Layer and regional effects of environmental enrichment on the pyramidal neuron morphology of the rat

The environmental enrichment (EE) paradigm is widely used to study experience-dependent brain plasticity. Several studies have investigated functional and anatomical EE effects. However, as EE effects are different according to cerebral region, cortical layer, dendritic field and morphological index considered, a univocal characterization of neuronal morphological changes following rearing in enriched environments is lacking. Aim of the present study was to characterize in the rat the effects of EE on the neuronal morphology of frontal and parietal cortical regions, the main target areas of the stimulation provided by the paradigm. Male Wistar rats were housed in an enriched environment for 3.5 months from the 21st postnatal day. For the morphological analysis, biotinylated dextran amine (BDA)-labeled pyramidal neurons were selected from frontal (M1-M2) and parietal (S1-S2) cortical layers III and V. Apical and basal dendritic branching and spines were analyzed using the Sholl method. Results showed that EE increased branching and spines in both layers of frontal cortex, but had a greater effect on apical arborization. In parietal cortex, EE significantly affected branching and spines in layer III but not layer V neurons, in which only a tendency to be influenced by the rearing conditions was observed in basal arborization. It is hypothesized that these multifaceted morphological EE effects are connected to the heavy involvement of a sensory-motor circuit engaged in the guidance of voluntary action and in motor learning activated by EE stimulation. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Watch how to do it! New advances in learning by observation

Recent data demonstrate that the cerebellum contributes to the internal representation of action. This representation is used not only to generate motor actions, but also to understand and learn the actions and skills of others by imitation. The cerebellar networks appear to be indispensable for acquiring complex behaviors and procedures. The cerebellar role in the acquisition of procedural competencies is particularly evident in spatial information processing. The cerebellum allows acquiring by observation competencies in exploration behaviors as efficient as the competencies acquired by actually performing the same task. The specificity of the cerebellar role in the acquisition phases of learning by observation is demonstrated by the complete absence of spatial learning when the observational training is performed in presence of a cerebellar lesion. This datum is further corroborated by the evidence that, once acquired, spatial procedures can be efficiently performed even in the presence of cerebellar damage, in agreement with the neuroimaging findings of low cerebellar activation after prolonged practice. The finding that the cerebellum is involved in procedural acquisition and in observational learning allowed us to dissect a complex behavior into single behavioral units forming a complete procedural sequence, demonstrating that such behavioral units do exist and can be independently acquired. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.Recent data demonstrate that the cerebellum contributes to the internal representation of action. This representation is used not only to generate motor actions, but also to understand and learn the actions and skills of others by imitation. The cerebellar networks appear to be indispensable for acquiring complex behaviors and procedures. The cerebellar role in the acquisition of procedural competencies is particularly evident in spatial information processing. The cerebellum allows acquiring by observation competencies in exploration behaviors as efficient as the competencies acquired by actually performing the same task. The specificity of the cerebellar role in the acquisition phases of learning by observation is demonstrated by the complete absence of spatial learning when the observational training is performed in presence of a cerebellar lesion. This datum is further corroborated by the evidence that, once acquired, spatial procedures can be efficiently performed even in the pre

