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Latest Review Papers in Molecular Neurobiology 2024

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Neurobiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2024 | Viewed by 3586

Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to collect high-quality review papers in all the fields of neurobiology. We encourage researchers from related fields to contribute review papers which explore the latest developments in neurobiology, or to invite relevant experts and colleagues to do so. Full-length comprehensive reviews are favoured.

Dr. Anna Atlante
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • neurobiology
  • neurochemistry
  • neurology
  • neuropathology
  • neurophysiology
  • neuropharmacology
  • neurogenetics
  • neuro-oncology
  • aging neuroscience
  • neurotrauma
  • neurogenesis
  • neurotransmitter
  • neuroinflammation
  • neuroendocrine tumor
  • neurodegenerative diseases

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Review

18 pages, 394 KiB  
Review
Parvalbumin Interneuron Dysfunction in Neurological Disorders: Focus on Epilepsy and Alzheimer’s Disease
by Beulah Leitch
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(10), 5549; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25105549 - 19 May 2024
Viewed by 275
Abstract
Parvalbumin expressing (PV+) GABAergic interneurons are fast spiking neurons that provide powerful but relatively short-lived inhibition to principal excitatory cells in the brain. They play a vital role in feedforward and feedback synaptic inhibition, preventing run away excitation in neural networks. Hence, their [...] Read more.
Parvalbumin expressing (PV+) GABAergic interneurons are fast spiking neurons that provide powerful but relatively short-lived inhibition to principal excitatory cells in the brain. They play a vital role in feedforward and feedback synaptic inhibition, preventing run away excitation in neural networks. Hence, their dysfunction can lead to hyperexcitability and increased susceptibility to seizures. PV+ interneurons are also key players in generating gamma oscillations, which are synchronized neural oscillations associated with various cognitive functions. PV+ interneuron are particularly vulnerable to aging and their degeneration has been associated with cognitive decline and memory impairment in dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Overall, dysfunction of PV+ interneurons disrupts the normal excitatory/inhibitory balance within specific neurocircuits in the brain and thus has been linked to a wide range of neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders. This review focuses on the role of dysfunctional PV+ inhibitory interneurons in the generation of epileptic seizures and cognitive impairment and their potential as targets in the design of future therapeutic strategies to treat these disorders. Recent research using cutting-edge optogenetic and chemogenetic technologies has demonstrated that they can be selectively manipulated to control seizures and restore the balance of neural activity in the brains of animal models. This suggests that PV+ interneurons could be important targets in developing future treatments for patients with epilepsy and comorbid disorders, such as AD, where seizures and cognitive decline are directly linked to specific PV+ interneuron deficits. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Latest Review Papers in Molecular Neurobiology 2024)
15 pages, 8264 KiB  
Review
Molecular, Morphological and Electrophysiological Differences between Alpha and Gamma Motoneurons with Special Reference to the Trigeminal Motor Nucleus of Rat
by Youngnam Kang, Mitsuru Saito and Hiroki Toyoda
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(10), 5266; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25105266 - 12 May 2024
Viewed by 282
Abstract
The muscle contraction during voluntary movement is controlled by activities of alpha- and gamma-motoneurons (αMNs and γMNs, respectively). In spite of the recent advances in research on molecular markers that can distinguish between αMNs and γMNs, electrophysiological membrane properties and firing patterns of [...] Read more.
The muscle contraction during voluntary movement is controlled by activities of alpha- and gamma-motoneurons (αMNs and γMNs, respectively). In spite of the recent advances in research on molecular markers that can distinguish between αMNs and γMNs, electrophysiological membrane properties and firing patterns of γMNs have remained unknown, while those of αMNs have been clarified in detail. Because of the larger size of αMNs compared to γMNs, blindly or even visually recorded MNs were mostly αMNs, as demonstrated with molecular markers recently. Subsequently, the research on αMNs has made great progress in classifying their subtypes based on the molecular markers and electrophysiological membrane properties, whereas only a few studies demonstrated the electrophysiological membrane properties of γMNs. In this review article, we provide an overview of the recent advances in research on the classification of αMNs and γMNs based on molecular markers and electrophysiological membrane properties, and discuss their functional implication and significance in motor control. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Latest Review Papers in Molecular Neurobiology 2024)
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16 pages, 600 KiB  
Review
Epigenetics, Nutrition, and the Brain: Improving Mental Health through Diet
by Rola A. Bekdash
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(7), 4036; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25074036 - 4 Apr 2024
Viewed by 1337
Abstract
The relationship between nutrition and brain health is intricate. Studies suggest that nutrients during early life impact not only human physiology but also mental health. Although the exact molecular mechanisms that depict this relationship remain unclear, there are indications that environmental factors such [...] Read more.
The relationship between nutrition and brain health is intricate. Studies suggest that nutrients during early life impact not only human physiology but also mental health. Although the exact molecular mechanisms that depict this relationship remain unclear, there are indications that environmental factors such as eating, lifestyle habits, stress, and physical activity, influence our genes and modulate their function by epigenetic mechanisms to shape mental health outcomes. Epigenetic mechanisms act as crucial link between genes and environmental influences, proving that non-genetic factors could have enduring effects on the epigenome and influence health trajectories. We review studies that demonstrated an epigenetic mechanism of action of nutrition on mental health, focusing on the role of specific micronutrients during critical stages of brain development. The methyl-donor micronutrients of the one-carbon metabolism, such as choline, betaine, methionine, folic acid, VitB6 and VitB12 play critical roles in various physiological processes, including DNA and histone methylation. These micronutrients have been shown to alter gene function and susceptibility to diseases including mental health and metabolic disorders. Understanding how micronutrients influence metabolic genes in humans can lead to the implementation of early nutritional interventions to reduce the risk of developing metabolic and mental health disorders later in life. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Latest Review Papers in Molecular Neurobiology 2024)
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20 pages, 3544 KiB  
Review
Kynurenines, Neuronal Excitotoxicity, and Mitochondrial Oxidative Stress: Role of the Intestinal Flora
by Gábor Nagy-Grócz, Eleonóra Spekker and László Vécsei
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(3), 1698; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25031698 - 30 Jan 2024
Viewed by 1318
Abstract
The intestinal flora has been the focus of numerous investigations recently, with inquiries not just into the gastrointestinal aspects but also the pathomechanism of other diseases such as nervous system disorders and mitochondrial diseases. Mitochondrial disorders are the most common type of inheritable [...] Read more.
The intestinal flora has been the focus of numerous investigations recently, with inquiries not just into the gastrointestinal aspects but also the pathomechanism of other diseases such as nervous system disorders and mitochondrial diseases. Mitochondrial disorders are the most common type of inheritable metabolic illness caused by mutations of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA. Despite the intensive research, its diagnosis is usually difficult, and unfortunately, treating it challenges physicians. Metabolites of the kynurenine pathway are linked to many disorders, such as depression, schizophrenia, migraine, and also diseases associated with impaired mitochondrial function. The kynurenine pathway includes many substances, for instance kynurenic acid and quinolinic acid. In this review, we would like to show a possible link between the metabolites of the kynurenine pathway and mitochondrial stress in the context of intestinal flora. Furthermore, we summarize the possible markers of and future therapeutic options for the kynurenine pathway in excitotoxicity and mitochondrial oxidative stress. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Latest Review Papers in Molecular Neurobiology 2024)
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