Lungs are just the ground zero for the virus while the novel coronavirus spreads its lethal tentacles to multiple organs — heart and blood vessels, kidneys, gut, and brain — not necessarily in one patient. As the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 crosses 2.7 million and deaths is fast approaching 192,000, physicians are beginning … Continue reading Coronavirus spares no major organ
Brain
TIFR researchers discover a novel function of serotonin
In a surprising discovery, TIFR researchers have found a novel function for serotonin — generation of new mitochondria in neurons, increased cellular respiration and ATP production. The team found that serotonin reduces reactive oxygen species, thus providing neuroprotection against cellular stress. In a surprising discovery, researchers at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) Mumbai … Continue reading TIFR researchers discover a novel function of serotonin
Why gulping water quenches thirst
The neural mechanism that signals thirst and the thirst inhibitory neurons which signal to stop drinking have been deciphered. The research unravels how the thirst inhibitory neurons signal to stop drinking based on the speed of intake of the liquid. It responds to intake of only liquids. Wonder why both animals and humans tend to … Continue reading Why gulping water quenches thirst
Neural mechanism behind stinging by honeybees unravelled
Part of an international team, a researcher from IISc has unravelled the neuro-molecular mechanism of social defence by honeybees when exposed to isoamyl acetate, the main component in the alarm pheromone. The level of serotonin and dopamine in the honeybee brain increases in response to isoamyl acetate, thereby increasing the stinging behaviour in bees. Bees are … Continue reading Neural mechanism behind stinging by honeybees unravelled
IIT Kanpur team finds possible cause of neurodevelopmental disorders
BMP signalling was previously known to play an important role in the early development of the brain. Now, IIT Kanpur researchers have found that BMP signalling plays an important role in cerebral cortex development by regulating the migration of new born cortical neurons and the establishment of polarity in the upper layer of cerebral cortex. … Continue reading IIT Kanpur team finds possible cause of neurodevelopmental disorders
NBRC researchers uncover how damaged neurons recover function
In C. elegans, the functional recovery of the damaged neurons happens only when proximal axons successfully fuse with their distal counterparts. A team led by Dr. Anindya Ghosh-Roy from the National Brain Research Centre, Gurgaon, found that the ability to regenerate neurons gets reduced with age as the fusion is not complete. The work raises hopes … Continue reading NBRC researchers uncover how damaged neurons recover function
NCBS researchers find a biomarker for stress-induced memory loss
Timely intervention to prevent or delay hippocampus-linked memory loss that occurs as a result of chronic stress may now be possible, thanks to the discovery of a biomarker — a reduction in hippocampal volume at an early time point after the onset of chronic stress. The reduction in the hippocampal volume is not only linked … Continue reading NCBS researchers find a biomarker for stress-induced memory loss
A promising target to treat cognitive disorders identified
At least in the case of mice, all that needs to be done to enhance the cognitive ability is to inhibit the activity of an enzyme — phosphodiesterase-4B (PDE4B). Mice that have the enzyme inhibited learnt faster, remembered events longer and solved complex exercises better than normal mice. The results of the study were published … Continue reading A promising target to treat cognitive disorders identified
Science Chronicle 