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Bonthron C, Burley S, Broadhead MJ, Metodieva V, Grant SGN, Chandran S, Miles GB. Excitatory to inhibitory synaptic ratios are unchanged at presymptomatic stages in multiple models of ALS. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0306423. [PMID: 39088455 PMCID: PMC11293752 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0306423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 08/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Hyperexcitability of motor neurons and spinal cord motor circuitry has been widely reported in the early stages of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Changes in the relative amount of excitatory to inhibitory inputs onto a neuron (E:I synaptic ratio), possibly through a developmental shift in synapse formation in favour of excitatory transmission, could underlie pathological hyperexcitability. Given that astrocytes play a major role in early synaptogenesis and are implicated in ALS pathogenesis, their potential contribution to disease mechanisms involving synaptic imbalances and subsequent hyperexcitability is also of great interest. In order to assess E:I ratios in ALS, we utilised a novel primary spinal neuron / astrocyte co-culture system, derived from neonatal mice, in which synapses are formed in vitro. Using multiple ALS mouse models we found that no combination of astrocyte or neuron genotype produced alterations in E:I synaptic ratios assessed using pre- and post-synaptic anatomical markers. Similarly, we observed that ephrin-B1, a major contact-dependent astrocytic synaptogenic protein, was not differentially expressed by ALS primary astrocytes. Further to this, analysis of E:I ratios across the entire grey matter of the lumbar spinal cord in young (post-natal day 16-19) ALS mice revealed no differences versus controls. Finally, analysis in co-cultures of human iPSC-derived motor neurons and astrocytes harbouring the pathogenic C9orf72 hexanucleotide repeat expansion showed no evidence of a bias toward excitatory versus inhibitory synapse formation. We therefore conclude, utilising multiple ALS models, that we do not observe significant changes in the relative abundance of excitatory versus inhibitory synapses as would be expected if imbalances in synaptic inputs contribute to early hyperexcitability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Calum Bonthron
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah Burley
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, United Kingdom
- School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew J. Broadhead
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, United Kingdom
| | - Vanya Metodieva
- School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, United Kingdom
- Centre of Biophotonics, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, United Kingdom
| | - Seth G. N. Grant
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain (SIDB), Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Siddharthan Chandran
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain (SIDB), Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Edinburgh Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Patrick Wild Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Gareth B. Miles
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, United Kingdom
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2
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Hira R. Closed-loop experiments and brain machine interfaces with multiphoton microscopy. NEUROPHOTONICS 2024; 11:033405. [PMID: 38375331 PMCID: PMC10876015 DOI: 10.1117/1.nph.11.3.033405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
In the field of neuroscience, the importance of constructing closed-loop experimental systems has increased in conjunction with technological advances in measuring and controlling neural activity in live animals. We provide an overview of recent technological advances in the field, focusing on closed-loop experimental systems where multiphoton microscopy-the only method capable of recording and controlling targeted population activity of neurons at a single-cell resolution in vivo-works through real-time feedback. Specifically, we present some examples of brain machine interfaces (BMIs) using in vivo two-photon calcium imaging and discuss applications of two-photon optogenetic stimulation and adaptive optics to real-time BMIs. We also consider conditions for realizing future optical BMIs at the synaptic level, and their possible roles in understanding the computational principles of the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riichiro Hira
- Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Tokyo, Japan
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3
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Cauzzo S, Bruno E, Boulet D, Nazac P, Basile M, Callara AL, Tozzi F, Ahluwalia A, Magliaro C, Danglot L, Vanello N. A modular framework for multi-scale tissue imaging and neuronal segmentation. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4102. [PMID: 38778027 PMCID: PMC11111705 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48146-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The development of robust tools for segmenting cellular and sub-cellular neuronal structures lags behind the massive production of high-resolution 3D images of neurons in brain tissue. The challenges are principally related to high neuronal density and low signal-to-noise characteristics in thick samples, as well as the heterogeneity of data acquired with different imaging methods. To address this issue, we design a framework which includes sample preparation for high resolution imaging and image analysis. Specifically, we set up a method for labeling thick samples and develop SENPAI, a scalable algorithm for segmenting neurons at cellular and sub-cellular scales in conventional and super-resolution STimulated Emission Depletion (STED) microscopy images of brain tissues. Further, we propose a validation paradigm for testing segmentation performance when a manual ground-truth may not exhaustively describe neuronal arborization. We show that SENPAI provides accurate multi-scale segmentation, from entire neurons down to spines, outperforming state-of-the-art tools. The framework will empower image processing of complex neuronal circuitries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Cauzzo
- Research Center "E. Piaggio", University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
- Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Unit, Center for Rare Neurological Diseases (ERN-RND), Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
| | - Ester Bruno
- Research Center "E. Piaggio", University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria dell'Informazione, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - David Boulet
- Université Paris Cité, Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Paris (IPNP), INSERM U1266, NeurImag Core Facility, 75014, Paris, France
- Université Paris Cité, Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Paris (IPNP), INSERM U1266, Membrane traffic and diseased brain, 75014, Paris, France
| | - Paul Nazac
- Université Paris Cité, Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Paris (IPNP), INSERM U1266, Membrane traffic and diseased brain, 75014, Paris, France
| | - Miriam Basile
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria dell'Informazione, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Alejandro Luis Callara
- Research Center "E. Piaggio", University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria dell'Informazione, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Federico Tozzi
- Research Center "E. Piaggio", University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria dell'Informazione, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Arti Ahluwalia
- Research Center "E. Piaggio", University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria dell'Informazione, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Chiara Magliaro
- Research Center "E. Piaggio", University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria dell'Informazione, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Lydia Danglot
- Université Paris Cité, Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Paris (IPNP), INSERM U1266, NeurImag Core Facility, 75014, Paris, France.
- Université Paris Cité, Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Paris (IPNP), INSERM U1266, Membrane traffic and diseased brain, 75014, Paris, France.
| | - Nicola Vanello
- Research Center "E. Piaggio", University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria dell'Informazione, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
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4
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Jones G, Akter Y, Shifflett V, Hruska M. Nanoscale analysis of functionally diverse glutamatergic synapses in the neocortex reveals input and layer-specific organization. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.01.592008. [PMID: 38746319 PMCID: PMC11092571 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.01.592008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Discovery of synaptic nanostructures suggests a molecular logic for the flexibility of synaptic function. We still have little understanding of how functionally diverse synapses in the brain organize their nanoarchitecture due to challenges associated with super-resolution imaging in complex brain tissue. Here, we characterized single-domain camelid nanobodies for the 3D quantitative multiplex imaging of synaptic nano-organization in 6 µm brain cryosections using STED nanoscopy. We focused on thalamocortical (TC) and corticocortical (CC) synapses along the apical-basal axis of layer 5 pyramidal neurons as models of functionally diverse glutamatergic synapses in the brain. Spines receiving TC input were larger than CC spines in all layers examined. However, TC synapses on apical and basal dendrites conformed to different organizational principles. TC afferents on apical dendrites frequently contacted spines with multiple aligned PSD-95/Bassoon nanomodules, which are larger. TC spines on basal dendrites contained mostly one aligned PSD-95/Bassoon nanocluster. However, PSD-95 nanoclusters were larger and scaled with spine volume. The nano-organization of CC synapses did not change across cortical layers. These results highlight striking nanoscale diversity of functionally distinct glutamatergic synapses, relying on afferent input and sub-cellular localization of individual synaptic connections.
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5
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Kietzman HW, Trinoskey-Rice G, Seo EH, Guo J, Gourley SL. Neuronal Ensembles in the Amygdala Allow Social Information to Motivate Later Decisions. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e1848232024. [PMID: 38499360 PMCID: PMC11026342 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1848-23.2024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Social experiences carry tremendous weight in our decision-making, even when social partners are not present. To determine mechanisms, we trained female mice to respond for two food reinforcers. Then, one food was paired with a novel conspecific. Mice later favored the conspecific-associated food, even in the absence of the conspecific. Chemogenetically silencing projections from the prelimbic subregion (PL) of the medial prefrontal cortex to the basolateral amygdala (BLA) obstructed this preference while leaving social discrimination intact, indicating that these projections are necessary for socially driven choice. Further, mice that performed the task had greater densities of dendritic spines on excitatory BLA neurons relative to mice that did not. We next induced chemogenetic receptors in cells active during social interactions-when mice were encoding information that impacted later behavior. BLA neurons stimulated by social experience were necessary for mice to later favor rewards associated with social conspecifics but not make other choices. This profile contrasted with that of PL neurons stimulated by social experience, which were necessary for choice behavior in social and nonsocial contexts alike. The PL may convey a generalized signal allowing mice to favor particular rewards, while units in the BLA process more specialized information, together supporting choice motivated by social information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henry W Kietzman
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06510
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322
- Department of Psychiatry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322
- Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30329
| | - Gracy Trinoskey-Rice
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322
- Department of Psychiatry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322
- Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30329
| | - Esther H Seo
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322
- Department of Psychiatry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322
- Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30329
| | - Jidong Guo
- Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30329
| | - Shannon L Gourley
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322
- Department of Psychiatry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322
- Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30329
- Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia 30322
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6
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Nguyen TP, Nguyen HD, Abe M. Development of a Two-Photon-Responsive Chromophore, 2-( p-Aminophenyl)-5,6-dimethoxy-1-(hydroxyinden-3-yl)methyl Derivative, as a Photoremovable Protecting Group. J Org Chem 2024; 89:4691-4701. [PMID: 38502935 DOI: 10.1021/acs.joc.3c02943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
Photoremovable protecting groups (PPGs) are powerful tools that are widely used to investigate biological events in cells. An important requirement for PPGs is the efficient release of bioactive molecules by using visible to near-infrared light in the biological window (650-1350 nm). In this study, we report a new two-photon (2P)-responsive PPG, 2-(p-aminophenyl)-5,6-dimethoxy-1-(hydroxyinden-3-yl)methyl, with a donor-π-donor cyclic stilbene structure. The 2P cross section was approximately 40-50 GM at ∼700 nm. The quantum yield of the uncaging process of caged benzoate was greater than 0.7, demonstrating that the 2P uncaging efficiency was approximately 30 GM at around 700 nm. This newly developed 2P-responsive chromophore can be used in future biological experiments. The mechanism of the photo-uncaging reaction via the carbocation intermediate was elucidated using transient absorption spectroscopy and product analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuan Phong Nguyen
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Advance Science and Engineering, Hiroshima University, 1-3-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima 739-8526, Japan
| | - Hai Dang Nguyen
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Advance Science and Engineering, Hiroshima University, 1-3-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima 739-8526, Japan
| | - Manabu Abe
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Advance Science and Engineering, Hiroshima University, 1-3-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima 739-8526, Japan
- Hiroshima Research Center for Photo-Drug-Delivery Systems (Hi-P-DDS), Hiroshima University, 1-3-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima 739-8526, Japan
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7
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Gandy HM, Hollis F, Hernandez CM, McQuail JA. Aging or chronic stress impairs working memory and modulates GABA and glutamate gene expression in prelimbic cortex. Front Aging Neurosci 2024; 15:1306496. [PMID: 38259638 PMCID: PMC10800675 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1306496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The glucocorticoid (GC) hypothesis posits that effects of stress and dysregulated hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity accumulate over the lifespan and contribute to impairment of neural function and cognition in advanced aging. The validity of the GC hypothesis is bolstered by a wealth of studies that investigate aging of the hippocampus and decline of associated mnemonic functions. The prefrontal cortex (PFC) mediates working memory which also decreases with age. While the PFC is susceptible to stress and GCs, few studies have formally assessed the application of the GC hypothesis to PFC aging and working memory. Using parallel behavioral and molecular approaches, we compared the effects of normal aging versus chronic variable stress (CVS) on working memory and expression of genes that encode for effectors of glutamate and GABA signaling in male F344 rats. Using an operant delayed match-to-sample test of PFC-dependent working memory, we determined that normal aging and CVS each significantly impaired mnemonic accuracy and reduced the total number of completed trials. We then determined that normal aging increased expression of Slc6a11, which encodes for GAT-3 GABA transporter expressed by astrocytes, in the prelimbic (PrL) subregion of the PFC. CVS increased PrL expression of genes associated with glutamatergic synapses: Grin2b that encodes the GluN2B subunit of NMDA receptor, Grm4 that encodes for metabotropic glutamate receptor 4 (mGluR4), and Plcb1 that encodes for phospholipase C beta 1, an intracellular signaling enzyme that transduces signaling of Group I mGluRs. Beyond the identification of specific genes that were differentially expressed between the PrL in normal aging or CVS, examination of Log2 fold-changes for all expressed glutamate and GABA genes revealed a positive association between molecular phenotypes of aging and CVS in the PrL but no association in the infralimbic subregion. Consistent with predictions of the GC hypothesis, PFC-dependent working memory and PrL glutamate/GABA gene expression demonstrate comparable sensitivity to aging and chronic stress. However, changes in expression of specific genes affiliated with regulation of extracellular GABA in normal aging vs. genes encoding for effectors of glutamatergic signaling during CVS suggest the presence of unique manifestations of imbalanced inhibitory and excitatory signaling in the PFC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah M. Gandy
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Fiona Hollis
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, United States
- Columbia VA Health Care System, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Caesar M. Hernandez
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gerontology, Geriatrics, and Palliative Care, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Joseph A. McQuail
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Neuroscience, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
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8
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Canepari M, Ross WN. Spatial and temporal aspects of neuronal calcium and sodium signals measured with low-affinity fluorescent indicators. Pflugers Arch 2024; 476:39-48. [PMID: 37798555 DOI: 10.1007/s00424-023-02865-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
Low-affinity fluorescent indicators for Ca2+ or Na+ allow measuring the dynamics of intracellular concentration of these ions with little perturbation from physiological conditions because they are weak buffers. When using synthetic indicators, which are small molecules with fast kinetics, it is also possible to extract spatial and temporal information on the sources of ion transients, their localization, and their disposition. This review examines these important aspects from the biophysical point of view, and how they have been recently exploited in neurophysiological studies. We first analyze the environment where Ca2+ and Na+ indicators are inserted, highlighting the interpretation of the two different signals. Then, we address the information that can be obtained by analyzing the rising phase and the falling phase of the Ca2+ and Na+ transients evoked by different stimuli, focusing on the kinetics of ionic currents and on the spatial interpretation of these measurements, especially on events in axons and dendritic spines. Finally, we suggest how Ca2+ or Na+ imaging using low-affinity synthetic fluorescent indicators can be exploited in future fundamental or applied research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Canepari
- LIPhy, CNRS, Univ. Grenoble Alpes, F-38000, Grenoble, France.
- Laboratories of Excellence, Ion Channel Science and Therapeutics, Valbonne, France.
- Institut National de la Santé et Recherche Médicale, Paris, France.
| | - William N Ross
- Department of Physiology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, 10595, USA
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9
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Zecevic D. Electrical properties of dendritic spines. Biophys J 2023; 122:4303-4315. [PMID: 37837192 PMCID: PMC10698282 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2023.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Dendritic spines are small protrusions that mediate most of the excitatory synaptic transmission in the brain. Initially, the anatomical structure of spines has suggested that they serve as isolated biochemical and electrical compartments. Indeed, following ample experimental evidence, it is now widely accepted that a significant physiological role of spines is to provide biochemical compartmentalization in signal integration and plasticity in the nervous system. In contrast to the clear biochemical role of spines, their electrical role is uncertain and is currently being debated. This is mainly because spines are small and not accessible to conventional experimental methods of electrophysiology. Here, I focus on reviewing the literature on the electrical properties of spines, including the initial morphological and theoretical modeling studies, indirect experimental approaches based on measurements of diffusional resistance of the spine neck, indirect experimental methods using two-photon uncaging of glutamate on spine synapses, optical imaging of intracellular calcium concentration changes, and voltage imaging with organic and genetically encoded voltage-sensitive probes. The interpretation of evidence from different preparations obtained with different methods has yet to reach a consensus, with some analyses rejecting and others supporting an electrical role of spines in regulating synaptic signaling. Thus, there is a need for a critical comparison of the advantages and limitations of different methodological approaches. The only experimental study on electrical signaling monitored optically with adequate sensitivity and spatiotemporal resolution using voltage-sensitive dyes concluded that mushroom spines on basal dendrites of cortical pyramidal neurons in brain slices have no electrical role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dejan Zecevic
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.
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10
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Caya-Bissonnette L, Béïque JC. Low throughput screening in neuroscience: using light to study central synapses one at a time. NEUROPHOTONICS 2023; 10:044407. [PMID: 37881180 PMCID: PMC10594030 DOI: 10.1117/1.nph.10.4.044407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
Neurophotonic approaches have fostered substantial progress in our understanding of the brain by providing an assortment of means to either monitor or manipulate neural processes. Among these approaches, the development of two-photon uncaging provides a useful and flexible approach to manipulate the activity of individual synapses. In this short piece, we explore how this technique has emerged at the intersection of chemistry, optics, and electrophysiology to enable spatially and temporally precise photoactivation for studying functional aspects of synaptic transmission and dendritic integration. We discuss advantages and limitations of this approach, focusing on our efforts to study several functional aspects of glutamate receptors using uncaging of glutamate. Among other advancements, this approach has contributed to further our understanding of the subcellular regulation, trafficking, and biophysical features of glutamate receptors (e.g., desensitization and silent synapse regulation), the dynamics of spine calcium, and the integrative features of dendrites, and how these functions are altered by several forms of plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Léa Caya-Bissonnette
- University of Ottawa’s Brain and Mind Research Institute and Centre of Neural Dynamics, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jean-Claude Béïque
- University of Ottawa’s Brain and Mind Research Institute and Centre of Neural Dynamics, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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11
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Costa JF, Dines M, Agarwal K, Lamprecht R. Rac1 GTPase activation impairs fear conditioning-induced structural changes in basolateral amygdala neurons and long-term fear memory formation. Neuropsychopharmacology 2023; 48:1338-1346. [PMID: 36522403 PMCID: PMC10354034 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-022-01518-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Long-term memory formation leads to enduring alterations in synaptic efficacy and neuronal responses that may be created by changes in neuronal morphology. We show that fear conditioning leads to a long-lasting increase in the volume of the primary and secondary dendritic branches, but not of distal branches, of neurons located at the basolateral amygdala (BLA). The length of the dendritic branches is not affected by fear conditioning. Fear conditioning leads to an enduring increase in the length and volume of dendritic spines, especially in the length of the spine neck and the volume of the spine head. Fear conditioning does not affect dendritic spine density. We further reveal that activation of Rac1 in BLA during fear conditioning impairs long-term auditory, but not contextual, fear conditioning memory. Activation of Rac1 during fear conditioning prevents the enduring increase in the dendritic primary branch volume and dendritic spines length and volume. Rac1 activation per se has no effect on neuronal morphology. These results show that fear conditioning induces changes known to reduce the inhibition of signal propagation along the dendrite and the increase in synaptic efficacy whereas preventing these changes, by Rac1 activation, impairs fear memory formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Freitas Costa
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Monica Dines
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Karishma Agarwal
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Raphael Lamprecht
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel.
