Nervous System Of Animals Research Articles

Changes in the Population of Immature Neurons in the Pyriform Cortex of Experimental Animals after Early Life Stress

Early life stress is an important factor predisposing to the development of pathology of the nervous system in animals and humans in the late period of ontogenesis. We used an early life stress model to assess the activation of the piriform cortex upon presentation of olfactory stimuli in experimental animals (CD1 mice, P60 and 10 months old) as well as to assess the expression of markers of neurons with prolonged immaturity involved in the processes of plasticity of the adult brain and its recovery. We found that early life stress reduces the number of immature neurons with the DCX+PSA-NCAM+ phenotype in the piriform cortex and the response to olfactory memory induction. In addition, olfactory stimulation reduces sensitivity to unpleasant stimuli at a young age (P60), stimulates short-term memory. However, at the age of 10 months, these effects are less evident. The results obtained indicate a possible contribution of immature neurons of the piriform cortex to the mechanisms of aberrant neuroplasticity after early life stress.

Bioelectricity in Plants: From So Simple a Beginning

Bioelectricity in Plants: From So Simple a Beginning

Ophthalmoform of granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis in dogs

Granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis (GME) is an inflammatory disease of the central nervous system in animals characterized by focal or disseminated granulomatous lesions of the brain and spinal cord. The local form can affect the intersection of the optic nerves. Inflammation of this site leads to the ophthalmoform of granulomatous encephalomyelitis, which is characterized by the progressive occurrence of blindness due to optic neuritis, may be accompanied by uveitis. The aim of the work is to study the effect of vaccination on the development of the ophthalmoform of granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis and the possibility of prevention. The studies were conducted on the basis of the Pride Cancer Center and at the SPbGUVM. According to the research data, all vaccinated animals had a preliminary diagnosis of optic neuritis and a final diagnosis of granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis. The development of the ophthalmoform of granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis may be associated with an aberrant response to the introduction of the carnivore plague virus or the development of an autoimmune response after vaccination. The annual administration of a vaccine from one manufacturer is recommended to prevent the development of both GME and the formation of anaphylactic shock.

BAER hearing test: Principles of operation and interpretation for dogs and cats

The nervous system of animals is a focus of interest of multiple research centres. The evolution of medical engineering, the development of new research techniques and the improvement of existing ones increase our understanding of the nervous system. One of the diagnostic methods which can be used to help detect hearing disorders of varying severity in animals and humans is the study of brainstem evoked potentials known as BAER (brainstem auditory evoked response), BAEP (brainstem auditory evoked potentials) or ABR (auditory brainstem response). Although this method has existed for decades and is used in many countries around the world, the knowledge gathered by doctors over the years lacks proper systematization, and neither standard parameters nor a coherent implementation strategy have yet been established. Various modifications of this method are also available, which suggests directions for further research and facilitates an increase in the pool of knowledge concerning the physiology of hearing. Unfortunately, the lack of established recommendations for the practical implementation of hearing tests using the BAER method makes it difficult to compare test results and to broaden the scope of application of this method in dogs and cats. For the most part, this problem results from a random selection of test parameters by researchers who do not have sufficient knowledge about the physics of hearing. This work aims to summarize the results obtained in this field by various authors around the world and to determine the best-performing variants of the BAER method. The optimization and systematization of the parameters not only increases the reproducibility of the results and makes them more transparent and uniform for both doctors and animal keepers, but also renders them more reliable. This could aid in the creation of a worldwide database resulting in beneficial outcomes over time and may also allow veterinarians to determine the most effective approach for conducting a study depending on many variables that need to be taken into account.

