Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is one of the most widely distributed and extensively studied neurotrophins in the mammalian brain. Among its prominent functions, one can mention control of neuronal and glial development, neuroprotection, and modulation of both short- and long-lasting synaptic interactions, which are critical for cognition and memory. A wide spectrum of processes are controlled by BDNF, and the sometimes contradictory effects of its action can be explained based on its specific pattern of synthesis, comprising several intermediate biologically active isoforms that bind to different types of receptor, triggering several signaling pathways. The functions of BDNF must be discussed in close relation to the stage of brain development, the different cellular components of nervous tissue, as well as the molecular mechanisms of signal transduction activated under physiological and pathological conditions. In this review, we briefly summarize the current state of knowledge regarding the impact of BDNF on regulation of neurophysiological processes. The importance of BDNF for future studies aimed at disclosing mechanisms of activation of signaling pathways, neuro- and gliogenesis, as well as synaptic plasticity is highlighted.

Cerebral stroke, which is one of the most frequent causes of mortality and leading cause of disability in developed countries, often leads to devastating and irreversible brain damage. Neurological and neuroradiological diagnosis of stroke, especially in its acute phase, is frequently uncertain or inconclusive. This results in difficulties in identification of patients with poor prognosis or being at high risk for complications. It also makes difficult identification of these stroke patients who could benefit from more aggressive therapies. In contrary to the cardiovascular disease, no single biomarker is available for the ischemic stroke, addressing the abovementioned issues. This justifies the need for identifying of effective diagnostic measures characterized by high specificity and sensitivity. One of the promising avenues in this area is studies on the panels of biomarkers characteristic for processes which occur in different types and phases of ischemic stroke and represent all morphological constituents of the brains' neurovascular unit (NVU). In this review, we present the current state of knowledge concerning already-used or potentially applicable biomarkers of the ischemic stroke. We also discuss the perspectives for identification of biomarkers representative for different types and phases of the ischemic stroke, as well as for different constituents of NVU, which concentration levels correlate with extent of brain damage and patients' neurological status. Finally, a critical analysis of perspectives on further improvement of the ischemic stroke diagnosis is presented.

The brain, demanding constant level of cholesterol, precisely controls its synthesis and homeostasis. The brain cholesterol pool is almost completely separated from the rest of the body by the functional blood-brain barrier (BBB). Only a part of cholesterol pool can be exchanged with the blood circulation in the form of the oxysterol metabolites such, as 27-hydroxycholesterol (27-OHC) and 24S–hydroxycholesterol (24S–OHC). Not only neurons but also blood vessels and neuroglia, constituting neurovascular unit (NVU), are crucial for the brain cholesterol metabolism and undergo precise regulation by numerous modulators, metabolites and signal molecules. In physiological conditions maintaining the optimal cholesterol concentration is important for the energetic metabolism, composition of cell membranes and myelination. However, a growing body of evidence indicates the consequences of the cholesterol homeostasis dysregulation in several pathophysiological processes. There is a causal relationship between hypercholesterolemia and 1) development of type 2 diabetes due to long-term high-fat diet consumption, 2) significance of the oxidative stress consequences for cerebral amyloid angiopathy and neurodegenerative diseases, 3) insulin resistance on progression of the neurodegenerative brain diseases. In this review, we summarize the current state of knowledge concerning the cholesterol influence upon functioning of the NVU under physiological and pathological conditions.

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A growing body of evidence suggests that nucleus accumbens (NAc) plays a significant role not only in the physiological processes associated with reward and satisfaction but also in many diseases of the central nervous system. Summary of the current state of knowledge on the morphological and functional basis of such a diverse function of this structure may be a good starting point for further basic and clinical research. The NAc is a part of the brain reward system (BRS) characterized by multilevel organization, extensive connections, and several neurotransmitter systems. The unique role of NAc in the BRS is a result of: (1) hierarchical connections with the other brain areas, (2) a well-developed morphological and functional plasticity regulating short- and long-term synaptic potentiation and signalling pathways, (3) cooperation among several neurotransmitter systems, and (4) a supportive role of neuroglia involved in both physiological and pathological processes. Understanding the complex function of NAc is possible by combining the results of morphological studies with molecular, genetic, and behavioral data. In this review, we present the current views on the NAc function in physiological conditions, emphasizing the role of its connections, neuroplasticity processes, and neurotransmitter systems.

Blood analysis is a very important and powerful diagnostic tool in animal health and welfare control. It is routinely performed in higher vertebrates, for which reference values are well established, but fish hematology still needs further research. Many intrinsic and environmental factors have profound impact on fish hematological values, making determination of reference values difficult. Additionally, fish blood usually requires the addition of an anticoagulant agent, because of short clotting times. The choice of anticoagulant is vital for obtaining reliable blood test values. In the present study, the impact of two common anticoagulants, K 2 EDTA (1.8 mg/ml) and lithium heparin (18 I.U./ml), on hematological values of farmed brown trout Salmo trutta spawners during the spawning season was investigated. Results of basic hematological analysis, such as packed cell volume (PCV), hemoglobin concentration (HGB), red blood cell count (RBC), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), and white blood cell count (WBC), were compared between these two compounds. Statistically significant differences were observed in PCV, MCV, and MCHC, whereas HGB, RBC, MCH, and WBC showed no such differences. These results suggest that lithium heparin gives more reliable results, because red blood cells in K 2 EDTA-treated samples have a tendency to swell. It is worth noting that ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid salt did not induce sample hemolysis in the present study.

Ulcerative dermal necrosis (UDN), a disease of unknown etiology affecting salmonids, has been observed in some rivers in the north of Poland since 2007. Fish affected by UDN die, inter alia, as a result of secondary infection caused by water molds from the Saprolegnia genus. UDN is considered to be an important factor affecting the decline of Polish salmonid populations observed in recent years. Patterns of secondary infection and differences between sexes in UDN-affected wild, adult sea trout (Salmo trutta m. trutta) during the 2014 and 2015 spawning season have been described on the basis of photographic documentation and image analysis. Male fish are most commonly infected in the dorsal region, while females in the head and tail areas. When comparing the infection patterns in both sexes, it is clear that large areas of flanks are significantly more frequently infected in males than in females. The dorsal half of the tail fin is most commonly affected by pathological changes in females. These findings are discussed in relation to various factors predisposing salmonids to Saprolegnia spp. infections during the spawning season. The presented infection patterns can be helpful in preliminary diagnosis of early stages of secondary infection with Saprolegnia spp. in UDN-affected salmonids.

A b s t r a c t Reactive astrogliosis is regarded as an universal astrocytic response to different kinds of lesions, concerned with glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) up-regulation, cellular hypertrophy and proliferation. The origin of reactive and proliferating cells in the adult