Studies of the amount of 5-HT and its metabolite, 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA), were performed by means of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and the relative amounts of brain-derived neurotrophin factor, BDNF, and its major receptor, tropomyosin-related kinase B (TrkB), were measured by Western blot. Our study revealed that the serotonergic system develops adaptive changes after, but not before, mitral

cell loss. The lack of the main bulbar projection cells causes a decrease in the serotonergic input received by the MOB, whereas the number of serotonergic cells in the raphe nuclei remains constant. In addition, one of the molecules directly involved in

serotonergic sprouting, the neurotrophin BDNF and its main receptor TrkB, underwent alterations in the MOBs of the pcd animals even before the loss of mitral cells. These data HDAC inhibitor OTX015 price indicate that serotonergic function in the MOB is closely related to olfactory activity and that mitral cell loss induces serotonergic plastic responses. (C) 2011 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“There is increasing evidence suggesting that stoichiometric imbalances in macromolecular complexes and in signaling/transcriptional networks are a source of dosage-dependent phenotypes. Such alterations can result from total or partial GSK872 order aneuploidy, gene copy number variants or regulatory alterations. Thus, some gene balance is required to ensure a normal function. This balance also dictates which genes are preferentially over- or underretained after single gene, segmental or whole genome duplications. Here, we review the mechanisms leading to

dosage effects and compensation at the transcriptional and translational levels. Moreover, we propose that the involvement of a protein in a complex can affect its stability: formation of complexes might mask degradation signals in the monomers leading to their preferential degradation when in excess, alleviating dosage imbalances.”
“The highly addictive drug methamphetamine has been associated with impairments in social cognitions as evidenced by changes in users’ behaviors. Physiological changes in brain structure and functioning, particularly in the frontal lobe, have also been identified. The authors propose a biopsychosocial approach to understanding the effects of methamphetamine addiction by relating the physiological effects of the drug to the behaviors and social cognitions of its users, through the application of the theory of mind paradigm. Although onset of methamphetamine use has been linked to the desire for socialization, chronic use has been associated with an increase in depression, aggressiveness, and social isolation, behaviors that also implicate involvement of the frontal lobe.