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The increase on the demand of the use of electronic devices and digital screens has caused the apparition of musculoskeletal, psychosocial and visual disorders, and inside of this the computer vision syndrome (cvs). This syndrome has been reported for almost 20 years and the prevalence fluctuate between the 37 % and the 70 % (1). The high recurrence of visual alterations within the cvs allows it to be related to binocular vision dysfunctions such as convergence insufficiency (ci). Objective: identify the correlation between the ocular symptoms associated with computer visual syndrome and convergence insufficiency Methods and materials: mixed study, of prospective designs, the valid questionnaires CVSS17 and CISS-V15 were applied to 66 optometry students, and it was determined the prevalence of symptomatology related to the cvs and ci, analyzing the most frequent symptoms between both entities. Results: 37 % of respondents were asymptomatic for the cvs and the 52 % for the ci. The most frequent symptoms related to the cvs were eyestrain, Heavy eyelids, and burning eyes. The most frequent symptoms related to the ci were get sleepy when reading and eyes feel tired; it was evidenced those symptoms with the highest correlation between the two alterations were stress and visual discomfort, blurred vision, burning and heavy eyelids. Conclusion: this study reveals that 70 % of the students who presents symptoms of cvs have symptoms related to the ci, furthermore, the score obtained with the questionnaires CVSS17 and CISS-V15, have shown that there is a correlation that exists between the symptomatology reported for the students, which confirms that those who presented a high level of symptoms related to the cvs, also have a high probability to present symptoms related to the ci., El incremento en la demanda de uso de dispositivos electrónicos y pantallas digitales ha provocado la aparición de trastornos músculo esqueléticos, psicosociales y visuales; dentro de estos últimos se encuentra el trastorno denominado síndrome visual informático (svi), que se ha reportado desde hace más de veinte años; su tasa en la población oscila entre el 37 % y el 70 % (1). La alta recurrencia de alteraciones visuales dentro del svi permite relacionarlo con disfunciones de la visión binocular como la insuficiencia de convergencia (ic). Objetivo general: identificar la correlación existente entre la sintomatología ocular asociada al síndrome visual informático y la insuficiencia de convergencia. Materiales y métodos: estudio mixto, de diseño prospectivo. Se aplicaron los cuestionarios validados CVSS17 y CISS-V15 a 66 estudiantes de optometría y se determinó la prevalencia de sintomatología asociada al svi y la ic, analizando los síntomas más frecuentes y recurrentes entre ambas entidades. Resultados: el 37 % de los encuestados fueron sintomáticos para svi y el 52 % para ic, los síntomas más frecuentes asociados al svi fueron cansancio visual, pesadez palpebral y ardor ocular, y los más frecuentes asociados a ic fueron sensación de sueño al leer y sensación de ojos cansados. Se evidenció que aquellos síntomas con mayor conexión entre las dos alteraciones fueron esfuerzo o incomodidad visual, visión borrosa, ardor y pesadez ocular. Conclusión: este estudio demuestra que el 70 % de los estudiantes que presentaron síntomas de svi tienen síntomas relacionados con la ic; además, el puntaje obtenido con los cuestionarios CVSS17 y CISS-V15 señala que existe correlación entre la sintomatología reportada por los estudiantes, lo cual confirma que aquellos que manifestaron un alto nivel de síntomas relacionados con el svi tienen una alta probabilidad de presentar síntomas relacionados con la ic

