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1.
Polymers (Basel) ; 16(6)2024 Mar 15.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38543428

ABSTRACT

Biological treatments involve the application of metallic material coatings to enhance biocompatibility and properties. In invasive therapies, metallic electrodes are utilized, which are implanted in patients. One of these invasive therapeutic procedures is deep brain stimulation (DBS), an effective therapy for addressing the motor disorders observed in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). This therapy involves the implantation of electrodes (IEs) into the subthalamic nucleus (STN). However, there is still a need for the optimization of these electrodes. Plasma-synthesized polypyrrole doped with iodine (PPPy/I) has been reported as a biocompatible and anti-inflammatory biomaterial that promotes nervous system regeneration. Given this information, the objective of the present study was to develop and characterize a PPPy/I-coated electrode for implantation into the STN. The characterization results indicate a uniform coating along the electrode, and physical-chemical characterization studies were conducted on the polymer. Subsequently, the IEs, both coated and uncoated with PPPy/I, were implanted into the STN of male rats of the Wistar strain to conduct an electrographic recording (EG-R) study. The results demonstrate that the IE coated with PPPy/I exhibited superior power and frequency signals over time compared to the uncoated IE (p < 0.05). Based on these findings, we conclude that an IE coated with PPPy/I has optimized functional performance, with enhanced integrity and superior signal quality compared to an uncoated IE. Therefore, we consider this a promising technological development that could significantly improve functional outcomes for patients undergoing invasive brain therapies.

2.
Front Pharmacol ; 14: 1289336, 2023.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38089062

ABSTRACT

Epilepsy is a neuronal disorder characterized by abnormal excitability of the brain, leading to seizures. Only around 66% of the epileptic patients respond adequately to treatment with existing conventional anticonvulsants, making it necessary to investigate new antiepileptic drugs. The growing research into natural products and their pharmacological properties has become increasingly promising, particularly in the study of essential oils, which are already widely used in popular culture for treating various diseases. The present study evaluated the anticonvulsant effects of Lippia origanoides essential oil (LOEO) (100 mg/kg i. p.) compared to diazepam (DZP) (5 mg/kg i. p.), and the combined administration of these two substances to control convulsions induced by pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) (60 mg/kg i. p.). This evaluation was carried out using 108 male Wistar rats, which were divided into two experiments. Experiment 1-Behavioral assessment: The animals were divided into 4 groups (n = 9): (I) saline solution + PTZ, (II) DZP + PTZ, (III) LOEO + PTZ, (IV) LOEO + DZP + PTZ. The convulsive behavior was induced 30 min after the administration of the tested anticonvulsant drugs, and the observation period lasted 30 min. Experiment 2- Electrocorticographic evaluation: The animals were divided into 8 groups (n = 9): (I) saline solution; (II) LOEO; (III) DZP; (IV) LOEO + DZP; (V) saline + PTZ, (VI) DZP + PTZ (VII) LOEO + PTZ, (VIII) LOEO + DZP + PTZ. PTZ was administered 30 min after LOEO and DZP treatments and electrocorticographic activity was assessed for 15 min. For the control groups, electromyographic recordings were performed in the 10th intercostal space to assess respiratory rate. The results demonstrated that Lippia origanoides essential oil increased the latency time for the appearance of isolated clonic seizures without loss of the postural reflex. The animals had a more intense decrease in respiratory rate when combined with LOEO + DZP. EEG recordings showed a reduction in firing amplitude in the LOEO-treated groups. The combining treatment with diazepam resulted in increased anticonvulsant effects. Therefore, treatment with Lippia origanoides essential oil was effective in controlling seizures, and its combination with diazepam may represent a future option for the treatment of difficult-to-control seizures.

