著者
Yi Sun Jialai Zhu Norio Mori
出版者
Japan Brain Science society
雑誌
脳科学誌 (ISSN:13415301)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.43, pp.50-57, 2014-05-30 (Released:2017-06-01)

In recent years, small animal PET-CT, as a biomedical research technology, is widely used on the animal model research. High-resolution animal PET scanner has been developed that can provide accurate rates of cerebral glucose metabolism in conscious rats. This paper mainly discusses brain metabolic changes induced by radiation injury in according to glucose metabolism study in brain and the development of small animal PET
著者
Bolin Chen Norio Mori
出版者
Japan Brain Science society
雑誌
脳科学誌 (ISSN:13415301)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.43, pp.43-49, 2014-05-30 (Released:2017-06-01)

Neural stem cells(NSCs) are a kind of cells, which come from nerve tissue with self-renewal and potentials of multiple differentiations. Applications of NSCs for therapy of neurological conditions, such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, or stroke, are particularly appealing as damage of the central nervous system is irreversible and the efficacy of conventional therapy is limited. With the development of molecular imaging, tracking and detection of transplanted NSCs have become a breakthrough of recent studies. Recent studies have focused on the application of functional magnetic resonance imaging(fMRI) to trace and detect NSCs. This article will discuss the application of fMRI on the tracking and detection of NSCs after transplantation.
著者
Bolin Chen
出版者
Japan Brain Science society
雑誌
脳科学誌 (ISSN:13415301)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.42, pp.52-61, 2013-09-30 (Released:2017-06-01)

Intracerebral transplantation is a new therapy of neurological disorders. Among them the intracerebral transplantation of stem cells is a hot spot of international medical research. There are many methods of intracerebral transplantation of stem cells such as intraparenchymal transplantation, transplantation by the blood circulation injection, transplantation by cerebrospinal fluid injection and so on. The three methods have different characters and each of them has its advantages and disadvantages. In addition to this, the blood-brain barrier limits the use of the intracerebral transplantation of stem cells. Therefore several measures should be taken to increase the permeability of blood-brain barrier. This article will discuss the methods of the intracerebral transplantation of stem cells and openning methods of the permeability of blood-brain barrier.
著者
Atsumi Hiramoto Shu Takagai Kenji J Tsuchiya Katsuaki Suzuki Masatsugu Tsujii Norio Mori
出版者
Japan Brain Science society
雑誌
脳科学誌 (ISSN:13415301)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.43, pp.5-23, 2014-05-30 (Released:2017-06-01)

Background: Behaviors in infants may predict not only current developmental status but also later neurodevelopmental outcomes. Sucking is one of the earliest observable behaviors in infants. This study aimed to determine whether abnormal sucking behaviors in infants can predict the developmental outcome at 18 months or 3 years of age. Methods: A questionnaire asking abnormal sucking behaviors was used to survey mothers of children who visited one of 4 health centers for the routine 18-month- or 3-year-old health check-up in Japan. At the check-up, children were assessed by public health nurses whether he or she passed for age-appropriate developmental milestones. Results: A total of 472 responses were analyzed. The children were grouped into two groups according to the assessment by public health nurses: in 18-month-old children, 198 were typically developed (TD) and 52 were suspicious of developmental delay (DD); for 3-years-old, 164 were TD and 58 were DD. We found a significant difference in the rate of the lack of smooth suck and rest pattern between TD and DD groups across the two age populations. After controlling provable confounding factors, a logistic regression analysis showed significant association between the developmental delay and lack of smooth suck and rest pattern (P=0.004). Conclusion: The result suggests that the abnormality in suck and rest pattern of sucking in infants might be a predictor of developmental delay at 18-month- and 3-year-old of ages.
著者
Kohji Sato
出版者
Japan Brain Science society
雑誌
脳科学誌 (ISSN:13415301)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.43, pp.24-42, 2014-05-30 (Released:2017-06-01)

