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Chen ZK, Liu YY, Zhou JC, Chen GH, Liu CF, Qu WM, Huang ZL. Insomnia-related rodent models in drug discovery. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2024:10.1038/s41401-024-01269-w. [PMID: 38671193 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-024-01269-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite the widespread prevalence and important medical impact of insomnia, effective agents with few side effects are lacking in clinics. This is most likely due to relatively poor understanding of the etiology and pathophysiology of insomnia, and the lack of appropriate animal models for screening new compounds. As the main homeostatic, circadian, and neurochemical modulations of sleep remain essentially similar between humans and rodents, rodent models are often used to elucidate the mechanisms of insomnia and to develop novel therapeutic targets. In this article, we focus on several rodent models of insomnia induced by stress, diseases, drugs, disruption of the circadian clock, and other means such as genetic manipulation of specific neuronal activity, respectively, which could be used to screen for novel hypnotics. Moreover, important advantages and constraints of some animal models are discussed. Finally, this review highlights that the rodent models of insomnia may play a crucial role in novel drug development to optimize the management of insomnia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ze-Ka Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences; State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science; Joint International Research Laboratory of Sleep; and Department of Anesthesiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Yuan-Yuan Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences; State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science; Joint International Research Laboratory of Sleep; and Department of Anesthesiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Ji-Chuan Zhou
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences; State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science; Joint International Research Laboratory of Sleep; and Department of Anesthesiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Gui-Hai Chen
- Department of Neurology (Sleep Disorders), the Affiliated Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 238000, China
| | - Chun-Feng Liu
- Department of Neurology and Clinical Research Center of Neurological Disease, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215004, China.
| | - Wei-Min Qu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences; State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science; Joint International Research Laboratory of Sleep; and Department of Anesthesiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Zhi-Li Huang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences; State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science and Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science; Joint International Research Laboratory of Sleep; and Department of Anesthesiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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Wang Y, Chen Z, Davis B, Lipman W, Xing S, Zhang L, Wang T, Hafiz P, Xie W, Yan Z, Huang Z, Song J, Bai W. Digital automation of transdermal drug delivery with high spatiotemporal resolution. Nat Commun 2024; 15:511. [PMID: 38218967 PMCID: PMC10787768 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44532-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Transdermal drug delivery is of vital importance for medical treatments. However, user adherence to long-term repetitive drug delivery poses a grand challenge. Furthermore, the dynamic and unpredictable disease progression demands a pharmaceutical treatment that can be actively controlled in real-time to ensure medical precision and personalization. Here, we report a spatiotemporal on-demand patch (SOP) that integrates drug-loaded microneedles with biocompatible metallic membranes to enable electrically triggered active control of drug release. Precise control of drug release to targeted locations (<1 mm2), rapid drug release response to electrical triggers (<30 s), and multi-modal operation involving both drug release and electrical stimulation highlight the novelty. Solution-based fabrication ensures high customizability and scalability to tailor the SOP for various pharmaceutical needs. The wireless-powered and digital-controlled SOP demonstrates great promise in achieving full automation of drug delivery, improving user adherence while ensuring medical precision. Based on these characteristics, we utilized SOPs in sleep studies. We revealed that programmed release of exogenous melatonin from SOPs improve sleep of mice, indicating potential values for basic research and clinical treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yihang Wang
- Department of Applied Physical Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Zeka Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Brayden Davis
- UNC/NCSU Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Will Lipman
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Sicheng Xing
- UNC/NCSU Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Lin Zhang
- Department of Applied Physical Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Tian Wang
- UNC/NCSU Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Priyash Hafiz
- UNC/NCSU Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Wanrong Xie