3.
Sensors (Basel) ; 23(19)2023 Oct 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37837133

ABSTRACT

A low-power long-term ambulatory ECG monitor was developed for the acquisition, storage and processing of three simultaneous leads DI, aVF and V2 with a beat-to-beat heart rate measurement in real time. It provides long-term continuous ECG recordings until 84 h. The monitor uses a QRS complex detection algorithm based on the continuous wavelet transform with splines, which automatically selects the scale for the analysis of ECG records with different sampling frequencies. It includes a lead-off detection to continuously monitor the electrode connections and a real-time system of visual and acoustic alarms to alert users of abnormal conditions in its operation. The monitor presented is based in an ADS1294 analogue front end with four channels, 24-bit analog-to-digital converters and programmable gain amplifiers, a low-power dual-core ESP32 microcontroller, a microSD memory for data storage in a range of 4 GB to 32 GB and a 1.4 in thin-film transistor liquid crystal display (LCD) variant with a resolution of 128 × 128 pixels. It has programmable sampling rates of 250, 500 and 1000 Hz; a bandwidth of 0 Hz to 50% of the selected sampling rate; a CMRR of -105 dB; an input margin of ±2.4 V; a resolution of 286 nV; and a current consumption of 50 mA for an average battery life of 84 h. The ambulatory ECG monitor was evaluated with the commercial data-acquisition system BIOPAC MP36 and its module for ECG LABEL SS2LB, simultaneously comparing the morphologies of two ECG records and obtaining a correlation of 91.78%. For the QRS detection in real time, the implemented algorithm had an error less than 5%. The developed ambulatory ECG monitor can be used for the analysis of the dynamics of the heart rate variability in long-term ECG records and for the development of one's own databases of ECG recordings of normal subjects and patients with cardiovascular and noncardiovascular diseases.


Subject(s)
Electrocardiography, Ambulatory , Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted , Humans , Heart Rate/physiology , Heart/physiology , Electrocardiography , Arrhythmias, Cardiac/diagnosis , Algorithms
5.
J Neurosci ; 42(47): 8767-8779, 2022 11 23.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36241384

ABSTRACT

In Parkinson's disease patients and rodent models, dopaminergic neuron loss (DAN) results in severe motor disabilities. In contrast, general motility is preserved after early postnatal DAN loss in rodents. Here we used mice of both sexes to show that the preserved motility observed after early DAN loss depends on functional changes taking place in medium spiny neurons (MSN) of the dorsomedial striatum (DMS) that belong to the direct pathway (dMSN). Previous animal model studies showed that adult loss of dopaminergic input depresses dMSN response to cortical input, which likely contributes to Parkinson's disease motor impairments. However, the response of DMS-dMSN to their preferred medial PFC input is preserved after neonatal DAN loss as shown by in vivo studies. Moreover, their response to inputs from adjacent cortical areas is increased, resulting in reduced cortical inputs selectivity. Additional ex vivo studies show that membrane excitability increases in dMSN. Furthermore, chemogenetic inhibition of DMS-dMSN has a more marked inhibitory effect on general motility in lesioned mice than in their control littermates, indicating that expression of normal levels of locomotion and general motility depend on dMSN activity after early DAN loss. Contrastingly, DMS-dMSN inhibition did not ameliorate a characteristic phenotype of the DAN-lesioned animals in a marble burying task demanding higher behavioral control. Thus, increased dMSN excitability likely promoting changes in corticostriatal functional connectivity may contribute to the distinctive behavioral phenotype emerging after developmental DAN loss, with implications for our understanding of the age-dependent effects of forebrain dopamine depletion and neurodevelopment disorders.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The loss of striatal dopamine in the adult brain leads to life-threatening motor impairments. However, general motility remains largely unaffected after its early postnatal loss. Here, we show that the high responsiveness to cortical input of striatal neurons belonging to the direct basal ganglia pathway, crucial for proper motor functioning, is preserved after early dopamine neuron loss, in parallel with an increase in these cells' membrane excitability. Chemogenetic inhibition studies show that the preserved motility depends on this direct pathway hyperexcitability/hyperconnectivity, while other phenotypes characteristic of this condition remained unaltered despite the dMSN inhibition. This insight has implications for our understanding of the mechanism underlying the behavioral impairments observed in neuropsychiatric conditions linked to early dopaminergic hypofunction.


