RODRÍGUEZ DE LA CRUZ , Rosa María

Los objetivos del presente trabajo se resumen en los puntos siguientes: a) Elegir un sistema de proyección sobre su blanco neuronal altamente específico. Las neuronas internucleares del núcleo del motor ocular externo constituyeron un buen modelo para cubrir este objetivo. Estas neuronas proyectan extensivamente sobre las motoneuronas del...

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Two types of central nervous system integrators are critical for oculomotor performance. The first integrates velocity commands to create position signals that hold fixation of the eye. The second stores relative velocity of the head and visual surround to stabilize gaze both during and after the occurrence of continuous self and world motion....

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), also known as VEGF-A, was discovered due to its vasculogenic and angiogenic activity, but a neuroprotective role for VEGF was later proven for lesions and disorders. In different models of motoneuronal degeneration, VEGF administration leads to a significant reduction of motoneuronal death. However,...

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Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been recently demonstrated to induce neuroprotective and synaptotrophic effects on lesioned neurons. Hitherto, the administration of VEGF in different animal models of lesion or disease has been conducted following a chronic protocol of administration. We questioned whether a single dose of VEGF,...

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PURPOSE. To analyze in a frontal-eyed mammal (cat) the postnatal development of palisade endings in extraocular muscles (EOMs) and to compare the spatiotemporal and quantitative patterns of palisade endings among individual rectus muscles. METHODS. Cats of different ages ranging from birth to adult stage were studied. EOM...

The potassium chloride cotransporter 2 (KCC2) is the main Cl− extruder in neurons. Any alteration in KCC2 levels leads to changes in Cl− homeostasis and, consequently, in the polarity and amplitude of inhibitory synaptic potentials mediated by GABA or glycine. Axotomy downregulates KCC2 in many different motoneurons and it is suspected that...

Transplantation of neural stem/progenitor cells (NPCs) in the lesioned brain is able to restore morphological and physiological alterations induced by different injuries. The local microenvironment created at the site of grafting and the communication between grafted and host cells are crucial in the beneficial effects attributed to the NPC...

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was discovered by its angiogenic activity. However, during evolution, it appeared earlier as a neurotrophic factor required for the development of the nervous system in invertebrates lacking a circulatory system. We aimed at reviewing recent evidence indicating that VEGF has neuroprotective effects in...

VEGF was initially discovered due to its angiogenic activity and therefore named "vascular endothelial growth factor."However, its more recently discovered neurotrophic activity may be evolutionarily more ancient. Our previous work showed that all the changes produced by axotomy on the firing activity and synaptic inputs of abducens motoneurons...

BDNF is a neurotrophin family member implicated in many different neuronal functions, from neuronal survival during development to synaptic plasticity associated with processes of learning and memory. Its presence in the oculomotor system has previously been demonstrated, as it regulates afferent composition of extraocular motoneurons and their...

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is well known for its angiogenic activity, but recent evidence has revealed a neuroprotective action of this factor on injured or diseased neurons. In the present review, we summarize the most relevant findings that have contributed to establish a link between VEGF deficiency and neuronal degeneration....

Medial rectus motoneurons mediate nasally directed horizontal eye movements. These motoneurons receive two major excitatory inputs, from the abducens internuclear neurons (ABD Ints) and neurons of the lateral vestibular nucleus whose axons course through the ascending tract of Deiters (ATD). In the present work, we have recorded in the alert...

Neurotrophins play a principal role in neuronal survival and differentiation during development, but also in the maintenance of appropriate adult neuronal circuits and phenotypes. In the oculomotor system, we have demonstrated that neurotrophins are key regulators of developing and adult neuronal properties, but with peculiarities depending on...

Extraocular muscle tension associated with spontaneous eye movements has a pulse-slide-step profile similar to that of motoneuron firing rate. Existing models only relate motoneuron firing to eye position, velocity and acceleration. We measured and quantitatively compared lateral rectus muscle force and eye position with the firing of abducens...

Target-derived neurotrophins exert powerful synaptotrophic actions in the adult brain and are involved in the regulation of different forms of synaptic plasticity. Target disconnection produces a profound synaptic stripping due to the lack of trophic support. Conse- quently, target reinnervation leads to synaptic remodeling and restoration of...