Luísa Pinto

iPSC derived MSC secretome activates distinct neuroprotective pathways in a preclinical model of Parkinsons disease

The paper compares the neuroprotective effects of bone marrow MSCs and iPSC-derived MSCs secretomes in a Parkinson's disease model, finding that iMSCs secretome better preserves dopaminergic neurons and activates broader protective pathways.

Adaptive changes of cholinergic projections to the nucleus accumbens bidirectionally mediate cocaine reinforcing effects

This study shows that cocaine-induced changes in cholinergic projections from the LDT to the NAc bidirectionally affect cocaine's reinforcing effects.

Dynamic representation of appetitive and aversive stimuli in nucleus accumbens shell D1- and D2-medium spiny neurons

The paper shows that D1- and D2-MSNs in the NAc shell encode appetitive and aversive stimuli and their extinction, with D2-MSNs playing a key role in aversive association extinction.

Cannabinoid type 2 receptor inhibition enhances the antidepressant and proneurogenic effects of physical exercise after chronic stress

This study shows that inhibiting cannabinoid type 2 receptors combined with physical exercise reduces stress-induced emotional and cognitive deficits and enhances adult hippocampal neurogenesis.

Astrocytic Foxo1 regulates hippocampal spinogenesis and synaptic plasticity to enhance fear memory

This study identifies Foxo1 as a key regulator of astrocytic calcium signaling in the hippocampus, influencing spinogenesis, synaptic plasticity, and fear memory.

Nucleus accumbens neurons dynamically encode positive and aversive associative learning

This study examines how D1- and D2-neurons in the nucleus accumbens encode positive and aversive associations during Pavlovian conditioning, showing dynamic changes in their activity.

Involvement of nucleus accumbens D2-MSN projections to the ventral pallidum in anxious-like behavior

This study shows that activating D2-MSN projections to the ventral pallidum increases anxious-like behavior in mice, linked to reduced GABAergic activity in the VP.

Distinct role of nucleus accumbens D2-MSN projections to ventral pallidum in different phases of motivated behavior

This study shows that D2-MSN projections to the ventral pallidum have opposing effects on motivation depending on the phase of motivated behavior.

Constitutive AP2gamma deficiency reduces postnatal hippocampal neurogenesis and induces behavioral deficits in juvenile mice that persist during adulthood

This study shows that AP2gamma deficiency in mice reduces hippocampal neurogenesis and causes lasting behavioral deficits from juvenile to adult stages.