Autism is a pervasive developmental disorder that is characterized by the behavioral traits of impaired social cognition and communication, and repetitive and/or obsessive behavior and interests. Although there are many theories and speculations about the pathogenetic causes of autism, the aberration of the serotonergic system is one of the most consistent and well-replicated findings. Recently, Bonnin et al. have reported that placenta-derived serotonin is the main source in embryonic day (E) 10-15 mouse forebrain, after that period, the serotonergic fibers start to supply serotonin into the forebrain. E10-15 is the pivotal developing period, when cortical neurogenesis, migration and initial axon targeting are processed. Since all these events have been considered to be involved in the pathogenesis of autism and they are highly controlled by serotonin signals, the increase of placenta-derived serotonin should have potential importance when the pathogenesis of autism is considered. I, thus, postulate a hypothesis that placenta-derived hyper-serotonin situations in the developing forebrain cause autism. The hypothesis is as follows. Various factors, such as inflammation, dysfunction of the placenta, together with genetic predispositions cause the increase of placenta-derived serotonin levels. The increase of placenta-derived serotonin levels leads to hyper-serotonin situations in the forebrain of the fetus. The increase of serotonin in the forebrain leads to mis-wiring in important regions that are responsible for the theory of mind. The increase of serotonin in the forebrain also reduces serotonergic fibers and increase microglia. These disturbances result in further network deficiency, leading to the autistic phenotypes.
著者
Toshifumi Nanjo Takaomi Fukuhara Naoko Kameshima Daijiro Yanagisawa Shino Shimizu Takeshi Shimizu Akihiko Shiino Hiroyasu Akatsu Takayuki Yamamoto Ikuo Tooyama
出版者
Japan Brain Science society
雑誌
脳科学誌 (ISSN:13415301)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.44, pp.5-23, 2014-12-30 (Released:2017-06-01)

Previous studies have reported that β-amyloid peptides (Aβ) are observed in the nasal mucosa of postmortem human samples. In a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease (AD), nasal Aβ levels positively correlate with insoluble Aβ levels in the brain. However, it is difficult to measure Aβ content in human nasal smears. Here we report a novel and sensitive method of measuring Aβ42 content in the human nasal cavity and its application in normal human volunteers. We collected nasal smears by cotton swab from the mucosa of the inferior nasal concha and common nasal meatus of 26 normal volunteers with an age range of 23-78 years. The swabs were placed in microtubes and extracted with pure water. Extract solution was removed from each sample for protein assay and the remaining sample was added with formic acid, incubated at 70℃ for one hour, and then centrifuged in a centrifugal filter device to remove larger protein complexes and cellular debris. The filtrates were concentrated and then buffered before Aβ42 concentrations were measured using a commercially available ELISA kit. Samples from five volunteers were also assayed for Aβ42 content without pretreatment. Our novel method for collecting and assaying nasal mucosal smears enabled us to measure Aβ42 content in both the inferior nasal concha and the common nasal meatus of all cases examined, despite the levels being under detection limits (0.1 pmol/L) without pretreatment. There was significantly more Aβ42 content per gram of total protein in the inferior nasal concha (12.37 ± 5.98 pmol/g) than in the common nasal meatus (3.58 ± 1.94 pmol/g; P < 0.001). Thus, this method would be useful for AD screening.

1 0 0 0 OA The statement

出版者
日本脳科学会
雑誌
脳科学誌 (ISSN:13415301)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.43, pp.58, 2014-05-30 (Released:2017-06-01)
著者
Xuelong Jin Zhaoqiang Zhang Wenli Jing Jie Zhao
出版者
Japan Brain Science society
雑誌
脳科学誌 (ISSN:13415301)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.41, pp.5-16, 2013-09-30 (Released:2017-06-01)

Objective: To study and evaluate a new internal capsule hemorrhage animal model. Methods: We established an internal capsule hemorrhage animal model using Horseley-Clarke technique. Internal capsule was orientated referring to Sawyer rabbit brain stereotaxic atlas. The model was duplicated by injecting 0.5 ml autologous arterial blood into hind limb of internal capsule. We used HE stain to observe the changes of brain tissues. Then somatosensory evoked potential, and intracranial pressure were measured. Results: Obvious hematoma was detected in brain tissues under light microscopes. The latency of N1 and P1 in somatosensory evoked potential prolonged and the peak-to-peak value of N2-P1 decreased. Meantime intracranial pressure increased. Conclusion: We established an internal capsule hemorrhage animal model successfully. Histopathologic changes of the brain tissues and abnormal somatosensory evoked potential were found. We observed an increase in intracrnial pressure. These can provide the reference for the study of intracerebral hemorrhage.
著者
Xiang-Lin Chi Yong-Peng Yu Ke-Ping Bi
出版者
Japan Brain Science society
雑誌
脳科学誌 (ISSN:13415301)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.41, pp.17-36, 2013-09-30 (Released:2017-06-01)