Influence of Earth magnetic field on animal nervous system evolution

The aim of the present study was to demonstrate the impacts of earth magnetic field (ErMF) on animal nervous system evolution especially electric and histological properties of nerves. We have applied for the first time, as far as we know, a correlation betwen the influence of ErMF and temperature on supraconductor-like behavior in the siatic nerves of four species. Our question point to answer to the a possible link between magnetic change and climate change and to explain in part the possible implication of both parameters in animal nervous system adaptation and evolution. Our results seem to support the existence of a link between ErMF variation and superconductor-like behavior in nerves. The found link does not mean that the ErMF is fully responsible of the histological, electric properties of nerves and climate changes. The data reveal a decrease in nerve resistivity in chameleon and frog, chick and rabbit; showing a superconductor-like behaviour. Analysis of electrical properties demonstrated a clear grade shift at critical temperature (Tc) from poikilotherm (average of ΔT = 11.50) to homeotherm (average of ΔT = 38.00); indicating adaptive nerves changes during evolution confirmed by the increase of Schwann cells number.

THE EFFECTS OF DIAGNOSTIC ULTRASOUND ON WISTAR RATS DURING PREGNANCY AND THE BEHAVIOR OF THEIR OFFSPRING IN THE OPEN FIELD

The data obtained indicate that the impact of ultrasound on rats during their stay in the womb causes the development of anxiety and depression, which is clearly seen as a result of our observations. The decrease in anxiety is due not only to residual effects of organic changes in brain structures associated with the organization of behavior, in particular, specific glutamatergic neurons, the "attack center" of the hypothalamus, but also to the activation of the entire adaptive-compensatory system, which is carried out as a result of prolonged ultrasonic exposure. It is seen from the behavioral components we conducted, namely, from the results obtained in the "open field". The clarification of these issues will deepen the current understanding of the effects of prolonged 20-30 min ultrasound exposure in rats in utero, and future studies of animal nervous system dysfunction.

Multiple acetylcholinesterases in Pardosa pseudoannulata brain worked collaboratively to provide protection from organophosphorus insecticides

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is an essential neurotransmitter hydrolase in nervous systems of animals and its number varies among species. So far, five AChEs have been identified in the natural enemy Pardosa pseudoannulata. Here we found that Ppace1, Ppace2 and Ppace5 were highly expressed in the spider brain, among which the mRNA level of Ppace5, but not Ppace1 and Ppace2, could be up-regulated by organophosphorus insecticides at their sublethal concentrations. In spider brain, the treatment by organophosphorus insecticides at the sublethal concentrations could increase total AChE activity, although high concentrations inhibited the activity. The activity that increased from the sublethal concentration pretreatment could compensate for the activity inhibition due to subsequent application of organophosphorus insecticides at lethal concentrations, and consequently reduce the mortality of spiders. PpAChE1 and PpAChE2 were highly sensitive to organophosphorus insecticides, and their activities would be strongly inhibited by the insecticides. In contrast, PpAChE5 displayed relative insensitivity towards organophosphorus insecticides, but with the highest catalytic efficiency for ACh. That meant the up-regulation of Ppace5 under insecticide exposure was important for maintaining AChE activity in spider brain, when PpAChE1 and PpAChE2 were inhibited by organophosphorus insecticides. The study demonstrated that multiple AChEs in the spider brain worked collaboratively, with part members for maintaining AChE activity and other members responding to organophosphorus inhibition, to provide protection from organophosphorus insecticides. In fields, high concentration insecticides are often applied when ineffective controls of insect pests occur due to relative-low concentration of insecticides in last round application. This application pattern of organophosphorus insecticides provides more chances for P. pseudoannulata to survive and controlling insect pests as a natural enemy.

The molecular diversity of plasticity mechanisms underlying memory: An evolutionary perspective.

Experience triggers molecular cascades in organisms (learning) that lead to alterations (memory) to allow the organism to change its behavior based on experience. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying memory, particularly in the nervous system of animals, has been an exciting scientific challenge for neuroscience. We review what is known about forms of neuronal plasticity that underlie memory highlighting important issues in the field: (1) the importance of being able to measure how neurons are activated during learning to identify the form of plasticity that underlies memory, (2) the many distinct forms of plasticity important for memories that naturally decay both within and between organisms, and (3) unifying principles underlying the formation and maintenance of long-term memories. Overall, the diversity of molecular mechanisms underlying memories that naturally decay contrasts with more unified molecular mechanisms implicated in long-lasting changes. Despite many advances, important questions remain as to which mechanisms of neuronal plasticity underlie memory.