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12
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Villanueva CB, Stephensen HJT, Mokso R, Benraiss A, Sporring J, Goldman SA. Astrocytic engagement of the corticostriatal synaptic cleft is disrupted in a mouse model of Huntington's disease. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2210719120. [PMID: 37279261 PMCID: PMC10268590 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2210719120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Astroglial dysfunction contributes to the pathogenesis of Huntington's disease (HD), and glial replacement can ameliorate the disease course. To establish the topographic relationship of diseased astrocytes to medium spiny neuron (MSN) synapses in HD, we used 2-photon imaging to map the relationship of turboRFP-tagged striatal astrocytes and rabies-traced, EGFP-tagged coupled neuronal pairs in R6/2 HD and wild-type (WT) mice. The tagged, prospectively identified corticostriatal synapses were then studied by correlated light electron microscopy followed by serial block-face scanning EM, allowing nanometer-scale assessment of synaptic structure in 3D. By this means, we compared the astrocytic engagement of single striatal synapses in HD and WT brains. R6/2 HD astrocytes exhibited constricted domains, with significantly less coverage of mature dendritic spines than WT astrocytes, despite enhanced engagement of immature, thin spines. These data suggest that disease-dependent changes in the astroglial engagement and sequestration of MSN synapses enable the high synaptic and extrasynaptic levels of glutamate and K+ that underlie striatal hyperexcitability in HD. As such, these data suggest that astrocytic structural pathology may causally contribute to the synaptic dysfunction and disease phenotype of those neurodegenerative disorders characterized by network overexcitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Benitez Villanueva
- Center for Translational Neuromedicine, University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Copenhagen N2200, Denmark
| | - Hans J. T. Stephensen
- Center for Translational Neuromedicine, University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Copenhagen N2200, Denmark
- Department of Computer Science, University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Science, Copenhagen N2200, Denmark
| | - Rajmund Mokso
- Faculty of Engineering, Division of Solid Mechanics, Lund University, Lund22100, Sweden
| | - Abdellatif Benraiss
- Center for Translational Neuroscience, Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY14642
| | - Jon Sporring
- Department of Computer Science, University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Science, Copenhagen N2200, Denmark
| | - Steven A. Goldman
- Center for Translational Neuromedicine, University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Copenhagen N2200, Denmark
- Center for Translational Neuroscience, Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY14642
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Ashtari M, Cook P, Lipin M, Yu Y, Ying GS, Maguire A, Bennett J, Gee J, Zhang H. Dynamic structural remodeling of the human visual system prompted by bilateral retinal gene therapy. CURRENT RESEARCH IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2023; 4:100089. [PMID: 37397812 PMCID: PMC10313860 DOI: 10.1016/j.crneur.2023.100089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The impact of changes in visual input on neuronal circuitry is complex and much of our knowledge on human brain plasticity of the visual systems comes from animal studies. Reinstating vision in a group of patients with low vision through retinal gene therapy creates a unique opportunity to dynamically study the underlying process responsible for brain plasticity. Historically, increases in the axonal myelination of the visual pathway has been the biomarker for brain plasticity. Here, we demonstrate that to reach the long-term effects of myelination increase, the human brain may undergo demyelination as part of a plasticity process. The maximum change in dendritic arborization of the primary visual cortex and the neurite density along the geniculostriate tracks occurred at three months (3MO) post intervention, in line with timing for the peak changes in postnatal synaptogenesis within the visual cortex reported in animal studies. The maximum change at 3MO for both the gray and white matter significantly correlated with patients' clinical responses to light stimulations called full field sensitivity threshold (FST). Our results shed a new light on the underlying process of brain plasticity by challenging the concept of increase myelination being the hallmark of brain plasticity and instead reinforcing the idea of signal speed optimization as a dynamic process for brain plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manzar Ashtari
- Center for Advanced Retinal and Ocular Therapeutics (CAROT), University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, United States
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, United States
- Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, United States
| | - Philip Cook
- Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, United States
| | - Mikhail Lipin
- Center for Advanced Retinal and Ocular Therapeutics (CAROT), University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, United States
| | - Yinxi Yu
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, United States
| | - Gui-Shuang Ying
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, United States
| | - Albert Maguire
- Center for Advanced Retinal and Ocular Therapeutics (CAROT), University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, United States
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, United States
| | - Jean Bennett
- Center for Advanced Retinal and Ocular Therapeutics (CAROT), University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, United States
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, United States
| | - James Gee
- Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, United States
| | - Hui Zhang
- Centre for Medical Image Computing, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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14
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Bemben MA, Sandoval M, Le AA, Won S, Chau VN, Lauterborn JC, Incontro S, Li KH, Burlingame AL, Roche KW, Gall CM, Nicoll RA, Diaz-Alonso J. Contrastsing synaptic roles of MDGA1 and MDGA2. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.25.542333. [PMID: 37720016 PMCID: PMC10503827 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.25.542333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders are frequently linked to mutations in synaptic organizing molecules. MAM domain containing glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor 1 and 2 (MDGA1 and MDGA2) are a family of synaptic organizers suggested to play an unusual role as synaptic repressors, but studies offer conflicting evidence for their localization. Using epitope-tagged MDGA1 and MDGA2 knock-in mice, we found that native MDGAs are expressed throughout the brain, peaking early in postnatal development. Surprisingly, endogenous MDGA1 was enriched at excitatory, but not inhibitory, synapses. Both shRNA knockdown and CRISPR/Cas9 knockout of MDGA1 resulted in cell-autonomous, specific impairment of AMPA receptor-mediated synaptic transmission, without affecting GABAergic transmission. Conversely, MDGA2 knockdown/knockout selectively depressed NMDA receptor-mediated transmission but enhanced inhibitory transmission. Our results establish that MDGA2 acts as a synaptic repressor, but only at inhibitory synapses, whereas both MDGAs are required for excitatory transmission. This nonoverlapping division of labor between two highly conserved synaptic proteins is unprecedented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A. Bemben
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Matthew Sandoval
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, University of California at Irvine, CA, 92617, USA
- Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California at Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Aliza A. Le
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, University of California at Irvine, CA, 92617, USA
- Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California at Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Sehoon Won
- Receptor Biology Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Vivian N. Chau
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, University of California at Irvine, CA, 92617, USA
- Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California at Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Julie C. Lauterborn
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, University of California at Irvine, CA, 92617, USA
- Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California at Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Salvatore Incontro
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Present address: Unité de Neurobiologie des canaux Ioniques et de la Synapse (UNIS), UMR1072, INSERM, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, 13015, France
| | - Kathy H. Li
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Alma L. Burlingame
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Katherine W. Roche
- Receptor Biology Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Christine M. Gall
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, University of California at Irvine, CA, 92617, USA
- Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California at Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Roger A. Nicoll
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Department of Physiology, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Javier Diaz-Alonso
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, University of California at Irvine, CA, 92617, USA
- Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California at Irvine, CA, USA
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15
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Ziółkowska M, Borczyk M, Cały A, Tomaszewski KF, Nowacka A, Nalberczak-Skóra M, Śliwińska MA, Łukasiewicz K, Skonieczna E, Wójtowicz T, Wlodarczyk J, Bernaś T, Salamian A, Radwanska K. Phosphorylation of PSD-95 at serine 73 in dCA1 is required for extinction of contextual fear. PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3002106. [PMID: 37155709 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The updating of contextual memories is essential for survival in a changing environment. Accumulating data indicate that the dorsal CA1 area (dCA1) contributes to this process. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms of contextual fear memory updating remain poorly understood. Postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD-95) regulates the structure and function of glutamatergic synapses. Here, using dCA1-targeted genetic manipulations in vivo, combined with ex vivo 3D electron microscopy and electrophysiology, we identify a novel, synaptic mechanism that is induced during attenuation of contextual fear memories and involves phosphorylation of PSD-95 at Serine 73 in dCA1. Our data provide the proof that PSD-95-dependent synaptic plasticity in dCA1 is required for updating of contextual fear memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Ziółkowska
- Laboratory of Molecular Basis of Behavior, the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Malgorzata Borczyk
- Laboratory of Molecular Basis of Behavior, the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
- Department Molecular Neuropharmacology, Maj Institute of Pharmacology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakow, Poland
| | - Anna Cały
- Laboratory of Molecular Basis of Behavior, the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Kamil F Tomaszewski
- Laboratory of Molecular Basis of Behavior, the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Agata Nowacka
- Laboratory of Molecular Basis of Behavior, the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Maria Nalberczak-Skóra
- Laboratory of Molecular Basis of Behavior, the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Alicja Śliwińska
- Laboratory of Molecular Basis of Behavior, the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
- Laboratory of Imaging Tissue Structure and Function, the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Kacper Łukasiewicz
- Laboratory of Molecular Basis of Behavior, the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
- Psychiatry Clinic, Medical University of Bialystok, Białystok, Poland
| | - Edyta Skonieczna
- Laboratory of Molecular Basis of Behavior, the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Tomasz Wójtowicz
- Laboratory of Cell Biophysics, the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jakub Wlodarczyk
- Laboratory of Cell Biophysics, the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Tytus Bernaś
