plays in the treatment response of serotonergic psychedelics.
基金supported by National Institutes of Health Contracts P30-EY008098 and T32-EY017271-06(BethesdaMD)+14 种基金United States Department of Defense DM090217(ArlingtonVA)Alcon Research Institute Young Investigator Grant(Fort WorthTX)Eye and Ear Foundation(PittsburghPA)Research to Prevent Blindness(New YorkNY)Aging Institute Pilot Seed GrantUniversity of Pittsburgh(PittsburghPA)Postdoctoral Fellowship Program in Ocular Tissue Engineering and Regenerative OphthalmologyLouis J.Fox Center for Vision RestorationUniversity of Pittsburgh and UPMC(PittsburghPA)
文摘Blindness provides an unparalleled opportunity to study plasticity of the nervous system in humans.Seminal work in this area examined the often dramatic modifications to the visual cortex that result when visual input is completely absent from birth or very early in life（Kupers and Ptito,2014）.More recent studies explored what happens to the visual pathways in the context of acquired blindness.This is particularly relevant as the majority of diseases that cause vision loss occur in the elderly.
文摘Exploratory studies developed at several neurosciences laboratories at universities around the world show us through the experience that there is a biological process called neuroplasticity. Because of this oldest concept about the neuronal formation, scientists also thought that if a particular area of the adult brain was damaged, the nerve cells could not form new connections and the functions controlled by this field of the brain would be permanently lost or could not be regenerate. However, studies have overturned this old view, and currently, scientists recognize that the brain continues to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections during the life. This phenomenon is called neuroplasticity that refers to the potential which the brain should be reorganized by creating new neural pathways to adapt, as it needs.
文摘Neuroplasticity is a condition that is present from birth, being found in the central and peripheral nervous system, in both physiological and pathological terms. Based on the findings, therapeutic and non-therapeutic attempts were tested on spinal cord trauma to recover locomotor function below the level of the injury. The work defined and showed other forms of the term neuroplasticity, talk about some pathological and non-pathological conditions, and, finally, show neuroplasticity and some of its treatments in the spinal cord injury process. A narrative literature review from 2000 to 2020 of the PubMed platform was conducted and analysis of two books for the elaboration of this <span>work. Animal/human studies were included that addressed pathologies,</span> forms of treatment for spinal trauma, and qualis from B1 to A1. Pre-2000 articles, which addressed neuroplasticity only to understand the molecular mechanisms and articles that were not in English, were excluded. As a result, the main molecules and structures that inhibit neuroplasticity were found, and, based on their knowledge, forms of treatments were developed to inhibit these molecules and structures to assist in neuroplasticity and assist in possible functional recovery. It can be concluded that the physiological barriers are already being overcome by the most recent forms of treatment and that soon new studies may propose a form of treatment that is protocoled for all patients.
文摘The rehabilitation of musculoskeletal dysfunctions(MSD)such as osteoarthritis,anterior cruciate ligament injuries and low back pain focuses on symptomatic management of pain followed by stretching and strengthening.However,these interventions focus just on symptomatic pain management and addressing musculoskeletal impairments.But it has been found that neuroplastic changes continue to occur throughout these pathologies and sometimes even are persistent,as conventional rehabilitation doesn’t focus on these changes therefore chances of reinjury increase.Therefore this article discusses underlying neuroplastic changes associated with MSD and neuroplasticity-based interventions for better clinical outcomes.
文摘Major depressive disorder(MDD)is a complex psychiatric condition increasingly linked to chronic neuroinflammation,particularly in the context of aging,stress,and systemic comorbidities.While microglia have traditionally been the focus of neuroimmune studies,growing evidence highlights astrocytes as central regulators in the pathogenesis of MDD.This review synthesizes current findings on the multifaceted roles of astrocytes in neuroplasticity,neurotransmission,metabolic support,and blood‐brain barrier regulation.It explores how astrocyte reactivity and the release of pro‐inflammatory cytokines are often triggered by psychosocial stress,aging,and peripheral immune activation and contribute to synaptic dysfunction and cognitive impairment.The review also examines the bidirectional crosstalk between astrocytes and microglia,astrocytic calcium signaling,epigenetic modulation via histone lactylation,and metabolic pathways involving lactate.Special attention is given to the region‐specific and phenotypedependent responses of astrocytes,as well as their influence on the onset and maintenance of depressive symptoms.Additionally,therapeutic strategies targeting astrocyte‐mediated pathways,including anti‐inflammatory agents,metabolic modulators,repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation,and inflammasome inhibitors,are discussed.Finally,methodological challenges and future research directions are outlined,emphasizing the need for precision medicine approaches in developing astrocyte‐targeted interventions for MDD.
