Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of human motor cortex can produce long-lasting changes in the excitability of excitatory and inhibitory neuronal networks. The effects of rTMS depend critically on stimulus frequency. The aim of our present study was to compare the effects of different rTMS protocols. We compared the aftereffects of 6 different rTMS protocols [paired associative stimulation at interstimulus intervals of 25 (PAS(25)) and 10 ms (PAS(10)); theta burst stimulation delivered as continuous (cTBS) or intermittent delivery pattern (iTBS); 1- and 5-Hz rTMS] on the excitability of stimulated and contralateral motor cortex in 10 healthy subjects. A pronounced increase of cortical excitability, evaluated by measuring the amplitude of motor evoked potentials (MEPs), was produced by iTBS (+56%) and PAS(25) (+45%). Five-hertz rTMS did not produce a significant increase of MEPs. A pronounced decrease of cortical excitability was produced by PAS(10) (-31%), cTBS (-29%), and 1-Hz rTMS (-20%). Short-interval intracortical inhibition was suppressed by PAS(10). Cortical silent period duration was increased by 1-Hz stimulation. No significant effect was observed in the contralateral hemisphere. Head-to-head comparison of the different protocols enabled us to identify the most effective paradigms for modulating the excitatory and inhibitory circuits activated by TMS.

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Inhibition is of fundamental importance to regulate activity in cortical circuits. Inhibition is mediated through a diversity of different interneurones and γ-aminobutyric acid A receptor (GABA A R) subtypes. Here we employed paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to measure short interval intracortical inhibition (SICI), a GABA A R-mediated inhibition in human motor cortex, to address the question of which GABA A R subtype is responsible for this form of inhibition. It has been shown that classical benzodiazepines (diazepam and lorazepam) have a non-selective affinity profile at different α-subunit-bearing subtypes of the GABA A R while zolpidem has a 10-fold greater affinity to the α1-subunit-bearing GABA A R compared with those bearing the α2-or α3-subunit. We found that, in seven healthy subjects, a single oral dose of 20 mg of diazepam or 2.5 mg of lorazepam significantly increased SICI, whereas 10 mg of zolpidem did not change SICI. This dissociation occurred despite equal sedation by all three drugs, an α1-subunit GABA A R-mediated effect. The findings strongly suggest that SICI is not mediated by the α1-subunit-bearing subtype of the GABA A R but by those bearing either the α2-or α3-subunit. This study represents an attempt by means of TMS to identify GABA A R subtype-specific action at the systems level of human cortex, a highly relevant issue because the different α-subunit-bearing subtypes of the GABA A R are differently involved in benzodiazepine-mediated effects such as sedation, amnesia or anxiolysis, in developmental cortical plasticity, and in neurological disorders such as epilepsy.

Chronic cocaine and heroin users display a variety of central nervous system (CNS) dysfunctions including impaired attention, learning, memory, reaction time, cognitive flexibility, impulse control and selective processing. These findings suggest that these drugs may alter normal brain functions and possibly cause neurotoxicity. Neurotrophins are a class of proteins that serve as survival factors for CNS neurons. In particular, nerve growth factor (NGF) plays an important role in the survival and function of cholinergic neurons while brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is involved in synaptic plasticity and in the maintenance of midbrain dopaminergic and cholinergic neurons. In the present study, we measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) the NGF and BDNF levels in serum of three groups of subjects: heroin-dependent patients, cocaine-dependent patients and healthy volunteers. Our goal was to identify possible change in serum neurotrophins in heroin and cocaine users. BDNF was decreased in heroin users whereas NGF was decreased in both heroin and cocaine users. These findings indicate that NGF and BDNF may play a role in the neurotoxicity and addiction induced by these drugs. In view of the neurotrophin hypothesis of schizophrenia the data also suggest that reduced level of neurotrophins may increase the risk of developing psychosis in drug users.

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These findings suggest that chronic ketamine intake is associated with increases in BDNF serum levels in humans. Other studies are needed to explore the pharmacological and molecular mechanism by which ketamine, and/or other NMDA antagonists, may induce modification in the production and utilization of BDNF and alter normal brain function.

Background: In the central nervous system, several neuropeptides are believed to be involved in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Among them, neuropeptide Y (NPY) is a small peptide widely distributed throughout the brain, where it serves as a neurotransmitter and/or a modulator of several neuroendocrine functions. More recently, NPY has generated interest because of its role in neuroprotection against excitotoxicity and modulation of neurogenesis. Interestingly, these effects are also influenced by neurotrophins, critical molecules for the function and survival of neurons that degenerate in AD. Objective: Our purpose was to investigate whether NPY might be a neuroprotective agent in AD and whether neurotrophins are involved in NPY-induced neuroprotection. Methods: To test this hypothesis, we exposed the SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell line to toxic concentrations of β-amyloid (Aβ) peptide fragment 25–35 (Aβ_25–35) and measured cell survival and neurotrophin expression before and after a preincubation with NPY in the growth medium. Results: Our results demonstrated that preincubation with NPY prevented cell loss due to the toxic effect of Aβ_25–35. Moreover, while intracellular production of nerve growth factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor were reduced by Aβ, NPY restored or even increased neurotrophin protein and mRNA in SH-SY5Y cells. Conclusion: In conclusion, this study demonstrates that NPY increases the survival of SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells and counteracts the toxic effect of Aβ. In addition, NPY restores the neurotrophin levels in these cells. Although preliminary, these observations might be useful to understand the pathology of Alzheimer’s and/or develop new therapeutic strategies.

Background:Agomelatine modulates brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression via its interaction with melatonergic and serotonergic receptors and has shown promising results in terms of brain-derived neurotrophic factor increase in animal models.Methods:Twenty-seven patients were started on agomelatine (25mg/d). Venous blood was collected and brain-derived neurotrophic factor serum levels were measured at baseline and after 2 and 8 weeks along with a clinical assessment, including Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale.Results:Brain-derived neurotrophic factor serum concentration increased after agomelatine treatment. Responders showed a significant increase in brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels after 2 weeks of agomelatine treatment; no difference was observed in nonresponders. Linear regression analysis showed that more prominent brain-derived neurotrophic factor level variation was associated with lower baseline BDNF levels and greater anhedonic features at baseline.Conclusions:Patients affected by depressive disorders showed an increase of brain-derived neurotrophic factor serum concentration after a 2-week treatment with agomelatine. The increase of brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels was found to be greater in patients with lower brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels and marked anhedonia at baseline.