The purpose of this study was to examine whether group intensive rehabilitation (GIR) can significantly improve lower limb functional outcome in patients early after stroke compared to routine rehabilitation (RR). Ninty-four patients were enrolled in this study who received GIR, individual intensive rehabilitation (IIR) or RR. Lower limb motor function was assessed using the Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Motor Recovery (FM). Dependence was recorded using the Modified Barthel Index (MBI), which is an index of daily living activities (ADL). Measures were taken before treatment and 3 weeks later respectively. Socioeconomics significance was assessed using rehabilitation cost-effectiveness ratio (CER). GIR and IIR produced greater gains than RR both in lower limb FM (p<0.01, p<0.01, respectively) and MBI (p=0.007, p=0.026, respectively) at 3 weeks after intervention. There were no significant differences both in FM and MBI score changes of lower limb between GIR and IIR (p=0.365, p=0.782, respectively). GIR had lower CER than IIR and RR (p<0.01, p<0.01, respectively). There were significant differences in CER between the three groups. Subjects in GIR had lower CER compared with those in IIR and RR (p<0.01, p<0.01, respectively). Patients receiving GIR or IIR could make greater gains than those receiving RR in lower limb motor function and ADL early after stroke, while there were no differences between those receiving GIR and IIR, which indicated that this beneficial effect was attributed to higher intensity of therapy, but had nothing to do with group factors. GIR may be a pragmatic, effective and economical method for patients early after stroke allowing for the optimal utilization of resources.
著者
Yuan Ye Xingju Liu
出版者
Japan Brain Science society
雑誌
脳科学誌 (ISSN:13415301)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.41, pp.37-47, 2013-09-30 (Released:2017-06-01)

CD34+ cell is attached with CD34 molecule which is a cluster of differentiation molecule presented on certain cells within the human body. The number of circulating CD34 progenitors has significantly increased in peripheral blood of brain during the fast hematopoietic recovery. CD34+cells can survive, migrate and differentiate towards astrocytes or neurons after transplantation. Moreover, they improve the neurological recovery after cerebral artery occlusion. CD34 molecule is a cell surface glycoprotein and functions as a cell-cell adhesion factor. It may also mediate the attachment of stem cells to bone marrow extracellular matrix or directly to stromal cells. This review is about the factors that lead to CD34+ cell proliferation in in-vivo or in-vitro.
著者
Shen Chen Yi Sun
出版者
Japan Brain Science society
雑誌
脳科学誌 (ISSN:13415301)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.41, pp.48-54, 2013-09-30 (Released:2017-06-01)

In recent years, hematopoietic stem cells to repair damage well, especially in the CD34 positive cells as the representative of the hematopoietic cell become a research hotspot, but the CD34 positive cells in the body content low, how to get a large number of CD34 positive cells become one of the difficulties of CD34 positive cells. This article reviews the methods commonly used to collect CD34 isthmic cells now, convenient for researchers to find a suitable or find new research methods.
著者
Toshifumi Nanjo Takaomi Fukuhara Naoko Kameshima Daijiro Yanagisawa Shino Shimizu Takeshi Shimizu Akihiko Shiino Hiroyasu Akatsu Takayuki Yamamoto Ikuo Tooyama
出版者
Japan Brain Science society
雑誌
脳科学誌 (ISSN:13415301)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.42, pp.5-20, 2013-09-30 (Released:2017-06-01)

