The interface barrier between the brain surface and the adjacent meninges is important for regulating exchanges of fluid, protein and immune cells between the CNS and periphery. However, the cell types that form this important interface are not yet fully defined. To address this limitation, we used single cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) and single cell spatial transcriptomics together with morphological lineage tracing and immunostaining to describe the cell types forming the interface barrier of the adult murine cortex. We show that the cortical interface is comprised of three major cell types, leptomeningeal cells, border astrocytes and tissue-resident macrophages. On the non-parenchymal side the interface is comprised of transcriptionally distinct PDGFRα-positive leptomeningeal cells that are intermingled with macrophages. This leptomeningeal layer is lined by a population of transcriptionally distinct border astrocytes. The interface neighborhood is rich in growth factor mRNAs, including many leptomeni...

Given the observed interaction and reports of oxytocin, μ-opioid receptor, or κ-opioid receptor expression in brain regions important to emotion regulation (i.e., the central amygdala), we hypothesized that oxytocin ( oxtr ), μ-opioid ( oprm1 ), and κ-opioid ( oprk1 ) receptor mRNA were colocalized to the same cells in the central amygdala. RNAScope in situ hybridization using fresh frozen coronal brain sections was used to label cells containing oxtr , oprm1 , and/or oprk1 . The coronal sections were imaged using a 40X objective (widefield fluorescence) on a Leica Thunder Fluorescent Microscope and the images were processed using open-source ImageJ/Fiji software and analyzed using Imaris software. The central amygdala was identified using Paxinos and Watson's The Mouse Brain in Stereotaxic Coordinates (Paxinos and Franklin 2019). Eight distinct cell populations were enumerated; i.e., oxtr only, oprm1 only, oprk1 only, oxtr + oprm1 only, oxtr + oprk1 only, oprm1 + oprk1 only, oxtr + oprm1 + oprk1 , and non...

Adolescent nicotine use is particularly concerning due to increased susceptibility to long-term effects and dependence during this critical developmental period. This study investigates the therapeutic effects of thiamine on nicotine withdrawal-induced anxiety, anhedonia, and depression in rats. Adolescent rats received nicotine (2 mg/kg, s.c.) for 21 days, followed by 21 days of withdrawal. Thiamine (25 mg/kg or 50 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered during exposure and withdrawal. Behavioral assessments were used to evaluate anxiety- and depressive-like symptoms, and biochemical analyses measured oxidative stress markers, serotonin levels, MAO activity, BDNF, and GFAP as indicators of neuroinflammation in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Nicotine withdrawal significantly elevated anxiety-, depression-, and anhedonia-like behaviors, increased oxidative stress, and upregulated MAO-A activity and GFAP expression, indicating neuroinflammatory effects. Notably, thiamine administration during both nicotine exposure and ...

Revisit SfN annual meeting programming you enjoyed or missed year-round.

Material below summarizes the article Synaptic Connections of Aromatase Circuits in the Medial Amygdala are Sex Specific, published on May 29, 2020, in eNeuro and authored by Addison Billing, Marcelo Henrique Correia, Diane A. Kelly, Geng-Lin Li, and Joseph Bergan. Highlights Aromatase-producing cells in the mouse medial amygdala receive input originating from sensory cells in the vomeronasal organ that express a single class of receptors known to detect chemicals that convey information about the age, sex, and breeding condition of other mice. We did not observe sex differences in the intrinsic electrophysiological properties of aromatase-producing cells in the medial amygdala; however, we found a robust anatomical sex difference in the number of synapses that connect the accessory olfactory bulb – and thus the vomeronasal organ - to these cells. Males have nearly an order of magnitude more of these synaptic connections than do females, an anatomical difference that could play a role in shaping sex differences in social behaviors mediated by the medial amygdala.

In 1971, at the very first plenary session of the newly formed Society for Neuroscience (SfN), Vernon Mountcastle delivered his keynote address as the first SfN president. He took stock of the great achievements of the 1960s, which led to the formation of SfN, and looked forward to how this new group would shape neuroscience and society in the years to come. Now, as we mark the 50th anniversary of the society's founding, SfN's Trainee Advisory Committee (TAC) took on the same task — below and in their Journal of Neuroscience article, The Next 50 Years of Neuroscience — reflecting on a foundation of astounding work and predicting what the next 50 years will hold. Separated by time and space, Mountcastle's words echo in the hearts and minds of the newest generation of scientists.

This resource was featured in the NeuroJobs Career Center. Visit today to search the world’s largest source of neuroscience opportunities. For over 40 years, Nick Ingoglia researched the presence and function of RNA in growing axons. Now retired from a career in neuroscience, Ingoglia has been working toward writing a novel, Madame Lasagna and the Dead Frog, that combines neuroscience research with the fictional lives of a diverse group of characters. In this interview, Ingoglia shares how he incorporates his research experience into his writing, what he hopes audiences take away from his novels, and tips for scientists looking to explore a writing career.

Autonomic imbalance — particularly reduced activity from brainstem parasympathetic cardiac vagal neurons (CVNs)—is a major characteristic of many cardiorespiratory diseases. Therapeutic approaches to selectively enhance CVN activity have been limited by the lack of defined, translationally relevant targets. Previous studies have identified an important excitatory synaptic pathway from oxytocin (OXT) neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) to brainstem CVNs, suggesting that OXT could provide a key selective excitation of CVNs. In clinical studies, intranasal OXT has been shown to increases parasympathetic cardiac activity, improve autonomic balance, and reduce obstructive event durations and oxygen desaturations in obstructive sleep apnea patients. However, the mechanisms by which activation of hypothalamic OXT neurons, or intranasal OXT, enhance brainstem parasympathetic cardiac activity remain unclear. CVNs are located in two cholinergic brainstem nuclei: the nucleus ambiguus (NA)...

Using molecular, anatomical, and electrophysiological approaches, Sebnem Tuncdemir found that two types of interneurons form transient connections while integrating into their proper positions within the developing brain and that these ephemeral circuits are necessary for the correct assembly of the cerebral cortex. For her outstanding PhD thesis, Tuncdemir won the Nemko Prize in Cellular or Molecular Neuroscience in 2016. Here, she shares more about her research and offers advice for grad students.

In this panel discussion, neuroscientists from the United States, South Africa, Korea, Argentina, France, and Croatia share what it will take to counteract bias in their region. The goals of the discussion are to: Determine region-specific challenges in increasing diversity and fighting bias. Identify solutions to these challenges that have been implemented or are being implemented. Share best practices between regions to create a community and move forward as a global initiative. Speakers Keynote speaker: Tracy L. Bale, University of Maryland, USA - IBRO President & Member of the ALBA Board of Directors Africa region: Fleur Howells, University of Cape Town, South Africa Asia/Pacific region: Jinju Han, KAIST, Korea Latin America region: Amaicha Depino, CONICET-University of Buenos Aires, Argentina - Young IBRO Committee member Europe region: Anne Beyeler, University of Bordeaux - INSERM, France - ALBA Ambassador The event was chaired by Zeljka Krsnik, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Croatia – Young IBRO Committee Chair & Member of the ALBA Board of Directors