... a strong potential for use as cell-based biosensors for environmental ... the goal of accelerating neuronal differentiation for biosensor development. ...

Embryonic stem (ES) cell differentiation in specific cell lineages is a major issue in cell biology particularly in regenerative medicine. Differentiation is usually achieved by using biochemical factors and it is not clear whether mechanical properties of the substrate over which cells are grown can affect proliferation and ...

Adult neurogenesis occurs in mammals and provides a mechanism for continuous neural plasticity in the brain. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms regulating hippocampal neural progenitor cells (NPCs) and whether their fate can be pharmacologically modulated to improve neural plasticity and regeneration. Here, we report the characterization of a small molecule (KHS101) that ...

Adult neurogenesis occurs in mammals and provides a mechanism for continuous neural plasticity in the brain. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms regulating hippocampal neural progenitor cells (NPCs) and whether their fate can be pharmacologically modulated to improve neural plasticity and regeneration. Here, we report the characterization of a small molecule (KHS101) that ...

The generation, differentiation and migration of newborn neurons are critical features of normal brain development that are subject to both extracellular and intracellular regulation. However, the means of such control are only partially understood. Here, we show that expression of RTP801/REDD1, an inhibitor of mTOR activation, is regulated during ...

The basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) factor Mash1 is expressed in the developing nervous system. Null mutation of Mash1 results in loss of olfactory and autonomic neurons and delays differentiation of retinal neurons, indicating that Mash1 promotes neuronal differentiation. Other bHLH genes, ...

We have generated clones (L2.3 and RG3.6) of neural progenitors with radial glial properties from rat E14.5 cortex that differentiate into astrocytes, neurons and oligodendrocytes. Here we describe a different clone (L2.2) that gives rise exclusively to neurons, but not to glia. Neuronal ...

In the adult mammalian brain, neuronal turnover continues to replenish cells in existing neuronal circuits, such as those involved either in odor discrimination or in learning and memory, throughout life. With age, however, the capacity for neurogenesis diminishes and these functions become impaired. Neuronal turnover is a two-step ...

Neuronal differentiation has evolved as an essential process even in the adult brain, once disturbed being associated with the pathogenesis of several psychiatric disorders. To study the effects of Raf kinase inhibitor protein (RKIP) on neuronal differentiation, we generated neuroblastoma cell lines overexpressing ...

An efficient route for delivering specific proteins and peptides into neurons could greatly accelerate the development of therapies for various diseases, especially those involving intracellular defects such as Parkinson disease. Here we report the novel use of polybutylcyanoacrylate nanoparticles for delivery of intact, functional proteins into ...

An efficient route for delivering specific proteins and peptides into neurons could greatly accelerate the development of therapies for various diseases, especially those involving intracellular defects such as Parkinson disease. Here we report the novel use of polybutylcyanoacrylate nanoparticles for delivery of intact, functional proteins into ...

During neurogenesis, expression of the basic Helix-Loop-Helix NeuroD6/Nex1/MATH-2 transcription factor parallels neuronal differentiation, and is maintained in differentiated neurons in the adult brain. To further dissect NeuroD6 differentiation properties, we previously generated a ...

Untangling the molecular and physiological interactions that generate the proper connections of the primary vestibular neurons in normal gravity requires two parallel approaches. One approach needs to use mutant mice to delineate the molecular basis of developmental mechanisms that govern ear development, including formation and differentiation of ...

The effects of Wnt signaling on neural progenitor cells have been controversial. Activation of the canonical Wnt signaling pathway either promotes neural progenitor cell proliferation or accelerates their differentiation into postmitotic neurons. This study demonstrates that activation of the Wnt signaling pathway by itself induces ...

The invention relates to methods for isolating and purifying specific types of neurons, such as cortical or other projection neurons including corticospinal motor neurons, subcerebral projection neurons, and callosal projection neurons. The invention also...

Axon pathfinding and synapse formation rely on precise spatiotemporal localization of guidance receptors. However, little is known about the neuron-specific intracellular trafficking mechanisms that underlie the sorting and activity of these receptors. Here we show that loss of the neuron-specific v-ATPase subunit a1 leads to progressive endosomal guidance ...

The pannexins (Panx1, -2, and -3) are a mammalian family of putative single membrane channels discovered through homology to invertebrate gap junction-forming proteins, the innexins. Because connexin gap junction proteins are known regulators of neural stem and progenitor cell proliferation, migration, and specification, we asked whether pannexins, specifically Panx2, play a similar role in the ...

Recent evidences indicate that the bidirectional flow of informations governing neuron-astrocyte interactions plays a crucial role during the development and in the adult brain. In the present study, we have used the immortalized hypothalamic luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) neuronal cell line (GT(1-1), subclone) to investigate LHRH-astroglial ...

M�ller glial cells span the entire thickness of the tissue, and ensheath all retinal neurons, in vertebrate retinae of all species. This morphological relationship is reflected by a multitude of functional interactions between neurons and M�ller cells, including a 'metabolic symbiosis' and the processing of visual information. M�ller cells are also ...

Previous studies show that most short thoracic propriospinal (TPS; T5-T7) and long descending propriospinal tract (LDPT; C4-C6) neurons are lost following low-thoracic spinal cord contusion injury (cSCI), as assessed by retrograde labeling with fluorogold (FG). Gene microarray and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end (TUNEL)/caspase-3 immunolabeling indicate ...

This lesson plan provides activities for learning about acceleration, and differentiating between vector and scaler quantities. The distinction between velocity and acceleration is stressed.

Loss of TSC pathway components alters the timing of neuronal differentiation in the Drosophila eye and wing imaginal disc. To determine the mechanisms underlying this regulation of neuronal differentiation, we have 1) further defined the subtypes of photo...

We have previously shown that loss of TSC pathway components alters the timing of neuronal differentiation in the Drosophila eye and wing imaginal disc. To determine the mechanisms underlying this regulation of neuronal differentiation, we have 1) further...

Chemical-induced injury of the developing nervous system can be manifested as a change in the differentiation or growth of neurons. The present study evaluated the use of proteins associated with axonal growth and synaptogenesis as markers for neuronal differentiation in vitro. ...

The N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) subtype of the glutamate receptor is essential for neuronal differentiation and establishment or elimination of synapses in a developing brain. The activity of the NMDA receptor has now been shown to also regulate the migration of granule cells in slice preparations of the developing mouse cerebellum. First, blockade of NMDA ...

... A change in the efficacy of a synapse should be proportional to the current efficacy of the synapse, accounting for the initial positive acceleration in ...

Neurogenesis persists in the adult hippocampus, where several thousand neurons are born every day. Most of the newly generated cells are eliminated by apoptosis, possibly because of their failure to integrate properly into neural networks. The BH3-only proteins Bim and Puma have been shown to mediate trophic factor withdrawal- and anoikis-induced apoptosis in various systems. ...

The micro -"g" effect on nervous tissue regeneration in newts has been investigated by our group for many years. It has been performed in real and in simulated microgravity with a clinostat. During limb regeneration the motor - and sensory nerves regrow perfectly within the newly formed limb. Like in `1g' conditions they are responsible for the initiation of blastema formation and continuity of g ...

Dlxin-1 (also known as NRAGE or MAGED1) is a member of Type II melanoma-associated antigen (MAGE) family of proteins characterized by presence of a unique region of about 200 amino acids known as the MAGE homology domain (MHD). Dlxin-1 is associated with a large number of diverse cellular functions ranging from transcriptional regulation, cell cycle progression and ...

The capacity to generate myriad differentiated cell types, including neurons, from human embryonic stem cell (hESC) lines offers great potential for developing cell-based therapies and also for increasing our understanding of human developmental mechanisms. In addition, the emerging development of this technology as an experimental tool represents a ...

ABSTRACT : INTRODUCTION : The ability to predetermine the fate of transplanted neural progenitor cells (NPCs) and specifically to direct their maturation has the potential to enhance the efficiency of cell-transplantation therapy for neurodegenerative disease. We previously demonstrated that transient exposure of subventricular zone (SVZ)-derived adult NPCs to lithium chloride during in vitro ...

IntroductionThe ability to predetermine the fate of transplanted neural progenitor cells (NPCs) and specifically to direct their maturation has the potential to enhance the efficiency of cell-transplantation therapy for neurodegenerative disease. We previously demonstrated that transient exposure of subventricular zone (SVZ)-derived adult NPCs to lithium chloride during in vitro proliferation ...