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Kouhnavardi S, Cabatic M, Mañas-Padilla MC, Malabanan MA, Smani T, Cicvaric A, Muñoz Aranzalez EA, Koenig X, Urban E, Lubec G, Castilla-Ortega E, Monje FJ. miRNA-132/212 Deficiency Disrupts Selective Corticosterone Modulation of Dorsal vs. Ventral Hippocampal Metaplasticity. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:9565. [PMID: 37298523 PMCID: PMC10253409 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24119565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 05/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Cortisol is a potent human steroid hormone that plays key roles in the central nervous system, influencing processes such as brain neuronal synaptic plasticity and regulating the expression of emotional and behavioral responses. The relevance of cortisol stands out in the disease, as its dysregulation is associated with debilitating conditions such as Alzheimer's Disease, chronic stress, anxiety and depression. Among other brain regions, cortisol importantly influences the function of the hippocampus, a structure central for memory and emotional information processing. The mechanisms fine-tuning the different synaptic responses of the hippocampus to steroid hormone signaling remain, however, poorly understood. Using ex vivo electrophysiology and wild type (WT) and miR-132/miR-212 microRNAs knockout (miRNA-132/212-/-) mice, we examined the effects of corticosterone (the rodent's equivalent to cortisol in humans) on the synaptic properties of the dorsal and ventral hippocampus. In WT mice, corticosterone predominantly inhibited metaplasticity in the dorsal WT hippocampi, whereas it significantly dysregulated both synaptic transmission and metaplasticity at dorsal and ventral regions of miR-132/212-/- hippocampi. Western blotting further revealed significantly augmented levels of endogenous CREB and a significant CREB reduction in response to corticosterone only in miR-132/212-/- hippocampi. Sirt1 levels were also endogenously enhanced in the miR-132/212-/- hippocampi but unaltered by corticosterone, whereas the levels of phospo-MSK1 were only reduced by corticosterone in WT, not in miR-132/212-/- hippocampi. In behavioral studies using the elevated plus maze, miRNA-132/212-/- mice further showed reduced anxiety-like behavior. These observations propose miRNA-132/212 as potential region-selective regulators of the effects of steroid hormones on hippocampal functions, thus likely fine-tuning hippocampus-dependent memory and emotional processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shima Kouhnavardi
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Maureen Cabatic
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Marife-Astrid Malabanan
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Tarik Smani
- Department of Medical Physiology and Biophysics, University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Ana Cicvaric
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY 10461, USA
| | - Edison Alejandro Muñoz Aranzalez
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Xaver Koenig
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Ernst Urban
- Department for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Josef-Holaubek-Platz 2, 2D 303, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Gert Lubec
- Programme for Proteomics, Paracelsus Medical University, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | | | - Francisco J. Monje
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
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A Novel and Selective Dopamine Transporter Inhibitor, (S)-MK-26, Promotes Hippocampal Synaptic Plasticity and Restores Effort-Related Motivational Dysfunctions. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12070881. [PMID: 35883437 PMCID: PMC9312958 DOI: 10.3390/biom12070881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Dopamine (DA), the most abundant human brain catecholaminergic neurotransmitter, modulates key behavioral and neurological processes in young and senescent brains, including motricity, sleep, attention, emotion, learning and memory, and social and reward-seeking behaviors. The DA transporter (DAT) regulates transsynaptic DA levels, influencing all these processes. Compounds targeting DAT (e.g., cocaine and amphetamines) were historically used to shape mood and cognition, but these substances typically lead to severe negative side effects (tolerance, abuse, addiction, and dependence). DA/DAT signaling dysfunctions are associated with neuropsychiatric and progressive brain disorders, including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer diseases, drug addiction and dementia, resulting in devastating personal and familial concerns and high socioeconomic costs worldwide. The development of low-side-effect, new/selective medicaments with reduced abuse-liability and which ameliorate DA/DAT-related dysfunctions is therefore crucial in the fields of medicine and healthcare. Using the rat as experimental animal model, the present work describes the synthesis and pharmacological profile of (S)-MK-26, a new modafinil analogue with markedly improved potency and selectivity for DAT over parent drug. Ex vivo electrophysiology revealed significantly augmented hippocampal long-term synaptic potentiation upon acute, intraperitoneally delivered (S)-MK-26 treatment, whereas in vivo experiments in the hole-board test showed only lesser effects on reference memory performance in aged rats. However, in effort-related FR5/chow and PROG/chow feeding choice experiments, (S)-MK-26 treatment reversed the depression-like behavior induced by the dopamine-depleting drug tetrabenazine (TBZ) and increased the selection of high-effort alternatives. Moreover, in in vivo microdialysis experiments, (S)-MK-26 significantly increased extracellular DA levels in the prefrontal cortex and in nucleus accumbens core and shell. These studies highlight (S)-MK-26 as a potent enhancer of transsynaptic DA and promoter of synaptic plasticity, with predominant beneficial effects on effort-related behaviors, thus proposing therapeutic potentials for (S)-MK-26 in the treatment of low-effort exertion and motivational dysfunctions characteristic of depression and aging-related disorders.