Watch how to do it! New advances in learning by observation

Recent data demonstrate that the cerebellum contributes to the internal representation of action. This representation is used not only to generate motor actions, but also to understand and learn the actions and skills of others by imitation. The cerebellar networks appear to be indispensable for acquiring complex behaviors and procedures. The cerebellar role in the acquisition of procedural competencies is particularly evident in spatial information processing. The cerebellum allows acquiring by observation competencies in exploration behaviors as efficient as the competencies acquired by actually performing the same task. The specificity of the cerebellar role in the acquisition phases of learning by observation is demonstrated by the complete absence of spatial learning when the observational training is performed in presence of a cerebellar lesion. This datum is further corroborated by the evidence that, once acquired, spatial procedures can be efficiently performed even in the presence of cerebellar damage, in agreement with the neuroimaging findings of low cerebellar activation after prolonged practice. The finding that the cerebellum is involved in procedural acquisition and in observational learning allowed us to dissect a complex behavior into single behavioral units forming a complete procedural sequence, demonstrating that such behavioral units do exist and can be independently acquired. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.Recent data demonstrate that the cerebellum contributes to the internal representation of action. This representation is used not only to generate motor actions, but also to understand and learn the actions and skills of others by imitation. The cerebellar networks appear to be indispensable for acquiring complex behaviors and procedures. The cerebellar role in the acquisition of procedural competencies is particularly evident in spatial information processing. The cerebellum allows acquiring by observation competencies in exploration behaviors as efficient as the competencies acquired by actually performing the same task. The specificity of the cerebellar role in the acquisition phases of learning by observation is demonstrated by the complete absence of spatial learning when the observational training is performed in presence of a cerebellar lesion. This datum is further corroborated by the evidence that, once acquired, spatial procedures can be efficiently performed even in the pre

NMDA receptor activity in learning spatial procedural strategies I. The influence of hippocampal lesions

To acquire knowledge about the environment two types of teaming are necessary: declarative localizatory teaming about where environmental cues and the subject are, and procedural teaming about how to explore and move around the environment. Experimental data indicate that hippocampal regions are involved in spatial teaming, playing a key role in building spatial cognitive maps. The contribution of hippocampal NMDA receptors to spatial functions is indicated by the disruption of place teaming when NMDA long-term potentiation is blocked. Conversely, the hippocampal contribution to the acquisition of procedural strategies is still controversial. Inactivation of the hippocampus by antagonizing the activity of AMPA/kainate receptors results in impaired spatial procedural teaming. However, in the presence of a blockade of NNMA long-term potentiation in hippocampal areas it is still possible to learn explorative strategies. To investigate the involvement of the hippocampal NMDA receptors in spatial procedural teaming, an NMDA receptor antagonist (CGS 19755) was administered i.p. to unlesioned animals or to animals with total ablation of hippocampal structures that had been tested in the Morris water maze. The CGS administration induced peripheral circling in both unlesioned control animals and in rats with bilateral hippocampal ablation. Conversely, circling was not observed if the drug-treated animals (either unlesioned or lesioned) had been spatially trained before drug administration. These findings indicate that even in the absence of the hippocampal formation the NMDA receptor antagonist found a site of action to influence the acquisition of spatial procedures to search for the platform. (c) 2006 Published by Elsevier Inc.To acquire knowledge about the environment two types of teaming are necessary: declarative localizatory teaming about where environmental cues and the subject are, and procedural teaming about how to explore and move around the environment. Experimental data indicate that hippocampal regions are involved in spatial teaming, playing a key role in building spatial cognitive maps. The contribution of hippocampal NMDA receptors to spatial functions is indicated by the disruption of place teaming when NMDA long-term potentiation is blocked. Conversely, the hippocampal contribution to the acquisition of procedural strategies is still controversial. Inactivation of the hippocampus by antagonizing the activity of AMPA/kainate receptors results in impaired spatial procedural teaming. However, in the presence of a blockade of NNMA long-term potentiation in hippocampal areas it is still possible to learn explorative strategies. To investigate the involvement of the hippocampal NMDA receptors in

Synthesis of enantiopure sugar-decorated six-armed triptycene derivatives

Abstract A new class of molecules with a triptycene rigid core surrounded by six monosaccharide residues was synthesized. Hexakis(bromomethyl) substituted triptycene was converted into a six-armed triptycene azide (2,3,6,7,14,15-hexakis(azidomethyl)-9,10-dihydro-9,10-[1',2']benzenoanthracene). The key step of the synthesis was the cycloaddition of the azide to 2-propyn-1-yl β-D-gluco-or galactopyranosides. All products were isolated in good yields and were fully characterized. 241

