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Neuroanatomy as an Implement for the Study of CNS Function...
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Neuroanatomy as an Implement for the Study of CNS Function and Dysfunction

A special issue of Biomolecules (ISSN 2218-273X). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2024 | Viewed by 5716

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Anastasia Tsingotjidou

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Interests: systems neuroanatomy, histology and histopathology of peripheral neuropathies, animal models in CNS-related malignancies
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Chryssa Bekiari

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Interests: neuroanatomy, histology and histopathology of CNS, adult hippocampal neurogenesis, animal models of neurodegenerative diseases

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Neuroanatomy is the study of the structure and organization of the nervous system. For years, the field of science has faced many provocative and challenging investigations and discoveries, not only in the developing, but also in the adult and aged CNS as well.

Over the years, neuroanatomy has expanded its territories with the use of special molecules (e.g., fluorescent markers and nanoparticles), revealing unidentified connections and functionality between cells in both healthy and diseased nervous system, even leading to the invention of novel therapeutic-oriented administration routes.

Imaging modalities (e.g., optogenetics, fMRI, 3D light microscopy) have also developed exponentially, giving scientists the opportunity to visualize neurons and/or nuclei while performing complex and simple tasks, both in humans and in animals.

This added to the molecular biology, translational, and clinical advancements, enabling scientists to question previous theories and to map previously covered neural paths.

This Special Issue will focus on new advancements in neuroanatomy unravelling the structure, function, and dysfunction of the nervous system

Dr. Anastasia Tsingotjidou
Dr. Chryssa Bekiari
Guest Editors

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. Biomolecules is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). 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

  • neurogenesis
  • neural pathways
  • neurodegenerative diseases
  • molecular markers
  • functional neuroanatomy

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 22452 KiB  
Article
Characterization of the Abracl-Expressing Cell Populations in the Embryonic Mammalian Telencephalon
by Dimitrios Troumpoukis, Andreas Rafail Vasileiou, Nikistratos Siskos, Electra Stylianopoulou, Petros Ypsilantis, George Skavdis and Maria E. Grigoriou
Biomolecules 2023, 13(9), 1337; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom13091337 - 31 Aug 2023
Viewed by 1294
Abstract
Abracl (ABRA C-terminal-like protein) is a small, non-typical winged-helix protein that shares similarity with the C-terminal domain of the protein ABRA (Actin-Binding Rho-Activating protein). The role of Abracl in the cell remains elusive, although in cancer cells, it has been implicated in proliferation, [...] Read more.
Abracl (ABRA C-terminal-like protein) is a small, non-typical winged-helix protein that shares similarity with the C-terminal domain of the protein ABRA (Actin-Binding Rho-Activating protein). The role of Abracl in the cell remains elusive, although in cancer cells, it has been implicated in proliferation, migration and actin dynamics. Our previous study showed that Abracl mRNA was expressed in the dividing cells of the subpallial subventricular zone (SVZ), in the developing cortical plate (CP), and in the diencephalic SVZ; however, the molecular identities of the Abracl-expressing cell populations were not defined in that work. In this study, we use double immunofluorescence to characterize the expression of Abracl on sections of embryonic murine (E11.5-E18.5) and feline (E30/31-E33/34) telencephalon; to this end, we use a battery of well-known molecular markers of cycling (Ki67, Ascl1, Dlx2) or post-mitotic (Tubb3, Gad65/67, Lhx6 and Tbr1) cells. Our experiments show that Abracl protein has, compared to the mRNA, a broader expression domain, including, apart from proliferating cells of the subpallial and diencephalic SVZ, post-mitotic cells occupying the subpallial and pallial mantle (including the CP), as well as subpallial-derived migrating interneurons. Interestingly, in late embryonic developmental stages, Abracl was also transiently detected in major telencephalic fiber tracts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Neuroanatomy as an Implement for the Study of CNS Function and Dysfunction)
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16 pages, 1995 KiB  
Article
Cellular Localization of Orexin 1 Receptor in Human Hypothalamus and Morphological Analysis of Neurons Expressing the Receptor
by Konstantina Vraka, Dimitrios Mytilinaios, Andreas P. Katsenos, Anastasios Serbis, Stavros Baloyiannis, Stefanos Bellos, Yannis V. Simos, Nikolaos P. Tzavellas, Spyridon Konitsiotis, Patra Vezyraki, Dimitrios Peschos and Konstantinos I. Tsamis
Biomolecules 2023, 13(4), 592; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom13040592 - 25 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1966
Abstract
The orexin system is related to food behavior, energy balance, wakefulness and the reward system. It consists of the neuropeptides orexin A and B, and their receptors, orexin 1 receptor (OX1R) and orexin 2 receptor (OX2R). OX1R has selective affinity for orexin A, [...] Read more.
The orexin system is related to food behavior, energy balance, wakefulness and the reward system. It consists of the neuropeptides orexin A and B, and their receptors, orexin 1 receptor (OX1R) and orexin 2 receptor (OX2R). OX1R has selective affinity for orexin A, and is implicated in multiple functions, such as reward, emotions, and autonomic regulation. This study provides information about the OX1R distribution in human hypothalamus. The human hypothalamus, despite its small size, demonstrates a remarkable complexity in terms of cell populations and cellular morphology. Numerous studies have focused on various neurotransmitters and neuropeptides in the hypothalamus, both in animals and humans, however, there is limited experimental data on the morphological characteristics of neurons. The immunohistochemical analysis of the human hypothalamus revealed that OX1R is mainly found in the lateral hypothalamic area, the lateral preoptic nucleus, the supraoptic nucleus, the dorsomedial nucleus, the ventromedial nucleus, and the paraventricular nucleus. The rest of the hypothalamic nuclei do not express the receptor, except for a very low number of neurons in the mammillary bodies. After identifying the nuclei and neuronal groups that were immunopositive for OX1R, a morphological and morphometric analysis of those neurons was conducted using the Golgi method. The analysis revealed that the neurons in the lateral hypothalamic area were uniform in terms of their morphological characteristics, often forming small groups of three to four neurons. A high proportion of neurons in this area (over 80%) expressed the OX1R, with particularly high expression in the lateral tuberal nucleus (over 95% of neurons). These results were analyzed, and shown to represent, at the cellular level, the distribution of OX1R, and we discuss the regulatory role of orexin A in the intra-hypothalamic areas, such as its special role in the plasticity of neurons, as well as in neuronal networks of the human hypothalamus. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Neuroanatomy as an Implement for the Study of CNS Function and Dysfunction)
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Review