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Qi Y, Ni S, Heng X, Qu S, Ge P, Zhao X, Yao Z, Guo R, Yang N, Zhang Q, Zhu H. Uncovering the Potential Mechanisms of Coptis chinensis Franch. for Serious Mental Illness by Network Pharmacology and Pharmacology-Based Analysis. Drug Des Devel Ther 2022; 16:325-342. [PMID: 35173416 PMCID: PMC8841750 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s342028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Serious mental illness is a disease with complex etiological factors that requires multiple interventions within a holistic disease system. With heat-clearing and detoxifying effects, Coptis chinensis Franch. is mainly used to treat serious mental illness. Aim of the Study To explore the underlying mechanisms and therapeutic effect by which Coptis chinensis Franch. treats serious mental illnesses at a holistic level. Methods A viable network pharmacology approach was adopted to obtain the potential active ingredients of Coptis chinensis Franch., and serious mental illnesses-related targets and signaling pathways. The interactions between crucial target HTR2A and constituents were verified by molecular docking, and the dynamic behaviors of binding were studied by molecular dynamics simulation. In addition, the anti-anxiety effect of Rhizoma Coptidis (the roots of Coptis chinensis Franch.) extract on lipopolysaccharide-stimulated mice was verified. The anxiety-like behavior was measured through the elevated plus-maze test, light–dark box test, and open field test. Radioimmunoassays detected the levels of interleukin-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-10, interleukin-4, 5-hydroxytryptamine, and dopamine in the serum, hippocampus, medial prefrontal cortex, and amygdala. Meanwhile, immunohistochemistry protocols for the assessment of neuronal loss (neuron-specific nuclear protein) and synaptic alterations (Synapsin I) were performed in the hippocampus. Results Based on scientific analysis of the established networks, serious mental illnesses-related targets mostly participated in the calcium signaling pathway, cyclic adenosine monophosphate signaling pathway, mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway, serotonergic and dopaminergic synapse. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation studies illustrated that berberine, epiberberine, palmatine, and coptisine presented favorable binding patterns with HTR2A. The in vivo experiments confirmed that Rhizoma Coptidis extract ameliorated anxiety-like behaviors by improving the survival of neurons, regulating synaptic plasticity, and inhibiting neuroinflammation. Conclusion These findings in the present study led to potential preventative and therapeutic strategies for serious mental illnesses with traditional Chinese medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiyu Qi
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine Processing and Preparation, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Saijia Ni
- Department of Pharmacology, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xia Heng
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine Processing and Preparation, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shuyue Qu
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine Processing and Preparation, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Pingyuan Ge
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine Processing and Preparation, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xin Zhao
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine Processing and Preparation, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zengying Yao
- Department of Pharmacology, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Rui Guo
- Department of Physiological, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Nianyun Yang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine Processing and Preparation, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Qichun Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
- Correspondence: Qichun Zhang; Huaxu Zhu, Email ;
| | - Huaxu Zhu
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine Processing and Preparation, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
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Bormann D, Stojanovic T, Cicvaric A, Schuld GJ, Cabatic M, Ankersmit HJ, Monje FJ. miRNA-132/212 Gene-Deletion Aggravates the Effect of Oxygen-Glucose Deprivation on Synaptic Functions in the Female Mouse Hippocampus. Cells 2021; 10:1709. [PMID: 34359879 PMCID: PMC8306255 DOI: 10.3390/cells10071709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Revised: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Cerebral ischemia and its sequelae, which include memory impairment, constitute a leading cause of disability worldwide. Micro-RNAs (miRNA) are evolutionarily conserved short-length/noncoding RNA molecules recently implicated in adaptive/maladaptive neuronal responses to ischemia. Previous research independently implicated the miRNA-132/212 cluster in cholinergic signaling and synaptic transmission, and in adaptive/protective mechanisms of neuronal responses to hypoxia. However, the putative role of miRNA-132/212 in the response of synaptic transmission to ischemia remained unexplored. Using hippocampal slices from female miRNA-132/212 double-knockout mice in an established electrophysiological model of ischemia, we here describe that miRNA-132/212 gene-deletion aggravated the deleterious effect of repeated oxygen-glucose deprivation insults on synaptic transmission in the dentate gyrus, a brain region crucial for learning and memory functions. We also examined the effect of miRNA-132/212 gene-deletion on the expression of key mediators in cholinergic signaling that are implicated in both adaptive responses to ischemia and hippocampal neural signaling. miRNA-132/212 gene-deletion significantly altered hippocampal AChE and mAChR-M1, but not α7-nAChR or MeCP2 expression. The effects of miRNA-132/212 gene-deletion on hippocampal synaptic transmission and levels of cholinergic-signaling elements suggest the existence of a miRNA-132/212-dependent adaptive mechanism safeguarding the functional integrity of synaptic functions in the acute phase of cerebral ischemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Bormann
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Schwarzspanierstraße 17, 1090 Vienna, Austria; (D.B.); (T.S.); (G.J.S.); (M.C.)