基金supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Beijing Municipality(No.F252065)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.32271190,32571323)the STI 2030 Major Project(No.2021ZD0203202)。
文摘Knee osteoarthritis(KOA)represents one of the most common causes of chronic pain.The high prevalence and disability rates of KOA impose a severe burden on both individuals and society.In contrast to cutaneous pain,KOA-induced joint pain is characterized as a deep tissue pain that potentially involves distinct subgroups of peripheral sensory neurons and central processing mechanisms.Furthermore,KOA pain is closely related to locomotion activity.Impaired sensorimotor integration and pain mutually reinforce each other in KOA,forming a vicious cycle that exacerbates disease progression.In this review,we highlight the key differences between KOA pain and cutaneous pain,and the latter has been extensively studied in the pain field.We hope to offer new insights into the central mechanisms and development of new treatment strategies for KOA based on the interactions between impaired sensorimotor integration and chronic joint pain.
文摘BACKGROUND:Hemiplegia,a prevalent stroke-related condition,is often studied for motor dysfunction;however,spasticity remains under-researched.Abnormal muscle tone significantly hinders hemiplegic patients’walking recovery.OBJECTIVE:To determine whether early suspension-protected training with a personal assistant machine for stroke patients enhances walking ability and prevents muscle spasms.METHODS:Thirty-two early-stage stroke patients from Shenzhen University General Hospital and the China Rehabilitation Research Center were randomly assigned to the experimental group(n=16)and the control group(n=16).Both groups underwent 4 weeks of gait training under the suspension protection system for 30 minutes daily,5 days a week.The experimental group used the personal assistant machine during training.Three-dimensional gait analysis(using the Cortex motion capture system),Brunnstrom staging,Fugl-Meyer Assessment for lower limb motor function,Fugl-Meyer balance function,and the modified Ashworth Scale were evaluated within 1 week before the intervention and after 4 weeks of intervention.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After the 4-week intervention,all outcome measures showed significant changes in each group.The experimental group had a small but significant increase in the modified Ashworth Scale score(P<0.05,d=|0.15|),while the control group had a large significant increase(P<0.05,d=|1.48|).The experimental group demonstrated greater improvements in walking speed(16.5 to 38.44 cm/s,P<0.05,d=|4.01|),step frequency(46.44 to 64.94 steps/min,P<0.05,d=|2.32|),stride length(15.50 to 29.81 cm,P<0.05,d=|3.44|),and peak hip and knee flexion(d=|1.82|to|2.17|).After treatment,the experimental group showed significantly greater improvements than the control group in walking speed(38.44 vs.26.63 cm/s,P<0.05,d=|2.75|),stride length,peak hip and knee flexion(d=|1.31|to|1.45|),step frequency(64.94 vs.59.38 steps/min,P<0.05,d=|0.85|),and a reduced support phase(bilateral:24.31%vs.28.38%,P<0.05,d=|0.88|;non-paretic:66.19%vs.70.13%,P<0.05,d=|0.94|).For early hemiplegia,personal assistant machine-assisted gait training under the suspension protection system helps establish a correct gait pattern,prevents muscle spasms,and improves motor function.