Previous studies reported that β-amyloid peptides (Aβ) were observed in nasal mucosa of postmortem human samples. In the model mouse of Alzheimer's disease (AD), nasal Aβ levels positively correlate with insoluble Aβ levels in the brain. However, it is difficult to measure Aβ content in human nasal smears. Here we have reported a novel and sensitive method of measuring Aβ42 content in the human nasal cavity. We collected nasal smears by cotton swab from the mucosa of the inferior nasal concha and common nasal meatus of 13 normal volunteers with an age range of 30-78 years. The swabs were put into microtubes and the protein content extracted with 700 μL of 80% formic acid. Ten microliters of the extract solution was removed from each sample to assay protein levels. The remaining 690 μL was incubated at 70℃ for one hour, transferred to a centrifugal filter device, and centrifuged for one hour at 14000 g to remove larger protein complexes and cellular debris. The filtrates were concentrated to 20 μL, and then neutralized by adding 480 μL of 1 M Tris. Finally, the Aβ42 protein concentrations were measured using a commercially available ELISA kit, with the samples from five volunteers assayed for Aβ42 content without pretreatment. Our novel method for collecting and assaying nasal mucosal smears enabled us to measure Aβ42 content in both the inferior nasal concha and the common nasal meatus of all cases examined here, despite the levels being under detection limits (0.5 pmol/L) without pretreatment. The mean levels of Aβ42 per total protein in the inferior nasal concha and common nasal meatus of normal controls were 6.24 ± 3.70 fmol/g and 2.10 ± 0.77 fmol/g, respectively. Thus, there was significantly more Aβ42 content per total protein in the inferior nasal concha than in the common nasal meatus (P<0.01). Thus, this method would be useful for AD screening.
著者
Zhiming Zhang Benjin Nie Zhaolin Zhu
出版者
Japan Brain Science society
雑誌
脳科学誌 (ISSN:13415301)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.42, pp.43-51, 2013-09-30 (Released:2017-06-01)

Postoperative intracranial infection is a common clinical problem. As the development of neuroimaging and the appearance of powerful antibiotics, there is a great progress in the treatments and diagnoses of intracranial inflammations, however, the morbidity and mortality of intracranial inflammations is still high. In this paper, we make the statistics for the morbidity and mortality of 11578 postoperative intracranial infection cases, studying the reason and prevention experiences of several kinds of intracranial inflammations closely related to neurosurgery.
著者
Mika Kimura Ryuzo Hanaie Ikuko Mohri Kuriko Kagitani-Shimono Masaya Tachibana Junko Matsuzaki Norihiko Fujita Yoshiyuki Watanabe Masako Taniike
出版者
Japan Brain Science society
雑誌
脳科学誌 (ISSN:13415301)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.42, pp.21-42, 2013-09-30 (Released:2017-06-01)

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neuro-developmental disorder characterized by a number of functional abnormalities including disruptions to language. Recently, abnormal connectivity in the brain has been reported as a neuronal basis of functional impairments in ASD. Using tractographical analysis of the arcuate fasciculus (AF) by Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI), we attempted to clarify the neuropsychological basis for the language impairment in ASD by investigating thirteen school-aged children with ASD and eleven age- and IQ-matched control subjects. As a result of the DTI examination, no statistically significant differences in the values of fractional anisotropy (FA), axial diffusivity, radial diffusivity, and mean diffusivity were found. In both TD and ASD groups, the FA score of the AF was higher in the left hemisphere than it was in the right. We revealed that in children with ASD, the FA values of the left AF showed a positive correlation between age, verbal intelligence quotient (VIQ), and full-scale intelligence quotient (FSIQ). In addition, a negative correlation was found between RD values on the left AF with VIQ, FSIQ, and age in children with ASD. This is the first report to reveal a correlation between microconnectivity of the AF and VIQ in children diagnosed with ASD. Therefore, these findings suggest that the altered microstructural integrity of the AF may be related to verbal ability in ASD.
著者
Xuelong Jin Bin Liang Feifei Wang Zhiwen Zhang
出版者
Japan Brain Science society
雑誌
脳科学誌 (ISSN:13415301)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.39, pp.32-40, 2012-10-30 (Released:2017-06-01)
参考文献数
22

