Publication

In this work, modulation by orexin-A of the release of glutamate and GABA from bipolar and amacrine cells respectively was studied by examining the effects of the neuropeptide on miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs) and miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents (mIPSCs) of rat retinal ganglion cells (GCs). Using RNAscope in situ hybridization in combination with immunohistochemistry, we showed positive signals for orexin receptor-1 (OX1R) mRNA in the bipolar cell terminals and those for orexin receptor-2 (OX2R) mRNA in the amacrine cell terminals.

Urogenital carcinoma in California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) is the most common cancer of marine mammals. Primary tumors occur in the cervix, vagina, penis, or prepuce and aggressively metastasize resulting in death. This cancer has been strongly associated with a sexually transmitted herpesvirus, otarine herpesvirus 1 (OtHV1), but the virus has been detected in genital tracts of sea lions without cancer and a causative link has not been established.

Interleukins (IL)-17, IL-22, and IL-31 play roles in human atopic dermatitis (AD), but scant information is available on canine AD. Histopathological assessment for interleukin expression is a challenge due to a lack of canine specific antibodies. To evaluate the mRNA and protein expression of IL-17 and IL-22, and mRNA expression of IL-31 and their receptors in the skin of healthy and atopic dogs, seventeen atopic (10 with and 7 without an active infection) and 13 healthy privately owned dogs were sampled.

The homeobox gene, LIM-homeobox 8 (Lhx8), has previously been identified as an essential transcription factor for dental mesenchymal development. However, how Lhx8 itself is regulated and regulates odontogenesis remains poorly understood. In this study, we employed an RNAscope assay to detect the co-expression pattern of Lhx8 and Suv39h1 in the dental mesenchyme, which coincided with the dynamic expression profiles of the early epithelium signal of Fibroblast Growth Factor 8 (FGF8) and the later mesenchymal signal Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 (BMP2).

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a heterogeneous disease that can currently be subdivided into four distinct consensus molecular subtypes (CMS) based on gene expression profiling. The CMS4 subtype is marked by high expression of mesenchymal genes and is associated with a worse overall prognosis compared to other CMSs. Importantly, this subtype responds poorly to the standard therapies currently used to treat CRC.

Neovascularization contributes to multiple visual disorders including age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and retinopathy of prematurity. Current therapies for treating ocular angiogenesis are centered on the inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). While clinically effective, some AMD patients are refractory or develop resistance to anti-VEGF therapies and concerns of increased risks of developing geographic atrophy following long-term treatment have been raised. Identification of alternative pathways to inhibit pathological angiogenesis is thus important.

Abnormal angiogenesis and regression of the diseased retinal vasculature are key processes associated with ischemic retinopathies, but the underlying mechanisms that regulate vascular remodeling remain poorly understood. Here, we confirmed the specific expression of semaphorin 3G (Sema3G) in retinal endothelial cells (ECs), which was required for vascular remodeling and the amelioration of ischemic retinopathy.

The lateral parabrachial nucleus (lPBN), located in the pons, is a well-recognized anorexigenic center harboring, amongst others, the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-expressing neurons that play a key role. The receptor for the orexigenic hormone ghrelin (the growth hormone secretagogue receptor, GHSR) is also abundantly expressed in the lPBN and ghrelin delivery to this site has recently been shown to increase food intake and alter food choice.

Proprioceptive neurons (PNs) are essential for the proper execution of all our movements by providing muscle sensory feedback to the central motor network. Here, using deep single cell RNAseq of adult PNs coupled with virus and genetic tracings, we molecularly identify three main types of PNs (Ia, Ib and II) and find that they segregate into eight distinct subgroups. Our data unveil a highly sophisticated organization of PNs into discrete sensory input channels with distinct spatial distribution, innervation patterns and molecular profiles.

Animals exhibit innate defense behaviors in response to approaching threats cued by the dynamics of sensory inputs of various modalities. The underlying neural circuits have been mostly studied in the visual system, but remain unclear for other modalities. Here, by utilizing sounds with increasing (vs. decreasing) loudness to mimic looming (vs. receding) objects, we find that looming sounds elicit stereotypical sequential defensive reactions: freezing followed by flight.