- Laboratory of Imaging Tissue Structure and Function, the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
- Department of Anatomy and Neurology, VCU School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Ahmad Salamian
- Laboratory of Molecular Basis of Behavior, the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Kasia Radwanska
- Laboratory of Molecular Basis of Behavior, the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
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16
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Rexrode L, Tennin M, Babu J, Young C, Bollavarapu R, Lawson LA, Valeri J, Pantazopoulos H, Gisabella B. Regulation of dendritic spines in the amygdala following sleep deprivation. FRONTIERS IN SLEEP 2023; 2:1145203. [PMID: 37928499 PMCID: PMC10624159 DOI: 10.3389/frsle.2023.1145203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
The amygdala is a hub of emotional circuits involved in the regulation of cognitive and emotional behaviors and its critically involved in emotional reactivity, stress regulation, and fear memory. Growing evidence suggests that the amygdala plays a key role in the consolidation of emotional memories during sleep. Neuroimaging studies demonstrated that the amygdala is selectively and highly activated during rapid eye movement sleep (REM) and sleep deprivation induces emotional instability and dysregulation of the emotional learning process. Regulation of dendritic spines during sleep represents a morphological correlate of memory consolidation. Several studies indicate that dendritic spines are remodeled during sleep, with evidence for broad synaptic downscaling and selective synaptic upscaling in several cortical areas and the hippocampus. Currently, there is a lack of information regarding the regulation of dendritic spines in the amygdala during sleep. In the present work, we investigated the effect of 5 h of sleep deprivation on dendritic spines in the mouse amygdala. Our data demonstrate that sleep deprivation results in differential dendritic spine changes depending on both the amygdala subregions and the morphological subtypes of dendritic spines. We observed decreased density of mushroom spines in the basolateral amygdala of sleep deprived mice, together with increased neck length and decreased surface area and volume. In contrast, we observed greater densities of stubby spines in sleep deprived mice in the central amygdala, indicating that downscaling selectively occurs in this spine type. Greater neck diameters for thin spines in the lateral and basolateral nuclei of sleep deprived mice, and decreases in surface area and volume for mushroom spines in the basolateral amygdala compared to increases in the cental amygdala provide further support for spine type-selective synaptic downscaling in these areas during sleep. Our findings suggest that sleep promotes synaptic upscaling of mushroom spines in the basolateral amygdala, and downscaling of selective spine types in the lateral and central amygdala. In addition, we observed decreased density of phosphorylated cofilin immunoreactive and growth hormone immunoreactive cells in the amygdala of sleep deprived mice, providing further support for upscaling of dendritic spines during sleep. Overall, our findings point to region-and spine type-specific changes in dendritic spines during sleep in the amygdala, which may contribute to consolidation of emotional memories during sleep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay Rexrode
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States
| | - Matthew Tennin
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States
| | - Jobin Babu
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States
- Program in Neuroscience, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States
| | - Caleb Young
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States
| | - Ratna Bollavarapu
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States
| | - Lamiorkor Ameley Lawson
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States
| | - Jake Valeri
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States
- Program in Neuroscience, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States
| | - Harry Pantazopoulos
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States
- Program in Neuroscience, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States
| | - Barbara Gisabella
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States
- Program in Neuroscience, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States
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17
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Kasai H, Ucar H, Morimoto Y, Eto F, Okazaki H. Mechanical transmission at spine synapses: Short-term potentiation and working memory. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2023; 80:102706. [PMID: 36931116 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2023.102706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Abstract
Do dendritic spines, which comprise the postsynaptic component of most excitatory synapses, exist only for their structural dynamics, receptor trafficking, and chemical and electrical compartmentation? The answer is no. Simultaneous investigation of both spine and presynaptic terminals has recently revealed a novel feature of spine synapses. Spine enlargement pushes the presynaptic terminals with muscle-like force and augments the evoked glutamate release for up to 20 min. We now summarize the evidence that such mechanical transmission shares critical features in common with short-term potentiation (STP) and may represent the cellular basis of short-term and working memory. Thus, spine synapses produce the force of learning to leave structural traces for both short and long-term memories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haruo Kasai
- International Research Center for Neurointelligence (WPI-IRCN), UTIAS, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan; Laboratory of Structural Physiology, Center for Disease Biology and Integrative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Hasan Ucar
- International Research Center for Neurointelligence (WPI-IRCN), UTIAS, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan; Laboratory of Structural Physiology, Center for Disease Biology and Integrative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuichi Morimoto
- International Research Center for Neurointelligence (WPI-IRCN), UTIAS, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan; Laboratory of Structural Physiology, Center for Disease Biology and Integrative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Fumihiro Eto
- International Research Center for Neurointelligence (WPI-IRCN), UTIAS, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan; Laboratory of Structural Physiology, Center for Disease Biology and Integrative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Okazaki
- International Research Center for Neurointelligence (WPI-IRCN), UTIAS, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan; Laboratory of Structural Physiology, Center for Disease Biology and Integrative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
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18
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Ford TJL, Jeon BT, Lee H, Kim WY. Dendritic spine and synapse pathology in chromatin modifier-associated autism spectrum disorders and intellectual disability. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 15:1048713. [PMID: 36743289 PMCID: PMC9892461 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1048713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Formation of dendritic spine and synapse is an essential final step of brain wiring to establish functional communication in the developing brain. Recent findings have displayed altered dendritic spine and synapse morphogenesis, plasticity, and related molecular mechanisms in animal models and post-mortem human brains of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and intellectual disability (ID). Many genes and proteins are shown to be associated with spines and synapse development, and therefore neurodevelopmental disorders. In this review, however, particular attention will be given to chromatin modifiers such as AT-Rich Interactive Domain 1B (ARID1B), KAT8 regulatory non-specific lethal (NSL) complex subunit 1 (KANSL1), and WD Repeat Domain 5 (WDR5) which are among strong susceptibility factors for ASD and ID. Emerging evidence highlights the critical status of these chromatin remodeling molecules in dendritic spine morphogenesis and synaptic functions. Molecular and cellular insights of ARID1B, KANSL1, and WDR5 will integrate into our current knowledge in understanding and interpreting the pathogenesis of ASD and ID. Modulation of their activities or levels may be an option for potential therapeutic treatment strategies for these neurodevelopmental conditions.
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19
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Mougios N, Opazo F, Rizzoli SO, Reshetniak S. Trafficking proteins show limited differences in mobility across different postsynaptic spines. iScience 2023; 26:105971. [PMID: 36718370 PMCID: PMC9883188 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.105971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The function of the postsynaptic compartment is based on the presence and activity of postsynaptic receptors, whose dynamics are controlled by numerous scaffolding, signaling and trafficking proteins. Although the receptors and the scaffolding proteins have received substantial attention, the trafficking proteins have not been investigated extensively. Their mobility rates are unknown, and it is unclear how the postsynaptic environment affects their dynamics. To address this, we analyzed several trafficking proteins (α-synuclein, amphiphysin, calmodulin, doc2a, dynamin, and endophilin), estimating their movement rates in the dendritic shaft, as well as in morphologically distinct "mushroom" and "stubby" postsynapse types. The diffusion parameters were surprisingly similar across dendritic compartments, and a few differences between proteins became evident only in the presence of a synapse neck. We conclude that the movement of trafficking proteins is not strongly affected by the postsynaptic compartment, in stark contrast to the presynapse, which regulates strongly the movement of such proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaos Mougios
- Institute of Neuro- and Sensory Physiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37073 Göttingen, Germany,Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration (BIN), University of Göttingen Medical Center, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Felipe Opazo
- Institute of Neuro- and Sensory Physiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37073 Göttingen, Germany,Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration (BIN), University of Göttingen Medical Center, 37075 Göttingen, Germany,NanoTag Biotechnologies GmbH, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Silvio O. Rizzoli
- Institute of Neuro- and Sensory Physiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37073 Göttingen, Germany,Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration (BIN), University of Göttingen Medical Center, 37075 Göttingen, Germany,Corresponding author
| | - Sofiia Reshetniak
- Institute of Neuro- and Sensory Physiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37073 Göttingen, Germany,Corresponding author
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20
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KASAI H. Unraveling the mysteries of dendritic spine dynamics: Five key principles shaping memory and cognition. PROCEEDINGS OF THE JAPAN ACADEMY. SERIES B, PHYSICAL AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES 2023; 99:254-305. [PMID: 37821392 PMCID: PMC10749395 DOI: 10.2183/pjab.99.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Recent research extends our understanding of brain processes beyond just action potentials and chemical transmissions within neural circuits, emphasizing the mechanical forces generated by excitatory synapses on dendritic spines to modulate presynaptic function. From in vivo and in vitro studies, we outline five central principles of synaptic mechanics in brain function: P1: Stability - Underpinning the integral relationship between the structure and function of the spine synapses. P2: Extrinsic dynamics - Highlighting synapse-selective structural plasticity which plays a crucial role in Hebbian associative learning, distinct from pathway-selective long-term potentiation (LTP) and depression (LTD). P3: Neuromodulation - Analyzing the role of G-protein-coupled receptors, particularly dopamine receptors, in time-sensitive modulation of associative learning frameworks such as Pavlovian classical conditioning and Thorndike's reinforcement learning (RL). P4: Instability - Addressing the intrinsic dynamics crucial to memory management during continual learning, spotlighting their role in "spine dysgenesis" associated with mental disorders. P5: Mechanics - Exploring how synaptic mechanics influence both sides of synapses to establish structural traces of short- and long-term memory, thereby aiding the integration of mental functions. We also delve into the historical background and foresee impending challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haruo KASAI