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25 pages, 3697 KiB  
Review
Exploring the Intricacies of Neurogenic Niches: Unraveling the Anatomy and Neural Microenvironments
by Ismael Sánchez-Gomar, Noelia Geribaldi-Doldán, Celeste Santos-Rosendo, Ciro Sanguino-Caneva, Carlos Carrillo-Chapman, Ornella Fiorillo-Moreno, José Luis Villareal Camacho, Elkin Navarro Quiroz and Cristina Verástegui
Biomolecules 2024, 14(3), 335; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14030335 - 12 Mar 2024
Viewed by 855
Abstract
Neurogenesis is the process of forming new neurons from neural stem cells (NSCs). In adults, this process takes place in specific areas of the brain, known as neurogenic niches. These regions have unique anatomical features that have been studied in animal models and [...] Read more.
Neurogenesis is the process of forming new neurons from neural stem cells (NSCs). In adults, this process takes place in specific areas of the brain, known as neurogenic niches. These regions have unique anatomical features that have been studied in animal models and in the human brain; however, there are differences between these models that need to be addressed. The most studied areas are the subventricular zone, the lateral and latero-dorsal walls of the lateral ventricles, and the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus (Hp), which are known as the canonical areas. Other, less-studied niches, such as the hypothalamus, the cerebellum, and the amygdala, are known as non-canonical areas. Anatomy occupies a relevant place in adult neurogenesis, in which the tissue architecture and cellular location are necessities for the interaction and release of diverse molecules that allow this phenomenon. The cell arrangement within the niche and the location of the niche itself are of particular relevance to the state in which the NSCs are found. Consequently, the majority of previous discoveries have been related to pathology. While many studies are based on animal models, discoveries related to neurogenesis in humans have also been made; however, in this case, opinions vary, leading to extensive controversy in recent years. In this review, we address the anatomical characteristics of the different brain regions to better understand their relationships within neurogenesis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Neuroanatomy as an Implement for the Study of CNS Function and Dysfunction)
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Other

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29 pages, 3627 KiB  
Essay
Functional Implications of the Prosomeric Brain Model
by Luis Puelles
Biomolecules 2024, 14(3), 331; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14030331 - 11 Mar 2024
Viewed by 955
Abstract
Brain models present a viewpoint on the fundamental structural components of the brain and their mutual organization, generally relative to a particular concept of the brain axis. A model may be based on adult brain structure or on developmental morphogenetic aspects. Brain models [...] Read more.
Brain models present a viewpoint on the fundamental structural components of the brain and their mutual organization, generally relative to a particular concept of the brain axis. A model may be based on adult brain structure or on developmental morphogenetic aspects. Brain models usually have functional implications, depending on which functional properties derive from the postulated organization. This essay examines the present scenario about brain models, emphasizing the contrast between columnar or other longitudinal models and transverse subdivisional neuromeric models. In each case, the main functional implications and apparent problems are explored and commented. Particular attention is given to the modern molecularly based ‘prosomeric model’, which postulates a set of 20 transverse prosomeres as the developmental units that serve to construct all the cerebral parts and the particular typology of many different neuronal populations within the forebrain and the hindbrain, plus a number of additional spinal cord units. These metameric developmental units (serially repeated, but with unique molecular profiles) confer to this model remarkable functional properties based mainly on its multiplicity and modularity. Many important brain functions can be decomposed into subfunctions attended to by combined sets of neuronal elements derived from different neuromeres. Each neuromere may participate in multiple functions. Most aspects related to creation of precise order in neural connections (axonal navigation and synaptogenesis) and function is due to the influence of neuromeric anteroposterior and dorsoventral positional information. Research on neuromeric functionality aspects is increasing significantly in recent times. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Neuroanatomy as an Implement for the Study of CNS Function and Dysfunction)
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