Graft outcomes influenced by co-expression of Pax7 in graft and host tissue

Anesthesia and analgesia for experimental craniotomy in mice and rats: a systematic scoping review comparing the years 2009 and 2019

Experimental craniotomies are a common surgical procedure in neuroscience. Because inadequate analgesia appears to be a problem in animal-based research, we conducted this review and collected information on management of craniotomy-associated pain in laboratory mice and rats. A comprehensive search and screening resulted in the identification of 2235 studies, published in 2009 and 2019, describing craniotomy in mice and/or rats. While key features were extracted from all studies, detailed information was extracted from a random subset of 100 studies/year. Reporting of perioperative analgesia increased from 2009 to 2019. However, the majority of studies from both years did not report pharmacologic pain management. Moreover, reporting of multimodal treatments remained at a low level, and monotherapeutic approaches were more common. Among drug groups, reporting of pre- and postoperative administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, opioids, and local anesthetics in 2019 exceeded that of 2009. In summary, these results suggest that inadequate analgesia and oligoanalgesia are persistent issues associated with experimental intracranial surgery. This underscores the need for intensified training of those working with laboratory rodents subjected to craniotomies.

Systematic review registration

https://osf.io/7d4qe.

Autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa rhodopsin mutant Q344X drives specific alterations in chromatin complex gene transcription

Purpose

Epigenetic and transcriptional mechanisms have been shown to contribute to long-lasting functional changes in adult neurons. The purpose of this study was to identify any such modifications in diseased retinal tissues from a mouse model of rhodopsin mutation-associated autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (ADRP), Q344X, relative to age-matched wild-type (WT) controls.

Methods

We performed RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) at poly(A) selected RNA to profile the transcriptional patterns in 3-week-old ADRP mouse model rhodopsin Q344X compared to WT controls. Differentially expressed genes were determined by DESeq2 using the Benjamini & Hochberg p value adjustment and an absolute log₂ fold change cutoff. Quantitative western blots were conducted to evaluate protein expression levels of histone H3 phosphorylated at serine 10 and histone H4. qRT-PCR was performed to validate the expression patterns of differentially expressed genes.

Results

We observed significant differential expression in 2151 genes in the retina of Q344X mice compared to WT controls, including downregulation in the potassium channel gene, Kcnv2, and differential expression of histone genes, including the H1 family histone member, H1foo; the H3 histone family 3B, H3f3b; and the histone deacetylase 9, Hdac9. Quantitative western blots revealed statistically significant decreased protein expression of both histone H3 phosphorylated at serine 10 and histone H4 in 3-week-old Q344X retinas. Furthermore, qRT-PCR performed on select differentially expressed genes based on our RNA-seq results revealed matched expression patterns of up or downregulation.

Conclusions

These findings provide evidence that transcriptomic alterations occur in the ADRP mouse model rhodopsin Q344X retina and that these processes may contribute to the dysfunction and neurodegeneration seen in this animal model.

Role of transcription factors in cell replacement therapies for neurodegenerative conditions

Parkinson's disease is the second most common neurological condition, behind dementia, for which there is currently no cure. A promising curative treatment approach is cell replacement therapy, which involves the introduction of new dopaminergic cells into a degenerative Parkinson's disease brain. The future progression of this field into a clinically viable treatment option is reliant on generating replacement dopaminergic cells. Furthermore, as the ability of transplanted dopaminergic neurons to form connections with host tissue is dependent on where the cells are derived from, the replacement dopaminergic cells will need to be phenotypically similar to substantia nigra dopaminergic neurons. This article focuses on how developmental transcription factors have been utilized to assist the progression of stem cell therapies for Parkinson's disease. Key transcription factor-mediated stages of substantia nigra dopaminergic neuronal development is described in the belief that a comprehensive understanding of this specific dopaminergic differentiation pathway is necessary for the progression of successful cell therapies for Parkinson's disease.