Neuronal loss

Many derivatives of 4-hydroxy-3-nitro-l,X-naphthyridin-2(lH)-ones (X = 5,6,7, and 8) were claimed to have been used for treating or preventing neuronal loss associated with stroke, ischemia, CNS trauma, hypoglycemia, and surgery as well as for treating neurodegenerative diseases, chronic pain, convulsion, anxiety, and opiate tolerance (96MI2). 

The transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, or prion diseases, are fatal neurodegenerative diseases characterized by spongiform changes, astrocytic gliomas, and neuronal loss resulting from the deposition of insoluble protein aggregates in neural cells. They include Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans, scrapie in... 

Neuropathology of AIDS is thought be a result of complex interactions of both viral and host factors that directly or indirectly cause neuronal loss as well as other manifestations associated with neuroAIDS (Jones and Power 2006). The HIV envelope... 

Since HC is such a progressive disorder with clear neuronal loss, it is not surprising that NT manipulation has been of little value in therapy and that there is no drug treatment of any significance. More hope rests on a genetic approach and the mutated gene has in fact been identified and cloned but its precise role remains uncertain. For details of its structure, possible actions and appropriate models see Reddy, Williams and Tagle (1999). 

The prefrontal cortex (PFQ and in particular the dorsal lateral part (DLPFQ appear to be particularly important in schizophrenia (Kerwin 1992). Lesions there are known to produce functional defects in humans reminiscent of many of the negative symptoms of schizophrenia, such as attention and cognitive defects and withdrawal. Despite this, no specific pathology is seen in the DLPFC in schizophrenics although there is some atrophy and neuronal loss which are normally old and could be congenital. That being so, it is necessary to explain why the symptoms become apparent only in adolescence. 

Microscopically the brains of AzD patients often show neuronal loss and some atrophy, much as in Down Syndrome, as well as widened sulci and narrowed gyri. Since,... 

In fact no consistent correlation has been found between the appearance, distribution and number of amyloid plaques and either neuronal loss or the degree of dementia, although the latter correlates with the number of neurofibrillary tangles, which tend to precede plaques in appearance by some years. Also cortical amyloid deposits can be found in non-demented elderly patients. Thus the basic question appears to be does the disease process, whatever that is, cause the development of AzD as well as the production of jS-amyloid or is there production of S-amyloid, which then causes AzD Consensus supports the latter but it is not proven. 

Fujikawa et al. made the interesting observation that an extract from the stem bark given orally at a dose of 250 mg/kg once a day for 2 weeks protects rats against MPTP-induced Parkinsonian bradykinesia and catalepsy and inhibited neuronal loss of dopamine (70). The active constituents involved here are unknown. Note that the plant abounds with pentacyclic oleanene saponins (71-73). Note that Acanthopanax species are known to elaborate a series of diterpenes, a group that has the potency to bind to dopamine receptors, as reported in Vitex agnus-castus. Are diterpenes involved in the dopaminergic properties of Acanthopanax gracilistylus W. W. Sm. ... 

Krum JM, Kenyon KL, Rosenstein JM. Expression of blood-brain barrier characteristics following neuronal loss and astroglial damage after administration of anti-thy-1 immunotoxin. Exp Neurol 1997 146 33-45. 

The availability of transgenic mice that faithfully recapitulate NP generation but fail to progress to neurofibrillary tangle formation, show little or no neuronal loss, and demonstrate modest at best cognitive deficits... 

Calingasan, N. Y., Huang, P. L., Chun, H. S., Fabian, A. and Gibson, G. E. Vascular factors are critical in selective neuronal loss in an animal model of impaired oxidative metabolism. /. Neuropathol. Exp. Neurol. 59 207-217, 2000. 

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