Subject(s)
Dopamine , Parkinson Disease , Male , Female , Mice , Animals , Dopamine/metabolism , Parkinson Disease/pathology , Corpus Striatum/metabolism , Basal Ganglia , Dopaminergic Neurons/metabolism
6.
Cell Mol Life Sci ; 79(11): 564, 2022 Oct 25.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36282426

ABSTRACT

Cannabidiol (CBD), an important terpenoid compound from marijuana with no psychoactive effects, has become of great pharmaceutical interest for several health conditions. As CBD is a multitarget drug, there is a need to establish the molecular mechanisms by which CBD may exert therapeutic as well as adverse effects. The α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7 nAChR) is a cation-permeable ACh-gated channel present in the nervous system and in non-neuronal cells. It is involved in different pathological conditions, including neurological and neurodegenerative disorders, inflammation, and cancer. By high-resolution single-channel recordings and confocal microscopy, we here reveal how CBD modulates α7 nAChR ionotropic and metabotropic functions. CBD leads to a profound concentration-dependent decrease of α7 nAChR single-channel activity with an IC50 in the sub-micromolar range. The inhibition of α7 nAChR activity, which takes place through a membrane pathway, is neither mediated by receptor phosphorylation nor overcome by positive allosteric modulators and is compatible with CBD stabilization of resting or desensitized α7 nAChR conformational states. CBD modulation is complex as it also leads to the later appearance of atypical, low-frequency α7 nAChR channel openings. At the cellular level, CBD inhibits the increase in intracellular calcium triggered by α7 nAChR activation, thus decreasing cell calcium responses. The modulation of α7 nAChR is of pharmacological relevance and should be considered in the evaluation of CBD potential therapeutic uses. Thus, our study provides novel molecular information of CBD multiple actions and targets, which is required to set the basis for prospective applications in human health.


Subject(s)
Cannabidiol , Receptors, Nicotinic , Humans , alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor/metabolism , Calcium/metabolism , Cannabidiol/pharmacology , Receptors, Nicotinic/metabolism
7.
Mol Neurobiol ; 59(10): 6076-6090, 2022 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35859025

ABSTRACT

The α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) is present in neuronal and non-neuronal cells and has anti-inflammatory actions. Molecular dynamics simulations suggested that α7 nAChR interacts with a region of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (S), and a potential contribution of nAChRs to COVID-19 pathophysiology has been proposed. We applied whole-cell and single-channel recordings to determine whether a peptide corresponding to the Y674-R685 region of the S protein can directly affect α7 nAChR function. The S fragment exerts a dual effect on α7. It activates α7 nAChRs in the presence of positive allosteric modulators, in line with our previous molecular dynamics simulations showing favourable binding of this accessible region of the S protein to the nAChR agonist binding site. The S fragment also exerts a negative modulation of α7, which is evidenced by a profound concentration-dependent decrease in the durations of openings and activation episodes of potentiated channels and in the amplitude of macroscopic responses elicited by ACh. Our study identifies a potential functional interaction between α7 nAChR and a region of the S protein, thus providing molecular foundations for further exploring the involvement of nAChRs in COVID-19 pathophysiology.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus , alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor , Humans , SARS-CoV-2 , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/metabolism , alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor/metabolism
8.
Data Brief ; 40: 107712, 2022 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35005127

ABSTRACT

Parkinson's disease (PD) is currently diagnosed based on characteristic motor dysfunctions induced by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta [1], [2]. The animal model most commonly used to reproduce PD-related motor deficits in rats is the massive degeneration of nigrostriatal neurons by using intracerebral infusion of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) [3], [4]. This article presents data related to the research article "Quantifying muscle alterations in a Parkinson's disease animal model using electromyographic biomarkers" [5]. This study evaluated the effect of PD neurotoxic lesion model on muscle function of freely moving rats. The effects on muscle function considering the time post-lesion have never been described for this Parkinson's disease model. Electromyographic recordings were obtained from control and hemiparkinsonian rats walking in a circular treadmill. Chronic EMG electrodes were implanted subcutaneously in a hindlimb muscle - the biceps femoris muscle - for evaluating muscular activity during the gait. Five dataset of EMG recordings are presented in this article corresponding to control animals and four groups of lesioned animals at different time post-injury (three to six weeks after lesion). Stationarity of the EMG signals were established and the effective muscular contractions were detected by using signal processing methods described in [5]. Power spectrum density was characterized through the mean and median frequencies and signals probability distribution function analysis was also performed.These analyses have shown that PSD frequency contents progressively fall with time post-lesion suggesting muscle function changes along this enclosed time. This dataset could be reused to investigate muscular activation parameters under control and lesioned conditions in freely moving rats and for evaluating different signal processing methods for EMG patterns detection.

9.
Appetite ; 169: 105851, 2022 02 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34883137

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to examine video-recorded observations of evening family mealtime at home among Mexican American children to help elucidate style of meal service, fathers' and mothers' feeding practices and child's eating behavior. Consistent with guidelines for coding behaviors, we analyzed observational data of evening mealtimes of 71 Mexican American children aged eight to 10 years. Regarding style of meal service, in almost all cases (96%), parents plated the child's food, with more available on the table or counter in 40% of the observations. Mothers almost always served the child (94%). Regarding parental feeding practices, parents used positive involvement in meals (80%), pressure to eat (42%) and restriction of food (9%). Using food as a reward to control behavior was never used by either parent. The majority (75%) of children requested or negotiated to eat less food, or only eat certain items. In Mexican American families, both mothers and fathers play a role in family mealtimes and both use positive involvement in child's meals, and to a lesser extent pressure to eat, with their children aged eight to 10 years. To help reduce the obesity epidemic, intervention strategies are needed, which integrate the family, a plating style of meal and parental feeding practices that promote healthy eating in the home. To reduce obesity among Mexican American children, interventions that focus on parental positive involvement in child's meal and maintenance of home cooked meals could have a positive impact on the entire family.


Subject(s)
Mexican Americans , Mothers , Child , Child Behavior , Fathers , Feeding Behavior , Female , Humans , Male , Meals , Parenting
10.
Epilepsy Res ; 176: 106693, 2021 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34225231

ABSTRACT

The WAG/Rij strain of rats is commonly used as a preclinical model of genetic absence epilepsy. While widely utilized, the developmental trajectory of absence seizure expression has been only partially described. Moreover, sex differences in this strain have been under-explored. Here, we longitudinally monitored male and female WAG/Rij rats to quantify cortical spike-and-wave discharges (SWDs) monthly, from 4 to 10 months of age. In both male and female WAG/Rij rats, absence seizure susceptibility increased with age. In contrast to previous reports, we found a robust and consistent increase in absence epilepsy susceptibility in male WAG/Rij rats in comparison to females across months. The increased absence seizure susceptibility was characterized by increased number and duration of SWDs, and consequently increased total SWDs duration. These findings highlight a previously un-recognized sex difference in a model of absence epilepsy and narrow the knowledge gap of age-dependent expression of SWDs in the WAG/Rij strain.


Subject(s)
Epilepsy, Absence , Animals , Disease Models, Animal , Electroencephalography , Epilepsy, Absence/genetics , Female , Male , Rats , Rats, Wistar , Seizures/genetics
11.
Cell Mol Life Sci ; 78(13): 5381-5395, 2021 Jul.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34028590

ABSTRACT

The α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor is involved in neurological, neurodegenerative, and inflammatory disorders. It operates both as a ligand-gated cationic channel and as a metabotropic receptor in neuronal and non-neuronal cells. As protein phosphorylation is an important cell function regulatory mechanism, deciphering how tyrosine phosphorylation modulates α7 dual ionotropic/metabotropic molecular function is required for understanding its integral role in physiological and pathological processes. α7 single-channel activity elicited by ACh appears as brief isolated openings and less often as episodes of few openings in quick succession. The reduction of phosphorylation by tyrosine kinase inhibition increases the duration and frequency of activation episodes, whereas the inhibition of phosphatases has the opposite effect. Removal of two tyrosine residues at the α7 intracellular domain recapitulates the effects mediated by tyrosine kinase inhibition. The tyrosine-free mutant receptor shows longer duration-activation episodes, reduced desensitization rate and significantly faster recovery from desensitization, indicating that phosphorylation decreases α7 channel activity by favoring the desensitized state. However, the mutant receptor is incapable of triggering ERK1/2 phosphorylation in response to the α7-agonist. Thus, while tyrosine phosphorylation is absolutely required for α7-triggered ERK pathway, it negatively modulates α7 ionotropic activity. Overall, phosphorylation/dephosphorylation events fine-tune the integrated cell response mediated by α7 activation, thus having a broad impact on α7 cholinergic signaling.


Subject(s)
Acetylcholine/metabolism , Neurons/metabolism , Tyrosine/metabolism , alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor/metabolism , src-Family Kinases/metabolism , HEK293 Cells , Humans , Neurons/cytology , Phosphorylation , Signal Transduction , alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor/genetics , src-Family Kinases/genetics
12.
Front Physiol ; 12: 773415, 2021.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34975525

ABSTRACT

Remodeling of capillary rarefaction and deleterious arteries are characteristic hallmarks of hypertension that are partially corrected by exercise training. In addition, experimental evidence showed capillary rarefaction within the brain cortex and reduced cerebral blood flow. There is no information on hypertension- and exercise-induced effects on capillary profile and function within preautonomic nuclei. We sought now to evaluate the effects of hypertension and exercise training (T) on the capillary network within hypothalamic paraventricular (PVN) and solitary tract (NTS) nuclei, and on the remodeling of brain arteries. Age-matched spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY), submitted to moderate T or kept sedentary (S) for three months, were chronically cannulated for hemodynamic recordings at rest. Rats were anesthetized for i.v. administration of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-dextran (capillary volume/density measurements) or 4% paraformaldehyde perfusion (basilar, middle, and posterior arteries' morphometry) followed by brain harvesting and processing. Other groups of conscious rats had carotid blood flow (CBF, ultrasound flowmeter) acquired simultaneously with hemodynamic recordings at rest and exercise. SHR-S exhibited elevated pressure and heart rate, reduced CBF, increased wall/lumen ratio of arteries, but no capillary rarefaction within the PVN and NTS. T improved performance gain and caused resting bradycardia in both groups; reduction of pressure and sympathetic vasomotor activity and normalization of the wall/lumen ratio were only observed in SHR-T. T groups responded with marked PVN and NTS capillary angiogenesis and augmented CBF during exercise; to avoid overperfusion at rest, reduced basal CBF was observed only in WKY-T. Data indicated that the absence of SHR-S capillary rarefaction and the intense SHR-T angiogenesis within autonomic areas associated with correction of deleterious arteries' remodeling are essential adjustments to hypertension and exercise training, respectively. These adaptive responses maintain adequate baseline perfusion in SHR-S and SHR-T preautonomic nuclei, augmenting it in exercised rats when a well-coordinated autonomic control is required.

13.
Neuroscience ; 446: 304-322, 2020 10 15.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32860933

ABSTRACT

The mouse motor cortex exhibits spontaneous activity in the form of temporal sequences of neuronal ensembles in vitro without the need of tissue stimulation. These neuronal ensembles are defined as groups of neurons with a strong correlation between its firing patterns, generating what appears to be a predetermined neural conduction mode that needs study. Each ensemble is commonly accompanied by one or more parvalbumin expressing neurons (PV+) or fast spiking interneurons. Many of these interneurons have functional connections between them, helping to form a circuit configuration similar to a small-world network. However, rich club metrics show that most connected neurons are neurons not expressing parvalbumin, mainly pyramidal neurons (PV-) suggesting feed-forward propagation through pyramidal cells. Ensembles with PV+ neurons are connected to these hubs. When ligand-gated fast GABAergic transmission is blocked, temporal sequences of ensembles collapse into a unique synchronous and recurrent ensemble, showing the need of inhibition for coding cortical spontaneous activity. This new ensemble has a duration and electrophysiological characteristics of brief recurrent interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs) composed by the coactivity of both PV- and PV+ neurons, demonstrating that GABA transmission impedes its occurrence. Synchronous ensembles are clearly divided into two clusters one of them lasting longer and mainly composed by PV+ neurons. Because an ictal-like event was not recorded after several minutes of IEDs recording, it is inferred that an external stimulus and/or fast GABA transmission are necessary for its appearance, making this preparation ideal to study both the neuronal machinery to encode cortical spontaneous activity and its transformation into brief non-ictal epileptiform discharges.


Subject(s)
Motor Cortex , Action Potentials , Animals , Interneurons/metabolism , Mice , Motor Cortex/metabolism , Neurons/metabolism , Parvalbumins/metabolism
14.
Cereb Cortex ; 30(11): 6051-6068, 2020 10 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32577713

ABSTRACT

In construing meaning, the brain recruits multimodal (conceptual) systems and embodied (modality-specific) mechanisms. Yet, no consensus exists on how crucial the latter are for the inception of semantic distinctions. To address this issue, we combined electroencephalographic (EEG) and intracranial EEG (iEEG) to examine when nouns denoting facial body parts (FBPs) and nonFBPs are discriminated in face-processing and multimodal networks. First, FBP words increased N170 amplitude (a hallmark of early facial processing). Second, they triggered fast (~100 ms) activity boosts within the face-processing network, alongside later (~275 ms) effects in multimodal circuits. Third, iEEG recordings from face-processing hubs allowed decoding ~80% of items before 200 ms, while classification based on multimodal-network activity only surpassed ~70% after 250 ms. Finally, EEG and iEEG connectivity between both networks proved greater in early (0-200 ms) than later (200-400 ms) windows. Collectively, our findings indicate that, at least for some lexico-semantic categories, meaning is construed through fast reenactments of modality-specific experience.


Subject(s)
Brain/physiology , Comprehension/physiology , Language , Models, Neurological , Semantics , Adult , Brain Mapping/methods , Electrocorticography/methods , Electroencephalography/methods , Face , Female , Humans , Male
15.
J Neurosci ; 40(29): 5561-5571, 2020 07 15.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32499380

ABSTRACT

All animals need information about the direction of motion to be able to track the trajectory of a target (prey, predator, cospecific) or to control the course of navigation. This information is provided by direction selective (DS) neurons, which respond to images moving in a unique direction. DS neurons have been described in numerous species including many arthropods. In these animals, the majority of the studies have focused on DS neurons dedicated to processing the optic flow generated during navigation. In contrast, only a few studies were performed on DS neurons related to object motion processing. The crab Neohelice is an established experimental model for the study of neurons involved in visually-guided behaviors. Here, we describe in male crabs of this species a new group of DS neurons that are highly directionally selective to moving objects. The neurons were physiologically and morphologically characterized by intracellular recording and staining in the optic lobe of intact animals. Because of their arborization in the lobula complex, we called these cells lobula complex directional cells (LCDCs). LCDCs also arborize in a previously undescribed small neuropil of the lateral protocerebrum. LCDCs are responsive only to horizontal motion. This nicely fits in the behavioral adaptations of a crab inhabiting a flat, densely crowded environment, where most object motions are generated by neighboring crabs moving along the horizontal plane.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Direction selective (DS) neurons are key to a variety of visual behaviors including, target tracking (preys, predators, cospecifics) and course control. Here, we describe the physiology and morphology of a new group of remarkably directional neurons exclusively responsive to horizontal motion in crabs. These neurons arborize in the lobula complex and in a previously undescribed small neuropil of the lateral protocerebrum. The strong sensitivity of these cells for horizontal motion represents a clear example of functional neuronal adaptation to the lifestyle of an animal inhabiting a flat environment.


Subject(s)
Adaptation, Physiological , Brachyura/physiology , Motion Perception/physiology , Movement , Neurons/physiology , Action Potentials , Animals , Brachyura/cytology , Male , Neurons/cytology , Optic Lobe, Nonmammalian/cytology , Optic Lobe, Nonmammalian/physiology
16.
Data Brief ; 29: 105298, 2020 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32140514

ABSTRACT

Colombia holds one of the most spectacular biodiversity of the world. Yet, vast aspects of this biodiversity are still poorly inventoried. One of the least known aspects of Colombia's biodiversity is the sound produced by its animals, even for the most conspicuous ones, the vertebrates. Here we reviewed and compiled the sound records available for the Department of Santander, a region in the North-East of Colombia, gathering the sound records of birds, anurans, mammals, and fishes. By conducting a detailed review in the environmental sound collection of the Humboldt Institute, the Macaulay Library of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Xeno-canto platform of the Naturalis Biodiversity Center, we present the first dataset of vertebrate sounds information from the Santander department. We selected recordings with a taxonomic resolution up to species and complete metadata information. Using latitude and longitude information, we assigned each recording to one of the six biotic units reported for Santander. We found a total of 1499 recordings, which belong to six biotic units: Guane-Yariguíes (597), Middle Magdalena Valley and Mompox Depression (484), High Andes Eastern Cordillera (167), Nechí-San Lucas (150), Middle Magdalena Eastern Cordillera (95), Catatumbo (6). This dataset can have a wide scope of applications, from basic scientific questions, to analyses made by decision makers regarding conservation strategies, to support biodiversity-based economies such as ecotourism.

17.
Pharmaceuticals (Basel) ; 13(3)2020 Mar 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32164340

ABSTRACT

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disease characterized by excessive neuronal activity leading to seizure; about 30% of affected patients suffer from the refractory and pharmacoresistant form of the disease. The anticonvulsant drugs currently used for seizure control are associated with adverse reactions, making it important to search for more effective drugs with fewer adverse reactions. There is increasing evidence that endocannabinoids can pharmacologically modulate action against seizure and antiepileptic disorders. Therefore, the objective of this study is to investigate the anticonvulsant effects of fatty acid amides (FAAs) in a pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizure model in mice. FAAs (FAA1 and FAA2) are obtained from Carapa guianensis oil by biocatalysis and are characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Analysis (FT-IR) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Only FAA1 is effective in controlling the increased latency time of the first myoclonic jerk and in significantly decreasing the total duration of tonic-clonic seizures relative to the pentylenetetrazol model. Also, electrocortical alterations produced by pentylenetetrazol are reduced when treated by FAA1 that subsequently decreased wave amplitude and energy in Beta rhythm. The anticonvulsant effects of FAA1 are reversed by flumazenil, a benzodiazepine antagonist on Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid-A (GABA-A) receptors, indicating a mode of action via the benzodiazepine site of these receptors. To conclude, the FAA obtained from C. guianensis oil is promising against PTZ-induced seizures.

18.
Data Brief ; 28: 104941, 2020 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31890792

ABSTRACT

This dataset is the first effort to combine the audio biodiversity of a taxonomic group in a selected location, the Boyacá department in Colombia. We conducted a detailed review of the sound recordings for birds from the Boyacá department within three repositories, the environmental sound collection of the Humboldt Institute, the Macaulay Library of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and the xeno-canto platform of the Naturalis Biodiversity Center. We selected recordings that were identified up to species and had complete metadata information. Using latitude and longitude information, we assigned each recording to one of the three regions and one of the 12 biotic units reported for Boyacá. We reported a total of 2321 recordings belonging to the Andean region (1892), Orinoquian region (425), and Carare-Lebrija-Nechi-Sinu (4). The sounds of Boyacá birds have been sampled for approximately three decades, with two peaks of activity in the early 2000's and 2018. We also included a map with the distribution of biotic units and sound recordings of our dataset. This dataset can be used to extract acoustic traits to test hypotheses of turnover in the acoustic space or traits by species, or to compare acoustic traits between species. It can also allow decision-makers to support biodiversity-based economies such as avitourism.

19.
J Neurosci Methods ; 329: 108454, 2020 01 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31669337

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Understanding the configuration of neural circuits and the specific role of distinct cortical neuron types involved in behavior, requires the study of structure-function and connectivity relationships with single cell resolution in awake behaving animals. Despite head-fixed behaving rats have been used for in vivo measuring of neuronal activity, it is a concern that head fixation could change the performance of behavioral task. NEW METHOD: We describe the procedures for efficiently training Wistar rats to develop a behavioral task, involving planning and execution of a qualified movement in response to a visual cue under head-fixed conditions. The behavioral and movement performance in freely moving vs head-fixed conditions was analyzed. RESULTS: The best behavioral performance was obtained in the rats that were trained first in freely moving conditions and then placed in a head-restrained condition compared with the animals which first were habituated to head-restriction and then learned the task. Moreover, head restriction did not alter the movement performance. Stable juxtacellular recordings from sensorimotor cortex neurons were obtained while the rats were performing forelimb movements. Biocytin electroporation and retrograde tracer injections, permits identify the hodology of individual long-range projecting neurons. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS: Our method shows no difference in the behavioral performance of head fixed and freely moving conditions. Also includes a computer aided design of a discrete and ergonomic head-post allowing enough stability to perform juxtacellular recording and labeling of cortical neurons. CONCLUSIONS: Our method is suitable for the in vivo characterization of neuronal circuits and their long-range connectivity.


Subject(s)
Behavior, Animal/physiology , Conditioning, Operant/physiology , Connectome/methods , Electrocorticography/methods , Motor Activity/physiology , Neurons/physiology , Restraint, Physical , Sensorimotor Cortex/physiology , Animals , Electroporation , Forelimb/physiology , Head Movements/physiology , Neuroanatomical Tract-Tracing Techniques , Psychomotor Performance/physiology , Rats , Rats, Wistar
20.
MethodsX ; 6: 2065-2075, 2019.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31667105

ABSTRACT

Nowadays, many smart-phones and vehicles are equipped with Global Position System (GPS) for tracking and navigation purposes, providing an opportunity to derive highly representative local vehicular flow and estimate vehicular emissions information. Here, we report and discuss methods used to handle large volumes of such activity data, namely 124 million GPS recordings from the web page Maplink.com.br, extract high spatial resolution vehicular flow information for a vast area in South-east Brazil, and correct for bias using traffic counts observations for the same area. The method consists in filter speed and accelerations, assign buffers to the road network, aggregate speed by street, fill missing number of lanes, generate traffic flow. Methods presented here were used to inform traffic-related air quality modelling and used as part of local air pollution management activities but are also amenable to any work that would be enhanced by more locally representative or time-resolved inputs for traffic flow, e.g. traffic network management, and demand modelling. •124 million GPS observations from electronic devices were used to generate traffic flow.•Spatial bias was investigated and accounted for using independent local traffic count data.•Traffic count rescaled GPS traffic flow provide a robust description of spatial and quantitative traffic patterns.

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