Objective(s): Activation of acid-sensing ion channel 1a (ASIC1a) is responsible for tissue injury caused by acidosis in nervous systems. But its physiological and pathological roles in nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) are unclear. The aim of this study is to investigate whether ASIC1a regulates the survival of NPCs in the acidic environment of degenerated discs. Materials and Methods: NPCs were i...

We identify calcium-permeable alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors on human neural progenitor cells (NPCs) and present a physiological role in neurogenesis. RNA editing of the GluR2 subunit at the Q/R site is responsible for making most AMPA receptors impermeable to calcium. Because a single-point mutation could eliminate the need for editing at the Q/R site...

Nestin-cre transgenic mice have been widely used to direct recombination to neural stem cells (NSCs) and intermediate neural progenitor cells (NPCs). Here we report that a readily utilized, and the only commercially available, Nestin-cre line is insufficient for directing recombination in early embryonic NSCs and NPCs. Analysis of recombination efficiency in multiple cre-dependent reporters and...

Mounting evidences from in-vivo studies showed that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays an important role in the neurogenesis, but the effects of BDNF are controversial because of neurogenesis affected by many factors in vivo. In this study, we investigated the effects of BDNF on the survival, proliferation, and differentiation of the neural progenitor/stem cells (NPCs) in vitro. The...

Recent studies based predominantly on nucleotide hybridization techniques have identified aneuploid neurons and glia in the normal brain. To substantiate these findings and address how neural aneuploidy arises, we examined individual neural progenitor cells (NPCs) undergoing mitosis. Here we report the identification of chromosomal segregation defects in normal NPCs of the mouse cerebral cortex...

The line between fantasy and reality has become blurred in online gaming, whereby tourists are willing to visit associated real-world destinations they have experienced within virtual worlds (e.g. games). This study investigates the impact of gamers’ interactions with non-player characters (NPCs) other gamers on their in-game emotional solidarity, destination image willingness destinations. Dat...

BACKGROUND Current practices of reporting critical laboratory values make it challenging to measure and assess the timeliness of receipt by the treating physician as required by The Joint Commission's 2008 National Patient Safety Goals. METHODS A multidisciplinary team of laboratorians, clinicians, and information technology experts developed an electronic ALERTS system that reports critical ...

Neural progenitor cells (NPCs) are characterized by their capacity to both self-renew and generate the differentiated major tissue types of the central nervous system (CNS): neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes, with the latter two cell types often referred to as glia. NPCs can be isolated from the embryonic or adult mammalian brain; however in vitro propagation of primary human NPCs can be...

BACKGROUND Human fetal midbrain-derived neural progenitor cells (NPCs) may deliver a tissue source for drug screening and regenerative cell therapy to treat Parkinson's disease. While glutamate and GABA(A) receptors play an important role in neurogenesis, the involvement of glycine receptors during human neurogenesis and dopaminergic differentiation as well as their molecular and functional cha...

BACKGROUND Propofol in the early postnatal period has been shown to cause brain cell death. One proposed mechanism for cognitive dysfunction after anesthesia is alteration of neural stem cell function and neurogenesis. We examined the effect of propofol on neural precursor or stem cells (NPCs) grown in vitro. METHODS Hippocampal-derived NPCs from postnatal day 2 rats were exposed to propofol ...