These findings support the importance of group II mGIuRs for spat

These findings support the importance of group II mGIuRs for spatial memory formation and offer a further link between LTD and the encoding of spatial information in the hippocampus. (C) 2009 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“If the hippocampus plays a role in the detection of novel environmental features, then

novelty should be associated with altered hippocampal neural activity and perhaps also measures of neuroplasticity. We examined Fos protein expression within subregions of rat hippocampal formation as an indicator of recent increases in neuronal excitation and cellular processes that support neuroplasticity. Environmental novelty, but not environmental complexity, led to a selective increase of Fos induction in the final “”output”" subregion of the dorsal hippocampal trisynaptic circuit (CA1) and a primary projection site GKT137831 (layer five of the lateral entorhinal cortex, ERC), as well as in the perirhinal cortex. There was no selective effect of novelty on Fos expression within “”input”" elements of the trisynaptic circuit (ERC layer two, the dentate gyrus or CA3) or other comparison brain regions that may be responsive to overall motor-sensory activity or anxiety levels (primary somatosensory and motor cortex or hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus).

Test session ambulatory behavior increased with both novelty and environmental complexity and was not significantly correlated with Fos expression patterns in any of the brain regions examined. In contrast, the extent of manipulated environmental novelty was strongly correlated with Fos expression in CA1. click here These results support the prospect that a novelty-associated signal is generated within hippocampal neurocircuitry, is relayed to cortical projection sites, and specifically up-regulates neuroplasticity-supporting processes with dorsal hippocampal CA1 and ERC layer five. Whether novelty-dependent Fos induction in perirhinal cortex depends on this hippocampal output or reflects an independent process remains to be determined.”
“A role for guanosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) and the protein kinase G (PKG) pathway in synaptic CH5424802 solubility dmso long-term depression (LTD) in

the hippocampal CA1 region has been proposed, based on observations in vitro, where, for example, increases of [cGMP] result in short-term depression (STD) coupled with a reduction in presynaptic glutamate release. To date, no evidence exists to support that LTD in the intact, freely behaving animal involves these mechanisms. We examined the effect of increases of [cGMP] on basal transmission and electrically-induced STD at hippocampal CA1 synapses in vivo. We found that elevating [cGMP] dose-dependently caused a chemically-induced STD which occluded electrically-induced STD. Repeated administration of Zaprinast, an inhibitor of cGMP-degrading phosphodiesterase, resulted in persistent LTD (>24 h). Paired-pulse analysis supported a presynaptic mechanism of action.

(C) 2008 Elsevier B V All rights reserved “
“There is now c

(C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“There is now considerable evidence for long-lasting sequels of stress.

A single exposure to high intensity predominantly emotional stressors such as immobilisation in wooden-boards (IMO) induces long-term (days to weeks) desensitization of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) response to the same (homotypic) stressor, whereas the response to novel (heterotypic) stressors was enhanced. In addition, long-lasting changes in behaviour have been described PLX4720 after a single exposure to brief or more prolonged sessions of shocks, predator, predator odour, underwater stress or a combination of three stressors on 1 day. The most consistent changes

are reduced entries into the open arms of the elevated plus-maze and enhanced acoustic startle response, both reflecting enhanced anxiety. However, it is unclear whether there is any relationship between the intensity of the stressors, as evaluated selleck screening library by the main physiological indexes of stress (e.g. HPA axis), the putative traumatic experience they represent and their long-term behavioural consequences. This is particularly critical when trying to model post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD), which demands a great effort to validate such putative models. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“The interplay between avian reovirus (ARV) replication and apoptosis and proteasome pathway was studied in cultured cells. It is shown that inhibition of the proteasome did not affect viral entry and host cell translation but had influence on ARV replication and ARV-induced

LY2874455 cost apoptosis. Evidence is provided to demonstrate that ubiquitin-proteasome blocked ARV replication at an early step in viral life cycle. However, viral transcription and protein translation were also reduced markedly after addition of proteasome inhibitor MG132. Treatment of BHK-21 cells with the MG132 markedly decreased virus titer as well as prevented virus-induced apoptosis. The expression of ARV proteins sigma C, sigma A, and sigma NS was also reduced markedly, suggesting that suppression of virus replication is due to down-regulation of these ARV proteins by ubiquitin-proteasome system. MG132 was also shown to suppress ARV sigma C-induced phosphrylation of p53 on serine 46, caspase 3 activities, and DNA fragmentation leading to complete inhibition of ARV-induced apoptosis. (C) 2008 Published by Elsevier B.V.”
“Several neuropsychiatric diseases are related with stress (posttraumatic stress disorder, major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia) and stress exposure modifies the onset and evolution of some neurological diseases (neurodegenerative diseases). It is accepted that brain inflammatory responses contribute to cell damage during these illnesses.

The SNPs

The SNPs XMU-MP-1 of two integration sites were identical to those in cell lines but not the patients, whereas the data on the remaining 12 integration sites were inconclusive. Our results provide direct evidence

for contamination during analysis of XMRV integration sites.”
“In response to injury, the myocardium hypertrophies in an attempt to maintain or augment function, which is associated with ventricular remodeling and changes in capillary density. During the compensatory phase of the hypertrophic response, the myocardium maintains output and is characterized by a coordinated neo-angiogenic and fibrotic response that supports cardiomyocyte health and survival. Emerging evidence shows that paracrine-mediated cross talk between cardiac myocytes

and nonmyocytes within the heart is critical for cardiac adaptation to stress, including the extent of hypertrophy and angiogenesis. This review discusses recent results indicating that placental growth factor (PGF; also called PlGF), a secreted factor within the vascular endothelial growth factor superfamily, is a pivotal mediator of adaptive cardiac hypertrophy and beneficial angiogenesis through its ability to coordinate the intercellular communication between different cell Linsitinib molecular weight types in the heart. (Trends Cardiovasc Med 2011;21: 220-224) (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.”
“Microglia are the most important immune cells within the highly specialized environment of the central nervous system. Upon activation, they transform from a resting ‘ramified’ into a fully functional ‘amoeboid’ PF477736 phenotype with the ability to perform phagocytosis and generate free radicals. A combined flow cytometric assay for the simultaneous measurement of these two functions in porcine microglia in vitro is presented: reactive oxygen species are detected using hydroethidine; phagocytosis

is assessed using fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled latex beads. The combination of these two probes allowed us to distinguish four subpopulations within cultured porcine microglia on the basis of their functional activity. The effect of several exogenous stimuli [phorbol myristate acetate, conditioned medium, interferon gamma (IFN-gamma)] on the in-vitro functional properties of porcine microglia is investigated using this test. In particular for IFN-gamma, a significant modulatory effect on the intracellular reactive oxygen species production and phagocytic activity was observed. This result suggests an alternative role of IFN-gamma acting on cultured porcine microglia. NeuroReport 23:519-524 (C) 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health vertical bar Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.”
“As exemplified by desmin-related cardiomyopathy and myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury, proteasome functional insufficiency plays an essential pathogenic role in the progression of cardiac diseases with elevated proteotoxic stress.


“Manganese (Mn), upon absorption, is primarily sequestered


“Manganese (Mn), upon absorption, is primarily sequestered in tissue and intracellular compartments. For this reason, blood Mn concentration does not always accurately reflect Mn concentration in the targeted tissue, particularly in the brain. The discrepancy between Mn concentrations in tissue or intracellular components means that blood Mn 4SC-202 is a poor biomarker of Mn exposure or toxicity under many conditions and that other biomarkers must be established. For group comparisons of active workers, blood Mn has some utility for distinguishing exposed from unexposed subjects, although the large variability in mean

values renders it insensitive for discriminating one individual from the rest of the study population. Mn exposure is known to alter iron (Fe) homeostasis. The Mn/Fe ratio (MIR) in plasma or erythrocytes reflects not only steady-state concentrations of Mn or Fe in tested individuals, but also a biological

response (altered Fe homeostasis) CB-5083 mw to Mn exposure. Recent human studies support the potential value for using MIR to distinguish individuals with Mn exposure. Additionally, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), in combination with noninvasive assessment of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) by magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), provides convincing evidence of Mn exposure, even without clinical symptoms of Mn intoxication. For subjects with

