In our previous projects, we have demonstrated the role of neurosteroids in schizophrenia in both the animal model and clinical research. Furthermore, we demonstrated the effect of pragnanolone derivatives in the animal model of schizophrenia. A number of studies suggest that different levels of neurosteroids may explain differences in the therapeutic response. Antipsychotics can normalize altered levels of neurosteroids, but they also have their own antipsychotic potential and can be used as adjuvant therapy to affect the negative and cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia. It is in this direction that our research will go. In the preclinical part, we will study changes in neurosteroid levels in the CNS in the animal model of schizophrenia in response to the application of typical and atypical antipsychotics. Consequently, adjuvant therapy with pregnane derivatives will study the potential for an increase in the antipsychotic effect of antipsychotics. In the clinical part, we will focus on steroid changes in the blood of schizophrenia patients who can predict response to clozapine.

V našich předchozích projektech jsme prokázali roli neurosteroidů u schizofrenie jak v animálním modelu, tak v klinickém výzkumu. Dále jsme prokázali vliv derivátů pragnanolonu v animálním modelu schizofrenie. Řada studií naznačuje, že rozdílné hladiny neurosteroidů mohou vysvětlit rozdíly v terapeutické odpovědi u schizofrenie. Antipsychotika mohou normalizovat alterované hladiny neurosteroidů, ty ale mají i vlastní antipsychotický potenciál a lze je využít jako adjuvantní terapii při ovlivnění negativních a kognitivních symptomů schizofrenie. Právě tímto směrem bude náš výzkum směřovat. V preklinické části budeme studovat změny hladin neurosteroidů v CNS v animálním modelu schizofrenie v odpovědi na aplikaci typických a atypických antipsychotik. A následně adjuvantní terapií deriváty pregnanů budeme studovat možnosti zvýšení antipsychotického účinku antipsychotik. V klinické části se zaměříme na změny steroidomu v krvi pacientů trpících schizofrenií, které mohou predikovat odpověď na léčbu klozapinem.

• Klíčová slova
• schizofrenie, schizophrenia, neurosteroidy, neurosteroids, Metabolomika, Metabolomics, adjuvant therapy, klozapine, adjuvantní terapie, clozapine,

• NLK Publikační typ
• závěrečné zprávy o řešení grantu AZV MZ ČR

List of changes: On the basis of author's request the publisher of Physiological Research decided to change the license of the article to CC BY license.

• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

We designed a behavioral task called One-Trial Trace Escape Reaction (OTTER), in which rats incidentally associate two temporally discontinuous stimuli: a neutral acoustic cue (CS) with an aversive stimulus (US) which occurs two seconds later (CS-2s-US sequence). Rats are first habituated to two similar environmental contexts (A and B), each consisting of an interconnected dark and light chamber. Next, rats experience the CS-2s-US sequence in the dark chamber of one of the contexts (either A or B); the US is terminated immediately after a rat escapes into the light chamber. The CS-2s-US sequence is presented only once to ensure the incidental acquisition of the association. The recall is tested 24 h later when rats are presented with only the CS in the alternate context (B or A), and their behavioral response is observed. Our results show that 59% of the rats responded to the CS by escaping to the light chamber, although they experienced only one CS-2s-US pairing. The OTTER task offers a flexible high throughput tool to study memory acquired incidentally after a single experience. Incidental one-trial acquisition of association between temporally discontinuous events may be one of the essential components of episodic memory formation.

• MeSH
• krysa rodu rattus MeSH
• rozpomínání MeSH
• strach fyziologie   MeSH
• úniková reakce MeSH
• vydry * MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• krysa rodu rattus MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Schizophrenia research has increased in recent decades and focused more on its neural basis. Decision-making and cognitive flexibility are the main cognitive functions that are impaired and considered schizophrenia endophenotypes. Cognitive impairment was recently connected with altered functions of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDAR) glutamatergic receptors, which increased cortical activity. Selective NMDAR antagonists, such as MK-801, have been used to model cognitive inflexibility in schizophrenia. Decreased GABAergic inhibitory activity has been shown elsewhere with enhanced cortical activity. This imbalance in the excitatory/inhibitory may reduce the entrainment of prefrontal gamma and hippocampal theta rhythms and result in gamma/theta band de-synchronization. The current study established an acute MK-801 administration model of schizophrenia-like cognitive inflexibility in rats and used the attentional set-shifting task in which rats learned to switch/reverse the relevant rule. During the task, we used in vivo optogenetic stimulations of parvalbumin-positive interneurons at specific light pulses in the prefrontal cortex and ventral hippocampus. The first experiments showed that acute dizocilpine in rats produced schizophrenia-like cognitive inflexibility. The second set of experiments demonstrated that specific optogenetic stimulation at specific frequencies of parvalbumin-positive interneurons in the prefrontal cortex and ventral hippocampus rescued the cognitive flexibility rats that received acute MK-801. These findings advance our knowledge of the pivotal role of parvalbumin interneurons in schizophrenia-like cognitive impairment and may guide further research on this severe psychiatric disorder.

