Genomic and proteomic studies of brain regions of specialized function provide evidence that communication among neurons is mediated by systems of diverse chemical messengers. These analyses are largely tissue- or population-based, whereas the actual communication is from cell-to-cell. To understand the complement of intercellular signals produced by individual neurons, new methods are required...

A tissue culture model was established for the study of hypothalamic peptide synthesis and secretion. Microdissected explants of the paraventricular and supraoptic regions from Sprague-Dawley rats (neonates or young rats) were maintained in culture for up to 3 weeks. Studies were performed to evaluate vasopressin and oxytocin content (medium and tissue levels), immunocytochemical localization, ...

The cerebral ganglia neurons of Aplysia californica are involved in the development and modulation of many behaviors. The medially located F cluster has been characterized using morphological, electrophysiological and biochemical techniques and contains at least three previously uncharacterized neuronal population. As the three subtypes are located in three distinct layers, they are designated ...

Cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) is widely expressed in the central nervous system. Recent studies have pointed to a role for CART-derived peptides in inhibiting feeding behavior. Although these actions have generally been attributed to hypothalamic CART, it remains to be determined whether additional CART pathways exist that link signals from the gastrointestinal tract to t...

Laminin-111, a multifunctional matrix protein, has diverse biological functions. Previously, we have identified various biologically active sequences in laminin-111 by a systematic peptide screening. We also demonstrated that peptide-conjugated chitosan matrices enhance the biological functions of the active sequences and are useful as a scaffold. Here, we conjugated sixty biologically active l...

U nlike neurons in the central nervous system, peripheral nerves can regenerate after injury and reconnect to their target cells. Fontana et al. reveal how Schwann cells, which normally wrap an insulating myelin sheath around the axons of healthy peripheral neurons, boost the survival and regrowth of injured nerves by up-regulating the transcription factor c-Jun (1). Axel Behrens, from the Lond...

The current dogma in neural regeneration research implies that chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) inhibit plasticity and regeneration in the adult central nervous system (CNS). We argue that the role of the CSPGs can be reversed from inhibition to activation by developmentally expressed CSPG-binding factors. Heparin-binding growth-associated molecule (HB-GAM; also designated as pleiotrop...

Recent studies on peptide hydrogels have shown that ultrashort peptides (<8 amino acids) can self-assemble into hydrogels. Ultrashort be designed to incorporate antimicrobial motifs, such as positively charged lysine residues, so the inherent characteristics. Antimicrobial represent a step change in tissue engineering and merit further investigation, particularly applications where microbial...

Recent reports have found that the posthatch chicken retina has the capacity for neuronal regeneration. The purpose of this study was to test whether the types of cells destroyed by neurotoxic lesions influence the types of cells that are regenerated, and whether exogenous growth factors stimulate neural regeneration in the chicken retina. N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) was used to destroy amacrin...

It is well known that mature neurons in the central nervous system (CNS) cannot regenerate their axons after injuries due to diminished intrinsic ability to support axon growth and a hostile environment in the mature CNS(1,2). In contrast, mature neurons in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) regenerate readily after injuries(3). Adult dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons are well known to regene...