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Recent work has shown that thalamocortical (TC) inputs can be plastic after the developmental critical period has closed, but the mechanism that enables re-establishment of plasticity is unclear. Here, we find that long-term potentiation (LTP) at TC inputs is transiently restored in spared barrel cortex following either a unilateral infra-orbital nerve (ION) lesion, unilateral whisker trimming, or unilateral ablation of the rodent barrel cortex. Restoration of LTP is associated with increased po

Therefore, it could be a promising treatment for neurodegenerative diseases as it remarkably increases LTP, thereby improving working memory.

Post-menopausal depression (PMD) is a common psychological disorder accompanied by a cognitive deficit, which is caused by a series of uncontrolled emotional disruptions by strong environmental stressors during menopause. To overcome PMD-induced cognitive deficit, Green tea has been suggested as a dietary supplement because of its ameliorating effect on cognitive dysfunction induced by normal aging or neurodegenerative syndromes; however, its clinical use to improve PMD-accompanied cognitive def

Transient receptor potential V1 (TRPV1) has been suggested to play an important role in detecting decreases in extracellular pH (pH(o)). Results from recent in vivo studies, however, have suggested that TRPV1 channels play less of a role in sensing a moderately acidic pH(o) (6.0 < pH < 7.0) than predicted from the in vitro experiments. A clear explanation for this discrepancy between the in vitro and in vivo data has not yet been provided. We report here that intracellular acidification induced

Presynaptic imidazoline receptors (R(i-pre)) are found in the sympathetic axon terminals of animal and human cardiovascular systems, and they regulate blood pressure by modulating the release of peripheral noradrenaline (NA). The cellular mechanism of R(i-pre)-induced inhibition of NA release is unknown. We, therefore, investigated the effect of R(i-pre) activation on voltage-dependent Ca(2+) channels in rat superior cervical ganglion (SCG) neurons, using the conventional whole-cell patch-clamp

Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), a metabolite of membrane phospholipids by phospholipase A(2), has been considered responsible for the development of abnormal vascular reactivity during atherosclerosis. Ca(2+) influx was shown to be augmented in atherosclerotic artery which might be responsible for abnormal vascular reactivity. However, the mechanism underlying Ca(2+) influx change in atherosclerotic artery remains undetermined. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of LPC on

Elucidating cellular dynamics at the level of a single neuron and its associated role within neuronal circuits is essential for interpreting the complex nature of the brain. To investigate the operation of neural activity within its network, it is necessary to precisely manipulate the activation of each neuron and verify its propagation path via the synaptic connection. In this study, by exploiting the intrinsic physical and electrical advantages of a nanoelectrode, a vertical nanowire multi ele

<i>Aging</i> leads to cognitive impairments characterized by reduced hippocampal functions that are associated with impairment of long-term potentiation of CA1 synapses. <i>Here, we assessed the safety and efficacy of</i> modified (-)-gallocatechin gallate (GCG)-enriched green tea extract (HTP-GTE) <i>in ameliorating the cognitive dysfunctions in late middle-aged murine model.</i> We developed a novel HTP-GTE that was enriched with GCG via epimerization that involved heating. We compared the eff

Spontaneous myometrial contraction (SMC) in pregnant uterus is greatly related with gestational age and growing in frequency and amplitude toward the end of gestation to initiate labor. But, an accurate mechanism has not been elucidated. In human and rat uterus, all TRPCs except TRPC2 are expressed in pregnant myometrium and among them, TRPC4 are predominant throughout gestation, suggesting a possible role in regulation of SMC. Therefore, we investigated whether the TRP channel may be involved S

The protease-activated receptor (PAR)-2 is highly expressed in endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells. It plays a crucial role in regulating blood pressure via the modulation of peripheral vascular tone. Although several mechanisms have been suggested to explain PAR-2-induced hypotension, the precise mechanism remains to be elucidated. To investigate this possibility, we investigated the effects of PAR-2 activation on N-type Ca(2+) currents (I(Ca-N)) in isolated neurons of the celiac