Sabrina Zbóril , André P. Schmidt , Débora R. Ramos Maia , Talita R. Sanches , Amaro N.D. Neto , Lúcia Andrade , Jean P. Oses , Fernanda P. Moreira , José Otávio C. Auler Jr , Denise A. Otsuki
{"title":"Treatment with mesenchymal stem cells in a porcine model of sepsis: Assessment of the central nervous system","authors":"Sabrina Zbóril , André P. Schmidt , Débora R. Ramos Maia , Talita R. Sanches , Amaro N.D. Neto , Lúcia Andrade , Jean P. Oses , Fernanda P. Moreira , José Otávio C. Auler Jr , Denise A. Otsuki","doi":"10.1016/j.neulet.2025.138294","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.neulet.2025.138294","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sepsis remains a leading cause of intensive care unit admissions and a significant public health challenge worldwide. Despite efforts, the development of specific therapies for sepsis has been limited. Mesenchymal stem cell therapy, particularly with cells derived from the human umbilical cord (hUC-MSC), has shown promise in animal studies. This study evaluated the use of hUC-MSC in a porcine model of sepsis induced by fecal peritonitis, focusing on hemodynamic and metabolic effects, inflammatory response, and central nervous system impact. Twenty-two pigs were randomized into a control group receiving fluids, vasopressors, and antibiotics, and a treatment group receiving the same interventions plus hUC-MSC infusion. Hemodynamic parameters, acid-base status, cytokine levels in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and neuron-specific enolase were assessed over 24 h. Histopathological analysis of the hippocampus was performed post-mortem. No significant differences were observed between groups regarding hemodynamic and metabolic parameters or serum cytokine levels. While interleukin-1β levels in CSF increased in all animals’ post-sepsis induction, interleukin-10 levels were significantly higher in hUC-MSC-treated animals. Histopathological analysis revealed reduced congestion, vasodilation, and neuronal karyolysis in the hippocampus of the treatment group. These findings suggest that while hUC-MSC therapy does not significantly impact hemodynamics, metabolism, systemic inflammation, or mortality in septic shock, it may offer neuroprotective effects. Further studies are required to elucidate the mechanisms underlying these potential neuroprotective properties of hUC-MSC in sepsis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19290,"journal":{"name":"Neuroscience Letters","volume":"862 ","pages":"Article 138294"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144241848","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Light-triggered delivery enables brainwide mapping of intragastric glucose sensory dynamics","authors":"Yan-miao Tian , Dao-jie Xu , Xu Feng , Yu Chen , Chun-feng Shang","doi":"10.1016/j.neulet.2025.138286","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.neulet.2025.138286","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Interoception monitors the gastrointestinal tract for the brain. The intragastric chemical information is embodied in the biological molecules, like nutrients, immune factors, and microbe metabolites, which modulates animal states. Albeit the sensors for these intragastric molecules have been identified and their afferent pathways have been elucidated, their sensory dynamics remains less explored. To fulfill this requirement, a direct manipulation of the gastrointestinal chemical contents, without oral involvement or invasiveness, is needed. Here we have developed a light-triggered intragastric delivery assay and demonstrated its efficacy in modulating the nutrient content of larval zebrafish. Taking the advantage of the larval zebrafish in neural imaging, we succeeded in examining the brainwide responses to the intragastric glucose delivery. Furthermore, a similarly broad response pattern was observed on both the naive and the feeding experienced larval zebrafish, suggesting an innately brainwide network for intragastric glucose sensing.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19290,"journal":{"name":"Neuroscience Letters","volume":"862 ","pages":"Article 138286"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144241849","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Wentao Zeng , Yan Wang , Peng Yao , Qijun Wang , Xiangqiang Meng , Leyao Zou , Yang Bai , Zhen Feng
{"title":"Task-state hemodynamic responses correlate with consciousness levels and outcomes of patients with disorders of consciousness","authors":"Wentao Zeng , Yan Wang , Peng Yao , Qijun Wang , Xiangqiang Meng , Leyao Zou , Yang Bai , Zhen Feng","doi":"10.1016/j.neulet.2025.138293","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.neulet.2025.138293","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) has emerged as a valuable tool for detecting brain functional activities. Motor imagery (MI) tasks have been employed to evoke brain responses in patients with disorders of consciousness (DOC), providing potential insights into their consciousness levels. However, the utility of brain functional characteristics for patient diagnosis and prognosis remains unclear.