- Department of Applied Physical Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Zijie Yan
- Department of Applied Physical Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Zhili Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Juan Song
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
| | - Wubin Bai
- Department of Applied Physical Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
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Ma W, Li L, Kong L, Zhang H, Yuan P, Huang Z, Wang Y. Whole-brain monosynaptic inputs to lateral periaqueductal gray glutamatergic neurons in mice. CNS Neurosci Ther 2023; 29:4147-4159. [PMID: 37424163 PMCID: PMC10651995 DOI: 10.1111/cns.14338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The lateral periaqueductal gray (LPAG), which mainly contains glutamatergic neurons, plays an important role in social responses, pain, and offensive and defensive behaviors. Currently, the whole-brain monosynaptic inputs to LPAG glutamatergic neurons are unknown. This study aims to explore the structural framework of the underlying neural mechanisms of LPAG glutamatergic neurons. METHODS This study used retrograde tracing systems based on the rabies virus, Cre-LoxP technology, and immunofluorescence analysis. RESULTS We found that 59 nuclei projected monosynaptic inputs to the LPAG glutamatergic neurons. In addition, seven hypothalamic nuclei, namely the lateral hypothalamic area (LH), lateral preoptic area (LPO), substantia innominata (SI), medial preoptic area, ventral pallidum, posterior hypothalamic area, and lateral globus pallidus, projected most densely to the LPAG glutamatergic neurons. Notably, we discovered through further immunofluorescence analysis that the inputs to the LPAG glutamatergic neurons were colocalized with several markers related to important neurological functions associated with physiological behaviors. CONCLUSION The LPAG glutamatergic neurons received dense projections from the hypothalamus, especially nuclei such as LH, LPO, and SI. The input neurons were colocalized with several markers of physiological behaviors, which show the pivotal role of glutamatergic neurons in the physiological behaviors regulation by LPAG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei‐Xiang Ma
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and Institutes of Brain ScienceFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Lei Li
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and Institutes of Brain ScienceFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Ling‐Xi Kong
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and Institutes of Brain ScienceFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Hui Zhang
- Anhui Provincial Engineering Research Center for Polysaccharide Drugs, Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Screening and Re‐evaluation of Active Compounds of Herbal Medicines in Southern Anhui, School of PharmacyWannan Medical CollegeWuhuChina
| | - Ping‐Chuan Yuan
- Anhui Provincial Engineering Research Center for Polysaccharide Drugs, Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Screening and Re‐evaluation of Active Compounds of Herbal Medicines in Southern Anhui, School of PharmacyWannan Medical CollegeWuhuChina
| | - Zhi‐Li Huang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and Institutes of Brain ScienceFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Yi‐Qun Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and Institutes of Brain ScienceFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
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Vetrivelan R, Bandaru SS. Neural Control of REM Sleep and Motor Atonia: Current Perspectives. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep 2023; 23:907-923. [PMID: 38060134 DOI: 10.1007/s11910-023-01322-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Since the formal discovery of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep in 1953, we have gained a vast amount of knowledge regarding the specific populations of neurons, their connections, and synaptic mechanisms regulating this stage of sleep and its accompanying features. This article discusses REM sleep circuits and their dysfunction, specifically emphasizing recent studies using conditional genetic tools. RECENT FINDINGS Sublaterodorsal nucleus (SLD) in the dorsolateral pons, especially the glutamatergic subpopulation in this region (SLDGlut), are shown to be indispensable for REM sleep. These neurons appear to be single REM generators in the rodent brain and may initiate and orchestrate all REM sleep events, including cortical and hippocampal activation and muscle atonia through distinct pathways. However, several cell groups in the brainstem and hypothalamus may influence SLDGlut neuron activity, thereby modulating REM sleep timing, amounts, and architecture. Damage to SLDGlut neurons or their projections involved in muscle atonia leads to REM behavior disorder, whereas the abnormal activation of this pathway during wakefulness may underlie cataplexy in narcolepsy. Despite some opposing views, it has become evident that SLDGlut neurons are the sole generators of REM sleep and its associated characteristics. Further research should prioritize a deeper understanding of their cellular, synaptic, and molecular properties, as well as the mechanisms that trigger their activation during cataplexy and make them susceptible in RBD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramalingam Vetrivelan
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA.