Cephalopod retinal development shows vertebrate-like mechanisms of neurogenesis

Coleoid cephalopods, including squid, cuttlefish, and octopus, have large and complex nervous systems and high-acuity, camera-type eyes. These traits are comparable only to features that are independently evolved in the vertebrate lineage. The size of animal nervous systems and the diversity of their constituent cell types is a result of the tight regulation of cellular proliferation and differentiation in development. Changes in the process of development during evolution that result in a diversity of neural cell types and variable nervous system size are not well understood. Here, we have pioneered live-imaging techniques and performed functional interrogation to show that the squid Doryteuthis pealeii utilizes mechanisms during retinal neurogenesis that are hallmarks of vertebrate processes. We find that retinal progenitor cells in the squid undergo nuclear migration until they exit the cell cycle. We identify retinal organization corresponding to progenitor, post-mitotic, and differentiated cells. Finally, we find that Notch signaling may regulate both retinal cell cycle and cell fate. Given the convergent evolution of elaborate visual systems in cephalopods and vertebrates, these results reveal common mechanisms that underlie the growth of highly proliferative neurogenic primordia. This work highlights mechanisms that may alter ontogenetic allometry and contribute to the evolution of complexity and growth in animal nervous systems.

Widespread employment of conserved C. elegans homeobox genes in neuronal identity specification.

Homeobox genes are prominent regulators of neuronal identity, but the extent to which their function has been probed in animal nervous systems remains limited. In the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, each individual neuron class is defined by the expression of unique combinations of homeobox genes, prompting the question of whether each neuron class indeed requires a homeobox gene for its proper identity specification. We present here progress in addressing this question by extending previous mutant analysis of homeobox gene family members and describing multiple examples of homeobox gene function in different parts of the C. elegans nervous system. To probe homeobox function, we make use of a number of reporter gene tools, including a novel multicolor reporter transgene, NeuroPAL, which permits simultaneous monitoring of the execution of multiple differentiation programs throughout the entire nervous system. Using these tools, we add to the previous characterization of homeobox gene function by identifying neuronal differentiation defects for 14 homeobox genes in 24 distinct neuron classes that are mostly unrelated by location, function and lineage history. 12 of these 24 neuron classes had no homeobox gene function ascribed to them before, while in the other 12 neuron classes, we extend the combinatorial code of transcription factors required for specifying terminal differentiation programs. Furthermore, we demonstrate that in a particular lineage, homeotic identity transformations occur upon loss of a homeobox gene and we show that these transformations are the result of changes in homeobox codes. Combining the present with past analyses, 113 of the 118 neuron classes of C. elegans are now known to require a homeobox gene for proper execution of terminal differentiation programs. Such broad deployment indicates that homeobox function in neuronal identity specification may be an ancestral feature of animal nervous systems.

Revealing the Dynamics of Neural Information Processing with Multivariate Information Decomposition.

The varied cognitive abilities and rich adaptive behaviors enabled by the animal nervous system are often described in terms of information processing. This framing raises the issue of how biological neural circuits actually process information, and some of the most fundamental outstanding questions in neuroscience center on understanding the mechanisms of neural information processing. Classical information theory has long been understood to be a natural framework within which information processing can be understood, and recent advances in the field of multivariate information theory offer new insights into the structure of computation in complex systems. In this review, we provide an introduction to the conceptual and practical issues associated with using multivariate information theory to analyze information processing in neural circuits, as well as discussing recent empirical work in this vein. Specifically, we provide an accessible introduction to the partial information decomposition (PID) framework. PID reveals redundant, unique, and synergistic modes by which neurons integrate information from multiple sources. We focus particularly on the synergistic mode, which quantifies the “higher-order” information carried in the patterns of multiple inputs and is not reducible to input from any single source. Recent work in a variety of model systems has revealed that synergistic dynamics are ubiquitous in neural circuitry and show reliable structure–function relationships, emerging disproportionately in neuronal rich clubs, downstream of recurrent connectivity, and in the convergence of correlated activity. We draw on the existing literature on higher-order information dynamics in neuronal networks to illustrate the insights that have been gained by taking an information decomposition perspective on neural activity. Finally, we briefly discuss future promising directions for information decomposition approaches to neuroscience, such as work on behaving animals, multi-target generalizations of PID, and time-resolved local analyses.

A cellular and molecular analysis of SoxB-driven neurogenesis in a cnidarian.

Neurogenesis is the generation of neurons from stem cells, a process that is regulated by SoxB transcription factors (TFs) in many animals. Although the roles of these TFs are well understood in bilaterians, how their neural function evolved is unclear. Here, we use Hydractinia symbiolongicarpus, a member of the early-branching phylum Cnidaria, to provide insight into this question. Using a combination of mRNA in situ hybridization, transgenesis, gene knockdown, transcriptomics, and in vivo imaging, we provide a comprehensive molecular and cellular analysis of neurogenesis during embryogenesis, homeostasis, and regeneration in this animal. We show that SoxB genes act sequentially at least in some cases. Stem cells expressing Piwi1 and Soxb1, which have broad developmental potential, become neural progenitors that express Soxb2 before differentiating into mature neural cells. Knockdown of SoxB genes resulted in complex defects in embryonic neurogenesis. Hydractinia neural cells differentiate while migrating from the aboral to the oral end of the animal, but it is unclear whether migration per se or exposure to different microenvironments is the main driver of their fate determination. Our data constitute a rich resource for studies aiming at addressing this question, which is at the heart of understanding the origin and development of animal nervous systems.

Research progress on the function of the amino acid transporter SLC1A3 and its regulation mechanism of action in the nervous system and mitochondria

<p indent="0mm">The solute carrier family 1 member 3 (<italic>SLC1A3</italic>) gene encodes for excitatory amino acid transporter 1 (EAAT1), an important excitatory amino acid transporter. EAAT1 is mainly responsible for the transport of aspartate (Asp) and glutamate (Glu) in and out of the cell through the cell membrane, and plays an important role in regulating animal health and growth. To date, research on <italic>SLC1A3</italic> has mostly focused on its role in the nervous system and tumor tissues, whereas little is known about the regulation of <italic>SLC1A3</italic> in other systems and tissues. This paper reviews the expression, distribution, and biological function of <italic>SLC1A3</italic> in various animal tissues and organs. <italic>SLC1A3 </italic>exhibits the highest expression in the nervous system of animals. It participates in excitatory conduction in the synaptic cleft by transporting the neurotransmitter Glu, thus maintaining the normal functioning of the nervous system and preventing damage to the nervous system caused by the neurotoxic effects of Glu. <italic>SLC1A3</italic> is also widely distributed in the digestive, circulatory, motor, endocrine, and reproductive systems and plays an important role in regulating mitochondrial function, cell proliferation, metabolism, nutrition, and immunity. We analyzed the gene regulatory mechanism of <italic>SLC1A3</italic> in the nervous system and mitochondria. In the nervous system, <italic>SLC1A3</italic> is expressed by astrocytes and maintains a low concentration of extracellular Glu by transporting Glu from the synaptic cleft into the cell, thereby preventing glutamate-induced excitotoxicity in the nervous system. Reduced expression and function of <italic>SLC1A3</italic> induce neurodegeneration in the brain matter, thus creating a space for cancer cells to survive. Additionally, <italic>SLC1A3</italic> is responsible for the intracellular transport of Glu and Asp between the cytoplasm and mitochondria, as well as maintenance of the normal operation of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) to promote cell proliferation and restore cellular function. For example, <italic>SLC1A3</italic> helps cancer cells to survive under nutrient-limiting conditions by transporting Asp under conditions of cellular glutamine starvation. <italic>SLC1A3</italic> ensures high uptake of Glu in the heart to maintain the normal state of electron acceptors and the TCA cycle, thereby promoting the functioning of cardiomyocytes and protecting the heart under hypoxic or ischemic conditions. In case of ETC inhibition, an insufficient supply of electron acceptors in the cells inhibits <italic>de novo</italic> glutamine biosynthesis. <italic>SLC1A3</italic> replaces the electron acceptor in the ETC, thereby transporting Asp and restoring the anabolism of Asp, which is beneficial for cell proliferation. Finally, <italic>SLC1A3</italic> is expressed in different tissues and cells and exhibits a potential regulatory effect on the growth and metabolism of the body. <italic>SLC1A3</italic> can be used as a transporter of acidic amino acids, and in the urea cycle, TCA cycle, and the malate/aspartate shuttle to provide nutrition, relieve oxidative stress, and enhance immunity. Therefore, extensive research and discussion on the functioning of acidic amino acid transporters such as <italic>SLC1A3</italic> can provide a theoretical basis using them as key targets for regulating animal health and improving disease treatment.

