BACKGROUND Modulation of M-type currents has been proposed as a new strategy for the treatment of neuropathic pain due to their role in regulating neuronal excitability. Using electrophysiological techniques we showed previously that the opening of Kv7 channels with retigabine, blocked ectopic discharges from axotomized fibers but did not alter transduction at intact skin afferents. We hypothes...

To investigate the intracellular signal transduction pathways involved in regulating the gene expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in primary afferent neurons, we examined the activation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons after peripheral inflammation and sciatic nerve transection. Peripheral inflammation induced an inc...

Pathological changes in axonal function are integral features of many neurological disorders, yet our knowledge of the molecular basis of axonal dysfunction remains limited. Microfluidic chambers (MFCs) can provide unique insight into the axonal compartment independent of the soma. Here we demonstrate how an MFC based cell culture system can be readily adapted for the study of axonal function i...

Both the transcription factor c-Jun and the c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs) have been associated with neuronal loss in several death paradigms. JNK are key regulators of c-Jun and a common accepted model has been that JNKs mediate neuronal death through modulation of c-Jun activation. In the present study, we examined whether JNK2 and -3 (JNK members most associated with neuronal loss) deficien...

This talk will present recent innovations pursued in Ben-Yakar research group towards developing microfluidic platforms and imaging modalities for whole-animal screening using C. elegans. Their small body size and survivability in liquid medium make C. elegans suitable for microfluidic manipulations. Their transparent body is ideal for in vivo optical manipulations such as precise laser axotomy...

Neurons confined to the central nervous system usually fail to regenerate their axons after injury, although evidence of axonal re-growth has been reported. In this study, rat transcallosal fibres were severed in the midline in order to investigate the reactive plasticity responses in the frontal and occipital cortices of both sides. The expression of growth-associated proteins, tyrosinated alp...

In mammals, few retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) survive following axotomy, and even fewer regenerate axons. This could reflect differential extrinsic influences or the existence of subpopulations that vary in their responses to injury. We tested these alternatives by comparing responses of molecularly distinct subsets of mouse RGCs to axotomy. Survival rates varied dramatically among subtypes, wi...

One of the most critical neuropathological features of traumatic brain injury (TBI) is axotomy [1-5]. Even in mild (m) TBI, diffuse axotomy is easily and consistently observed as axons that end in swellings and dislocation from the distal part of the axon [6-8]. Integrity of axons can be measured in the clinical population with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) [9-12]. Patient outcome has been cor...