Biology subjects

Omrani, A.

Publications and source records attributed to Omrani, A..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

A Savory-based Formulation for Sustainable Management of Early Blight caused by Alternaria solani and Preservation of Tomato Fruit Quality

Environmental degradation caused by excessive chemical inputs is a major global challenge, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable agricultural solutions. Early blight of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), caused by Alternaria solani, is a widespread disease with limited eco-friendly control options. This study evaluated three savory-based formulations; CC2020, CCP40, and CCE40 each containing savory essential oil with different compositions for managing early blight under both in vitro and greenhouse conditions. Among them, CC2020 demonstrated the highest efficacy in reducing disease severity and showed consistent performance under greenhouse conditions. Additionally, CC2020 helped preserve vitamin C content in tomato fruits and reduced melanin concentration in A. solani, suggesting a potential dual role in disease suppression and fruit quality maintenance. These findings suggest that CC2020 could serve as a promising, biocompatible formulation for sustainable management of tomato early blight.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2024

Long-term adaptation of prefrontal circuits in a mouse model of NMDAR hypofunction

Pharmacological approaches to induce N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) hypofunction have been intensively used to understand the aetiology and pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Yet, the precise cellular and molecular mechanisms that relate to brain network dysfunction remain largely unknown. Here, we used a set of complementary approaches to assess the functional network abnormalities present in mice that underwent a 7-day subchronic phencyclidine (PCP 10mg/kg, subcutaneously, once daily) treatment. Our data revealed that pharmacological intervention with PCP affected cognitive performance and auditory evoked gamma oscillations in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) mimicking endophenotypes of some schizophrenia patients. We further assessed PFC cellular function and identified altered neuronal intrinsic membrane properties, reduced parvalbumin (PV) immunostaining and diminished inhibition onto L5 PFC pyramidal cells. A decrease in the strength of optogenetically-evoked glutamatergic current at the ventral hippocampus (HPC) to PFC synapse was also demonstrated, along with a weaker shunt of excitatory transmission by local PFC interneurons. On a macrocircuit level, functional ultrasound measurements indicated compromised functional connectivity within several brain regions particularly involving PFC and frontostriatal circuits. Herein, we reproduced a panel of schizophrenia endophenotypes induced by subchronic PCP application in mice. We further recapitulated electrophysiological signatures associated with schizophrenia and provided an anatomical reference to critical elements in the brain circuitry. Together, our findings contribute to a better understanding of the physiological underpinnings of deficits induced by subchronic NMDAR antagonist regimes and provide a test system for characterization of pharmacological compounds. HighlightsO_LISubchronic PCP treatment alters cognitive performance and evoked gamma synchronization in the prefrontal cortex. C_LIO_LISubchronic PCP reduces number of parvalbumin-positive boutons and inhibitory synaptic transmission onto pyramidal neurons in layer 5/6 of the prelimbic cortex. C_LIO_LISubchronic PCP reduces the strength of ventral hippocampal inputs to the medial prefrontal cortex. C_LIO_LIFrontostriatal circuits show robust dysconnectivity after subchronic PCP treatment. Abstract C_LI

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2020

An altered cognitive strategy associated with reduction of synaptic inhibition in the prefrontal cortex after social play deprivation in rats

Sensory driven activity during early life is critical for setting up the proper connectivity of the sensory cortices. Here we ask if social play behavior, a particular form of social interaction that is highly abundant during post-weaning development, is equally important for setting up connections in the developing prefrontal cortex (PFC). Young rats were deprived from social play with peers for 3 weeks during the period in life when social play behavior normally peaks (P21-42; SPD rats), followed by resocialization until adulthood. We recorded synaptic currents in L5 cells in slices from medial PFC of adult SPD and control rats and observed that inhibitory synaptic currents were reduced in SPD slices, while excitatory synaptic currents were unaffected. This was associated with a decrease in perisomatic inhibitory synapses from parvalbumin-positive GABAergic cells. In parallel experiments, adult SPD rats achieved more reversals in a probabilistic reversal learning task (PRL), which depends on the integrity of the PFC. They appeared to use a different cognitive strategy than controls. One hour of intense play during SPD did not prevent the decrease in inhibitory synaptic inputs and had only a limited effect on behavioral outcomes in the PRL. Our data demonstrate the importance of unrestricted social play for the development of inhibitory synapses in the PFC and cognitive skills in adulthood.

neuroscience↗