Pitx3 is a homeobox transcription factor critical for the development and maintenance of midbrain dopaminergic (DA) neurons, i.e.: substantia nigra (SN) neurons (A9 group), ventral tegmental area (VTA) neurons (A10 group), and retrorubral field neurons (A8 group). Nevertheless, different midbrain DA neuron subsets display distinct Pitx3 dependence and, in fact, Pitx3 expression has been found to correlate with the neuronal vulnerabilities reported in midbrains from Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients. The aphakia (Ak) mouse is characterized by a congenital severe knockdown of the Pitx3 gene, and these animals show a dramatic loss of DA neurons in the SN and, to a lesser extent, in the VTA. Ak mice exhibit motor phenotypes, but also striatum-dependent cognitive impairments, and olfactory and gastrointestinal dysfunctions, mimicking prodromal and early stages of PD; however, it remains unclear how Pitx3 deficiency drives this heterogeneous symptomatology. In order to dissect the changes occurring in the DA systems from the Ak mouse brains, we performed immunolabeling-enabled three-dimensional imaging of solvent cleared organs, or iDISCO+ clearing method. We resolved catecholaminergic nuclei at the single-cell resolution to determine other brain regions and systems affected upon Pitx3 deficiency and DA loss. iDISCO+ revealed region-specific impairments in Ak mouse brains that could explain the occurrence of pre-motor symptoms in this model. Our results contribute to the understanding of the Ak mouse as a PD model and to determine the neuronal vulnerabilities underlying the main PD co-morbidities.

Pitx3 is a homeobox transcription factor critical for the development and maintenance of midbrain dopaminergic (DA) neurons, i.e.: substantia nigra (SN) neurons (A9 group), ventral tegmental area (VTA) neurons (A10 group), and retrorubral field neurons (A8 group). Nevertheless, different midbrain DA neuron subsets display distinct Pitx3 dependence and, in fact, Pitx3 expression has been found to correlate with the neuronal vulnerabilities reported in midbrains from Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. The aphakia (Ak) mouse is characterized by a congenital severe knockdown of the Pitx3 gene, and these animals show a dramatic loss of DA neurons in the SN and, to a lesser extent, in the VTA. Ak mice exhibit motor phenotypes, but also striatum-dependent cognitive impairments, and olfactory and gastrointestinal dysfunctions, mimicking prodromal and early stages of PD; however, it remains unclear how Pitx3 deficiency drives this heterogeneous symptomatology. In order to dissect the changes occurring in the DA systems from the Ak mouse brains, we performed immunolabeling-enabled three-dimensional imaging of solvent cleared organs, or iDISCO+ clearing method. We resolved catecholaminergic nuclei at the single-cell resolution to determine other brain regions and systems affected upon Pitx3 deficiency and DA loss. Our results contribute to the understanding of the Ak mouse as a PD model and to determine the neuronal vulnerabilities underlying the main PD co-morbidities.

Normal aging and many age-related disorders such as Alzheimer's disease cause deficits in olfaction; however, it is currently unknown how natural and pathological aging impacts the detection of social odors which might contribute to the impoverishment of social behavior at old age further worsening overall health. Analysis of the vomeronasal organ, the main gateway to pheromone-encoded information, indicated that natural and pathological aging distinctively affects the neurogenic ability of the vomeronasal sensory epithelium. Whereas cell proliferation remained majorly preserved in 1-year-old APP/PS1 mice, naturally aged animals exhibited significant deficiencies in the number of mature, proliferative, and progenitor cells. These alterations may support age-related deficits in the recognition of social cues and the display of social behavior. Our findings indicate that aging disrupts the processing of social olfactory cues decreasing social odor exploration, discrimination, and habituation in both wild-type senescent (2-year-old) mice and in 1-year-old double mutant model of Alzheimer's disease (APP/PS1). Furthermore, social novelty was diminished in 1-year-old APP/PS1 mice, indicating that alterations in the processing of social cues are accelerated during pathological aging. This study reveals fundamental differences in the cellular processes by which natural and pathological aging disrupts the exploration of social information and social behavior.