- International Research Center for Neurointelligence (WPI-IRCN), UTIAS, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
- Laboratory of Structural Physiology, Center for Disease Biology and Integrative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
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21
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Righes Marafiga J, Calcagnotto ME. Electrophysiology of Dendritic Spines: Information Processing, Dynamic Compartmentalization, and Synaptic Plasticity. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2023; 34:103-141. [PMID: 37962795 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-36159-3_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
For many years, synaptic transmission was considered as information transfer between presynaptic neuron and postsynaptic cell. At the synaptic level, it was thought that dendritic arbors were only receiving and integrating all information flow sent along to the soma, while axons were primarily responsible for point-to-point information transfer. However, it is important to highlight that dendritic spines play a crucial role as postsynaptic components in central nervous system (CNS) synapses, not only integrating and filtering signals to the soma but also facilitating diverse connections with axons from many different sources. The majority of excitatory connections from presynaptic axonal terminals occurs on postsynaptic spines, although a subset of GABAergic synapses also targets spine heads. Several studies have shown the vast heterogeneous morphological, biochemical, and functional features of dendritic spines related to synaptic processing. In this chapter (adding to the relevant data on the biophysics of spines described in Chap. 1 of this book), we address the up-to-date functional dendritic characteristics assessed through electrophysiological approaches, including backpropagating action potentials (bAPs) and synaptic potentials mediated in dendritic and spine compartmentalization, as well as describing the temporal and spatial dynamics of glutamate receptors in the spines related to synaptic plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseane Righes Marafiga
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Maria Elisa Calcagnotto
- Department of Biochemistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
- Graduate Program in Biochemistry, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
- Graduate Program in Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
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22
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Denizot A, Arizono M, Nägerl UV, Berry H, De Schutter E. Control of Ca 2+ signals by astrocyte nanoscale morphology at tripartite synapses. Glia 2022; 70:2378-2391. [PMID: 36097958 PMCID: PMC9825906 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Much of the Ca2+ activity in astrocytes is spatially restricted to microdomains and occurs in fine processes that form a complex anatomical meshwork, the so-called spongiform domain. A growing body of literature indicates that those astrocytic Ca2+ signals can influence the activity of neuronal synapses and thus tune the flow of information through neuronal circuits. Because of technical difficulties in accessing the small spatial scale involved, the role of astrocyte morphology on Ca2+ microdomain activity remains poorly understood. Here, we use computational tools and idealized 3D geometries of fine processes based on recent super-resolution microscopy data to investigate the mechanistic link between astrocytic nanoscale morphology and local Ca2+ activity. Simulations demonstrate that the nano-morphology of astrocytic processes powerfully shapes the spatio-temporal properties of Ca2+ signals and promotes local Ca2+ activity. The model predicts that this effect is attenuated upon astrocytic swelling, hallmark of brain diseases, which we confirm experimentally in hypo-osmotic conditions. Upon repeated neurotransmitter release events, the model predicts that swelling hinders astrocytic signal propagation. Overall, this study highlights the influence of the complex morphology of astrocytes at the nanoscale and its remodeling in pathological conditions on neuron-astrocyte communication at so-called tripartite synapses, where astrocytic processes come into close contact with pre- and postsynaptic structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey Denizot
- Computational Neuroscience UnitOkinawa Institute of Science and TechnologyOnna‐SonJapan
| | - Misa Arizono
- Interdisciplinary Institute for NeuroscienceUniversité de BordeauxBordeauxFrance,Interdisciplinary Institute for NeuroscienceCNRS UMR 5297BordeauxFrance,Department of PharmacologyKyoto University Graduate School of MedicineKyotoJapan
| | - U. Valentin Nägerl
- Interdisciplinary Institute for NeuroscienceUniversité de BordeauxBordeauxFrance,Interdisciplinary Institute for NeuroscienceCNRS UMR 5297BordeauxFrance
| | - Hugues Berry
- LIRIS, UMR5205 CNRSUniv LyonVilleurbanneFrance,INRIAVilleurbanneFrance
| | - Erik De Schutter
- Computational Neuroscience UnitOkinawa Institute of Science and TechnologyOnna‐SonJapan
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23
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Fast Synaptically Activated Calcium and Sodium Kinetics in Hippocampal Pyramidal Neuron Dendritic Spines. eNeuro 2022; 9:ENEURO.0396-22.2022. [PMID: 36379712 PMCID: PMC9718353 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0396-22.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
An accurate assessment of the time course, components, and magnitude of postsynaptic currents is important for a quantitative understanding of synaptic integration and signaling in dendritic spines. These parameters have been studied in some detail in previous experiments, primarily using two-photon imaging of [Ca2+]i changes and two-photon uncaging of glutamate. However, even with these revolutionary techniques, there are some missing pieces in our current understanding, particularly related to the time courses of synaptically evoked [Ca2+]i and [Na+]i changes. In new experiments, we used low-affinity, linear Na+ and Ca2+ indicators, laser fluorescence stimulation, and a sensitive camera-based detection system, combined with electrical stimulation and two-photon glutamate uncaging, to extend measurements of these spine parameters. We found that (1) almost all synaptically activated Na+ currents in CA1 hippocampal pyramidal neuron spines in slices from mice of either sex are through AMPA receptors with little Na+ entry through voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) or NMDA receptor channels; (2) a spectrum of sodium transient decay times was observed, suggesting a spectrum of spine neck resistances, even on the same dendrite; (3) synaptically activated [Ca2+]i changes are very fast and are almost entirely because of Ca2+ entry through NMDA receptors at the time when the Mg2+ block is relieved by the fast AMPA-mediated EPSP; (4) the [Ca2+]i changes evoked by uncaging glutamate are slower than the changes evoked by synaptic release, suggesting that the relative contribution of Ca2+ entering through NMDA receptors at rest following uncaging is higher than following electrical stimulation.
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Myers KR, Fan Y, McConnell P, Cooper JA, Zheng JQ. Actin capping protein regulates postsynaptic spine development through CPI-motif interactions. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:1020949. [PMID: 36245917 PMCID: PMC9557104 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1020949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Dendritic spines are small actin-rich protrusions essential for the formation of functional circuits in the mammalian brain. During development, spines begin as dynamic filopodia-like protrusions that are then replaced by relatively stable spines containing an expanded head. Remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton plays a key role in the formation and modification of spine morphology, however many of the underlying regulatory mechanisms remain unclear. Capping protein (CP) is a major actin regulating protein that caps the barbed ends of actin filaments, and promotes the formation of dense branched actin networks. Knockdown of CP impairs the formation of mature spines, leading to an increase in the number of filopodia-like protrusions and defects in synaptic transmission. Here, we show that CP promotes the stabilization of dendritic protrusions, leading to the formation of stable mature spines. However, the localization and function of CP in dendritic spines requires interactions with proteins containing a capping protein interaction (CPI) motif. We found that the CPI motif-containing protein Twinfilin-1 (Twf1) also localizes to spines where it plays a role in CP spine enrichment. The knockdown of Twf1 leads to an increase in the density of filopodia-like protrusions and a decrease in the stability of dendritic protrusions, similar to CP knockdown. Finally, we show that CP directly interacts with Shank and regulates its spine accumulation. These results suggest that spatiotemporal regulation of CP in spines not only controls the actin dynamics underlying the formation of stable postsynaptic spine structures, but also plays an important role in the assembly of the postsynaptic apparatus underlying synaptic function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth R. Myers
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Yanjie Fan
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Patrick McConnell
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - John A. Cooper
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - James Q. Zheng
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
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Walker CK, Greathouse KM, Liu E, Muhammad HM, Boros BD, Freeman CD, Seo JV, Herskowitz JH. Comparison of Golgi-Cox and Intracellular Loading of Lucifer Yellow for Dendritic Spine Density and Morphology Analysis in the Mouse Brain. Neuroscience 2022; 498:1-18. [PMID: 35752428 PMCID: PMC9420811 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.06.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Dendritic spines are small protrusions on dendrites that serve as the postsynaptic site of the majority of excitatory synapses. These structures are important for normal synaptic transmission, and alterations in their density and morphology have been documented in various disease states. Over 130 years ago, Ramón y Cajal used Golgi-stained tissue sections to study dendritic morphology. Despite the array of technological advances, including iontophoretic microinjection of Lucifer yellow (LY) fluorescent dye, Golgi staining continues to be one of the most popular approaches to visualize dendritic spines. Here, we compared dendritic spine density and morphology among pyramidal neurons in layers 2/3 of the mouse medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and pyramidal neurons in hippocampal CA1 using three-dimensional digital reconstructions of (1) brightfield microscopy z-stacks of Golgi-impregnated dendrites and (2) confocal microscopy z-stacks of LY-filled dendrites. Analysis of spine density revealed that the LY microinjection approach enabled detection of approximately three times as many spines as the Golgi staining approach in both brain regions. Spine volume measurements were larger using Golgi staining compared to LY microinjection in both mPFC and CA1. Spine length was mostly comparable between techniques in both regions. In the mPFC, head diameter was similar for Golgi staining and LY microinjection. However, in CA1, head diameter was approximately 50% smaller on LY-filled dendrites compared to Golgi staining. These results indicate that Golgi staining and LY microinjection yield different spine density and morphology measurements, with Golgi staining failing to detect dendritic spines and overestimating spine size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney K Walker
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA
| | - Kelsey M Greathouse
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA
| | - Evan Liu
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA
| | - Hamad M Muhammad
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA
| | - Benjamin D Boros
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA
| | - Cameron D Freeman
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA
| | - Jung Vin Seo
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA
| | - Jeremy H Herskowitz
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA.