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study aims to use fNIRS to investigate the characteristics of brain functional activities evoked by MI task in populations with varying levels of consciousness, and to explore the potential of these characteristics in the diagnosis and prognosis of DOC.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>fNIRS was used to measure hemodynamic responses during MI tasks in a cohort of 63 DOC patients (26 vegetative states [VS] and 37 minimally conscious states [MCS]) and 70 healthy controls (HC). The mean values of hemodynamic responses in each brain region were extracted for inter-group and intra-group comparisons. Additionally, the correlation between hemodynamic responses and prognosis of DOC patients was investigated.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Inter-group comparisons revealed that HC had significantly higher hemodynamic responses than both the MCS and VS groups across all brain regions. The MCS group demonstrated significantly higher responses than the VS group in the left premotor cortex, left primary motor cortex, right primary motor cortex, and left parietal cortex. In intra-group comparisons, 33 and 7 pairs of brain regions were significantly different in the HC and MCS group, while no significant differences were observed in the VS group. Furthermore, a significant correlation was found between the hemodynamic responses and the prognosis scores of DOC patients 6 months after the fNIRS examination.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Task-evoked functional activities in various brain regions among populations with varying levels of consciousness demonstrate significant intra-group and inter-group differences. The characteristics of brain functional activities provide valuable insights for the diagnosis and prognosis of DOC patients.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19290,"journal":{"name":"Neuroscience Letters","volume":"862 ","pages":"Article 138293"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144241942","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Intra-rater within- and between-session reliability of TMS-induced MEPs: peak-to-peak amplitude versus area under the curve","authors":"Mona Malekahmad , Ashlyn Frazer , Maryam Zoghi , Shapour Jaberzadeh","doi":"10.1016/j.neulet.2025.138283","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.neulet.2025.138283","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Corticospinal excitability (CSE) is the responsiveness of the corticospinal and brain-to-muscle pathway, assessed using motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) via transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). It provides crucial insight into motor control, neuroplasticity, and neurological conditions. The use of TMS-induced MEPs in clinical and research contexts is contingent upon their intra- and intersession reliability. This study specifically aimed to assess the reliability of two distinct methods for quantifying MEP size: peak-to-peak amplitude (PPA) and the area under the curve (AUC). Establishing the agreement between these quantification methods is critical for ensuring consistent measurements by the same assessor, especially in pre- and post-test designs conducted within and between sessions. Twelve healthy participants volunteered for this study. Thirty MEPs were recorded from each participant using a single-pulse TMS set at 120% of the resting motor threshold (RMT) over two sessions. The first session consisted of two tests (T1 and T2) with a 20-minute rest interval between sets. The second session included one set of tests (T3). Test-retest reliability of MEP amplitude and AUC were assessed using one-way ANOVA and Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC). A one-way ANOVA revealed no significant effect of time on MEP amplitude or AUC value, indicating agreement between sessions. The ICC demonstrated significant intra- and inter-session reliability for PPA. However, correlations between T1-T3 were weak for AUC values. In conclusion, this study suggests that PPA a more reliable measurement than AUC for assessing changes in CSE. Future investigations should explore the reliability of the AUC method in clinical settings or research protocols.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19290,"journal":{"name":"Neuroscience Letters","volume":"862 ","pages":"Article 138283"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144220830","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Playback of ultrasonic vocalisations (38–48 kHz) communicates the state of stress and impaired context episodic memory in adolescent rats","authors":"Selvavinayagam Dhivakar, Koilmani Emmanuvel Rajan","doi":"10.1016/j.neulet.2025.138275","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.neulet.2025.138275","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background and aim</h3><div>Maternal isolation induces ultrasonic vocalisations (USVs), and playback of these USVs can elicit response calls in receivers. In this study, we investigated whether playback of USVs (38–48 kHz) transmits a state of stress and impairs memory in receivers.