long-term, low-dose Mn exposure or for those exposed in the past but not the present, neither blood Mn nor MRI provides a confident distinction for Mn exposure or intoxication. While plasma or erythrocyte MIR is more likely a sensitive measure, the QNZ in vivo cut-off values for MIR among the general population need to be further tested and established. Considering the large accumulation of Mn in bone, developing an X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy or neutron-based spectroscopy method may create yet another novel non-invasive tool for assessing Mn exposure and toxicity. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.”
“Background The contribution of various risk factors to the burden of stroke worldwide is unknown, particularly in countries of low and middle income. We aimed to establish the association of known and emerging risk factors with stroke and its primary subtypes, assess the contribution of these risk factors to the burden of stroke, and explore the differences between risk factors for stroke and myocardial infarction.

Methods We undertook a standardised case-control study in 22 countries worldwide between March 1, 2007, and April 23, 2010. Cases were patients with acute first stroke (within 5 days of symptoms onset and 72 h of hospital admission). Controls had no history of stroke, and were matched with cases for age and sex.

(C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved “
“A

(C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“A Ilomastat ic50 significant number of women suffer from depression during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are commonly used to treat maternal depression. While maternal stress and depression have long-term effects on the physical and behavioural development of offspring, numerous studies also point to a significant action of developmental exposure to SSRIs. Surprisingly, preclinical data are limited concerning the combined effect of maternal depression and maternal SSRI exposure on neurobehavioural outcomes in offspring. Therefore, the aim of the present study was

to determine how maternal fluoxetine treatment affects the developing HPA system of adolescent male and female offspring using a model of maternal adversity. To do this, gestationally stressed and non-stressed PF-4708671 Sprague Dawley rat dams were chronically treated throughout lactation with either fluoxetine (5 mg/kg/day) or vehicle. Four groups of male and female adolescent offspring were used: (1) Prenatal Stress + Fluoxetine, (2) Prenatal Stress + Vehicle, (3) Fluoxetine alone, and (4) Vehicle alone.

Primary results show that developmental fluoxetine exposure, regardless of prenatal stress, decreases circulating levels of corticosterone and reduces the expression of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), and its coactivator the GR interacting protein (GRIP1), in the hippocampus. Interestingly, these effects occurred primarily in male, and not in female, adolescent offspring. Together, these results highlight a

marked sex difference in the long-term effect of developmental exposure to SSRI medications that may differentially alter the capacity of the hippocampus to respond to stress. (C) 2012 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“The Gram-negative rod Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae is a facultative anaerobic pathogen of the porcine respiratory tract, and HlyX, the A. pleuropneumoniae homologue of fumarate and nitrate reduction regulator (FNR), has been shown to be important for persistence. An A. pleuropneumoniae CX-5461 concentration hlyX deletion mutant has a decreased generation time but highly prolonged survival in comparison to its wild type parent strain when grown anaerobically in glucose-supplemented medium. Applying a combination of proteomic and transcriptomic approaches as well as in silico analyses, we identified 23 different proteins and 418 genes to be modulated by HlyX (>= twofold up- or down-regulated). A putative HlyX-box was identified upstream of 54 of these genes implying direct control by HlyX Consistent with its role as a strong positive regulator, HlyX induced the expression of genes for anaerobic metabolism encoding alternative terminal reductases and hydrogenases.


“Mutations in several subgenomic regions of hepatitis C vi


“Mutations in several subgenomic regions of hepatitis C virus (HCV) have been implicated in influencing the response to interferon (IFN) therapy. Sequences within HCV NS5A (PKR binding domain [PKRBD], IFN sensitivity-determining region [ISDR], and variable region 3 [V3]) were analyzed for the pretreatment serum Bleomycin ic50 samples of 60 HCV genotype 1-infected patients treated with pegylated IFN plus ribavirin (1b, n = 47; 1a, n = 13) but with different treatment outcomes, those with sustained virologic responses (SVR; n = 36) or non-responders (NR; n = 24). Additionally, the sequence of the PKR/eIF-2 alpha phosphorylation homology domain (E2-PePHD)