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Altered Calcium Permeability of AMPA Receptor Drives NMDA Receptor Inhibition in the Hippocampus of Murine Obesity Models. Mol Neurobiol 2022; 59:4902-4925. [PMID: 35657456 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-022-02834-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Evidence has accumulated that higher consumption of high-fat diets (HFDs) during the juvenile/adolescent period induces altered hippocampal function and morphology; however, the mechanism behind this phenomenon remains elusive. Using high-resolution structural imaging combined with molecular and functional interrogation, a murine model of obesity treated with HFDs for 12 weeks after weaning mice was shown to change in the glutamate-mediated intracellular calcium signaling and activity, including further selective reduction of gray matter volume in the hippocampus associated with memory recall disturbance. Dysregulation of intracellular calcium concentrations was restored by a non-competitive α-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid receptor (AMPAR) antagonist, followed by normalization of hippocampal volume and memory recall ability, indicating that AMPARs may serve as an attractive therapeutic target for obesity-associated cognitive decline.
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Rosado J, Bui VD, Haas CA, Beck J, Queisser G, Vlachos A. Calcium modeling of spine apparatus-containing human dendritic spines demonstrates an “all-or-nothing” communication switch between the spine head and dendrite. PLoS Comput Biol 2022; 18:e1010069. [PMID: 35468131 PMCID: PMC9071165 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1010069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Revised: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Dendritic spines are highly dynamic neuronal compartments that control the synaptic transmission between neurons. Spines form ultrastructural units, coupling synaptic contact sites to the dendritic shaft and often harbor a spine apparatus organelle, composed of smooth endoplasmic reticulum, which is responsible for calcium sequestration and release into the spine head and neck. The spine apparatus has recently been linked to synaptic plasticity in adult human cortical neurons. While the morphological heterogeneity of spines and their intracellular organization has been extensively demonstrated in animal models, the influence of spine apparatus organelles on critical signaling pathways, such as calcium-mediated dynamics, is less well known in human dendritic spines. In this study we used serial transmission electron microscopy to anatomically reconstruct nine human cortical spines in detail as a basis for modeling and simulation of the calcium dynamics between spine and dendrite. The anatomical study of reconstructed human dendritic spines revealed that the size of the postsynaptic density correlates with spine head volume and that the spine apparatus volume is proportional to the spine volume. Using a newly developed simulation pipeline, we have linked these findings to spine-to-dendrite calcium communication. While the absence of a spine apparatus, or the presence of a purely passive spine apparatus did not enable any of the reconstructed spines to relay a calcium signal to the dendritic shaft, the calcium-induced calcium release from this intracellular organelle allowed for finely tuned “all-or-nothing” spine-to-dendrite calcium coupling; controlled by spine morphology, neck plasticity, and ryanodine receptors. Our results suggest that spine apparatus organelles are strategically positioned in the neck of human dendritic spines and demonstrate their potential relevance to the maintenance and regulation of spine-to-dendrite calcium communication. During the past decade it has become increasingly clear that abnormal synaptic plasticity is a major hallmark of neurological and cognitive disorders. Developing a better understanding of the synaptic plasticity process, which describes the ability of neurons to adapt their contacts in an activity-dependent manner, will lead to improved treatment of many neurological and cognitive disorders. It is known that calcium-dependent events such as synaptic transmission, intracellular calcium release, and calcium wave propagation, are required for many types of synaptic plasticity expression. However, the biological significance of these processes in neurons of the adult human cortex remains unknown. Due to technical limitations and ethical concerns, experimental data addressing this biologically and clinically relevant topic are not available. Therefore, we have implemented a computational model to study the intracellular calcium dynamics in realistic human dendritic spines based on detailed morphological reconstructions. With our model and simulations, we have established the morphological and biological requirements for the propagation of calcium from spines into the dendrites. Our results suggest a critical role for the calcium-storing spine apparatus organelle in regulating calcium homeostasis and propagation in human dendritic spines.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Rosado
- Department of Mathematics, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Viet Duc Bui
- Department of Neuroanatomy, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Carola A. Haas
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Bernstein Center Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Center Brain Links Brain Tools, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Center for Basics in Neuromodulation (NeuroModulBasics), Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Jürgen Beck
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Center for Basics in Neuromodulation (NeuroModulBasics), Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Gillian Queisser
- Department of Mathematics, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- * E-mail: (GQ); (AV)
| | - Andreas Vlachos
- Department of Neuroanatomy, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Bernstein Center Freiburg, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Center Brain Links Brain Tools, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Center for Basics in Neuromodulation (NeuroModulBasics), Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- * E-mail: (GQ); (AV)
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Neonatal Tactile Stimulation Downregulates Dendritic Spines in Layer V Pyramidal Neurons of the WAG/Rij Rat Somatosensory Cortex. Neural Plast 2022; 2022:7251460. [PMID: 35465396 PMCID: PMC9019463 DOI: 10.1155/2022/7251460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective The aim of our study is to examine the effects of neonatal tactile stimulations on the brain structures that previously defined as the focus of epilepsy in the Wistar-Albino-Glaxo from Rijswijk (WAG/Rij) rat brain with genetic absence epilepsy. Methods In the present research, morphology and density of dendritic spines were analyzed in layer V pyramidal neurons of the somatosensory cortex (SoCx) of WAG/Rij rats (nonstimulated control, tactile-stimulated, and maternal separated rats) and healthy Wistar (nonepileptic) rats. To achieve this, a Golgi-Cox method was used. Results Dendritic spine number in layer V of the SoCx has been detected significantly higher in adult WAG/Rij rats at postnatal day 150 in comparison to nonepileptic adult control Wistar rats (p < 0.001). Moreover, quantitative analyses of dendrite structure in adult WAG/Rij rats showed a decrease in dendrite spine density of pyramidal neurons of SoCx which occurred in early neonatal exposure to maternal separation (MS) and tactile stimulation (TS) (p < 0.001). Conclusions Our findings provide the first evidence that tactile stimulations during the early postnatal period have a long-term impact on dendrite structure in WAG/Rij rat's brain and demonstrate that neonatal tactile stimulation can regulate dendritic spines in layer V in pyramidal neurons of SoCx in epileptic brains.
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Kietzman HW, Shapiro LP, Trinoskey-Rice G, Gourley SL. Cell adhesion presence during adolescence controls the architecture of projection-defined prefrontal cortical neurons and reward-related action strategies later in life. Dev Cogn Neurosci 2022; 54:101097. [PMID: 35325840 PMCID: PMC8938620 DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2022.101097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2021] [Revised: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Adolescent brain development is characterized by neuronal remodeling in the prefrontal cortex; relationships with behavior are largely undefined. Integrins are cell adhesion factors that link the extracellular matrix with intracellular actin cytoskeleton. We find that β1-integrin presence in the prelimbic prefrontal cortex (PL) during adolescence, but not adulthood, is necessary for mice to select actions based on reward likelihood and value. As such, adult mice that lacked β1-integrin during adolescence failed to modify response strategies when rewards lost value or failed to be delivered. This pattern suggests that β1-integrin-mediated neuronal development is necessary for PL function in adulthood. We next visualized adolescent PL neurons, including those receiving input from the basolateral amygdala (BLA) - thought to signal salience - and projecting to the dorsomedial striatum (DMS) - the striatal output by which the PL controls goal-seeking behavior. Firstly, we found that these projection-defined neurons had a distinct morphology relative to general layer V PL neurons. Secondly, β1-integrin loss triggered the overexpression of stubby-type dendritic spines at the expense of mature spines, including on projection-defined neurons. This phenotype was not observed when β1-integrins were silenced before or after adolescence. Altogether, our experiments localize β1-integrin-mediated cell adhesion within a developing di-synaptic circuit coordinating adaptive action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henry W Kietzman
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Emory University School of Medicine, United States; Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry, Emory University School of Medicine, United States; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Emory University, United States; Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, United States
| | - Lauren P Shapiro
- Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry, Emory University School of Medicine, United States; Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, United States; Graduate Program in Molecular and Systems Pharmacology, Emory University, United States
| | - Gracy Trinoskey-Rice
- Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry, Emory University School of Medicine, United States; Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, United States
| | - Shannon L Gourley
- Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry, Emory University School of Medicine, United States; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Emory University, United States; Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, United States; Graduate Program in Molecular and Systems Pharmacology, Emory University, United States; Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, United States.