Objective Those who suffer from brainstem hemorrhage complicated by stress ulcer hemorrhage have a high mortality. This research inquire the ideal surgical method to observe microcirculation of duodenal mucosal villi and the dynamic changes in the microcirculation of rabbit's duodenal mucosal villi under brainstem hemorrhage conditions with a red color coordinate, aiming at establishing a mechanism for testing the microcirculation of the digestive tract and providing a reference index for the prevention and treatment of brainstem hemorrhage complicated by gastrointestinal bleeding. Method In this experiment, thirty male Japanese white rabbits with long ears (1.5kg to 1.8kg) were anaesthetized by 25% Urethane in vein, and simple disinfected in the condition of animal laboratory. They were given a cranial fenestration operation for an acute brainstem hemorrhage animal model and an enterstomy on the abdominal wall was made. Microcirculation microscopic blood vessel telecamera and microcirculation TV video system were used to continuously detect the congestion of the duodenal mucosal villi under brainstem hemorrhage conditions. Computer and photoshop software were used to continuously analyze the changes with time of the red color coordinate of the same villus on the same point. Result The red color (pallor) of duodenal mucosa reduced, along with minimal morphological changes of duodenal mucosa after brainstem hemorrhage. Conclusions Under the condition of this experiment, this surgical method can establish the experimental animal model to observe microcirculation of duodenal mucosal villi, and reduction of the red color coordinate with time verified the pallor of duodenal mucosa after brainstem hemorrhage in a rabbit model and reflected the sharp changes of mucosa's blood stream which is the most important preventive factor to stress ulcer under acute brainstem hemorrhage conditions. And these would become the pathophysiological basis of upper digestive tract ulcer.
著者
Tomoko Muramatsu Hideo Nakatani Mitsuru Kikuchi Toshio Munesue
出版者
Japan Brain Science society
雑誌
脳科学誌 (ISSN:13415301)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.40, pp.5-27, 2013-03-30 (Released:2017-06-01)
参考文献数
46

Ambiguous figures, such as the reversible figure of the girl/old women (Boring, 1930), have inspired an enormous amount of research into the domain of visual perception. However, visual perception of unstructured figures, such as stains on walls, which contain no meanings themselves, has not been a main topic of research in healthy subjects or in subjects with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The aims of this study were to obtain inkblot responses characteristic of subjects with ASD (n=36), to compare these response to those of healthy subjects (n=50), and to assess whether these responses had any relevance to ASD traits, as evaluated using standard questionnaires, such as the Autism-spectrum Quotient (AQ) and the Empathy Quotient (EQ). All of the responses of each subject were scored using the Exner Comprehensive Scoring System, which is the standard method for evaluating responses to the Rorschach test. The scores of total responses were not different between the subjects with ASD and healthy subjects. Only the scores for the variable designated FM were significantly lower in ASD subjects compared to healthy subjects, indicating that the subjects perceived animals in motion in their visual perceptions of unstructured figures in inkblots. Furthermore, the FM scores demonstrated a significantly inverse correlation with the AQ scores and were significantly correlated with the EQ scores. Each variable of M indicated a response of humans in motion, with m indicating a response of inanimate in motion, Human indicating total responses concerning humans, and Animal indicating total responses concerning animals; these measurements were not different between the two groups and were not correlated with the scores on the AQ or the EQ. Based on this preliminary study, representations of animals in motion in visual perception may be a subject that could shed light on the biological relevance between unstructured figures and autism traits.
著者
Norihiro Sakurai Kenji J. Tsuchiya Katsuaki Suzuki Manabu Wakuta Nori Takei Norio Mori
出版者
Japan Brain Science society
雑誌
脳科学誌 (ISSN:13415301)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.40, pp.28-53, 2013-03-30 (Released:2017-06-01)
参考文献数
30

Background: Studies have suggested that failure to detect behavioural problems at a young age will directly result in more incidents of problem behaviour as well as serious behavioural problems after school age. Therefore, the early detection of such problems is crucial to prevent difficulties after adolescence. Researchers have attempted to evaluate the proportion of children with behavioural problems based on parent and teacher ratings, although discrepancies between the two sets of ratings have been noted. This study aimed to quantify the discrepancy in ratings between parents and teachers of children regarded as having behavioural problems, and to explore explanatory variables associated with the quantified discrepancy. Methods: The Strength and Difficulty Questionnaire (SDQ) for evaluating child behaviours was completed by parents and teachers of second graders (N=798) in elementary schools recruited by community-based sampling. Among the questionnaires collected, scores for 219 children with behavioural problems, defined as those whose parent or teacher scores were &ge;13 points on the SDQ, were analysed. Mean difference in score (discrepancy score) between the parent and the teacher of each participating child was tested, and then the discrepancy score was linearly regressed onto potential explanatory variables. Results: Mean parent rating was significantly higher than mean teacher rating for both boys and girls. For boys with an assigned assistant and with a mother of older age, the discrepancy score was significant; that is, parents gave a lower score (fewer problems) than teachers. In the case of girls, the discrepancy score was significant for those with poor parental attachment; that is, parents gave a higher score (more problems) than teachers. Conclusion: In studies using the SDQ with elementary school students, the relationship of explanatory variables with discrepancy score needs to be taken into consideration and, on this basis, parent and teacher evaluations should be carefully interpreted
著者
Zhao-qiang Zhang Xiao Sun Xiang-lin Chi Xian-chang Sun Hong Jiang
出版者
Japan Brain Science society
雑誌
脳科学誌 (ISSN:13415301)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.40, pp.54-65, 2013-03-30 (Released:2017-06-01)
参考文献数
11

