scholarly journals Rab6A as a Pan-Astrocytic Marker in Mouse and Human Brain, and Comparison with Other Glial Markers (GFAP, GS, Aldh1L1, SOX9)

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 72
Author(s):  
Linda Melzer ◽  
Thomas M. Freiman ◽  
Amin Derouiche
Keyword(s):  
Human Brain ◽  
Glial Fibrillary Acid Protein ◽  
Dynamic Regulation ◽  
Brain Functions ◽  
Physiological Processes ◽  
Acid Protein ◽  
Cell Type Specific ◽  
Vesicular Exocytosis ◽  
Golgi Network ◽  
Higher Brain Functions

Astrocytes contribute to many higher brain functions. A key mechanism in glia-to-neuron signalling is vesicular exocytosis; however, the identity of exocytosis organelles remains a matter of debate. Since vesicles derived from the trans-Golgi network (TGN) are not considered in this context, we studied the astrocyte TGN by immunocytochemistry applying anti-Rab6A. In mouse brain, Rab6A immunostaining is found to be unexpectedly massive, diffuse in all regions, and is detected preferentially and abundantly in the peripheral astrocyte processes, which is hardly evident without glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP) co-staining. All cells positive for the astrocytic markers glutamine synthetase (GS), GFAP, aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 family member L1 (Aldh1L1), or SRY (sex determining region Y)-box 9 (SOX9) were Rab6A+. Rab6A is excluded from microglia, oligodendrocytes, and NG2 cells using cell type-specific markers. In human cortex, Rab6A labelling is very similar and associated with GFAP+ astrocytes. The mouse data also confirm the specific astrocytic labelling by Aldh1L1 or SOX9; the astrocyte-specific labelling by GS sometimes debated is replicated again. In mouse and human brain, individual astrocytes display high variability in Rab6A+ structures, suggesting dynamic regulation of the glial TGN. In summary, Rab6A expression is an additional, global descriptor of astrocyte identity. Rab6A might constitute an organelle system with a potential role of Rab6A in neuropathological and physiological processes.

scholarly journals Emergence Of Consciousness And Qualia From A Complex Brain

Folia Medica ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 289-296
Author(s):  
Jakob Korf
Keyword(s):  
System Theory ◽  
General System ◽  
Resolution Power ◽  
Brain Functions ◽  
Scientific Exploration ◽  
Brain Changes ◽  
Higher Brain Functions ◽  
The Brain

Abstract Qualia are private conscious experiences of which the associated feelings can be reported to other people. Whether qualia are amenable to scientific exploration has often been questioned, which is challenged by the present article. The following arguments are given: 1. the configuration of the brain changes continuously and irreversibly, because of genetic and environmental influences and interhuman communication; 2. qualia and consciousness are processes, rather than states; 3. private feelings, including those associated with qualia, should be positioned in the context of a personal brain as being developed during life; 4. consciousness and qualia should be understood in the context of general system theory, thus concluding that isolated, in vitro, properties of neurons and other brain constituents might marginally contribute to the understanding of higher brain functions, mind or qualia; 5. current in vivo approaches have too little resolution power - in terms of space and time - to delineate individual and subjective brain processes. When subtle personalized properties of the nervous system can be assessed in vivo or in vitro, qualia can scientifically be investigated. We discuss some approaches to overcome these barriers.

Gliomatosis Cerebri in Six Dogs

2003 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Porter ◽  
A. DeLahunta ◽  
B. Summers
Keyword(s):  
Cranial Nerve ◽  
Gliomatosis Cerebri ◽  
Clinical Findings ◽  
Human Medicine ◽  
Glial Fibrillary Acid Protein ◽  
Neoplastic Cells ◽  
Diffuse Infiltration ◽  
Acid Protein ◽  
Pathologic Features ◽  
The Brain

Gliomatosis cerebri is a well-recognized entity in human medicine characterized by unusually widespread infiltration of the neuraxis by neoplastic glial cells with relative preservation of brain architecture. This report describes the pathologic features of the disease in six dogs. The dogs ranged from 3 to 9 years of age (mean 6.1 years) without evidence of breed predilection; five of the six dogs were neutered or intact males. The clinical findings were mixed (including depression, circling, cranial nerve deficits), reflecting the diffuse nature of the disease. Histologically, there was remarkably diffuse infiltration of the white and gray matter of the brain by small numbers of elongated neoplastic cells. Areas of greater cellularity formed grossly visible lesions in four cases. Anisocytosis and pleomorphism were greater in areas of higher cellularity. Other features of tumor growth included subpial accumulation, neuronal satellitosis, perivascular cuffing, and tropism for cranial nerve and brain stem nuclei. Neoplastic cells were negative on immunohistochemical stains for glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP) and leukocyte markers, reflecting the uncertain histogenesis of these unusual neoplasms.

scholarly journals The Gliocentric Brain

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (10) ◽  
pp. 3033 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Robertson
Keyword(s):  
Neural Networks ◽  
Great Majority ◽  
Memory Storage ◽  
Neural Cells ◽  
Strict Adherence ◽  
Brain Functions ◽  
The Past ◽  
Mechanisms Of Memory ◽  
Higher Brain Functions ◽  
Abnormal Brain

The Neuron Doctrine, the cornerstone of research on normal and abnormal brain functions for over a century, has failed to discern the basis of complex cognitive functions. The location and mechanisms of memory storage and recall, consciousness, and learning, remain enigmatic. The purpose of this article is to critically review the Neuron Doctrine in light of empirical data over the past three decades. Similarly, the central role of the synapse and associated neural networks, as well as ancillary hypotheses, such as gamma synchrony and cortical minicolumns, are critically examined. It is concluded that each is fundamentally flawed and that, over the past three decades, the study of non-neuronal cells, particularly astrocytes, has shown that virtually all functions ascribed to neurons are largely the result of direct or indirect actions of glia continuously interacting with neurons and neural networks. Recognition of non-neural cells in higher brain functions is extremely important. The strict adherence of purely neurocentric ideas, deeply ingrained in the great majority of neuroscientists, remains a detriment to understanding normal and abnormal brain functions. By broadening brain information processing beyond neurons, progress in understanding higher level brain functions, as well as neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders, will progress beyond the impasse that has been evident for decades.

On the Limits of Time in the Brain

KronoScope ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 228-239
Author(s):  
Rémy Lestienne
Keyword(s):  
Human Brain ◽  
Brain Functions ◽  
Inner Sense ◽  
The Past ◽  
Intellectual Abilities ◽  
The Future ◽  
Flow Of Time ◽  
Nested Hierarchy ◽  
Future Outcomes ◽  
The Brain

Abstract J.T. Fraser used to emphasize the uniqueness of the human brain in its capacity for apprehending the various dimensions of “nootemporality” (Fraser 1982 and 1987). Indeed, our brain allows us to sense the flow of time, to measure delays, to remember past events or to predict future outcomes. In these achievements, the human brain reveals itself far superior to its animal counterpart. Women and men are the only beings, I believe, who are able to think about what they will do the next day. This is because such a thought implies three intellectual abilities that are proper to mankind: the capacity to take their own thoughts as objects of their thinking, the ability of mental time travels—to the past thanks to their episodic memory or to the future—and the possibility to project very far into the future, as a consequence of their enlarged and complexified forebrain. But there are severe limits to our timing abilities of which we are often unaware. Our sensibility to the passing time, like other of our intellectual abilities, is often competing with other brain functions, because they use at least in part the same neural networks. This is particularly the case regarding attention. The deeper the level of attention required, the looser is our perception of the flow of time. When we pay attention to something, when we fix our attention, then our inner sense of the flux of time freezes. This limitation should not sound too unfamiliar to the reader of J.T. Fraser who wrote in his book Time, Conflict, and Human Values (1999) about “time as a nested hierarchy of unresolvable conflicts.”

scholarly journals Cognitive profile and disorders affecting higher brain functions in paediatric patients with neurofibromatosis type 1

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 353-359
Author(s):  
E. Vaucheret Paz ◽  
A. López Ballent ◽  
C. Puga ◽  
M.J. García Basalo ◽  
F. Baliarda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neurofibromatosis Type 1 ◽  
Neurofibromatosis Type ◽  
Cognitive Profile ◽  
Brain Functions ◽  
Paediatric Patients ◽  
Higher Brain Functions

Higher Brain Functions

2008 ◽  
pp. 651-666
Author(s):  
Rachel Casas ◽  
Daniel Tranel
Keyword(s):  
Brain Functions ◽  
Higher Brain Functions
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