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>Rat pups were exposed to playback of USVs or modified USVs on postnatal day (PND) 12, and their response calls were recorded. On PND-34, control (Ctrl), maternally separated (MS), USV playback (PB), and modified USV playback (MPB) groups were tested for context-dependent episodic memory. Additionally, molecular markers involved in synaptic plasticity were assessed.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Playback receivers emitted specific response calls: female pups responded with step-up frequencies (39.0–49.7 kHz) to playback of USVs and with downward trills (32–39 kHz) to modified USVs. Rats in the MS and PB groups made more incorrect choices in odour-associated context transitions and long-term memory assessments than those in the Ctrl and MPB groups. Furthermore, corticosterone (CORT) levels were elevated, whereas phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2), N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor subunits (NR2A,2B), α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptor subunits (GLUR1, GLUR2), postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD-95), and mature brain-derived neurotrophic factor (mBDNF) were reduced in the MS and PB groups.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>USV playback can transmit stress to receivers, alter molecular signalling pathways (pERK1/2, NR2A, NR2B, pGluR1, pGluR2, pPSD95, and BDNF), and impair episodic memory. This model may help identify the neuropathology of early-life stress and the development of behavioural disorders later in life.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19290,"journal":{"name":"Neuroscience Letters","volume":"859 ","pages":"Article 138275"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144203472","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
John E. Misiaszek , Britt E. Davis , Sisuri G. Hemakumara , Juan Forero
{"title":"Soleus H-reflex excitability during standing with stable and unstable light touch","authors":"John E. Misiaszek , Britt E. Davis , Sisuri G. Hemakumara , Juan Forero","doi":"10.1016/j.neulet.2025.138278","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.neulet.2025.138278","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Light touch reduces sway when participants stand with their eyes closed. Unexpected displacement of the touch reference induces a “false-positive” balance correction in most participants. However, this response is only observed with the first displacement, with subsequent displacements eliciting an arm-extension response. This suggests that the sensorimotor processes involved in stabilizing sway from light touch are rapidly adapted within a single trial. We hypothesized that this change in sensorimotor behaviour would be reflected in changes in the excitability of the soleus H-reflex. Soleus H-reflexes and M-waves, along with background muscle activity, were obtained from ten healthy participants during five standing conditions: 1) eyes open (EO), 2) eyes open with touch (EOT), 3) eyes closed (EC), 4) eyes closed with touch (ECT), and 5) eyes closed touching a reference that has been unexpectedly and repeatedly displaced (ECP). Postural sway was evaluated in each condition, inferred from the motion of the centre of pressure recorded with the use of a force plate. As expected, H-reflexes were suppressed, while sway parameters were increased, during the EC condition, when compared with EO, EOT and ECT. In contrast, H-reflexes during the ECP condition were suppressed comparable to the EC condition, while the sway parameters were not similarly increased. We suggest that the suppression of the H-reflex during the ECP condition reflects an inferred change in the sensorimotor task; specifically switching from utilizing the light touch reference as an external spatial reference, to engaging the touch reference as a target to be maintained.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19290,"journal":{"name":"Neuroscience Letters","volume":"859 ","pages":"Article 138278"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144203470","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Impact of Corn Silk Extract on paclitaxel-induced spinal cord and sciatic nerve injuries in rats: Biochemical and histological evaluation","authors":"Nada S. Badr , Sobhy Hassab El-Nabi , Mohamed S.A. El-Gerbed","doi":"10.1016/j.neulet.2025.138282","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.neulet.2025.138282","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Overactivation of the Renin-Angiotensin System (RAS) is linked to oxidative stress and inflammation, contributing to the pathogenesis of Paclitaxel-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (PIPN). Corn Silk Extract (CSE) exhibits neuroprotective activity through its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties. This study aims to evaluate the protective effects of CSE against PIPN through the modulation of oxidative, inflammatory, and RAS-related signals.</div></div><div><h3>Material and methods</h3><div>CSE was analyzed for its phenolic and flavonoid content and its antioxidant activity. The study involved four experimental groups: Control, CSE (400 mg/kg/day), Paclitaxel (PTX) (2 mg/kg, i.p. on days 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th), and PTX + CSE. Behavioral tests, biochemical analyses, histological evaluations, and molecular docking were conducted to assess the effects of CSE.