Sustained neurotrophic factor treatment in neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease is likely to affect both degenerating and intact neurons. To investigate the effect of long-term glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) overexpression on intact nigrostriatal dopamine neurons, we injected a recombinant lentiviral vector encoding GDNF, or green fluorescent protein, in t...

BACKGROUND SKF83959 stimulates the phospholipase Cβ/inositol phosphate 3 pathway, resulting in the activation of Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent kinase IIα, which affects the synthesis of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, a neurotrophic factor critical for the pathophysiology of depression. Previous reports showed that SKF83959 elicited antidepressant activity in the forced swim test and tail susp...

We have reported that clinically relevant concentrations of valproic acid (VPA) up-regulate the G-protein-coupled melatonin MT1 receptor in rat C6 glioma cells. To determine whether this effect occurs in vivo, the effects of chronic VPA treatment on the expression of both melatonin receptor subtypes, MT1 and MT2, were examined in the rat brain. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (R...

Ayahuasca is a hallucinogenic beverage that affects the serotonergic system and have therapeutic potential for many diseases disorders, including depression drug addiction. The objectives of this study were to evaluate toxic effects ayahuasca on rats after chronic exposure, levels monoamines, their metabolites brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in brain. Female male treated orally 28 days...

The protein expressions of neurotrophic factors can be enhanced by low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) stimulation in the brain. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the protective effect of LIPUS stimulation against aluminum-induced cerebral damage in Alzheimer's disease rat model. LIPUS was administered 7 days before each aluminum chloride (AlCl3) administration, and concomitantly...

Title:Electroacupuncture-like stimulation at Baihui and Dazhui acupoints exerts neuroprotective effects through activation of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor-mediated MEK1/2/ERK1/2/p90RSK/Bad signaling pathway in mild transient focal cerebral ischemia in rats