Multiple Forms of Activity-Dependent Competition Refine Hippocampal Circuits In Vivo Using a mouse genetic system in which restricted populations of neurons in the hippocampal circuit are inactivated, researchers show that inactive axons are eliminated after they develop through a competition with active axons. [Neuron] An Instructive Role for Patterned Spontaneous Retinal Activity in Mouse Visual Map Development Researchers manipulated the pattern of spontaneous retinal waves present during development without changing overall activity levels through the transgenic expression of β2-nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in retinal ganglion cells of mice. [Neuron] CTCF Regulates Ataxin-7 Expression through Promotion of a Convergently Transcribed, Antisense Noncoding RNA To understand how CTCF regulates ataxin-7 gene expression, researchers introduced ataxin-7 mini-genes into mice, and found that CTCF is required for SCAANT1 expression. [Neuron] Overlapping Role of Dynamin Isoforms in Synaptic Vesicle Endocytosis Researchers show that dynamin 3, thought to play a predominantly postsynaptic role, has a major presynaptic function. [Neuron] Neuron-Restrictive Silencer Factor-Mediated Cyclic Nucleotide Gated Channelopathy in Experimental Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Enduring, abnormal expression and function of the ion channel hyperpolarization-activated cyclic-AMP gated channel type 1 occurs in temporal lobe epilepsy. Researchers examined the underlying mechanisms, and queried if interfering with these mechanisms could modify disease course. [Ann Neurol] Functional Motor Recovery from Brain Ischemic Insult by Carbon Nanotube-Mediated siRNA Silencing Here, researchers studied whether silencing of Caspase-3 using carbon nanotube-mediated in vivo RNA interference could offer a therapeutic opportunity against stroke. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Boundary Cap Cells Are Peripheral Nervous System Stem Cells That Can Be Redirected into Central Nervous System Lineages Researchers show that boundary cap cell progeny are EGF/FGF2-responsive, form spheres, and express neural crest markers. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Impaired Neurovascular Repair in Subjects with Diabetes Following Experimental Intracutaneous Axotomy Researchers examined blood vessel, Schwann cell and axonal regeneration using validated axotomy models to study and compare patterns and the relationship of regeneration among these different structures. [Brain] Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection of Human Astrocytes Disrupts Blood–Brain Barrier Integrity by a Gap Junction-Dependent Mechanism Here, researchers demonstrate that few HIV-infected astrocytes (4.7 ± 2.8% in vitro and 8.2 ± 3.9% in vivo) compromise blood–brain barrier integrity. [J Neurosci] Neuronal Store-Operated Calcium Entry Pathway as a Novel Therapeutic Target for Huntington’s Disease Treatment Researchers found that the store-operated calcium entry (SOC) pathway activity is enhanced in neuronal cells expressing mutant Huntingtin and that the identified compounds inhibit SOC pathway in Huntington’s disease neurons. [Chem Biol] Lithium Protects Against Oxidative Stress-Mediated Cell Death in α-Synuclein-Overexpressing In Vitro and In Vivo Models of Parkinson’s Disease In this study, researchers examined the potential cytoprotective effect of lithium in preventing oxidative stress-induced protein accumulation and neuronal cell death in the presence of increased α-synuclein levels in vitro and in vivo. [J Neurosci Res] |