Project description:Primary afferent collateral sprouting (PACS) is a process whereby non-injured primary afferent neurons respond to some stimulus by extending new branches from existing axons. In the model used here (spared dermatome), the intact sensory neurons respond to the denervation of adjacent areas of skin by sprouting new axon branches into that adjacent denervated territory. Neurons of both the central and peripheral nervous systems undergo this process, which contributes to both adaptive and maladaptive plasticity. Investigations of gene expression changes associated with PACS can provide a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms controlling this process. Consequently, it can be used to develop treatment for spinal cord injury to promote functional recovery. In this study, we sought to identify gene expression changes in PACS using 20 Affymetrix Rat Genome 230 2.0 microarrays. The experiments were designed to discover global gene expression changes in non-injured DRG neurons undergoing PACS. T11 DRG neurons remained intact and undergo PACS after the cutaneous nerves of the adjacent segments (T9, T10, T12, and T13) were injured and regeneration of those injured nerves prevented by ligation. Thus, the T9, T10, T12, and T13 dermatomes were denervated, but the T11 dermatome remained intact. Axons of the T11dermatome (and thus housed in the T11 dorsal root ganglion (DRG)), extended new branches to innervate the T9, T10, T12, and T13 dermatomes. N.B.: This is NOT a spared root experiment. ALL spinal roots were non-injured. Peripheral nerves were used. A total of 20 Affymetrix Rat Genome 230 2.0 microarrays were analyzed: six naïve controls, seven replicates at day 7 post-surgery (presumed to represent an â??initiation phaseâ??), and seven replicates at day 14 post-surgery (presumed to represent a â??maintenance phaseâ??). DRGs were NOT pooled onto microarrays. Each animal had its own microarray with T11 DRG sample which underwent 2-round amplification. After quality control analysis, one of the naïve control microarrays was removed from further analysis.
Project description:Primary afferent collateral sprouting (PACS) is a process whereby non-injured primary afferent neurons respond to some stimulus by extending new branches from existing axons. In the model used here (spared dermatome), the intact sensory neurons respond to the denervation of adjacent areas of skin by sprouting new axon branches into that adjacent denervated territory. Neurons of both the central and peripheral nervous systems undergo this process, which contributes to both adaptive and maladaptive plasticity. Investigations of gene expression changes associated with PACS can provide a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms controlling this process. Consequently, it can be used to develop treatment for spinal cord injury to promote functional recovery. In this study, we sought to identify gene expression changes in PACS using 20 Affymetrix Rat Genome 230 2.0 microarrays. The experiments were designed to discover global gene expression changes in non-injured DRG neurons undergoing PACS. T11 DRG neurons remained intact and undergo PACS after the cutaneous nerves of the adjacent segments (T9, T10, T12, and T13) were injured and regeneration of those injured nerves prevented by ligation. Thus, the T9, T10, T12, and T13 dermatomes were denervated, but the T11 dermatome remained intact. Axons of the T11dermatome (and thus housed in the T11 dorsal root ganglion (DRG)), extended new branches to innervate the T9, T10, T12, and T13 dermatomes. N.B.: This is NOT a spared root experiment. ALL spinal roots were non-injured. Peripheral nerves were used.
Project description:Dorsal root ganglion neurons are the primary neurons of the sensory afferent pathway and are a heterogeneous population. Dorsal root ganglion neurons exhibit a wide range of terminal morphologies, complex central projection patterns, and different physiological properties, which allow them to adapt to various sensory stimulation modalities and transmit the corresponding sensory information to the central nervous system. Here, we used single-cell sequencing technology to explore the mechanisms behind the differences in axonal lengths in DRG neurons cultured in vitro. The single-cell sequencing data grouped by axon length were compared and analyzed to find core genes that may be closely related to axon length in a list of differentially expressed genes that significantly change with axon length; as well as to explore whether these genes also play an important role in the process of axon regeneration after peripheral nerve injury.
Project description:Few studies have assessed the patterns of parasite populations of rodents over a longitudinal gradient in Chile. In this work, the gastrointestinal helminthic fauna of invasive rodents in Chile was examined to assess the association between their presence/absence and abundance with latitude, host sex, and host body condition, and to assess the coexistence and correlation of the abundance between parasite species. Rodents were obtained from 20 localities between 33 and 43°S. Helminths were extracted from the gastrointestinal tract and identified morphologically. Overall, 13 helminth taxa were obtained. The most frequently identified parasite species was Heterakis spumosa, and the most abundant was Syphacia muris, while Physaloptera sp. was the most widely distributed. No locality presented with a coexistence that was different from that expected by chance, while the abundance of five helminthic species correlated with the abundance of another in at least one locality, most likely due to co-infection rather than interaction. Host sex was associated with parasite presence or abundance, and female sex-biased parasitism was notably observed in all cases. Body condition and latitude presented either a positive or negative association with the presence or abundance of parasites depending on the species. It is notable that the likely native Physaloptera sp. is widely distributed among invasive rodents. Further, gravid females were found, suggesting spillback of this species to the native fauna. The low frequency and abundance of highly zoonotic hymenolepid species suggest that rodents are of low concern regarding gastrointestinal zoonotic helminths.
Project description:Male Sprague-Dawley rats were used to establish exhausted-exercise model by motorized rodent treadmill. Yu-Ping-Feng-San at doses of 2.18 g/kg was administrated by gavage before exercise training for 10 consecutive days. Quantitative proteomics was performed for assessing the related mechanism of Yu-Ping-Feng-San.
Project description:The Norway rat has important impacts on our life. They are amongst the most used research subjects, resulting in ground-breaking advances. At the same time, wild rats live in close association with us, leading to various adverse interactions. In face of this relevance, it is surprising how little is known about their natural behaviour. While recent laboratory studies revealed their complex social skills, little is known about their social behaviour in the wild. An integration of these different scientific approaches is crucial to understand their social life, which will enable us to design more valid research paradigms, develop more effective management strategies, and to provide better welfare standards. Hence, I first summarise the literature on their natural social behaviour. Second, I provide an overview of recent developments concerning their social cognition. Third, I illustrate why an integration of these areas would be beneficial to optimise our interactions with them.