Recovery of learning and memory is associated with chromatin remodelling

Neurodegenerative diseases of the central nervous system are often associated with impaired learning and memory, eventually leading to dementia. An important aspect in pre-clinical research is the exploration of strategies to re-establish learning ability and access to long-term memories. By using a mouse model that allows temporally and spatially restricted induction of neuronal loss, we show here that environmental enrichment reinstated learning behaviour and re-established access to long-term memories after significant brain atrophy and neuronal loss had already occurred. Environmental enrichment correlated with chromatin modifications (increased histone-tail acetylation). Moreover, increased histone acetylation by inhibitors of histone deacetylases induced sprouting of dendrites, an increased number of synapses, and reinstated learning behaviour and access to long-term memories. These data suggest that inhibition of histone deacetylases might be a suitable therapeutic avenue for neurodegenerative diseases associated with learning and memory impairment, and raises the possibility of recovery of long-term memories in patients with dementia.     

Two new species of the genus Premicrodispus (Acari: Microdispidae) associated with beetles (Coleoptera: Lucanidae: Tenebrionidae), with a key to Palaearctic species of the genus

Two new species of mites of the genus Premicrodispus Cross, 1965 (Acari: Microdispidae) are described and illustrated from northern Iran: Premicrodispus paramaevi Hosseininaveh and Hajiqanbar sp. nov. recovered from Lucanus ibericus (Col.: Lucanidae) and Premicrodispus spinosus Hosseininaveh and Hajiqanbar sp. nov. from Corticeus unicolor (Col.: Tenebrionidae). It is the first phoretic record of the microdispid mites on beetles of the family Tenebrionidae. A key to Palaearctic species of the genus Premicrodispus is provided.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:49368637-B8D0-4697-9184-28B33B89962A