- Laboratory for Cardiac and Thoracic Diagnosis, Department of Surgery, Regeneration and Applied Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Research Laboratories Vienna General Hospital, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria;
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Tamara Stojanovic
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Schwarzspanierstraße 17, 1090 Vienna, Austria; (D.B.); (T.S.); (G.J.S.); (M.C.)
| | - Ana Cicvaric
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY 10461, USA;
| | - Gabor J. Schuld
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Schwarzspanierstraße 17, 1090 Vienna, Austria; (D.B.); (T.S.); (G.J.S.); (M.C.)
| | - Maureen Cabatic
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Schwarzspanierstraße 17, 1090 Vienna, Austria; (D.B.); (T.S.); (G.J.S.); (M.C.)
| | - Hendrik Jan Ankersmit
- Laboratory for Cardiac and Thoracic Diagnosis, Department of Surgery, Regeneration and Applied Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Research Laboratories Vienna General Hospital, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria;
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Aposcience AG, Dresdner Straße 87/A 21, 1200 Vienna, Austria
| | - Francisco J. Monje
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Schwarzspanierstraße 17, 1090 Vienna, Austria; (D.B.); (T.S.); (G.J.S.); (M.C.)
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Stojanovic T, Benes H, Awad A, Bormann D, Monje FJ. Nicotine abolishes memory-related synaptic strengthening and promotes synaptic depression in the neurogenic dentate gyrus of miR-132/212 knockout mice. Addict Biol 2021; 26:e12905. [PMID: 32293776 PMCID: PMC7988623 DOI: 10.1111/adb.12905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Revised: 03/21/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Micro-RNAs (miRNAs) are highly evolutionarily conserved short-length/noncoding RNA molecules that modulate a wide range of cellular functions in many cell types by regulating the expression of a variety of targeted genes. miRNAs have also recently emerged as key regulators of neuronal genes mediating the effects of psychostimulant drugs and memory-related neuroplasticity processes. Smoking is a predominant addictive behaviour associated with millions of deaths worldwide, and nicotine is a potent natural psychoactive agonist of cholinergic receptors, highly abundant in cigarettes. The influence of miRNAs modulation on cholinergic signalling in the nervous system remains however poorly explored. Using miRNA knockout mice and biochemical, electrophysiological and pharmacological approaches, we examined the effects of miR-132/212 gene disruption on the levels of hippocampal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, total ERK and phosphorylated ERK (pERK) and MeCP2 protein levels, and studied the impact of nicotine stimulation on hippocampal synaptic transmission and synaptic depression and strengthening. miR-132/212 deletion significantly altered α7-nAChR and pERK protein levels, but not total ERK or MeCP2, and resulted in both exacerbated synaptic depression and virtually abolished memory-related synaptic strengthening upon nicotine stimulation. These observations reveal a functional miRNAs/nicotinergic signalling interplay critical for nicotinic-receptor expression and neuroplasticity in brain structures relevant for drug addiction and learning and memory functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara Stojanovic
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Department of Neurophysiology and NeuropharmacologyMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Hannah Benes
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Department of Neurophysiology and NeuropharmacologyMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Amena Awad
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Department of Neurophysiology and NeuropharmacologyMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Daniel Bormann
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Department of Neurophysiology and NeuropharmacologyMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Francisco J. Monje
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Department of Neurophysiology and NeuropharmacologyMedical University of ViennaViennaAustria
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Fanton S, Cardozo LFMF, Combet E, Shiels PG, Stenvinkel P, Vieira IO, Narciso HR, Schmitz J, Mafra D. The sweet side of dark chocolate for chronic kidney disease patients. Clin Nutr 2020; 40:15-26. [PMID: 32718711 DOI: 10.1016/j.clnu.2020.06.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2020] [Revised: 06/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Chocolate is a widely appreciated foodstuff with historical appreciation as a food from the gods. In addition to its highly palatable taste, it is a rich source of (poly)phenolics, which have several proposed salutogenic effects, including neuroprotective anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and cardioprotective capabilities. Despite the known benefits of this ancient foodstuff, there is a paucity of information on the effects of chocolate in the context of chronic kidney disease (CKD). This review focusses on the potential salutogenic contribution of chocolate intake, to mitigate inflammatory and oxidative burden in CKD, its potential, for cardiovascular protection and on the maintenance of diversity in gut microbiota, as well as clinical perspectives, on regular chocolate intake by CKD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susane Fanton
- Renal Vida Association, Blumenau, SC, Brazil; Graduate Program in Cardiovascular Sciences, Federal Fluminense University, Niterói-Rio de Janeiro RJ, Brazil.