region was determined for 23 patients (11 SVR and 12 NR). The presence of >4 mutations in the PKRBD region was associated with SVR (P = 0.001) and early virologic responses (EVR; 12 weeks) (P = 0.037) but not rapid virologic responses (4 weeks). In the ISDR, the difference was almost statistically significant (68% of SVR patients buy IACS-10759 with

mutations versus 45% without mutations; P = 0.07). The V3 region had a very high genetic variability, but this was not related to SVR. Finally, the E2-PePHD (n = 23) region was well conserved. The presence of >4 mutations in the PKRBD region (odds ratio [OR] = 9.9; P = 0.006) and an age of :540 years (OR = 3.2; P = 0.056) were selected in a multivariate analysis as predictive factors of SVR. NS5A sequences from serum samples taken after 1 month of treatment and posttreatment were examined for 3 SVR and 15 NR patients to select treatment-resistant viral subpopulations, and it was found that in the V3 and flanking regions, Oxymatrine the mutations increased significantly in posttreatment sera (P = 0.05). The genetic variability in the PKRBD (>4 mutations) is a predictive factor of SVR and EVR in HCV genotype 1 patients treated with pegylated IFN and ribavirin.”
“OBJECTIVE: Intracranial stenosis (IS) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality from hypoperfusion and thromboembolism. We used computational fluid dynamic methods

to analyze luminal patterns of wall shear stress (WSS), a known critical modulator of endothelial function, within patient-based IS lesions undergoing percutaneous angioplasty and stenting.

METHODS: High-resolution three-dimensional rotational angiographic data sets were reconstructed to yield a fine-resolution computational mesh allowing application of pulsatile computational fluid dynamic analysis with a non-Newtonian realistic model of blood. WSS and its gradient were analyzed spatiotemporally in five IS lesions before and after percutaneous angioplasty and stenting.

RESULTS: WSS within the stenosis reached average shear magnitudes of 1870 +/- 783 dyn/cm(2) with rapidly reversing direction to oscillating low values in the recirculation zone.

Whether FS combined with an even lower dose of estrogen is effect

Whether FS combined with an even lower dose of estrogen is effective at preserving bone or whether FS interferes with the effect of this lower dose of estrogen is unknown. Thus, this study determined whether an ultra-low-dose (ULD) estrogen therapy, half the dose previously studied, in combination with FS preserved bone mass and strength

in the lumbar vertebrae in ovariectomized rats. Rats were treated for 12 wk with (1) basal diet (BD) (ovariectomized control), (2) BD + ULD estrogen implant, or (3) BD containing 10% buy DihydrotestosteroneDHT FS + ULD estrogen implant. A sham-operated control group was fed BD. Unlike ULD, FS + ULD attenuated loss of BMD and strength at the lumbar vertebrae and BMD in femurs and tibias. FS + ULD resulted in higher percentages of n-3 fatty acids including alpha-linolenic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid and lower percentages

of n-6 fatty acids including linoleic acid compared to all other groups. Differences in fatty acid selleck chemicals composition at the lumbar vertebrae and tibia were significantly related to BMD, BMC, and strength. No treatment-induced effects on uterus weight were observed, but histological analyses are needed to confirm safety. In conclusion, FS did not antagonize the activity of ULD, and their combination attenuated the loss of BMD and strength at the lumbar vertebrae, which was associated with differences in bone fatty acid composition.”
“The objective of this study was to evaluate whether exposure to disinfection by-products (DBP) is associated with colon cancer. A matched case-control study was used to investigate the relationship between the risk of death attributed to colon cancer and exposure to total trihalomethanes (TTHM) in drinking water in 65 municipalities in Taiwan. All colon cancer deaths of the 65 municipalities from 1997 through 2006 were obtained from the Bureau of Vital Statistics of the Taiwan

Provincial Department of Health. Controls were deaths from other causes and were pair-matched to the cancer cases by gender, year of birth, and year of death. Each matched control was selected randomly from the set of possible controls for each cancer case. Data on TTHM levels in drinking water in study municipalities were collected from the TPCA-1 Taiwan Environmental Protection Administration. The municipality of residence for cancer cases and controls was assumed to be the source of the subject’s TTHM exposure via drinking water. The adjusted odds ratios (OR) for colon cancer death for those with high TTHM levels in their drinking water were 1.02 (0.87-1.2) and 1.04 (0.89-1.21) compared to the lowest group. The results of the present study show that there was no statistically significant association between TTHM in drinking water at levels in this study and risk of death from colon cancer.”
“A 10-year study (1997-2006) was conducted to evaluate reproduction and health of aquatic birds in the Carson River Basin of northwestern Nevada (on the U. S.

