Research Keyword: postsynaptic density

Striking long-term beneficial effects of single dose psilocybin and psychedelic mushroom extract in the SAPAP3 rodent model of OCD-like excessive self-grooming

Researchers tested whether psilocybin (the active compound in magic mushrooms) could treat obsessive-compulsive disorder using genetically modified mice that exhibit excessive grooming similar to OCD in humans. A single dose of psilocybin or psychedelic mushroom extract significantly reduced the excessive grooming behavior and anxiety in these mice, with benefits lasting up to six weeks. These findings suggest psilocybin may be a promising new treatment for OCD in humans, offering longer-lasting effects from a single dose compared to current medications.

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High-Fat Diet Consumption Induces Neurobehavioral Abnormalities and Neuronal Morphological Alterations Accompanied by Excessive Microglial Activation in the Medial Prefrontal Cortex in Adolescent Mice

This study shows that eating a high-fat diet during the teenage years can harm brain development and mood in mice. The research found that high-fat diets led to anxiety and depression-like symptoms, along with shrinking brain structures and overactive immune cells in the brain. These findings suggest that teenagers should maintain healthy eating habits, as poor diet during adolescence may have long-lasting effects on mental health.

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Synaptic degeneration in the prefrontal cortex of a rat AD model revealed by volume electron microscopy

Researchers used advanced microscopy techniques to examine brain tissue from rats with Alzheimer’s disease and compared it to healthy rats. They found that Alzheimer’s disease causes damage to connections between brain cells (synapses) in a brain region important for thinking and memory. Specifically, the connections were weaker and smaller, and many new spine-like structures formed but didn’t properly connect to other cells, suggesting the brain may be trying unsuccessfully to compensate for the disease.

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Rac1/PAK1 signaling contributes to bone cancer pain by regulation dendritic spine remodeling in rats

Researchers studied how bone cancer pain develops in rats and found that a specific cellular signaling pathway called Rac1/PAK1 plays a key role. When tumors grow in bone, this pathway becomes overactive and causes changes in nerve cell structures called dendritic spines, which leads to increased pain sensitivity. By blocking this pathway with a drug called NSC23766, scientists were able to reduce pain and reverse the harmful changes to nerve cells, suggesting a new potential treatment approach for cancer patients suffering from bone pain.

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