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Tazerart S, Blanchard MG, Miranda-Rottmann S, Mitchell DE, Navea Pina B, Thomas CI, Kamasawa N, Araya R. Selective activation of BK channels in small-headed dendritic spines suppresses excitatory postsynaptic potentials. J Physiol 2022; 600:2165-2187. [PMID: 35194785 DOI: 10.1113/jp282303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Dendritic spines are the main receptacles of excitatory information in the brain. Their particular morphology, with a small head connected to the dendrite by a slender neck, has inspired theoretical and experimental work to understand how these structural features affect the processing, storage and integration of synaptic inputs in pyramidal neurons (PNs). The activation of glutamate receptors in spines triggers a large voltage change as well as calcium signals at the spine head. Thus, voltage-gated and calcium-activated potassium channels located in the spine head likely play a key role in synaptic transmission. Here we study the presence and function of large conductance calcium-activated potassium (BK) channels in spines from layer 5 PNs. We found that BK channels are localized to dendrites and spines regardless of their size, but their activity can only be detected in spines with small head volumes (≤0.09 μm3 ), which reduces the amplitude of two-photon uncaging excitatory postsynaptic potentials recorded at the soma. In addition, we found that calcium signals in spines with small head volumes are significantly larger than those observed in spines with larger head volumes. In accordance with our experimental data, numerical simulations predict that synaptic inputs impinging onto spines with small head volumes generate voltage responses and calcium signals within the spine head itself that are significantly larger than those observed in spines with larger head volumes, which are sufficient to activate spine BK channels. These results show that BK channels are selectively activated in small-headed spines, suggesting a new level of dendritic spine-mediated regulation of synaptic processing, integration and plasticity in cortical PNs. KEY POINTS: BK channels are expressed in the visual cortex and layer 5 pyramidal neuron somata, dendrites and spines regardless of their size. BK channels are selectively activated in small-headed spines (≤0.09 μm3 ), which reduces the amplitude of two-photon (2P) uncaging excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) recorded at the soma. Two-photon imaging revealed that intracellular calcium responses in the head of 2P-activated spines are significantly larger in small-headed spines (≤0.09 μm3 ) than in spines with larger head volumes. In accordance with our experimental data, numerical simulations showed that synaptic inputs impinging onto spines with small head volumes (≤0.09 μm3 ) generate voltage responses and calcium signals within the spine head itself that are significantly larger than those observed in spines with larger head volumes, sufficient to activate spine BK channels and suppress EPSPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Tazerart
- Département de Neurosciences, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada.,The CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center, Montréal, Canada
| | - Maxime G Blanchard
- Département de Neurosciences, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada.,The CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center, Montréal, Canada
| | - Soledad Miranda-Rottmann
- Département de Neurosciences, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada.,The CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center, Montréal, Canada
| | - Diana E Mitchell
- Département de Neurosciences, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada.,The CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center, Montréal, Canada
| | - Bruno Navea Pina
- Département de Neurosciences, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada.,The CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center, Montréal, Canada
| | - Connon I Thomas
- The Imaging Center and Electron Microscopy Core Facility, Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Naomi Kamasawa
- The Imaging Center and Electron Microscopy Core Facility, Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Roberto Araya
- Département de Neurosciences, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada.,The CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center, Montréal, Canada
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Larkum ME, Wu J, Duverdin SA, Gidon A. The guide to dendritic spikes of the mammalian cortex in vitro and in vivo. Neuroscience 2022; 489:15-33. [PMID: 35182699 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Half a century since their discovery by Llinás and colleagues, dendritic spikes have been observed in various neurons in different brain regions, from the neocortex and cerebellum to the basal ganglia. Dendrites exhibit a terrifically diverse but stereotypical repertoire of spikes, sometimes specific to subregions of the dendrite. Despite their prevalence, we only have a glimpse into their role in the behaving animal. This article aims to survey the full range of dendritic spikes found in excitatory and inhibitory neurons, compare them in vivo versus in vitro, and discuss new studies describing dendritic spikes in the human cortex. We focus on dendritic spikes in neocortical and hippocampal neurons and present a roadmap to identify and understand the broader role of dendritic spikes in single-cell computation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew E Larkum
- Institute for Biology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany; NeuroCure Cluster, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
| | - Jiameng Wu
- Institute for Biology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Einstein Center for Neurosciences Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sarah A Duverdin
- Institute for Biology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research (CNCR), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Albert Gidon
- Institute for Biology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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Yeap J, Sathyaprakash C, Toombs J, Tulloch J, Scutariu C, Rose J, Burr K, Davies C, Colom-Cadena M, Chandran S, Large CH, Rowan MJM, Gunthorpe MJ, Spires-Jones TL. Reducing voltage-dependent potassium channel Kv3.4 levels ameliorates synapse loss in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Brain Neurosci Adv 2022; 6:23982128221086464. [PMID: 35359460 PMCID: PMC8961358 DOI: 10.1177/23982128221086464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Synapse loss is associated with cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease, and owing to their plastic nature, synapses are an ideal target for therapeutic intervention. Oligomeric amyloid beta around amyloid plaques is known to contribute to synapse loss in mouse models and is associated with synapse loss in human Alzheimer's disease brain tissue, but the mechanisms leading from Aβ to synapse loss remain unclear. Recent data suggest that the fast-activating and -inactivating voltage-gated potassium channel subtype 3.4 (Kv3.4) may play a role in Aβ-mediated neurotoxicity. Here, we tested whether this channel could also be involved in Aβ synaptotoxicity. Using adeno-associated virus and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats technology, we reduced Kv3.4 expression in neurons of the somatosensory cortex of APP/PS1 mice. These mice express human familial Alzheimer's disease-associated mutations in amyloid precursor protein and presenilin-1 and develop amyloid plaques and plaque-associated synapse loss similar to that observed in Alzheimer's disease brain. We observe that reducing Kv3.4 levels ameliorates dendritic spine loss and changes spine morphology compared to control virus. In support of translational relevance, Kv3.4 protein was observed in human Alzheimer's disease and control brain and is associated with synapses in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cortical neurons. We also noted morphological changes in induced pluripotent stem cell neurones challenged with human Alzheimer's disease-derived brain homogenate containing Aβ but, in this in vitro model, total mRNA levels of Kv3.4 were found to be reduced, perhaps as an early compensatory mechanism for Aβ-induced damage. Overall, our results suggest that approaches to reduce Kv3.4 expression and/or function in the Alzheimer's disease brain could be protective against Aβ-induced synaptic alterations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Yeap
- UK Dementia Research Institute and Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Chaitra Sathyaprakash
- UK Dementia Research Institute and Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jamie Toombs
- UK Dementia Research Institute and Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jane Tulloch
- UK Dementia Research Institute and Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Cristina Scutariu
- UK Dementia Research Institute and Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jamie Rose
- UK Dementia Research Institute and Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Karen Burr
- UK Dementia Research Institute and Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Caitlin Davies
- UK Dementia Research Institute and Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Marti Colom-Cadena
- UK Dementia Research Institute and Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Siddharthan Chandran
- UK Dementia Research Institute and Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Charles H Large
- Autifony Therapeutics Limited, Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst, Stevenage, UK
| | | | - Martin J Gunthorpe
- Autifony Therapeutics Limited, Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst, Stevenage, UK
| | - Tara L Spires-Jones
- UK Dementia Research Institute and Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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33
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Hosokawa T, Liu PW. Regulation of the Stability and Localization of Post-synaptic Membrane Proteins by Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation. Front Physiol 2021; 12:795757. [PMID: 34975543 PMCID: PMC8716852 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.795757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Synaptic plasticity is a cellular mechanism of learning and memory. The synaptic strength can be persistently upregulated or downregulated to update the information sent to the neuronal network and form a memory engram. For its molecular mechanism, the stability of α-amino-3-hydroxyl-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionate-type glutamate receptor (AMPAR), a glutamatergic ionotropic receptor, on the postsynaptic membrane has been studied for these two decades. Since AMPAR is not saturated on the postsynaptic membrane during a single event of neurotransmitter release, the number and nanoscale localization of AMPAR is critical for regulating the efficacy of synaptic transmission. The observation of AMPAR on the postsynaptic membrane by super-resolution microscopy revealed that AMPAR forms a nanodomain that is defined as a stable segregated cluster on the postsynaptic membrane to increase the efficacy of synaptic transmission. Postsynaptic density (PSD), an intracellular protein condensate underneath the postsynaptic membrane, regulates AMPAR dynamics via the intracellular domain of Stargazin, an auxiliary subunit of AMPAR. Recently, it was reported that PSD is organized by liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) to form liquid-like protein condensates. Furthermore, the calcium signal induced by the learning event triggers the persistent formation of sub-compartments of different protein groups inside protein condensates. This explains the formation of nanodomains via synaptic activation. The liquid-like properties of LLPS protein condensates are ideal for the molecular mechanism of synaptic plasticity. In this review, we summarize the recent progress in the properties and regulation of synaptic plasticity, postsynaptic receptors, PSD, and LLPS.
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Maltan L, Najjar H, Tiffner A, Derler I. Deciphering Molecular Mechanisms and Intervening in Physiological and Pathophysiological Processes of Ca 2+ Signaling Mechanisms Using Optogenetic Tools. Cells 2021; 10:3340. [PMID: 34943850 PMCID: PMC8699489 DOI: 10.3390/cells10123340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Calcium ion channels are involved in numerous biological functions such as lymphocyte activation, muscle contraction, neurotransmission, excitation, hormone secretion, gene expression, cell migration, memory, and aging. Therefore, their dysfunction can lead to a wide range of cellular abnormalities and, subsequently, to diseases. To date various conventional techniques have provided valuable insights into the roles of Ca2+ signaling. However, their limited spatiotemporal resolution and lack of reversibility pose significant obstacles in the detailed understanding of the structure-function relationship of ion channels. These drawbacks could be partially overcome by the use of optogenetics, which allows for the remote and well-defined manipulation of Ca2+-signaling. Here, we review the various optogenetic tools that have been used to achieve precise control over different Ca2+-permeable ion channels and receptors and associated downstream signaling cascades. We highlight the achievements of optogenetics as well as the still-open questions regarding the resolution of ion channel working mechanisms. In addition, we summarize the successes of optogenetics in manipulating many Ca2+-dependent biological processes both in vitro and in vivo. In summary, optogenetics has significantly advanced our understanding of Ca2+ signaling proteins and the used tools provide an essential basis for potential future therapeutic application.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Isabella Derler
- Institute of Biophysics, JKU Life Science Center, Johannes Kepler University Linz, A-4020 Linz, Austria; (L.M.); (H.N.); (A.T.)