Results: In vitro characterization of the recombinant fusogenic V

Results: In vitro characterization of the recombinant fusogenic VSV-Delta G vector on TRAMP-C2 cells showed significantly enhanced apoptotic and cytotoxic effects relative to a similar virus encoding green fluorescent protein, that is rVSV-Delta G-GFP. Regardless of initial tumor size intratumor rVSV-Delta G-SV5-F administration in mice bearing subcutaneous TRAMP-C2 tumors resulted in a significantly reduced tumor load over that of the nonfusogenic green fluorescent control virus and of heat inactivated recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus in treated animals (p <0.01).

Conclusions: Results show that G complemented

recombinant VSV-Delta G vectors, especially rVSV-Delta G-SV5-F, are an effective oncolytic agent against mouse prostate cancer cells in vitro and in an in vivo immunocompetent Selleck Epacadostat mouse model system.”
“Purpose: Previous mouse studies suggesting that low fat diets slow prostate cancer growth often used corn oil (omega-6), which enhances prostate cancer growth, as the primary fat. Using a saturated fat based diet we previously found no

significant difference in tumor growth between low and high fat fed SCID mice (Taconic Farms, Hudson, New York) xenografted with LAPC-4 cells. Whether similar results would hold in a castration model is unclear.

Materials and Methods: A total of 80 male SCID mice were fed a Western diet (40% fat and 44% carbohydrate) and injected with LAPC-4 human prostate cancer cells. When tumors were 200 mm(3), the mice were castrated and randomized to an isocaloric Western or a low fat diet (12% fat and 72%

carbohydrate). Animals were sacrificed CRT0066101 nmr when tumors were 1,000 mm3. Serum was collected and assayed for prostate specific antigen, insulin, insulin-like growth factor 1 and insulin-like Alpelisib order growth factor binding protein 3. Tumors were assayed for total and phosphorylated Akt.

Results: Mouse weight was equivalent in the 2 groups. Overall dietary group was not significantly associated with survival (log rank p = 0.32). There were no statistically significant differences in prostate specific antigen (p = 0.53), insulin-like growth factor axis parameters (each p >0.05) or p-Akt-to-t-Akt ratios (p = 0.22) between the groups at sacrifice.

Conclusions: In this xenograft model we found no difference in tumor growth or survival between low fat vs Western fed mice when the fat source was saturated fat. These results conflict with those of other studies in which corn oil was used to show that low fat diets delay prostate cancer growth, suggesting that fat type may be as important as fat amount in the prostate cancer setting.”
“Purpose: alpha-Melanocyte stimulating hormone protects kidneys against ischemia and sepsis induced acute kidney injury in rodents. We examined the efficacy of a-melanocyte stimulating hormone analogue AP214 to protect against acute kidney injury in higher vertebrates.

5 nanometer to the substrate were weakly slowed Our approach pav

5 nanometer to the substrate were weakly slowed. Our approach paves the way

for numerous experiments on the dynamics of isolated molecules.”
“Prototypical Lewis acids, such as boranes, derive their reactivity from electronic unsaturation. Here, we report the Lewis acidity and catalytic application of electronically saturated phosphorus-centered electrophilic acceptors. Organofluorophosphonium salts of the formula [(C6F5)(3-x)PhxPF][B(C6F5)(4)] (x = 0 or 1; Ph, phenyl) are shown to form adducts with neutral Lewis bases and to react rapidly with fluoroalkanes to produce difluorophosphoranes. In the presence of hydrosilane, the cation [(C6F5)(3)PF](+) is shown to catalyze the selleck products hydrodefluorination of fluoroalkanes, affording alkanes and fluorosilane. The mechanism demonstrates the impressive fluoride ion affinity of this highly electron-deficient phosphonium center.”
“Phase transformations of metastable olivine might trigger deep-focus earthquakes (400 to 700 kilometers) in cold subducting lithosphere. To explore the feasibility of this mechanism, we performed laboratory deformation experiments on germanium olivine (Mg2GeO4) under differential stress at high pressure (P = 2 to 5 gigapascals) and within

