Promotion of neurogenesis and preservation of dendrites by anti-aging Lycium Barbarum (Wolfberry) in experimental depression

香山科學會議postprintThe Xiangshan Science Conferences (XSSC): 392nd Session on Brain and Cognitive Sciences: New Frontiers and Strategic Development, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 8-9 April 2011. In Program Book, 2011, p. 21-2

Neuroprotection in glaucoma using Gouqizi (Wolfberry)

Aging is an important risk factor for various neurodegenerative diseases such as glaucoma and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Glaucoma is a common eye disease that may lead to irreversible blindness. Recent studies suggest that development of anti-aging drugs from Chinese medicinal herbs may be one of the possible interventions. The fruits of Lycium barbarum (or commonly known as Gou Qi Zi, or wolfberry), has been used for thousands of years in China and is believed to be effective as an anti-aging agent as well as nourishment of eyes, livers and kidneys. We have shown that aqueous extract of wolfberry provides neuroprotection to the eyes against degeneration in an experimental model of glaucoma.published_or_final_versio

Adult neurogenesis and dendritic remodeling in hippocampal plasticity; Which one is more important?

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Molecular mechanism of neuroprotection in glaucoma using gouqizi (wolfberry)

published_or_final_version首都醫科大學眼科學院2009年學術年會, 北京, 2009年10月9日-10月11日. In 首都醫科大學眼科學院2009年學術年會會議指南, 2009, p. 1

Neuroprotection in steroid therapy: a rodent model

Key Messages 1. Chronic steroid therapy causes disturbance in cell proliferation of the hippocampus and the subventricular zone. This may be the underlying cause of altered memory and cognitive function. 2. Co-administration of paroxetine (a class of antidepressants) during steroid therapy could counteract the destruction. Modification of the current steroid therapy regimen may be required.published_or_final_versio

Electroacupuncture provides a new approach to neuroprotection in rats with induced glaucoma

Objectives: To investigate, using multifocal electroretinogram (mfERG), the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on retinal function in rats with experimental glaucoma. Design and subjects: Glaucoma was induced in the right eyes of 15 adult female Sprague-Dawley rats by laser photocoagulation for three quarters of the perilimbal and episcleral vessels. The left eye of each rat was used as the control. The animals were divided into 3 groups: no treatment (non-EA control group), 2 Hz EA group, and 100 Hz EA group. EA treatment at different frequencies can produce different levels of analgesia and hence the effect of EA with different frequencies on glaucoma treatment was investigated. Both eyes of each rat in the EA experimental groups received 3 EA treatment sessions each week for 4 weeks. The retinal function was measured using mfERG after 4 weeks of EA treatment. Results: There was no significant difference in the amplitude (both N1 trough and P1 peak) of mfERG first- order kernel response between the treatment and control groups. In determining the waveform characteristics by the ratio of N1 amplitude to P1 amplitude (N/P ratio), obvious differences were found in the N/P ratio between the control eyes and the glaucoma eyes in the non-EA group and the 100 Hz EA treatment group, but similar values in the N/P ratio were observed between the control eyes and the glaucoma eyes in the 2 Hz EA treatment group. The waveform from the eyes with glaucoma was deformed in both the non-EA group and the 100 Hz EA group, but the waveform from the glaucomatous eye was preserved in the 2 Hz EA group. Conclusions: Application of EA at 2 Hz provides neuroprotection by preserving retinal function in rats with experimental glaucoma. Low frequency EA may be an alternative therapy in the treatment of glaucoma. © Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.published_or_final_versio

Substance P-immunoreactive neurons in hamster retinas

Light-microscopic immunocytochemistry was utilized to localize the different populations of substance P-immunoreactive (SP-IR) neurons in the hamster retina. Based on observation of 2505 SP-IR neurons in transverse sections, 34% were amacrine cells whose pear-shaped or round cell bodies (7-8 μm) were situated in the inner half of the inner nuclear layer (INL) or in the inner plexiform layer (IPL), while 66% of SP-IR somata (6-20 μm) were located in the ganglion cell layer (GCL) which were interpreted to be displaced amacrine cells and retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). At least three types of SP-IR amacrine cells were identified. The SP-IR processes were distributed in strata 1, 3, and 5 with the densest plexus in stratum 5 of the inner plexiform layer. In the wholemounted retina, the SP-IR cells were found to be distributed throughout the entire retina and their mean number was estimated to be 4224 ± 76. Two experiments were performed to clarify whether any of the SP-IR neurons in the GCL were RGCs. The first experiment demonstrated the presence of SP-IR RGCs by retrogradely labeling the RGCs and subsequently staining the SP-IR cells in the retina using immunocytochemistry. The second experiment identified SP-IR central projections of RGCs to the contralateral dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus. This projection disappeared following removal of the contralateral eye. The number of SP-IR RGCs was estimated following optic nerve section. At 2 months after sectioning the optic nerve, the total number of SP-IR neurons in the GCL reduced from 4224 ± 76 to a mean of 1192 ± 139. Assuming that all SP-IR neurons in the GCL which disappeared after nerve section were RGCs, the number of SP-IR RGCs was estimated to be 3032, representing 3-4% of the total RGCs. In summary, findings of the present study provide evidence for the existence of SP-IR RGCs in the hamster retina.published_or_final_versio

The current research status of normal tension glaucoma

Normal tension glaucoma (NTG) is a progressive optic neuropathy that mimics primary open-angle glaucoma, but lacks the findings of elevated intraocular pressure or other mitigating factors that can lead to optic neuropathy. The present review summarized the causes, genetics, and mechanisms underlying NTG in both animal models and human patients. We also proposed that the neurovascular unit is a therapeutic target for NTG management.published_or_final_versio

Adult hippocampal neurogenesis: A possible way how physical exercise counteracts stress

It was considered that neurogenesis only occurred during the embryonic and developmental stage. This view has greatly changed since the discovery of adult neurogenesis in two brain regions: the hippocampus and the olfactory bulb. Recently, it is suggested that altered hippocampal neurogenesis is related to pathophysiology of mood disorders and mechanism of antidepressant treatments. Accumulating knowledge about the effects of physical exercise on brain function suggests a special role of adult hippocampal neurogenesis in cognitive and mental health, even though the functional significance of adult neurogenesis is still debated. The beneficial effects of running correlating with increased adult neurogenesis may provide a hint that newborn neurons may be involved, at least in part, in the counteractive mechanism of physical exercise on stress-related disorders, like depression. The present review provides an overview of recent findings to emphasize the possible involvement of hippocampal neurogenesis in mediating the beneficial effects of physical exercise on counteracting stress. Copyright © 2011 Cognizant Comm. Corp.published_or_final_versio

Involvement of Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis in Learning and Forgetting

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