| | - Sathyajit Sai Bandaru
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
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Du L, He X, Fan X, Wei X, Xu L, Liang T, Wang C, Ke Y, Yung WH. Pharmacological interventions targeting α-synuclein aggregation triggered REM sleep behavior disorder and early development of Parkinson's disease. Pharmacol Ther 2023; 249:108498. [PMID: 37499913 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2023.108498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 06/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is a parasomnia characterized by elevated motor behaviors and dream enactments in REM sleep, often preceding the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease (PD). As RBD could serve as a biomarker for early PD developments, pharmacological interventions targeting α-synuclein aggregation triggered RBD could be applied toward early PD progression. However, robust therapeutic guidelines toward PD-induced RBD are lacking, owing in part to a historical paucity of effective treatments and trials. We reviewed the bidirectional links between α-synuclein neurodegeneration, progressive sleep disorders, and RBD. We highlighted the correlation between RBD development, α-synuclein aggregation, and neuronal apoptosis in key brainstem regions involved in REM sleep atonia maintenance. The current pharmacological intervention strategies targeting RBD and their effects on progressive PD are discussed, as well as current treatments for progressive neurodegeneration and their effects on RBD. We also evaluated emerging and potential pharmacological solutions to sleep disorders and developing synucleinopathies. This review provides insights into the mechanisms and therapeutic targets underlying RBD and PD, and explores bidirectional treatment effects for both diseases, underscoring the need for further research in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lida Du
- Institute of Molecular Medicine & Innovative Pharmaceutics, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China; School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Xiaoli He
- Institute of Medical Plant Development, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaonuo Fan
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, USA
| | - Xiaoya Wei
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, USA
| | - Linhao Xu
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Department of Cardiology, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Tuo Liang
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Institute of Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, China
| | - Chunbo Wang
- Institute of Molecular Medicine & Innovative Pharmaceutics, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Ya Ke
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Wing-Ho Yung
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
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Luo YJ, Ge J, Chen ZK, Liu ZL, Lazarus M, Qu WM, Huang ZL, Li YD. Ventral pallidal glutamatergic neurons regulate wakefulness and emotion through separated projections. iScience 2023; 26:107385. [PMID: 37609631 PMCID: PMC10440712 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Insomnia is often comorbid with depression, but the underlying neuronal circuit mechanism remains elusive. Recently, we reported that GABAergic ventral pallidum (VP) neurons control wakefulness associated with motivation. However, whether and how other subtypes of VP neurons regulate arousal and emotion are largely unknown. Here, we report glutamatergic VP (VPVglut2) neurons control wakefulness and depressive-like behaviors. Physiologically, the calcium activity of VPVglut2 neurons was increased during both NREM sleep-to-wake transitions and depressive/anxiety-like behaviors in mice. Functionally, activation of VPVglut2 neurons was sufficient to increase wakefulness and induce anxiety/depressive-like behaviors, whereas inhibition attenuated both. Dissection of the circuit revealed that separated projections of VPVglut2 neurons to the lateral hypothalamus and lateral habenula promote arousal and depressive-like behaviors, respectively. Our results demonstrate a subtype of VP neurons is responsible for wakefulness and emotion through separated projections, and may provide new lines for the intervention of insomnia and depression in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Jia Luo
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, China
| | - Jing Ge
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Ze-Ka Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Zi-Long Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Michael Lazarus
- International Institute for Integrative Sleep Medicine (WPI-IIIS) and Institute of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan
| | - Wei-Min Qu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Zhi-Li Huang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
- Department of Anesthesiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Ya-Dong Li
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, and Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
- Songjiang Research Institute, Shanghai Songjiang District Central Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 201699, China
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Xue Y, Tang J, Zhang M, He Y, Fu J, Ding F. Durative sleep fragmentation with or without hypertension suppress rapid eye movement sleep and generate cerebrovascular dysfunction. Neurobiol Dis 2023:106222. [PMID: 37419254 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Either hypertension or chronic insomnia is the risk factor of developing vascular dementia. Durative hypertension can induce vascular remodeling and is used for modeling small vessel disease in rodents. It remains undetermined if the combination of hypertension and sleep disturbance exacerbates vascular dysfunction or pathologies. Previously, we found chronic sleep fragmentation (SF) dampened cognition in young mice without disease predispositions. In the current study, we superimposed SF with hypertension modeling in young mice. Angiotensin II (AngII)-releasing osmotic mini pumps were subcutaneously implanted to generate persistent hypertension, while sham surgeries were performed as controls. Sleep fragmentation with repetitive arousals (10 s every 2 min) during light-on 12 h for consecutive 30 days, while mice undergoing normal sleep (NS) processes were set as controls. Sleep architectures, whisker-stimulated cerebral blood flow (CBF) changes, vascular responsiveness as well as vascular pathologies were compared among normal sleep plus sham (NS + sham), SF plus sham (SF + sham), normal sleep plus AngII (NS + AngII), and SF plus AngII (SF + AngII) groups. SF and hypertension both alter sleep structures, particularly suppressing REM sleep. SF no matter if combined with hypertension strongly suppressed whisker-stimulated CBF increase, suggesting the tight association with cognitive decline. Hypertension modeling sensitizes vascular responsiveness toward a vasoactive agent, Acetylcholine (ACh, 5 mg/ml, 10 μl) delivered via cisterna magna infusion, while SF exhibits a similar but much milder effect. None of the modeling above was sufficient to induce arterial or arteriole vascular remodeling, but SF or SF plus hypertension increased vascular network density constructed by all categories of cerebral vessels. The current study would potentially help understand the pathogenesis of vascular dementia, and the interconnection between sleep and vascular health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Xue
- Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Jie Tang
- Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Miaoyi Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Yifan He
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and Ministry of Education Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Jianhui Fu
- Department of Neurology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
| | - Fengfei Ding
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and Ministry of Education Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
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