(C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Neuronal network remodeling during critical periods of sensory development might be accompanied by alterations in hypothalamic cell populations. MicroRNAs play a central role in regulating neuronal function, including neural stem cell proliferation, and neuronal migration, maturation and integration see more into viable circuits by modulating different mRNA targets. Here we investigated the role of miR-138 in cell proliferation and migration in a neuron-enriched hypothalamic cell culture prepared from chicks on embryonic day 16. Ectopic expression of miR-138 enhanced

hypothalamic cell migration, but did not affect cell proliferation. As a potential mechanism for miR-138′s effect on cell migration, we investigated reelin (Rein) as a direct target of miR-138. Luciferase reporter assay and Ago2-immunoprecipitation GSI-IX chemical structure experiments confirmed direct binding of miR-138 to the Rein 3′-untranslated region. Ectopic miR-138

abolished Rein levels in hypothalamic cells and enhanced their migration, similar to Rein-antisense DNA. Furthermore, inhibition of Rein expression by miR-138 led to decreased phosphorylation level of the key component of Rein-regulated signaling cascades, Disabled 1. These findings describe miR-138 as a novel regulator of hypothalamic cell migration, acting at least in part via inhibition of Rein expression and leading to the inactivation of Rein signals. (C) 2013 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Recent theories of panic disorder propose an extensive involvement of limbic system structures, such as the hippocampus, in the pathophysiology of this condition. Despite this, no prior study has examined exclusively

the hippocampal neurochemistry in this disorder. The current study used proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy imaging (H-1-MRSI) to examine possible abnormalities in the hippocampus in panic disorder patients. Participants comprised 25 panic patients and 18 psychiatrically healthy controls. N-acetylaspartate (NAA, a putative BCKDHA marker of neuronal viability) and choline (Cho, involved in the synthesis and degradation of cell membranes) levels were quantified relative to creatine (Cr, which is thought to be relatively stable among individuals and in different metabolic condition) in both right and left hippocampi. Compared with controls, panic patients demonstrated significantly lower NAA/Cr in the left hippocampus. No other difference was detected. This result is consistent with previous neuroimaging findings of hippocampal alterations in panic and provides the first neurochemical evidence suggestive of involvement of this structure in the disorder.