Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 5, 2025
09:07
Mouse Footpad Inoculation Model to Study Viral-Induced Neuroinflammatory Responses
Published on: June 14, 2020
11.2K
Neuropathies and neurological dysfunction induced by coronaviruses.
Mina Gholami1, Sepideh Safari2, Luis Ulloa3
1Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Journal of Neurovirology
|May 13, 2021
Summary
Coronaviruses like COVID-19 can cause neurological disorders by damaging nerves directly or indirectly through inflammation and oxidative stress. Further research is needed to fully understand these neurotoxic mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Virology
- Pathology
Background:
- Coronaviruses, including SARS, MERS, and COVID-19, pose global health threats.
- These viruses can lead to severe cardiovascular and respiratory issues, as well as neurodegeneration and neurological disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current scientific literature on coronavirus-associated neuropathies and neuronal dysfunction.
- To discuss the neurological outcomes and mechanisms of SARS, MERS, and COVID-19 infections.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of experimental and clinical studies.
- Analysis of proposed mechanisms of coronavirus-induced neurodegeneration.
Main Results:
- Coronaviruses can directly damage nerve structures and synaptic connections via endovascular dysfunction.
- Indirect neurodegeneration occurs through mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis.
- Both direct and indirect pathways contribute to coronavirus-induced neurological disorders.
Conclusions:
- Coronaviruses induce neurodegeneration through neurovascular dysfunction and inflammatory/oxidative pathways.
- The precise neurotoxic mechanisms of SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and COVID-19 require further detailed investigation.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Disorders of the Nervous Tissue
2.1K
Nervous tissue is a vital component of the human body's communication system, enabling us to perceive and respond to stimuli. However, like all other tissues, it is vulnerable to disorders and diseases that can significantly impact our neurological functioning.
Homeostatic Imbalances:
Alzheimer's disease manifests as a gradual decline in memory and cognitive abilities, attributed to the buildup of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain.
Parkinson's disease arises from the...
Homeostatic Imbalances:
Alzheimer's disease manifests as a gradual decline in memory and cognitive abilities, attributed to the buildup of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain.
Parkinson's disease arises from the...
2.1K
01:37Neural Regulation
40.9K
Digestion begins with a cephalic phase that prepares the digestive system to receive food. When our brain processes visual or olfactory information about food, it triggers impulses in the cranial nerves innervating the salivary glands and stomach to prepare for food.
40.9K
01:12Local Anesthetics: Adverse Effects
566
While local anesthetics are generally safe and well-tolerated, they can occasionally cause adverse effects that vary in severity. Local anesthetics can induce toxicity at two distinct levels. They can either produce local effects through direct contact with the neural elements or be absorbed into the bloodstream from the injection site, leading to systemic effects.
Once absorbed into the systemic circulation, local anesthetics can affect the organs that depend on the functioning of sodium...
Once absorbed into the systemic circulation, local anesthetics can affect the organs that depend on the functioning of sodium...
566
01:24Local Anesthetics: Differential Sensitivity of Nerve Fibers
1.1K
Local anesthetics (LAs) block the sodium channels of nerve trunks, sensory nerve endings, and neuromuscular junctions. Although LAs can block all kinds of nerves, the sensitivity of nerve fibers differs according to nerve types and structures. LAs are known to block myelinated fibers faster than unmyelinated ones. Also, they block pain or sensory neurons at low concentrations without affecting the motor neurons involved in muscle contractions. This helps relieve labor pain without affecting the...
1.1K
01:29Immune Response Against Viral Pathogens
1.2K
The immune system's response to viral infections is a complex and coordinated process involving natural killer (NK) cells, T cell-mediated responses, and antibody-mediated responses.
NK Cells
NK cells are a crucial part of our innate immune system, acting as the first line of defense against viral infections. These cells can recognize and kill infected cells without prior exposure to the virus, effectively slowing down the spread of infection. Additionally, NK cells produce proinflammatory...
NK Cells
NK cells are a crucial part of our innate immune system, acting as the first line of defense against viral infections. These cells can recognize and kill infected cells without prior exposure to the virus, effectively slowing down the spread of infection. Additionally, NK cells produce proinflammatory...
1.2K
01:29Drugs Affecting Neurotransmitter Synthesis
1.8K
Drugs affecting neurotransmitter synthesis can impact the adrenergic neuron and the synthesis of neurotransmitters. For example, α-methyltyrosine and carbidopa target specific enzymes involved in catecholamine synthesis. α-methyltyrosine inhibits the enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase, which converts tyrosine into dopamine. By blocking this enzyme, α-methyltyrosine reduces dopamine production and other catecholamines. Carbidopa, on the other hand, inhibits the enzyme dopa decarboxylase,...
1.8K