• MeSH
• dizocilpinmaleát * farmakologie   MeSH
• hipokampus metabolismus   MeSH
• interneurony metabolismus   MeSH
• kognice MeSH
• krysa rodu rattus MeSH
• optogenetika MeSH
• parvalbuminy metabolismus   MeSH
• prefrontální mozková kůra metabolismus   MeSH
• receptory N-methyl-D-aspartátu metabolismus   MeSH
• schizofrenie * MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• krysa rodu rattus MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

Finding a cure for Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been notoriously challenging for many decades. Therefore, the current focus is mainly on prevention, timely intervention, and slowing the progression in the earliest stages. A better understanding of underlying mechanisms at the beginning of the disease could aid in early diagnosis and intervention, including alleviating symptoms or slowing down the disease progression. Changes in social cognition and progressive parvalbumin (PV) interneuron dysfunction are among the earliest observable effects of AD. Various AD rodent models mimic these early alterations, but only a narrow field of study has considered their mutual relationship. In this review, we discuss current knowledge about PV interneuron dysfunction in AD and emphasize their importance in social cognition and memory. Next, we propose oxytocin (OT) as a potent modulator of PV interneurons and as a promising treatment for managing some of the early symptoms. We further discuss the supporting evidence on its beneficial effects on AD-related pathology. Clinical trials have employed the use of OT in various neuropsychiatric diseases with promising results, but little is known about its prospective impacts on AD. On the other hand, the modulatory effects of OT in specific structures and local circuits need to be clarified in future studies. This review highlights the connection between PV interneurons and social cognition impairment in the early stages of AD and considers OT as a promising therapeutic agent for addressing these early deficits.

• MeSH
• Alzheimerova nemoc * patologie   MeSH
• hipokampus patologie   MeSH
• interneurony MeSH
• kognice MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• modely nemocí na zvířatech MeSH
• myši transgenní MeSH
• oxytocin MeSH
• parvalbuminy metabolismus   MeSH
• prospektivní studie MeSH
• sociální kognice MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

Maternal immune activation has been identified as a significant risk factor for schizophrenia. Using rodent models, past work has demonstrated various behavioral and brain impairments in offspring after immune-activating events. We applied 5 mg/kg of poly(I:C) on gestation day 9 to pregnant mouse dams, whose offspring were then stressed during puberty. We show impairments in attentional set-shifting in a T-maze, and a decreased number of parvalbumin-positive interneurons in the hippocampus as a result of peripubertal stress specifically in females.

• MeSH
• chování zvířat fyziologie   MeSH
• exekutivní funkce fyziologie   MeSH
• hipokampus cytologie   MeSH
• infekční komplikace v těhotenství * chemicky indukované   imunologie   MeSH
• interneurony cytologie   MeSH
• kognitivní dysfunkce etiologie   patologie   patofyziologie   MeSH
• modely nemocí na zvířatech MeSH
• myši inbrední C57BL MeSH
• poly I-C aplikace a dávkování   MeSH
• pozornost fyziologie   MeSH
• psychický stres komplikace   patologie   patofyziologie   MeSH
• schizofrenie etiologie   imunologie   patologie   patofyziologie   MeSH
• těhotenství MeSH
• zpožděný efekt prenatální expozice chemicky indukované   patologie   patofyziologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• těhotenství MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

Whenever an artificial surface comes into contact with blood, proteins are rapidly adsorbed onto its surface. This phenomenon, termed fouling, is then followed by a series of undesired reactions involving activation of complement or the coagulation cascade and adhesion of leukocytes and platelets leading to thrombus formation. Thus, considerable efforts are directed towards the preparation of fouling-resistant surfaces with the best possible hemocompatibility. Herein, a comprehensive hemocompatibility study after heparinized blood contact with seven polymer brushes prepared by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization is reported. The resistance to fouling is quantified and thrombus formation and deposition of blood cellular components on the coatings are analyzed. Moreover, identification of the remaining adsorbed proteins is performed via mass spectroscopy to elucidate their influence on the surface hemocompatibility. Compared with an unmodified glass surface, the grafting of polymer brushes minimizes the adhesion of platelets and leukocytes and prevents the thrombus formation. The fouling from undiluted blood plasma is reduced by up to 99%. Most of the identified proteins are connected with the initial events of foreign body reaction towards biomaterial (coagulation cascade proteins, complement component, and inflammatory proteins). In addition, several proteins that are not previously linked with blood-biomaterial interaction are presented and discussed.