Objective Modeling a stable and reproducible animal model of Parkinson's disease by rotenone intraperitoneal injection for further pathogenesis study of PD. Methods Twenty-seven male Wistar rats were used, which were randomly divided into three groups on average (Rotenone Injection, Vehicle Injection and Normal group). Rats of rotenone injection group (RIG) were administered rotenone (3.0 mg/kg/day) in a specialized vehicle through daily intraperitoneal injection; rats of vehicle injection group (VIG) were administered only special vehicle in the same way, rats of normal group (NG) didn't receive any injection. Checked the changes of its behavior and numbers of SNpc neurons to determine the model successful or not. Results Six rats of RIG developed part of Parkinson's symptoms at different time. All rats of RIG emerged behavioral deficits through rearing behavior testing and square bridge testing, and the mean number of SNpc neurons showed significant reduction. There were no behavioral deficits and changes of the mean number of SNpc neurons in rats of NG and VIG. Conclusion Model of Parkinson's disease by rotenone intraperitoneal injection was successfully established. This form of the rotenone model is stable and easy to reproduce, and may provide a new excellent supporter to related studies.
著者
Zequn Chen Xuelong Jin
出版者
Japan Brain Science society
雑誌
脳科学誌 (ISSN:13415301)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.40, pp.66-79, 2013-03-30 (Released:2017-06-01)
参考文献数
54

Brain radiation therapy is an indispensable therapeutic modality for various primary and metastatic brain tumors and intracranial vascular malformation. With the development of stereotactic radiotherapy, the treatment effectiveness of radiotherapy is obvious; nevertheless, radiation-induced brain injury including both anatomic and functional deficits can not be ignored. Radiation-induced brain injury is a severe sequel after cranial radiation. It can result in a variety of acute, subacute, and delayed clinical syndromes of the brain. The primary changes of vascular endothelial cells, glial cell and neuron in radiation-induced brain injury were reviewed in this paper. In the CNS, single-dose radiation has been shown to result in apoptosis and a 15% loss of endothelial cells within 24 h. Vascular endothelial damage resulted in the change of blood brain barrier permeability. Gial cell damage was related to demyelination and cytokine and inflammatory mediator disorders. Irradiation induced typical apoptotic changes in neurons and affected hippocampal neurogenesis. Understanding the cellular changes may help to develop strategies to either increase the radiation tolerance or to treat CNS alterations induced by irradiation.
著者
Jie Guo Yang Yao
出版者
Japan Brain Science society
雑誌
脳科学誌 (ISSN:13415301)
巻号頁・発行日
vol.39, pp.22-31, 2012-10-30 (Released:2017-06-01)
参考文献数
35

The scandal of melamine-contamination has not ended yet, the toxification of melamine continues to raise concerns for public health. It has been well known that fetus and infant periods play the most important role in brain development, then what effect on earth of melamine in children's center nervous system? In the present study, we investigated the effects of melamine (5×10^<-5>g/ml) on GABAergic synaptic activity, which reflecting the basal neurotransmission, in infant rat hippocampal CA1 neurons. The results showed that melamine significantly decreased the amplitude of miniature IPSCs (mIPSCs) without altering spontaneous IPSCs (sIPSCs), illustrating a postsynaptic mechanism of melamine actions on GABAergic synaptic transmission. These results suggested that melamine could alter GABAergic synaptic activity in infant rats, and further damaged the function of learning and memory.