Rho small GTPases are proteins with key roles in the development of the central nervous system. Rnd proteins are a subfamily of Rho GTPases, characterized by their constitutive activity. Rnd3/RhoE is a member of this subfamily ubiquitously expressed in the CNS, whose specific functions during brain development are still not well defined. Since other Rho proteins have been linked to the myelination process, we study here the expression and function of Rnd3 in oligodendrocyte development. We have found that Rnd3 is expressed in a subset of oligodendrocyte precursor cells and of mature oligodendrocytes both in vivo and in vitro. We have analyzed the role of Rnd3 in myelination using mice lacking Rnd3 expression (Rnd3gt/gt mice), showing that these mice exhibit hypomyelination in the brain and a reduction in the number of mature and total oligodendrocytes in the corpus callosum and striatum. The mutants display a decreased expression of several myelin proteins and a reduction in the number of myelinated axons. In addition, myelinated axons exhibit thinner myelin sheaths. In vitro experiments using Rnd3gt/gt mutant mice showed that the differentiation of the precursor cells is altered in the absence of Rnd3 expression, suggesting that Rnd3 is directly required for the differentiation of oligodendrocytes and, in consequence, for the correct myelination of the CNS. This work shows Rnd3 as a new protein involved in oligodendrocyte maturation, opening new avenues to further study the function of Rnd3 in the development of the central nervous system and its possible involvement in demyelinating diseases.

AMPA receptors (AMPARs) are critical for mediating glutamatergic synaptic transmission and plasticity, thus playing a major role in the molecular machinery underlying cellular substrates of memory and learning. Their expression pattern, transport and regulatory mechanisms have been extensively studied in the hippocampus, but their functional properties in other brain regions remain poorly understood. Interestingly, electrophysiological and molecular evidence has confirmed a prominent role of AMPARs in the regulation of hypothalamic function. This review summarizes the existing evidence on AMPAR-mediated transmission in the hypothalamus, where they are believed to orchestrate the role of glutamatergic transmission in autonomous, neuroendocrine function, body homeostasis, and social behavior.

El Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas hace entrega de los Distintivos de Igualdad CSIC a los centros destacados por su implicación en el diseño e implantación de políticas de igualdad de género. La acreditación correspondiente a 2021 ha sido otorgada al Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa por su labor de promoción, difusión y divulgación de la Igualdad en la ciencia. En la modalidad de accésit, ha sido reconocido el trabajo del Instituto de Neurociencias y el Instituto de Tecnología Química. En el mismo acto, el Instituto de Ciencias Matemáticas ha recibido el Distintivo correspondiente al año 2020. En esa misma edición, el Instituto de Diagnóstico Ambiental y Estudios del Agua y el Instituto de Ciencias del Mar fueron los accésit. Los tres centros destacan por la búsqueda de una Igualdad cada vez más real en la ciencia.

Understanding the brain from genes and circuits to behavior is a major scientific challenge. The large repertoire of cell activities supporting behavior stems from an equally diverse range of specialized cell types, from neuron to glia. To untangle mechanisms underlying brain function, elementary processes should be dissected, from the complex machinery of signaling pathways at the level of single cells and synapses, to the intricate phenomena leading to orchestrated ensemble activity and the establishment of engrams driving memory-guided behaviors. In this chapter we identify the main key tasks required to address some of the open questions in the field, and discuss on the main issues and strategies.

Oxytocin (OXT) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) support a broad range of behaviors and homeostatic functions including sex-specific and context-appropriate social behaviors. Although the alterations of these systems have been linked with social-related disorders such as autism spectrum disorder, their formation and developmental dynamics remain largely unknown. Using novel brain clearing techniques and 3D imaging, we have reconstructed the specification of oxytocinergic and vasopressinergic circuits in the developing mouse brain with unprecedented cellular resolution. A systematic quantification indicates that OXT and AVP neurons in the hypothalamus display distinctive developmental dynamics and high cellular plasticity from embryonic to early postnatal stages. Our findings reveal new insights into the specification and consolidation of neuropeptidergic systems in the developing CNS.

Por cuarto año consecutivo los doctorandos de la Facultad de Óptica y Optometría de la Universidad Complutense de Madrid cuentan con un congreso propio organizado por y para ellos, el 4º PhDAY- FOO. Se trata de un congreso gratuito abierto en la que estos jóvenes científicos podrán presentar sus investigaciones al resto de sus compañeros predoctorales y a toda la comunidad universitaria que quiera disfrutar de este evento. Apunta en tu agenda: el 15 de octubre de 2020. En esta ocasión será un Congreso On-line para evitar que la incertidumbre asociada a la pandemia Covid-19 pudiera condicionar su celebración.