Dysregulation of the central noradrenergic system is a core feature of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Here, we examined molecular changes in locus coeruleus (LC) triggered by single-prolonged stress (SPS) PTSD model at a time when behavioral symptoms are manifested, and the effect of early intervention with intranasal neuropeptide Y (NPY). Immediately following SPS stressors, male SD rats were administered intranasal NPY (SPS/NPY) or vehicle (SPS/V). Seven days later, TH protein, but not mRNA, was elevated in LC only of the SPS/V group. Although 90% of TH positive cells expressed GR, its levels were unaltered. Compared to unstressed controls, LC of SPS/V, but not SPS/NPY, expressed less Y2 receptor mRNA with more CRHR1 mRNA in subset of animals, and elevated corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) in central nucleus of amygdala. Following testing for anxiety on elevated plus maze (EPM), there were significantly increased TH, DBH and NPY mRNAs in LC of SPS-treated, but not previously unstressed animals. Their levels highly correlated with each other but not with behavioral features on EPM. Thus, SPS triggers long-term noradrenergic activation and higher sensitivity to mild stressors, perhaps mediated by the up-regulation influence of amygdalar CRH input and down-regulation of Y2R presynaptic inhibition in LC. Results also demonstrate the therapeutic potential of early intervention with intranasal NPY for traumatic stress-elicited noradrenergic impairments.

Dwarf spheroidal galaxies are among the most promising targets for indirect dark matter (DM) searches in γ-rays. The γ-ray flux from DM annihilation in a dwarf spheroidal galaxy is proportional to the J-factor of the source. The J-factor of a dwarf spheroidal galaxy is the line-of-sight integral of the DM mass density squared times σannv rel /(σannv rel )0, where σannv rel is the DM annihilation cross-section times relative velocity v rel = |v rel |, angle brackets denote average over v rel , and (σannv rel )0 is the v rel -independent part of σannv rel . If σannv rel is constant in v rel , J-factors only depend on the DM space distribution in the source. However, if σannv rel varies with v rel , as in the presence of DM self-interactions, J-factors also depend on the DM velocity distribution, and on the strength and range of the DM self-interaction. Models for self-interacting DM are increasingly important in the study of the small scale clustering of DM, and are compatible with current astronomical and cosmological observations. Here we derive the J-factor of 20 dwarf spheroidal galaxies from stellar kinematic data under the assumption of Yukawa DM self-interactions. J-factors are derived through a profile Likelihood approach, assuming either NFW or cored DM profiles. We also compare our results with J-factors derived assuming the same velocity for all DM particles in the target galaxy. We find that this common approximation overestimates the J-factors by up to one order of magnitude. J-factors for a sample of DM particle masses and self-interaction coupling constants, as well as for NFW and cored density profiles, are provided electronically, ready to be used in other projects.

Molecular oxygen, O 2 , is vital to life on Earth and possibly also on exoplanets. Although the biogenic processes leading to its accumulation in Earth’s atmosphere are well understood, its abiotic origin is still not fully established. Here, we report combined experimental and theoretical evidence for electronic state–selective production of O 2 from SO 2 , a chemical constituent of many planetary atmospheres and one that played an important part on Earth in the Great Oxidation Event. The O 2 production involves dissociative double ionization of SO 2 leading to efficient formation of the O 2 + ion, which can be converted to abiotic O 2 by electron neutralization or by charge exchange. This formation process may contribute substantially to the abundance of O 2 and related ions in planetary atmospheres, such as the Jovian moons Io, Europa, and Ganymede. We suggest that this sort of ionic pathway for the formation of abiotic O 2 involving multiply charged molecular ion decomposition may also exist for other atmospheric and planetary molecules.