Quantum energy levels of glutamate modulate neural biophotonic signals

Mechanotransduction, cellular biophotonic activity, and signaling patterns for tissue regeneration

Signaling molecules exhibit mechanical oscillations, entailing precise vibrational directionalities. These steering signatures have profound functional implications and are intimately connected with the onset of molecular electric oscillations and biophoton emission. We discuss biophotonic activity as a form of endogenous photobiomodulation, orchestrating the mechano-sensing/-transduction in signaling players. We focus on exogenous photobiomodulation in the form of pulsed wave modulation of selected light wavelengths to direct endogenous biophotonic activity and molecular cellular dynamics. We highlight the relevance of this strategy to target and reprogram the developmental potential of tissue-resident stem cells in damaged tissues, affording precision regenerative medicine without the need for cell or tissue transplantation.

Insights into the terahertz response of L-glutamic acid and its receptor

L-Glutamic acid (L-Glu) is a basic unit of proteins and also serves as an important neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. Its structural properties are critical for biological functions and selective receptor recognition. Although this molecule has been extensively studied, the low frequency vibrational behavior that is closely related to conformational changes and the intermolecular interactions between L-Glu and its receptors are still unclear. In this study, we acquired the fingerprint spectrum of L-Glu by using air plasma terahertz (THz) time-domain spectroscopy in the 0.5-18 THz range. The low frequency vibrational characteristics of L-Glu were investigated through density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The THz responses of the ligand binding domain of the NMDAR-L-Glu complex were studied by the ONIOM method, with a focus on discussing the normal modes and interactions of ligand L-Glu and water molecules. The results illustrate that THz spectroscopy exhibits a sensitive response to the influence of L-Glu on the structure of the NMDAR. The water molecules in proteins have various strong vibration modes in the THz band, showing specificity, diversity and complexity of vibrational behavior. There is potential for influencing and regulating the structural stability of the NMDAR-L-Glu complex through water molecules.

Reduced biophotonic activities and spectral blueshift in Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia models with cognitive impairment

Background

Although clinically, Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD) are the two major types of dementia, it is unclear whether the biophotonic activities associated with cognitive impairments in these diseases share common pathological features.

Methods

We used the ultraweak biophoton imaging system (UBIS) and synaptosomes prepared by modified percoll method to directly evaluate the functional changes in synapses and neural circuits in AD and VaD model animals.

Results

We found that biophotonic activities induced by glutamate were significantly reduced and spectral blueshifted in synaptosomes and brain slices. These changes could be partially reversed by pre-perfusion of the ifenprodil, a specific antagonist of the GluN2B subunit of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs).

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that AD and VaD pathology present similar but complex changes in biophotonic activities and transmission at synapses and neural circuits, implying that communications and information processing of biophotonic signals in the brain are crucial for advanced cognitive functions.

Biophoton imaging identification of delayed functional neural circuit injury after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion

BACKGROUND

The evaluation of structural changes after stroke has made great progress; however, it remains difficult to evaluate functional neural changes.

NEW METHOD

Here, we report a novel imaging technique that could monitor delayed functional neural circuit injury in an animal model of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion. The changes in 50 mM glutamate-induced biophotonic activities in functional neural circuits in rat brain slices after middle cerebral artery occlusion were investigated with an ultraweak biophoton imaging system.

RESULTS

Six hours after ischemia-reperfusion, the rats presented a significant decrease in motion ability together with a large part of the unstained 2,3,5-Triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) area in the ischemia-reperfusion side, whereas the intensity of the biophoton emissions was consistent on both the ischemia-reperfusion and non-ischemic sides of brain slices. Twenty-four hours after reperfusion, the behavior evaluation and TTC staining recovered slightly, and the intensity of the biophoton emissions was weaker on the ischemia-reperfusion side than on the contralateral side. One week after reperfusion, the behavioral test and TTC staining recovered to normal levels; however, the intensity of the biophoton emissions was decreased significantly on both the ischemia-reperfusion and contralateral sides, and such changes were even distinguished in different brain areas, such as the sensory and motor coteries and striatum.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that delayed functional neural circuit injury induced by cerebral ischemia-reperfusion could be identified with biophoton imaging techniques, providing a novel functional evaluation method for animal models of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion.