Focused Ultrasound Stimulates the Prefrontal Cortex and Prevents MK-801-Induced Psychiatric Symptoms of Schizophrenia in Rats.

BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS: Treatment of schizophrenia remains a major challenge. Recent studies have focused on glutamatergic signaling hypoactivity through N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) improves behavioral deficits and ameliorates neuropathology in dizocilpine (MK-801)-treated rats. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of LIPUS against psychiatric symptoms and anxiety-like behaviors. STUDY DESIGN: Rats assigned to 4 groups were pretreated with or without LIPUS for 5 days. The open field and prepulse inhibition tests were performed after saline or MK-801 (0.3 mg/kg) administration. Then, the neuroprotective effects of LIPUS on the MK-801-treated rats were evaluated using western blotting and immunohistochemical staining. STUDY RESULTS: LIPUS stimulation of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) prevented deficits in locomotor activity and sensorimotor gating and improved anxiety-like behavior. MK-801 downregulated the expression of NR1, the NMDA receptor, in rat medial PFC (mPFC). NR1 expression was significantly higher in animals receiving LIPUS pretreatment compared to those receiving only MK-801. In contrast, a significant increase in c-Fos-positive cells in the mPFC and ventral tegmental area was observed in the MK-801-treated rats compared to those receiving only saline; this change was suppressed by pretreatment with LIPUS. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides new evidence for the role of LIPUS stimulation in regulating the NMDA receptor and modulating c-Fos activity, which makes it a potentially valuable antipsychotic treatment for schizophrenia.

Transcranial Ultrasound Stimulation Reverses Behavior Changes and the Expression of Calcium-Binding Protein in a Rodent Model of Schizophrenia.

Cognitive dysfunctions are a core feature of schizophrenia that may be linked to abnormalities in gamma-aminobutyric-acid (GABA)ergic neurons. Traditional antipsychotics show poor efficacy in treating cognitive symptoms. The purpose of this study was to investigate the restorative role of transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) in counteracting dizocilpine (MK-801)-induced cognitive deficits and GABAergic interneuron dysfunction in a simulation of schizophrenia. Some rats subjected to MK-801 administration were treated with low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) daily for 5 days, while other rats subjected to MK-801 administration received no LIPUS treatment. After LIPUS treatment, the neuroprotective effects of LIPUS in the LIPUS-treated rats were assessed through behavioral analysis, western blotting, and histological observations. Compared with the MK-801-treated group, the MK-801 plus LIPUS-treated rats revealed a preference for novel objects. The MK-801 plus LIPUS-treated rats also exhibited a significant decrease in swim times compared to the MK-801-treated rats. LIPUS stimulation significantly increased hippocampal levels of CB and PV and restored the cell densities of PV + and CB + in the cingulate cortex in the MK-801 plus LIPUS-treated group. In addition, LIPUS stimulation rebalanced the BDNF levels in the hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex. Our findings indicate that LIPUS improves cognitive deficits and ameliorates neuropathology in MK-801-treated rats. These results suggest that LIPUS may constitute a potential novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of schizophrenia.

Porphyrin sensitizers with π-extended pull units for dye-sensitized solar cells.

New π-extended porphyrin dyes YD26-YD29 with long alkoxyl chains at the ortho positions of the meso-phenyls, and meta di-tert-butylphenyl-substituted porphyrins YD12-CN, and YD13-CN were synthesized for dye-sensitized solar cells, and their optical, electrochemical and photovoltaic properties were investigated and compared with those of YD12 and YD13. The absorption spectra of YD26-YD29 showed a slight red shift of Soret bands and blue shift of Q bands as compared to the meta-substituted porphyrins due to the electron-donating effects of dioctyloxy substituents at the ortho-positions of the meso-phenyl rings. Replacement of the carboxyl with a cyanoacrylic acid as the anchoring group results in significant broadening and red shifts of the absorptions, which is due to the strong electronic coupling between the pull unit and the porphyrin ring facilitated by the C≡C triple bond. The electrochemical studies and quantum-chemical calculations (DFT) indicated that the ortho alkoxy-substituted sensitizers exhibit lower oxidation potential, i.e. a higher HOMO energy level, and their HOMO-LUMO gaps are comparable to the meta-substituted analogues. The photovoltaic measurements confirmed that the ortho-octyloxy groups in the two meso-phenyls of YD26 and YD27 play a significant role in preventing dye aggregation thereby enhancing the corresponding short-circuit current density and open-circuit voltage. The power conversion efficiency (η) of YD26 is 8.04%, which is 11% higher than that of YD12, whereas the efficiency of YD27 is 6.03%, which is 135% higher than that of YD13. On the other hand, the poor performance of YD28 and YD29 is due to the floppy structural nature and limited molecular rigidity of the cyanoacrylic acid anchor.

A fluorene-modified porphyrin for efficient dye-sensitized solar cells.

Porphyrins bearing a polyaromatic or a heterocyclic group are prepared to study their fundamental and photovoltaic properties. Solar cells sensitized with a fluorene-modified porphyrin outperform other dyes in the series, reaching ~90% efficiency of N719 dye.

Design and characterization of alkoxy-wrapped push-pull porphyrins for dye-sensitized solar cells.

Three alkoxy-wrapped push-pull porphyrins were designed and synthesized for dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) applications. Spectral, electrochemical, photovoltaic and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy properties of these porphyrin sensitizers were well investigated to provide evidence for the molecular design.

A strategy to design highly efficient porphyrin sensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells.

We designed highly efficient porphyrin sensitizers with two phenyl groups at meso-positions of the macrocycle bearing two ortho-substituted long alkoxyl chains for dye-sensitized solar cells; the ortho-substituted devices exhibit significantly enhanced photovoltaic performances with the best porphyrin, LD14, showing J(SC) = 19.167 mA cm(-2), V(OC) = 0.736 V, FF = 0.711, and overall power conversion efficiency η = 10.17%.