Recent research suggests that women find men with lower body fat more attractive. While facial masculinity was linked to testosterone and age, the link between health and attractiveness was fully expl...

Viruses have evolved to efficiently navigate host cells to deliver, express, and replicate their genetic material. Understanding the mechanisms underlying viral RNA localisation is paramount to design...

Adult stem cells self-renew and differentiate to build, maintain and repair tissues. This Review discusses recent insights into the contribution of mechanical forces produced by epithelial stem cell a...

Differences in force transmission capabilities between competing cells create large stress fluctuation at their interface, resulting in upward forces and cell elimination, which might have implication...

In an article published in Nature Machine Intelligence, an Australian team led by Monash University researchers has developed a generative AI tool that mimics scientists to support and speed up the pr...

The importance of the gut in regulating the brain–body immune axis is becoming increasingly evident. Interestingly, the brain and gut share many common signaling molecules, with serotonin being one of the most notable. In fact, the gut is the primary source of serotonin in the body. However, studying serotonin dynamics in a human-specific context remains a challenge. Human stem cell-derived models provide a promising avenue for studying signal transmission in well-controlled, in vitro environments. In this study, we report the first fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV) measurements of serotonin signaling in a newly developed enterochromaffin cell (ECC)-enriched gut organoid model. First, we characterize the stem cell-derived gut organoids and confirm they are enriched with ECCs, the key cell type responsible for producing and releasing serotonin in the gut. We then optimize an in vitro buffer that maintains cell viability while supporting FSCV measurements. Using this system, we detect spontaneous release events, which increase in frequency and amplitude following stimulation with forskolin (FSK) and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX). Finally, we confirm the identity of the signal as serotonin using a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), which significantly delayed the reuptake profile. Our study introduces the first real-time measurement of serotonin signaling in a human-derived gut model. We believe this system will be essential for future research on serotonin’s role in the gut and for potential novel drug target identification.

New analysis finds 414 chemicals in plastic are linked to breast cancer.

Artificial intelligence (AI) systems capable of generating creative outputs are reshaping our understanding of creativity. This shift presents an opportunity for creativity researchers to reevaluate ...

When it comes to the potential of H5N1 avian flu, otherwise known as bird flu, picking up mutations that may lead to human-to-human spread, that "train has already left the station," warns one infecti...

Translaminar spacetime patterns organized by feedback-dependent cortical circuits support sparse traveling waves.