基金funded by the Alexander von Humboldt Stiftungsupported by DFG (SCH W534/6-1 to SWS)
文摘The dentate gyrus of the hippocampus is a plastic structure that displays modifications at different levels in response to positive stimuli as well as to negative conditions such as brain damage.The latter involves global alterations,making understanding plastic responses triggered by local damage difficult.One key feature of the dentate gyrus is that it contains a well-defined neurogenic niche,the subgranular zone,and beyond neurogenesis,newly born granule cells may maintain a“young”phenotype throughout life,adding to the plastic nature of the structure.Here,we present a novel experimental model of local brain damage in organotypic entorhino-hippocampal cultures that results in the activation of adjacent newly born granule cells.A small piece of filter paper was placed on the surface of the granule cell layer of the dentate gyrus,which evoked a foreign body reaction of astrocytes,along with the activation of local young neurons expressing doublecortin.Forty-eight hours after foreign body placement,the number of doublecortin-immunoreactive cells increased in the subgranular zone in the direct vicinity of the foreign body,whereas overall increased doublecortin immunoreactivity was observed in the granule cell layer and molecular layer of the dentate gyrus.Foreign body placement in the pyramidal layer of the CA1 region evoked a comparable local astroglial reaction but did not lead to an increase in doublecortin-immunoreactive in either the CA1 region or the adjacent dentate gyrus.Seven days after foreign body placement in the dentate gyrus,the increase in doublecortin-immunoreactivity was no longer observed,indicating the transient activation of young cells.However,7 days after foreign body placement,the number of doublecortin-immunoreactive granule cells coimmunoreactive for calbindin was lower than that under the control conditions.As calbindin is a marker for mature granule cells,this result suggests that activated young cells remain at a more immature stage following foreign body placement.Live imaging of retrovirally green fluorescent protein-labeled newly born granule cells revealed the orientation and growth of their dendrites toward the foreign body placement.This novel experimental model of foreign body placement in organotypic entorhino-hippocampal cultures could serve as a valuable tool for studying both glial reactivity and neuronal plasticity,specifically of newly born neurons under controlled in vitro conditions.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.82471327the Natural Science Foundation of ShandongProvince,No.ZR2024MH200(both to SL).
文摘Neurite outgrowth and synaptogenesis are critical steps for functional recovery following ischemic stroke.Damaged axons of the central nervous system in adult mammals exhibit limited regenerative capacity,resulting in enduring neurological deficits.Recent findings from our research indicate that inhibition of Rho-associated kinase(ROCK)2 facilitates neuroprotection in different models of central nervous system diseases.In addition,our prior studies have demonstrated that axonal protection enhances the regeneration of injured axons.However,it remains unclear whether the axonal protection mediated by ROCK2 inhibition also facilitates synaptogenesis.In this study,we aimed to investigate the effects of inhibiting ROCK2 expression on synaptogenesis and neurogenesis in ischemic stroke using an shRNA-expressing adeno-associated virus(AAV)vector(AAV-sh.ROCK2).We demonstrated that AAV-sh.ROCK2 increased neurite outgrowth and facilitated synaptogenesis in vivo.Furthermore,AAV-sh.ROCK2 increased neuronal survival and promoted neurogenesis following middle cerebral artery occlusion surgery as well as long-term motor functional recovery after ischemia/reperfusion injury.Notably,AAV-sh.ROCK2 also stimulated serotonergic and dopaminergic axon sprouting after ischemia/reperfusion injury.Mechanistically,AAV-sh.ROCK2 activity resulted in increased anti-collapsin response mediator protein 2 activation and reductions in RhoA and ROCK2 expression.Our study identified ROCK2 as a critical regulator of synaptogenesis and neurogenesis,highlighting it as a promising target to facilitate neuroprotection and regeneration in ischemic stroke.