a narrow temperature range (T = 1000 to 1250 kelvin). We found that fractures nucleate at the onset of the olivine-to-spinel transition. These fractures propagate dynamically (at a nonnegligible fraction of the shear wave velocity)

so that intense acoustic emissions are generated. Quizartinib nmr Similar to deep-focus earthquakes, these acoustic emissions arise from pure shear sources and obey the Gutenberg-Richter law without following Omori’s law. Microstructural observations prove that dynamic weakening likely involves superplasticity of the nanocrystalline spinel reaction product at seismic strain rates.”
“Earth’s deepest earthquakes occur in subducting oceanic lithosphere, where temperatures are lower than in ambient mantle. On 24 May 2013, a magnitude 8.3 selleck chemicals llc earthquake ruptured a 180-kilometer-long fault within the subducting Pacific plate about 609 kilometers below the Sea of Okhotsk. Global seismic P wave recordings indicate a radiated seismic energy of similar to 1.5 x 10(17) joules. A rupture velocity of similar to 4.0 to 4.5 kilometers/second is determined by back-projection of short-period P waves, and the fault width is constrained to give static stress drop estimates (similar to 12 to 15 megapascals) compatible with theoretical radiation efficiency for crack models. A nearby aftershock had a stress drop one to two orders of magnitude higher, indicating large stress heterogeneity in the deep slab, and plausibly within the rupture process of the great event.”
“Virtually since the discovery of nitrogen-fixing Rhizobium-legume symbioses, researchers have dreamed of transferring this capability into nonlegume crop species (for example, corn).

004) The number of near-falls during the

004). The number of near-falls during the Liproxstatin-1 nmr first trial was significantly correlated with centre of mass displacement during the first trial and with habituation

rate.

Conclusions: Higher first trial reactions and a slow habituation rate discriminated Parkinson’s patients from controls, but habituated trials did not. Further work should demonstrate whether this also applies to clinical balance tests, such as the pull test, and whether repeated delivery of such tests offers better diagnostic value for evaluating fall risks in parkinsonian patients. (C) 2012 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Several case definitions of chronic illness in veterans of the 1991 Persian Gulf War have been linked epidemiologically with environmental exposure to cholinesterase-inhibiting chemicals, which cause chronic changes in cholinergic receptors in animal models. Twenty-one chronically ill Gulf War veterans (5 with

symptom complex 1, 11 with complex 2, and 5 with complex 3) and 17 age-, sex- and education-matched controls, underwent an 99mTc-HMPAO-SPECT brain scan following infusion of saline and >48 h later a second scan following infusion of physostigmine in saline. From each SPECT image mean normalized regional cerebral blood flow (nrCBF) from 39 small blocks of correlated voxels were extracted with geostatistical spatial modeling from eight deep gray matter structures in each hemisphere. Baseline nrCBF in symptom complex 2 was lower than controls

throughout deep structures. The change in nrCBF after physostigmine (challenge minus baseline) was negative in complexes AP24534 clinical trial I and 3 and controls but positive in complex 2 Prexasertib nmr in some structures. Since effects were opposite in different groups, no finding typified the entire patient sample. A hold-out discriminant model of nrCBF from 17 deep brain blocks predicted membership in the clinical groups with sensitivity of 0.95 and specificity of 0.82. Gulf War-associated chronic encephalopathy in a subset of veterans may be due to neuronal dysfunction, including abnormal cholinergic response, in deep brain structures. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“A considerable body of evidence links diminished brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling to energy balance dysregulation and severe obesity in humans and rodents. Because BDNF exhibits broad neurotrophic properties, the underpinnings of these effects and its true role in the central regulation of food intake remain topics of debate in the field. Here, I discuss recent evidence supporting a critical role for this neurotrophin in physiological mechanisms regulating nutrient intake and body weight in the mature brain. They include reports of functional interactions of BDNF with central anorexigenic and orexigenic signaling pathways and evidence of recognized appetite hormones exerting neurotrophic effects similar to those of BDNF.