• MeSH
• adsorpce MeSH
• biokompatibilní materiály farmakologie   chemie   MeSH
• bioznečištění * prevence a kontrola   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• polymery chemie   MeSH
• povrchové vlastnosti MeSH
• proteiny MeSH
• trombóza * MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

Perinatal hypoxic-ischemic insult (HII) is one of the main devastating causes of morbidity and mortality in newborns. HII induces brain injury which evolves to neurological sequelae later in life. Hypothermia is the only therapeutic approach available capable of diminishing brain impairment after HII. Finding a novel therapeutic method to reduce the severity of brain injury and its consequences is critical in neonatology. The present paper aimed to evaluate the effect of sulforaphane (SFN) pre-treatment on glucose metabolism, neurodegeneration, and functional outcome at the acute, sub-acute, and sub-chronic time intervals in the experimental model of perinatal hypoxic-ischemic insult in rats. To estimate the effect of SFN on brain glucose uptake we have performed 18F-deoxyglucose (FDG) microCT/PET. The activity of FDG was determined in the hippocampus and sensorimotor cortex. Neurodegeneration was assessed by histological analysis of Nissl-stained brain sections. To investigate functional outcomes a battery of behavioral tests was employed. We have shown that although SFN possesses a protective effect on glucose uptake in the ischemic hippocampus 24 h and 1 week after HII, no effect has been observed in the motor cortex. We have further shown that the ischemic hippocampal formation tends to be thinner in HIE and SFN treatment tends to reverse this pattern. We have observed subtle chronic movement deficit after HII detected by ladder rung walking test with no protective effect of SFN. SFN should be thus considered as a potent neuroprotective drug with the capability to interfere with pathophysiological processes triggered by perinatal hypoxic-ischemic insult.

• MeSH
• fluorodeoxyglukosa F18 terapeutické užití   MeSH
• glukosa MeSH
• hypoxie komplikace   MeSH
• isothiokyanatany MeSH
• krysa rodu rattus MeSH
• mozek diagnostické zobrazování   patologie   MeSH
• mozková hypoxie a ischemie * diagnostické zobrazování   farmakoterapie   MeSH
• novorozená zvířata MeSH
• poranění mozku * MeSH
• sulfoxidy MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• krysa rodu rattus MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

The main task of the research is to acquire fundamental knowledge about the effect of polymer structure on the physicochemical properties of films. A novel meta-material that can be used in manufacturing sensor layers was developed as a model. At the first stage, poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PNaSS) cross-linked microspheres are synthesized (which are based on strong polyelectrolytes containing sulfo groups in each monomer unit), and at the second stage, PNaSS@PEDOT microspheres are formed. The poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) shell was obtained by the acid-assisted self-polymerization of the monomer; this process is biologically safe and thus suitable for biomedical applications. The suitability of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy for E. coli detection was tested; it was revealed that the attached bacterial wall was destroyed upon application of constant oxidation potential (higher than 0.5 V), which makes the PNaSS@PEDOT microsphere particles promising materials for the development of antifouling coatings. Furthermore, under open-circuit conditions, the walls of E. coli bacteria were not destroyed, which opens up the possibility of employing such meta-materials as sensor films. Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, water contact angle, and wide-angle X-ray diffraction methods were applied in order to characterize the PNaSS@PEDOT films.

• MeSH
• bicyklické sloučeniny heterocyklické chemie   MeSH
• Escherichia coli * MeSH
• mikrosféry MeSH
• polymery * chemie   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Status epilepticus (SE) is a common paediatric emergency with the highest incidence in the neonatal period and is a well-known epileptogenic insult. As previously established in various experimental and human studies, SE induces long-term alterations to brain metabolism, alterations that directly contribute to the development of epilepsy. To influence these changes, organic isothiocyanate compound sulforaphane (SFN) has been used in the present study for its known effect of enhancing antioxidative, cytoprotective, and metabolic cellular properties via the Nrf2 pathway. We have explored the effect of SFN in a model of acquired epilepsy induced by Li-Cl pilocarpine in immature rats (12 days old). Energy metabolites PCr, ATP, glucose, glycogen, and lactate were determined by enzymatic fluorimetric methods during the acute phase of SE. Protein expression was evaluated by Western blot (WB) analysis. Neuronal death was scored on the FluoroJadeB stained brain sections harvested 24 h after SE. To assess the effect of SFN on glucose metabolism we have performed a series of 18F-DG μCT/PET recordings 1 h, 1 day, and 3 weeks after the induction of SE. Responses of cerebral blood flow (CBF) to electrical stimulation and their influence by SFN were evaluated by laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF). We have demonstrated that the Nrf2 pathway is upregulated in the CNS of immature rats after SFN treatment. In the animals that had undergone SE, SFN was responsible for lowering glucose uptake in most regions 1 h after the induction of SE. Moreover, SFN partially reversed hypometabolism observed after 24 h and achieved full reversal at approximately 3 weeks after SE. Since no difference in cell death was observed in SFN treated group, these changes cannot be attributed to differences in neurodegeneration. SFN per se did not affect the glucose uptake at any given time point suggesting that SFN improves endogenous CNS ability to adapt to the epileptogenic insult. Furthermore, we had discovered that SFN improves blood flow and accelerates CBF response to electrical stimulation. Our findings suggest that SFN improves metabolic changes induced by SE which have been identified during epileptogenesis in various animal models of acquired epilepsy.

• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH