Labeling of Active Neural Circuits In Vivo with Designed Calcium Integrators Scientists designed a fluorescent sensor, CaMPARI, that combines the genetic targetability and quantitative link to neural activity of genetically encoded calcium indicators with the permanent, large-scale labeling of immediate early genes, allowing a temporally precise “activity snapshot” of a large tissue volume. [Science] Abstract | Press Release Neuronal Death Induced by Misfolded Prion Protein Is Due to NAD+ Depletion and Can Be Relieved In Vitro and In Vivo by NAD+ Replenishment Researchers show that abnormal autophagy activation and neuronal demise is due to severe, neuron-specific, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) depletion. [Brain] Abstract | Press Release Stem Cell Transplantation Reverses Chemotherapy-Induced Cognitive Dysfunction Scientists showed that chronic cyclophosphamide treatment induced significant performance-based decrements on behavioral tasks designed to interrogate hippocampal and cortical function. In transplanted animals, grafted cells survived and differentiated along neuronal and astroglial lineages, where improved cognition was associated with reduced neuroinflammation and enhanced host dendritic arborization. [Cancer Res] Abstract | Press Release Elevated In Vivo Levels of a Single Transcription Factor Directly Convert Satellite Glia into Oligodendrocyte-Like Cells Using a transgenic approach researchers increased levels of the transcription factor Sox10 throughout the mouse embryo and thereby prompted Fabp7-positive glial cells in dorsal root ganglia of the peripheral nervous system to convert into cells with oligodendrocyte characteristics including myelin gene expression. [PLoS Genet] Full Article Spontaneous Neurotransmitter Release Shapes Dendritic Arbors via Long-Range Activation of NMDA Receptors Researchers showed that high-level, spontaneous axonal release of the neurotransmitter glutamate can signal at long range to NMDA receptors on developing dendrites, prior to synapse formation and axodendritic contact. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract | Press Release Parkin-Mediated Mitophagy in Mutant hAPP Neurons and Alzheimer’s Disease Patient Brains Scientists revealed that Parkin-mediated mitophagy is robustly induced in mutant hAPP neurons and Alzheimer’s disease patient brains. In the absence of mitochondrial membrane potential dissipation reagents, hAPP neurons exhibit increased recruitment of cytosolic Parkin to depolarized mitochondria. [Hum Mol Genet] Abstract TGF-β Regulates Survivin to Affect Cell Cycle and the Expression of EGFR and MMP9 in Glioblastoma Researchers investigated the potential associations between transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and survivin in the glioblastoma U87 cell line. They observed a concentration- and time-dependent increase of survivin expression after treatment with TGF-β1. [Mol Neurobiol] Abstract Static Stretch Affects Neural Stem Cell Differentiation in an Extracellular Matrix-Dependent Manner Scientists found static stretch specifically impacts neural stem and progenitor cell differentiation into oligodendrocytes, but not neurons or astrocytes, and this effect is dependent on particular extracellular matrix-integrin linkages. [Sci Rep] Full Article Targeting Cyclin D3/CDK6 Activity for Treatment of Parkinson’s Disease Researchers investigated the effects of two histone deacetylase inhibitors, suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid and sodium butyrate, and the m-TOR inhibitor rapamycin on cell viability and cyclin D3/CDK6 activity. The potential neuroprotective action of these drugs was evaluated in 6-hydroxy-dopamine treated dopaminergic SH-SY5Y cells and primary rat mesencephalic cultures. [J Neurochem] Abstract 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 Enhances Neural Stem Cell Proliferation and Oligodendrocyte Differentiation Scientists investigated the effect of various concentrations of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 on neural stem cell proliferation and their differentiation to oligodendrocytes, the myelinating cells. [Exp Mol Pathol] Abstract G Protein Coupled Receptor 50 Promotes Self-Renewal and Neuronal Differentiation of Embryonic Neural Progenitor Cells through Regulation of Notch and Wnt/β-Catenin Signalings Researchers show GPR50 is expressed by neural progenitor cells (NPCs) in the ventricular zone of embryonic brain. Knockdown of GPR50 with a small interfering RNA decreased self-renewal and neuronal differentiation, but not glial differentiation of NPCs. [Biochem Biophys Res Commun] Abstract |