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>PTX-induced hyperalgesia, increased nitric oxide, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), Myeloperoxidase (MPO), Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE), angiotensin II, aldosterone, high mobility group box 1 protein, and decreased glutathione, total antioxidant capacity, and inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa B alpha. It induced spinal cord and sciatic nerve neuron damage, axonal demyelination, and reduced Schwann cells number. CSE administration with PTX improved behavioral responses, reduced oxidative and inflammatory markers, restored antioxidant and RAS signal balance, and preserved nerve tissue structure. Docking showed strong binding of CSE components with NF-κB, MPO, and ACE, suggesting direct inhibitory interactions.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>CSE attenuates PINP by reducing oxidative stress, inflammation, and RAS dysregulation while preserving neuronal and nerve structure. In silico results support the effects of CSE components on multiple inflammatory pathways, highlighting its therapeutic potential.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19290,"journal":{"name":"Neuroscience Letters","volume":"862 ","pages":"Article 138282"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144212224","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Shreya Banerjee, Yasmeen Berry, Emily Fisher, Ryan Thummel
{"title":"Evaluating the effects of pro-myelinating drugs on motor function and myelination in a zebrafish model of genetic leukoencephalopathy","authors":"Shreya Banerjee, Yasmeen Berry, Emily Fisher, Ryan Thummel","doi":"10.1016/j.neulet.2025.138280","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.neulet.2025.138280","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Genetic leukoencephalopathy (gLE) is a white matter disorder affecting the central nervous system, causing hypomyelination, developmental delays, motor deterioration, and cognitive, visual, and hearing impairments. Its clinical variability makes diagnosis challenging. A novel homozygous missense mutation, p.Cys846Gly in <em>VACUOLAR PROTEIN SORTING 11</em> (<em>VPS11</em>), has been linked to infantile-onset gLE in humans. A zebrafish <em>vps11</em> mutant model was developed to replicate gLE-like hypomyelination and sensorimotor deficits. This study investigates the effects of Clemastine, a pro-myelinating drug, on motor function and myelination in zebrafish larvae with mutations in the <em>vps11</em> gene. We exposed zebrafish larvae to this drug during a critical period of early nervous system development, from 2 to 4 days post-fertilization (dpf), and assessed visuomotor responses at 7 dpf. Although Clemastine significantly increased the number of oligodendrocytes, it failed to improve visuomotor function in <em>vps11</em> mutants. These findings imply that increasing oligodendrocyte numbers does not necessarily result in improved behavioral responses in <em>vps11</em> mutants.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19290,"journal":{"name":"Neuroscience Letters","volume":"862 ","pages":"Article 138280"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144209045","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Zhuang Tianxin , Huang Zhongyu , Zhang Weishan , Wang Can , Lin Jiahong , Wang Shuhan , Zhang Runheng , Zhou Chang , Ma Yuxin
{"title":"mGluR5 regulates inflammatory pain and pain aversion of CFA mice by mediating ERK/PI3K signaling pathway","authors":"Zhuang Tianxin , Huang Zhongyu , Zhang Weishan , Wang Can , Lin Jiahong , Wang Shuhan , Zhang Runheng , Zhou Chang , Ma Yuxin","doi":"10.1016/j.neulet.2025.138281","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.neulet.2025.138281","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To investigate whether metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) regulates inflammatory pain and pain aversion by mediating ERK/PI3K signaling pathway in mice. Two experimental routes were designed. In route 1, 18 male C57BL/6 mice were divided into control, IFA, and CFA groups. In route 2, 18 mice received stereotaxic BLA injections of ACSF, the mGluR5 agonist DHPG, or antagonist MTEP on day 8 following CFA administration. Pain behaviors and aversive emotions were assessed over 14 days. BLA tissues were collected on day 15 for immunofluorescence staining and Western blot analyses of mGluR5, PI3K, p-PI3K, and ERK1/2 expression. The expression levels of p-PI3K, mGluR5 and ERK1/2 in the BLA of CFA mice were significantly increased, suggesting that their activation was associated with inflammatory pain. DHPG increased the expression of p-PI3K and mGluR5 and ERK1/2 in the CFA mouse brain BLA, while MTEP had the opposite effect. Our results show that mGluR5 regulates inflammatory pain and pain aversion of CFA mice by mediating the ERK/PI3K signaling pathway.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19290,"journal":{"name":"Neuroscience Letters","volume":"859 ","pages":"Article 138281"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144192055","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}