Probabilistic Inference with Polymerizing Biochemical Circuits.

Probabilistic inference—the process of estimating the values of unobserved variables in probabilistic models—has been used to describe various cognitive phenomena related to learning and memory. While the study of biological realizations of inference has focused on animal nervous systems, single-celled organisms also show complex and potentially “predictive” behaviors in changing environments. Yet, it is unclear how the biochemical machinery found in cells might perform inference. Here, we show how inference in a simple Markov model can be approximately realized, in real-time, using polymerizing biochemical circuits. Our approach relies on assembling linear polymers that record the history of environmental changes, where the polymerization process produces molecular complexes that reflect posterior probabilities. We discuss the implications of realizing inference using biochemistry, and the potential of polymerization as a form of biological information-processing.

The enteric nervous system of the C. elegans pharynx is specified by the Sine oculis-like homeobox gene ceh-34.

Overarching themes in the terminal differentiation of the enteric nervous system, an autonomously acting unit of animal nervous systems, have so far eluded discovery. We describe here the overall regulatory logic of enteric nervous system differentiation of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans that resides within the foregut (pharynx) of the worm. A C. elegans homolog of the Drosophila Sine oculis homeobox gene, ceh-34, is expressed in all 14 classes of interconnected pharyngeal neurons from their birth throughout their life time, but in no other neuron type of the entire animal. Constitutive and temporally controlled ceh-34 removal shows that ceh-34 is required to initiate and maintain the neuron type-specific terminal differentiation program of all pharyngeal neuron classes, including their circuit assembly. Through additional genetic loss of function analysis, we show that within each pharyngeal neuron class, ceh-34 cooperates with different homeodomain transcription factors to individuate distinct pharyngeal neuron classes. Our analysis underscores the critical role of homeobox genes in neuronal identity specification and links them to the control of neuronal circuit assembly of the enteric nervous system. Together with the pharyngeal nervous system simplicity as well as its specification by a Sine oculis homolog, our findings invite speculations about the early evolution of nervous systems.

Сполуки Германію та їхня роль в організмі тварин

Last years literature data and separate research results analysis was carried out concerning biological influence of Germanium compounds at laboratory and productive animals. The article states a comparative effect of mineral and organic Germanium compounds in chemical and biotechnological synthesis, as well as nanotechnological germanium citrate influence on the functioning of the immune, hematological, antioxidant, detoxification, reproductive and nervous systems of animals. The article displays a difference in influence of Germanium compounds on animal body depending on its form, dose and exposure. Benefits of using organic Germanium compounds in chemical, biotechnological and nanotechnological synthesis are highlighted based on a comparative analysis of the own research results, as well as other authors. Functioning analysis of a separate body organs, body systems as well as animal body in total was conducted after animals been exposed to short-term and long-lasting action of various Germanium compounds. Studies results for various Germanium compounds toxicity, their impact on animal productivity and product quality are stated based on the available literature. Comparison of influence effect for some drugs, biologically active additives and products containing Germanium compounds on the animal body was documented. Conclusions are made about the advantages of biological action of organic Germanium compounds, made by biotechnological synthesis using yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Germanium citrate, obtained on the basis of nanotechnology, regarding the prospects of its use in animal husbandry and veterinary medicine.