| | - Ludmila F M F Cardozo
- Graduate Program in Cardiovascular Sciences, Federal Fluminense University, Niterói-Rio de Janeiro RJ, Brazil
| | - Emilie Combet
- School of Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, UK
| | - Paul G Shiels
- Wolfson Wohl Translational Research Centre, Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, UK
| | - Peter Stenvinkel
- Division of Renal Medicine and Baxter Novum, Department of Clinical Science, Technology and Intervention, Karolinska Instituted, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | | | | | - Denise Mafra
- Graduate Program in Cardiovascular Sciences, Federal Fluminense University, Niterói-Rio de Janeiro RJ, Brazil; Graduate Program in Medical Sciences, Federal Fluminense University, Niterói-Rio de Janeiro RJ, Brazil.
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Cicvaric A, Sachernegg HM, Stojanovic T, Symmank D, Smani T, Moeslinger T, Uhrin P, Monje FJ. Podoplanin Gene Disruption in Mice Promotes in vivo Neural Progenitor Cells Proliferation, Selectively Impairs Dentate Gyrus Synaptic Depression and Induces Anxiety-Like Behaviors. Front Cell Neurosci 2020; 13:561. [PMID: 32009902 PMCID: PMC6974453 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Accepted: 12/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Podoplanin (Pdpn), a brain-tumor-related glycoprotein identified in humans and animals, is endogenously expressed in several organs critical for life support such as kidney, lung, heart and brain. In the brain, Pdpn has been identified in proliferative nestin-positive adult neural progenitor cells and in neurons of the neurogenic hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG), a structure associated to anxiety, critical for learning and memory functions and severely damaged in people with Alzheimer's Disease (AD). The in vivo role of Pdpn in adult neurogenesis and anxiety-like behavior remained however unexplored. Using mice with disrupted Pdpn gene as a model organism and applying combined behavioral, molecular biological and electrophysiological assays, we here show that the absence of Pdpn selectively impairs long-term synaptic depression in the neurogenic DG without affecting the CA3-Schaffer's collateral-CA1 synapses. Pdpn deletion also enhanced the proliferative capacity of DG neural progenitor cells and diminished survival of differentiated neuronal cells in vitro. In addition, mice with podoplanin gene disruption showed increased anxiety-like behaviors in experimentally validated behavioral tests as compared to wild type littermate controls. Together, these findings broaden our knowledge on the molecular mechanisms influencing hippocampal synaptic plasticity and neurogenesis in vivo and reveal Pdpn as a novel molecular target for future studies addressing general anxiety disorder and synaptic depression-related memory dysfunctions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Cicvaric
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Hannah M. Sachernegg
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Tamara Stojanovic
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Dörte Symmank
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute for Physiology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Tarik Smani
- Department of Medical Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS)/University of Seville/CIBERCV, Seville, Spain
| | - Thomas Moeslinger
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute for Physiology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Pavel Uhrin
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Department of Vascular Biology and Thrombosis Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Francisco J. Monje
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Effects of Dark Chocolate Intake on Brain Electrical Oscillations in Healthy People. Foods 2018; 7:foods7110187. [PMID: 30413065 PMCID: PMC6262453 DOI: 10.3390/foods7110187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2018] [Revised: 11/05/2018] [Accepted: 11/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Dark chocolate is rich in flavonoids that can have effects on body composition and cognitive performance. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of acute and subchronic chocolate intake on electrical brain oscillations. A study with 20 healthy subjects (mean age of 24.15 years) and a control group with five subjects (mean age of 23.2 years) was carried out. In the acute effect study, the subjects' intake was dark chocolate (103.72 mg/kg of body weight) rich in flavonoids and low in calories as in fasting. In the control group, the subjects intake was only low-calorie milk. For the subchronic effect, a daily dose of dark chocolate was given for eight days. The baseline electroencephalogram (EEG) was recorded before dark chocolate intake; at 30 min, the second EEG was carried out; on the eighth day, the third and fourth EEGs were performed before and after the last intake. In acute and subchronic intake, Delta Absolute Power (AP) decrease was observed in most brain regions (p < 0.05), except in the right fronto-centro-temporal regions. In the Theta band, there was a generalized decrease of the AP of predominance in the left fronto-centro-temporal regions. In contrast, an increase in AP was observed in the temporo-occipital regions in the Alpha band, and in the right temporal and parieto-occipital regions in the Beta band. The control group did not have significant changes in brain oscillations (p > 0.05). We concluded that acute and subchronic chocolate intake decreased the Delta and Theta AP and increased Alpha and Beta AP in most brain regions.
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