The locus coeruleus (LC) densely innervates various cortical and subcortical regions, and is the main source of norepinephrine (NE) in the brain. LC hyperactivity is associated with neuropsychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety, while LC neu...

The purpose of this study is to evaluate altered regional histone deacetylase (HDAC) expression in Parkinson’s Disease (PD) brains using [11C]Martinostat as a positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracer. The hypothesis tested is that HDAC enzyme expr...

It is well known that individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) can display sensory sensitivities across modalities, yet the majority of sensory research in ASD focuses on vision and audition. The sense of touch is comparatively understudied in A...

Aim: Wistar NIN obese (WNIN/Ob) rats developed at the National Institute of Nutrition are the heaviest inbred rat strain in the world. These rats are hyperphagic, hyperinsulinemic, hyperleptinemic and have reduced longevity (an average lifespan of 15-18...

Epilepsy is a widely prevalent, disabling neurological condition, characterized by recurrent seizures. In 20-30% of focal epilepsy patients, the source of epilepsy is not clearly identifiable on clinical MRI scans, making treatment decisions difficult. ...

Electrophysiology and optical imaging have produced detailed information about the brain, yet are limited by dimensions in vivo, and by sacrifice for whole brain anatomy. Emerging technologies allow whole brain imaging of the living brain and are changi...

Rationale: The histamine H3 receptor (H3R) has been investigated as a potential target for the treatment of various CNS disorders. Drugs that selectively block H3 receptors (for example, pitolisant) have been primarily evaluated for the treatment of sle...

Inflammatory response after ischemic brain injury is mediated by Toll-like receptors (TLR) located on the microglia. Different studies of Tlr2-deficient mice showed different, even opposing results, suggesting a dual, time-dependent effect. Therefore, t...

BACKGROUND: The brain has not traditionally been considered a target organ for complications of diabetes, however recent research suggests a duration dependent effect of diabetes on the central nervous system. Impaired neuronal function and decreased neuronal density in the hippocampus correlate with performance on behavioral tests in diabetic rats. Hippocampal cerebral blood volume (CBV), measured using MRI, has been correlated with neuronal function, neuronal glucose metabolism, and neuronal density in mice and humans. Using high field strength MRI, CBV maps of mouse hippocampal subregions can be created, providing unique insight into neuronal function. OBJECTIVE: To create a CBV map characteristic of the early diabetic mouse brain. The noninvasive nature of this modality will allow us to follow the progression of neuronal dysfunction throughout the course of disease. METHODS: Six week old mice are rendered diabetic by a 5 day treatment with Streptozotocin. Using a 9.4 Tesla vertical Bruker magnet, image...

Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament of the spine (OPLL) results in a common form of spinal cord impairment in humans termed cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). Although the etiology of spinal cord dysfunction in CSM is not well understood, evidence supports ischemia and compression as major underlying pathological events. To help clarify the pathomechanisms involved in CSM, we have utilized the spinal hyperostotic Tiptoe Walking Yoshimura (twy/twy) mouse, a naturally occuring autosomal recessive mutant with an abnormality in the nucleotide pyrophosphatase (Npps) gene, which develops multiple progressive calcifications at C1-C2 with progressive spinal cord compression. Twy/twy mice developed neurobehavioural abnormalities, which were quantified by footprint analysis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) disclosed marked ossification of the soft tissues dorsal to the cord at C1-C2 with severe cord compression. In this study we demonstrate that relative to normal wildytpe control mice, compress...