Quantification of gray matter changes in the cerebral cortex after isolated cerebellar damage: a voxel-based morphometry study

There is growing evidence based on behavioral and functional imaging studies about the cerebellar involvement in the modulation of cognitive functions. However, it still remains to be clarified how the cerebellum interacts with brain regions sub-serving different cognitive domains. In this study we used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and voxel based morphometry (VBM) to investigate changes of cerebral gray matter (GM) density in 15 patients with a focal cerebellar damage (CD) compared to 15 healthy controls. T2-weighted scans and T1-weighted volumes were collected from each subject. With the exception of the cerebellar lesion, none of the patients showed any additional brain MRI abnormality. T1-volumes were analyzed by voxel-based morphometry. Consistent with their neuropsychological abnormalities, patients with right-CD compared to controls showed a reduction of GM density mainly involving the left frontal, parietal and temporal lobes. Conversely, patients with left-CD did not show any significant neuropsychological or cerebral GM abnormality. The present study indicates that specific GM changes may be detected in patients with isolated CD and cognitive dysfunction. We discuss the findings in terms of cerebellar influence on the neuronal networks involved in higher level functions of the association cortex

Campagna MEDITS 2009 Sub-area Geografica (GSA16) (GSA 16, Stretto di Sicilia): Rapporto Finale campagna Medits 2009

La campagna scientifica Medits, nell’ambito del Programma nazionale Italiano per la raccolta dei dati alieutici (Reg. CE n°199/2008 e n°665/2008), ha l’obiettivo generale di valutare la distribuzione, l’abbondanza e la composizione per taglia delle specie oggetto di pesca presenti nei mari Italiani. L’Istituto di ricerche per l’Ambiente Marino Costiero (IAMC), sede di Mazara del Vallo, del Consiglio nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), effettua campagne di ricerca in mare nella GSA 16 (FAO, 2001) dello Stretto di Sicilia, tramite rete a strascico (trawl survey), sin dalla primavera del 1985, con l’obiettivo generale di studiare l’abbondanza ed i cicli vitali delle risorse demersali e di stimarne lo stato di sfruttamento. Sono di seguito riportate le informazioni relative alla campagna Medits 2009 (di seguito indicata come MedSp09) nei fondi ricadenti nella GSA 16 (Stretto di Sicilia) che comprendono buona parte dei fondali antistanti il litorale meridionale della Sicilia. La campagna si è svolta tra il 21 maggio ed il 16 giugno 2009 per un totale di 120 cale valide allocate nella GSA 16 (Stretto di Sicilia). Nel presente rapporto sono riportati i risultati sulle percentuali di presenza, sugli indici di abbondanza e sulle strutture di lunghezza degli stock demersali ottenuti nel corso della campagna MEDITS 2009 per le 39 specie bersaglio

Synthesis of d-<i>erythro</i>-Sphinganine through Serine-Derived α‑Amino Epoxides

A total synthesis of d-<i>erythro</i>-sphinganine [(2<i>S</i>,3<i>R</i>)-2-amino­octa­decane-1,3-diol] starting from commercial <i>N</i>-<i>tert</i>-butyl­oxy­carbonyl-l-serine methyl ester is described. The approach is based on the completely stereo­selective preparation of an α-amino epoxide obtained by treating a protected l-serinal derivative with dimethyl­sulfoxo­nium methylide. The oxirane synthon is obtained with an <i>anti</i> configuration fitting the (2<i>S</i>,3<i>R</i>) stereochemistry of the 2-amino-1,3-diol polar head of d-<i>erythro</i>-sphinganine. The synthetic procedure afforded the target compound in a 68% overall yield based on the initial amount of the starting l-serine material

Rapid regression of psoriasis in a coeliac patient after gluten-free diet. A case report and review of the literature

Several skin disorders are present in patients affected by coeliac disease (CD) - among them, psoriasis has been described. However, at present the relationship between CD and psoriasis remains controversial since there are few and contrasting data on this topic