Singular strategies for promoting axon regeneration and motor recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI) have been attempted with limited success. For instance, the deletion of RhoA and Pten (an extrinsic and intrinsic modulating factor, respectively) in corticospinal neurons promotes axon sprouting after thoracic SCI, however it is unable to restore motor function. Here, we examine the effects of combining RhoA/Pten deletion in corticospinal neurons with chemogenetic neuronal stimulation on axonal growth and motor recovery after SCI in mice. We find that this combinatorial approach promotes greater axonal growth and synaptic bouton formation in corticospinal neurons within the spinal cord compared to RhoA ; Pten deletion alone. Furthermore, chemogenetic neuronal stimulation of RhoA ; Pten -deleted corticospinal neurons improved forelimb performance in behavioral tasks after SCI compared to RhoA ; Pten deletion alone. These results demonstrate that combination therapies pairing genetic modifications with neur...

Functional ultrasound (fUS) imaging is a well-established neuroimaging technology that offers high spatiotemporal resolution and a large field of view. Typical strategies for analysing fUS data comprise either region-based averaging, typically based on reference atlases, or correlation with experimental events. Nevertheless, these methodologies possess several inherent limitations, including a restricted utilisation of the spatial dimension and a pronounced bias influenced by preconceived notions about the recorded activity. In this study, we put forth single-voxel clustering as a third method to address these issues. A comparison was conducted between the three strategies on a typical dataset comprising visually evoked activity in the superior colliculus in awake mice. The application of single-voxel clustering yielded the generation of detailed activity maps, which revealed a consistent layout of activity and a clear separation between haemodynamic responses. This method is best considered as a complemen...

The beginning of this century has seen some major advances in light microscopy, particularly related to neuroscience. These developments in microscopy, coupled with techniques that make tissues transparent, are enabling microscopes to visualize the cellular architecture of whole tissues in 3D with unprecedented detail.

Sarah Caddick is a trained neuroscientist. After completing her postdoctoral fellowship, she decided not to continue her research and instead pursue a career in philanthropy. Now, Caddick serves as the neuroscience adviser to Lord Sainsbury of Turville and the Gatsby Charitable Foundation. Here she discusses what she learned in her transition to a career away from the bench and the ins and outs of what it’s like to work as a neuroscientist in philanthropy.

This is Lesson Four in the Implicit Bias Video Series from BruinX, the research and development unit within the University of California, Los Angeles's Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. This video discusses the differences between explicit and implicit bias.

In addition to sharing research with colleagues, it is important to mentor young scientists and explain the benefits of research with the public. To facilitate these activities, we at Boston College (BC) run the following programs:

Mitral and tufted cells in the olfactory bulb (OB) act as an input convergence hub and transmit information to higher olfactory areas. Since first characterized, they have been classed as distinct projection neurons based on size and location: laminarly-arranged mitral cells with a diameter larger than 20μm in the mitral layer (ML), and smaller tufted cells spread across both the ML and external plexiform layer (EPL). Recent in vivo work has shown that these neurons encode complementary olfactory information, akin to parallel channels in other sensory systems. Yet, many ex vivo studies still collapse them into a single class, mitral/tufted, when describing their physiological properties and impact on circuit function. Using immunohistochemistry and whole-cell patch clamp electrophysiology in fixed or acute slices from adult mice, we attempted to align in vivo and ex vivo data and test a soma size-based classifier of OB projection neurons using passive and intrinsic firing properties. We found that there is...

The behavioral interactions between adults and newborns are decisive for the fitness and the survival of offsprings across the animal kingdom. In laboratory mice, while virgin females display caregiving behaviors, virgin males are rather neglectful or aggressive towards pups. Despite the importance of these behavioral variations, the underlying neural mechanisms remain poorly understood. Brain regions encoding these behaviors may exhibit sex-dependent functional differences at baseline. Additionally, these structures might undergo sex-specific plasticity after adults interact with the offspring. Emerging evidence suggests sex-based differences in input connectivity, genetics and receptor expression of the epithalamic Lateral Habenula (LHb). Moreover, LHb neuronal activity is instrumental for adult-newborn interactions. However, whether LHb neuronal function varies between sexes and/or undergoes adaptations following interactions with pups has not been fully investigated. In this study, we used in vivo an...

Melissa Harrington is the interim associate vice president for research, director of the Delaware Center for Neuroscience Research, and professor of biology at Delaware State University (DSU). In My Advice for Finding Mentors, she shared what qualities to look for in potential mentors and how to begin and maintain mentoring relationships. Here, Harrington details her work environment and research approach at DSU, a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) with approximately 4,500 undergraduate and graduate students.

“There are always new discoveries. It never ends,” says Angela Kim from Harvard Medical School on the most exciting aspect of studying neuroscience. As you prepare for another year of scientific discovery, professional development, and training, revisit Neuronline’s most popular resources from 2017. You’ll find fascinating scientific research, surprising facts about publishing a paper, a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into award-winning research, and more.