Probes for INS

Infant avoidance and aggression are promoted by activation of the Urocortin-3 expressing neurons of the perifornical area of hypothalamus (PeFAUcn3) in male and female mice. PeFAUcn3 neurons have been implicated in stress, and stress is known to reduce maternal behavior. We asked how chronic restraint stress (CRS) affects infant-directed behavior in virgin and lactating females and what role PeFAUcn3 neurons play in this process. Here we show that infant-directed behavior increases activity in the PeFAUcn3 neurons in virgin and lactating females. Chemogenetic inhibition of PeFAUcn3 neurons facilitates pup retrieval in virgin females. CRS reduces pup retrieval in virgin females and increases activity of PeFAUcn3 neurons, while CRS does not affect maternal behavior in lactating females. Inhibition of PeFAUcn3 neurons blocks stress-induced deficits in pup-directed behavior in virgin females. Together, these data illustrate the critical role for PeFAUcn3 neuronal activity in mediating the impact of chronic stress on female infant-directed behavior.

Angiotensin (Ang) II signalling in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) via angiotensin type-1a receptors (AT1R) regulates vasopressin release and sympathetic nerve activity - two effectors of blood pressure regulation. We determined the cellular expression and function of AT1R in the PVN of a rodent model of polycystic kidney disease (PKD), the Lewis Polycystic Kidney (LPK) rat, to evaluate its contribution to blood pressure regulation and augmented vasopressin release in PKD.PVN AT1R gene expression was quantified with fluorescent in-situ hybridisation in LPK and control rats. PVN AT1R function was assessed with pharmacology under urethane anaesthesia in LPK and control rats instrumented to record arterial pressure and sympathetic nerve activity.AT1R gene expression was upregulated in the PVN, particularly in CRH neurons, of LPK versus control rats. PVN microinjection of Ang II produced larger increases in systolic blood pressure in LPK versus control rats (36±5 vs. 17±2 mmHg; P<0.01). Unexpectedly, Ang II produced regionally heterogeneous sympathoinhibition (renal: -33%; splanchnic: -12%; lumbar no change) in LPK and no change in controls. PVN pre-treatment with losartan, a competitive AT1R antagonist, blocked the Ang II-mediated renal sympathoinhibition and attenuated the pressor response observed in LPK rats. The Ang II pressor effect was also blocked by systemic OPC-21268, a competitive V1A receptor antagonist, but unaffected by hexamethonium, a sympathetic ganglionic blocker.Collectively, our data suggest that upregulated AT1R expression in PVN sensitises neuroendocrine release of vasopressin in the LPK, identifying a central mechanism for the elevated vasopressin levels present in PKD.The Author(s).

Seasonal changes in day length (photoperiod) affect numerous physiological functions. The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)-paraventricular nucleus (PVN) axis plays a key role in processing photoperiod-related information. Seasonal variations in SCN and PVN neurotransmitter expression have been observed in humans and animal models. However, the molecular mechanisms by which the SCN-PVN network responds to altered photoperiod is unknown. Here, we show in mice that neuromedin S (NMS) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) neurons in the SCN display photoperiod-induced neurotransmitter plasticity. In vivo recording of calcium dynamics revealed that NMS neurons alter PVN network activity in response to winter-like photoperiod. Chronic manipulation of NMS neurons is sufficient to induce neurotransmitter switching in PVN neurons and affects locomotor activity. Our findings reveal previously unidentified molecular adaptations of the SCN-PVN network in response to seasonality and the role for NMS neurons in adjusting hypothalamic function to day length via a coordinated multisynaptic neurotransmitter switching affecting behavior.

Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) is involved in the occurrence and development of diabetic kidney disease (DKD). It is necessary to identify the expression of lncRNA from DKD patients through systematic reviews, and then carry out silico analyses to recognize the dysregulated lncRNA and their associated pathways.The study searched Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane Library, WanFang, VIP, CNKI, and CBM to find lncRNA studies on DKD published before March 1, 2021. Systematic review of the literature on this topic was conducted to determine the expression of lncRNA in DKD and non-DKD controls. For the dysregulated lncRNA in DKD patients, silico analysis was performed, and lncRNA2Target v2.0 and starBase were used to search for potential target genes of lncRNA. The Encyclopedia of Genomics (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis was performed to better identify dysregulated lncRNAs in DKD and determine the associated signal pathways.According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 28 publications meeting the eligibility criteria were included in the systematic evaluation. A total of 3,394 patients were enrolled in this study, including 1,238 patients in DKD group, and 1,223 diabetic patients, and 933 healthy adults in control group. Compared with the control, there were eight lncRNA disorders in DKD patients (MALAT1, GAS5, MIAT, CASC2, NEAT1, NR_033515, ARAP1-AS2, and ARAP1-AS1). In addition, five lncRNAs (MALAT1, GAS5, MIAT, CASC2, and NEAT1) participated in disease-related signal pathways, indicating their role in DKD. Discussion. This study showed that there were eight lncRNAs in DKD that were persistently dysregulated, especially five lncRNAs which were closely related to the disease. Although systematic review included 28 studies that analyzed the expression of lncRNA in DKD-related tissues, the potential of these dysregulated lncRNAs as biomarkers or therapeutic targets for DKD remains to be further explored. Trial registration. PROSPERO (CRD42021248634).

Shifts in normal aging set stage for neurodegeneration and dementia affecting 1 in 10 adults. The study demonstrates that lncRNA GAS5 is decreased in aged and Alzheimer's disease brain. The role and targets of lncRNA GAS5 in the aging brain were elucidated using a GAS5-targeting small molecule NPC86, a frontier in lncRNA-targeting therapeutic. Robust techniques such as molecular dynamics simulation of NPC86 binding to GAS5, in vitro functional assays demonstrating that GAS5 regulates insulin signaling, neuronal survival, phosphorylation of tau, and neuroinflammation via toll-like receptors support the role of GAS5 in maintaining healthy neurons. The study demonstrates the safety and efficacy of intranasal NPC86 treatment in aged mice to improve cellular functions with transcriptomic analysis in response to NPC86. In summary, the study demonstrates that GAS5 contributes to pathways associated with neurodegeneration and NPC86 has tremendous therapeutic potential to prevent the advent of neurodegenerative diseases and dementias.

Food cues elicit the body’s responses and subsequent food consumption. The magnitude of the response to food cues is a crucial risk factor for obesity. However, the underlying neural mechanism of how the cues of edible food promote feeding remains unclear. Here we demonstrated that the peptidergic CRH neurons in the lateral hypothalamic area are the missing link that connects food cues to food consumption. We first established the activation of those neurons triggered by food cues with multiple assays. Manipulations using optogenetic and chemogenetic assays revealed that the activation increases appetite and promotes feeding, while inhibition decreases them. Finally, we identified the downstream targets of those neurons in the ventral tegmental area, and the locus coeruleus mediated the effect. Our research sheds light on the neural mechanism of how food cues increase appetite and promote feeding behavior.