基金Suppored by Nanjing Municipal Bureau of Physical Education and Sports Research Bureau Management Subjects (NJTY2023-104)Nanjing "Sports and Health Integration" New Model (JSYGY-3-2023-505)。
文摘Objective: This review aims to explore the efficacy of exercise in the treatment of anxiety disorders and its underlying mechanisms, summarizing recent research advances and focusing on the potential biological and psychological pathways through which exercise exerts its anxiolytic effects.Methods: To ensure comprehensive coverage of relevant studies, we conducted a systematic search in databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase, combining MeSH terms with free-text terms. Keywords included“exercise,” “physical activity,” and “anxiety disorder.”Results and conclusions: Current research widely supports exercise as a safe and effective intervention for anxiety.Both aerobic exercise and resistance training have shown significant anxiety-reducing effects across various populations. The mechanisms of action can be categorized into three main types: cellular and molecular mechanisms, systemic immune effects, and behavioral and cognitive pathways. Different forms of exercise have distinct advantages: aerobic exercise is suitable for the general population, resistance training is beneficial for individuals with coexisting physical conditions, and low-intensity exercises such as yoga and Tai Chi are suitable for pregnant women, the elderly, or postoperative recovery patients. Given its good safety profile and broad applicability, moderate exercise should be considered a first-line treatment for mild anxiety and an adjunctive intervention for moderate to severe anxiety. Future research should further clarify the mechanistic differences between various exercise modalities and promote the development of individualized exercise prescriptions.
基金Supported by 2025 Gansu Provincial College Teachers'Innovation Fund Project:2025A-1042023 Gansu Provincial Key Talent Project:Gan Group General Word[2023]No.20+2 种基金2025 Gansu Postgraduates'"Innovative Star"Project:2025CXZX-9362023 Key Project of Scientific Research and Innovation Fund of Gansu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine:2023KCZD-6Graduate Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fund Project of Gansu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine:2025CXCY-001。
文摘Pain-induced emotions are the negative moods caused by pain,such as depression and anxiety.Acupunc-ture can effectively relieve pain-induced emotions,and its mechanism is closely related to the regulation of neuroplasticity.Neuroplasticity is composed of two types,functional neuroplasticity and structural neuroplasticity.(1)Acupuncture improves functional neuroplasticity by inhibiting the activation of mi-croglia and astrocytes,regulating the expression of neurotransmitters and receptors,modulating cellular signal transduction pathways,and optimizing synaptic transmission efficiency.(2)Acupuncture improves structural neuroplasticity by modulating neuronal synaptic plasticity,inhibiting neuronal apoptosis,and up-regulating the expression of the BDNF/TrKB/CREB signaling pathway.Additionally,acupuncture up-regulates the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factors to improve both the functional and struc-tural neuroplasticity,thus relieves pain-induced emotions.The above discovery provides an approach to the mechanism research of acupuncture for pain-induced emotions.
文摘Background:The role of neuroplasticity in epilepsy has been widely studied in experimental models and human brain samples.However,the results are contradictory and it remains unclear if neuroplasticity is more related to the cause or the consequence of epileptic seizures.Clarifying this issue can provide insights into epilepsy therapies that target the disease mechanism and etiology rather than symptoms.Therefore,this study was aimed to investigate the dynamic changes of structural plasticity in a pilocarpine rat model of epilepsy.Methods:A single acute dose of pilocarpine(380 mg/kg,i.p.)was injected into adult male Wistar rats to induce status epilepticus(SE).Animal behavior was monitored for 2 h.Immunohistochemical staining was performed to evaluate neurogenesis in the CA3 and dentate gyrus(DG)regions of hippocampus using biomarkers Ki67 and doublecortin(DCX).The Golgi-Cox method was performed to analyze dendritic length and complexity.All experiments were performed in control rats(baseline),at 24 h after SE,on day 20 after SE(latent phase),after the first and 10th spontaneous recurrent seizures(SRS;chronic phase),and in non-epileptic rats(which did not manifest SRS 36 days after pilocarpine injection).Results:SE significantly increased the number of Ki67 and DCX-positive cells,suggesting neurogenesis during the latent phase.The dendritic complexity monitoring showed that plasticity was altered differently during epilepsy and epileptogenesis,suggesting that the two processes are completely separate at molecular and physiological levels.The numbers of spines and mushroom-type spines were increased in the latent phase.However,the dendritogenesis and spine numbers did not increase in rats that were unable to manifest spontaneous seizures after SE.Conclusion:All parameters of structural plasticity that increase during epileptogenesis,are reduced by spontaneous seizure occurrence,which suggests that the development of epilepsy involves maladaptive plastic changes.Therefore,the maladaptive plasticity biomarkers can be used to predict epilepsy before development of SRS in the cases of serious brain injury.