Nicolas Bernstein and Pyotr Anokhin: pioneers of modern psychophysiology.

The works of N.A. Bernstein on the construction of daily life movements in humans and those of P.K. Anokhin on the integrative nature of the nervous system in animals led to new descriptions of the brain functioning and behaviour, which contributed to the development of neuropsychology by A.R. Luria. Their work, which was considered as conflicting with Pavlov's reflex theory, which was sanctioned by the Soviet authorities, were for a long time disregarded in the USSR, and were unrecognised in the West due to the lack of English translations which were only produced much later. Bernstein described activity as being directed toward the resolution of a specific motor problem, programmed and guided by a copy of the desired solution constructed by the brain (a model of the future), and implemented and regulated according to the probability theory through sensory corrections carried out at different levels in the brain. Anokhin's systemic theory of brain functioning was defined by a complex integrative process with adaptive value, carried out by a system of permanent interactions between a cortical centre and the peripheric motor apparatus, regulated by reverse afferences from the periphery. These descriptions appear to be close to modern conceptions of brain functioning and continue to be of interest in the study of the relationships between psychic activity and brain function.

Emerging Roles for Hox Proteins in the Last Steps of Neuronal Development in Worms, Flies, and Mice.

A remarkable diversity of cell types characterizes every animal nervous system. Previous studies provided important insights into how neurons commit to a particular fate, migrate to the right place and form precise axodendritic patterns. However, the mechanisms controlling later steps of neuronal development remain poorly understood. Hox proteins represent a conserved family of homeodomain transcription factors with well-established roles in anterior-posterior (A-P) patterning and the early steps of nervous system development, including progenitor cell specification, neuronal migration, cell survival, axon guidance and dendrite morphogenesis. This review highlights recent studies in Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila melanogaster and mice that suggest new roles for Hox proteins in processes occurring during later steps of neuronal development, such as synapse formation and acquisition of neuronal terminal identity features (e.g., expression of ion channels, neurotransmitter receptors, and neuropeptides). Moreover, we focus on exciting findings suggesting Hox proteins are required to maintain synaptic structures and neuronal terminal identity during post-embryonic life. Altogether, these studies, in three model systems, support the hypothesis that certain Hox proteins are continuously required, from early development throughout post-embryonic life, to build and maintain a functional nervous system, significantly expanding their functional repertoire beyond the control of early A-P patterning.

Integrin Signaling in the Central Nervous System in Animals and Human Brain Diseases.

The integrin family is involved in various biological functions, including cell proliferation, differentiation and migration, and also in the pathogenesis of disease. Integrins are multifunctional receptors that exist as heterodimers composed of α and β subunits and bind to various ligands, including extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins; they are found in many animals, not only vertebrates (e.g., mouse, rat, and teleost fish), but also invertebrates (e.g., planarian flatworm, fruit fly, nematodes, and cephalopods), which are used for research on genetics and social behaviors or as models for human diseases. In the present paper, we describe the results of a phylogenetic tree analysis of the integrin family among these species. We summarize integrin signaling in teleost fish, which serves as an excellent model for the study of regenerative systems and possesses the ability for replacing missing tissues, especially in the central nervous system, which has not been demonstrated in mammals. In addition, functions of astrocytes and reactive astrocytes, which contain neuroprotective subpopulations that act in concert with the ECM proteins tenascin C and osteopontin via integrin are also reviewed. Drug development research using integrin as a therapeutic target could result in breakthroughs for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and brain injury in mammals.

Adaptive conductance control

Neuromodulation is central to the adaptation and robustness of animal nervous systems. This paper explores the classical paradigm of indirect adaptive control to design neuromodulatory controllers in conductance-based neuronal models. The adaptive control of maximal conductance parameters is shown to provide a methodology aligned with the central concepts of neuromodulation in physiology and of impedance control in robotics.