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35
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Weber AJ, Adamson AB, Greathouse KM, Andrade JP, Freeman CD, Seo JV, Rae RJ, Walker CK, Herskowitz JH. Conditional deletion of ROCK2 induces anxiety-like behaviors and alters dendritic spine density and morphology on CA1 pyramidal neurons. Mol Brain 2021; 14:169. [PMID: 34794469 PMCID: PMC8600782 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-021-00878-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Rho-associated kinase isoform 2 (ROCK2) is an attractive drug target for several neurologic disorders. A critical barrier to ROCK2-based research and therapeutics is the lack of a mouse model that enables investigation of ROCK2 with spatial and temporal control of gene expression. To overcome this, we generated ROCK2fl/fl mice. Mice expressing Cre recombinase in forebrain excitatory neurons (CaMKII-Cre) were crossed with ROCK2fl/fl mice (Cre/ROCK2fl/fl), and the contribution of ROCK2 in behavior as well as dendritic spine morphology in the hippocampus, medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), and basolateral amygdala (BLA) was examined. Cre/ROCK2fl/fl mice spent reduced time in the open arms of the elevated plus maze and increased time in the dark of the light-dark box test compared to littermate controls. These results indicated that Cre/ROCK2fl/fl mice exhibited anxiety-like behaviors. To examine dendritic spine morphology, individual pyramidal neurons in CA1 hippocampus, mPFC, and the BLA were targeted for iontophoretic microinjection of fluorescent dye, followed by high-resolution confocal microscopy and neuronal 3D reconstructions for morphometry analysis. In dorsal CA1, Cre/ROCK2fl/fl mice displayed significantly increased thin spine density on basal dendrites and reduced mean spine head volume across all spine types on apical dendrites. In ventral CA1, Cre/ROCK2fl/fl mice exhibited significantly increased spine length on apical dendrites. Spine density and morphology were comparable in the mPFC and BLA between both genotypes. These findings suggest that neuronal ROCK2 mediates spine density and morphology in a compartmentalized manner among CA1 pyramidal cells, and that in the absence of ROCK2 these mechanisms may contribute to anxiety-like behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey J Weber
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1825 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Ashley B Adamson
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1825 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Kelsey M Greathouse
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1825 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Julia P Andrade
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1825 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Cameron D Freeman
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1825 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Jung Vin Seo
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1825 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Rosaria J Rae
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1825 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Courtney K Walker
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1825 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Jeremy H Herskowitz
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1825 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA.
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TPPU Pre-Treatment Rescues Dendritic Spine Loss and Alleviates Depressive Behaviours during the Latent Period in the Lithium Chloride-Pilocarpine-Induced Status Epilepticus Rat Model. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11111465. [PMID: 34827464 PMCID: PMC8615907 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11111465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Epileptogenesis may be responsible for both of recurrent seizures and comorbid depression in epilepsy. Disease-modifying treatments targeting the latent period before spontaneous recurrent seizures may contribute to the remission of seizures and comorbid depression. We hypothesized that pre-treatment with 1-trifluoromethoxyphenyl-3-(1-propionylpiperidin-4-yl) urea (TPPU), a soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) inhibitor, which has anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects might rescue status epilepticus (SE)-induced dendritic spine loss and alleviate depressive behaviours. Rats were either pre-treated with TPPU (0.1 mg/kg/d) intragastrically or with vehicle (40% polyethylene glycol 400) from 7 days before to 7 days after SE that was induced with lithium chloride and pilocarpine intraperitoneally. Rats in the Control group were given saline instead. The forced swim test (FST) was performed on the 8th day after SE to evaluate the depression-like behaviours in rats. The results showed that seizures severity during SE was significantly decreased, and the immobility time during FST was significantly increased through TPPU pre-treatment. Moreover, pre-treatment with TPPU attenuated inflammations including microglial gliosis and the level of proinflammatory cytokine IL-1β in the hippocampus; in addition, neuronal and dendritic spine loss in the subfields of hippocampus was selectively rescued, and the expression of NR1 subunit of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, ERK1/2, CREB, and their phosphorylated forms involved in the dendritic spine development were all significantly increased. We concluded that pre-treatment with TPPU attenuated seizures severity during SE and depressive behaviours during the period of epileptogenesis probably by rescuing dendritic spine loss in the hippocampus.
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Imaging intracellular protein interactions/activity in neurons using 2-photon fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy. Neurosci Res 2021; 179:31-38. [PMID: 34666101 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2021.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Through the decades, 2-photon fluorescence microscopy has allowed visualization of microstructures, such as synapses, with high spatial resolution in deep brain tissue. However, signal transduction, such as protein activity and protein-protein interaction in neurons in tissues and in vivo, has remained elusive because of the technical difficulty of observing biochemical reactions at the level of subcellular resolution in light-scattering tissues. Recently, 2-photon fluorescence microscopy combined with fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (2pFLIM) has enabled visualization of various protein activities and protein-protein interactions at submicrometer resolution in tissue with a reasonable temporal resolution. Thus far, 2pFLIM has been extensively applied for imaging kinase and small GTPase activation in dendritic spines of hippocampal neurons in slice cultures. However, it has been recently applied to various subcellular structures, such as axon terminals and nuclei, and has increased our understanding of spatially organized molecular dynamics. One of the future directions of 2pFLIM utilization is to combine various optogenetic tools for manipulating protein activity. This combination allows the activation of specific proteins with light and visualization of its readout as the activation of downstream molecules. Here, we have introduced the recent application of 2pFLIM for neurons and present the utilization of a new optogenetic tool in combination with 2pFLIM.
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Motz CT, Kabat V, Saxena T, Bellamkonda RV, Zhu C. Neuromechanobiology: An Expanding Field Driven by the Force of Greater Focus. Adv Healthc Mater 2021; 10:e2100102. [PMID: 34342167 PMCID: PMC8497434 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202100102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The brain processes information by transmitting signals through highly connected and dynamic networks of neurons. Neurons use specific cellular structures, including axons, dendrites and synapses, and specific molecules, including cell adhesion molecules, ion channels and chemical receptors to form, maintain and communicate among cells in the networks. These cellular and molecular processes take place in environments rich of mechanical cues, thus offering ample opportunities for mechanical regulation of neural development and function. Recent studies have suggested the importance of mechanical cues and their potential regulatory roles in the development and maintenance of these neuronal structures. Also suggested are the importance of mechanical cues and their potential regulatory roles in the interaction and function of molecules mediating the interneuronal communications. In this review, the current understanding is integrated and promising future directions of neuromechanobiology are suggested at the cellular and molecular levels. Several neuronal processes where mechanics likely plays a role are examined and how forces affect ligand binding, conformational change, and signal induction of molecules key to these neuronal processes are indicated, especially at the synapse. The disease relevance of neuromechanobiology as well as therapies and engineering solutions to neurological disorders stemmed from this emergent field of study are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cara T Motz
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332-0363, USA
- Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332-0363, USA
| | - Victoria Kabat
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332-0363, USA
| | - Tarun Saxena
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Ravi V Bellamkonda
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
| | - Cheng Zhu
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332-0363, USA
- Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332-0363, USA
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332-0363, USA
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39
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Walker CK, Herskowitz JH. Dendritic Spines: Mediators of Cognitive Resilience in Aging and Alzheimer's Disease. Neuroscientist 2021; 27:487-505. [PMID: 32812494 PMCID: PMC8130863 DOI: 10.1177/1073858420945964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Cognitive resilience is often defined as the ability to remain cognitively normal in the face of insults to the brain. These insults can include disease pathology, such as plaques and tangles associated with Alzheimer's disease, stroke, traumatic brain injury, or other lesions. Factors such as physical or mental activity and genetics may contribute to cognitive resilience, but the neurobiological underpinnings remain ill-defined. Emerging evidence suggests that dendritic spine structural plasticity is one plausible mechanism. In this review, we highlight the basic structure and function of dendritic spines and discuss how spine density and morphology change in aging and Alzheimer's disease. We note evidence that spine plasticity mediates resilience to stress, and we tackle dendritic spines in the context of cognitive resilience to Alzheimer's disease. Finally, we examine how lifestyle and genetic factors may influence dendritic spine plasticity to promote cognitive resilience before discussing evidence for actin regulatory kinases as therapeutic targets for Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney K. Walker
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA
| | - Jeremy H. Herskowitz
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA
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40
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Śliwińska MA, Cały A, Borczyk M, Ziółkowska M, Skonieczna E, Chilimoniuk M, Bernaś T, Giese KP, Radwanska K. Long-term Memory Upscales Volume of Postsynaptic Densities in the Process that Requires Autophosphorylation of αCaMKII. Cereb Cortex 2021; 30:2573-2585. [PMID: 31800021 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhz261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
It is generally accepted that formation and storage of memory relies on alterations of the structure and function of brain circuits. However, the structural data, which show learning-induced and long-lasting remodeling of synapses, are still very sparse. Here, we reconstruct 1927 dendritic spines and their postsynaptic densities (PSDs), representing a postsynaptic part of the glutamatergic synapse, in the hippocampal area CA1 of the mice that underwent spatial training. We observe that in young adult (5 months), mice volume of PSDs, but not the volume of the spines, is increased 26 h after the training. The training-induced growth of PSDs is specific for the dendritic spines that lack smooth endoplasmic reticulum and spine apparatuses, and requires autophosphorylation of αCaMKII. Interestingly, aging alters training-induced ultrastructural remodeling of dendritic spines. In old mice, both the median volumes of dendritic spines and PSDs shift after training toward bigger values. Overall, our data support the hypothesis that formation of memory leaves long-lasting footprint on the ultrastructure of brain circuits; however, the form of circuit remodeling changes with age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Małgorzata Alicja Śliwińska
- Laboratory of Molecular Basis of Behavior, The Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw 02-093, Poland.,Laboratory of Imaging Tissue Structure and Function, The Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw 02-093, Poland
| | - Anna Cały
- Laboratory of Molecular Basis of Behavior, The Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw 02-093, Poland
| | - Malgorzata Borczyk
- Laboratory of Molecular Basis of Behavior, The Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw 02-093, Poland
| | - Magdalena Ziółkowska
- Laboratory of Molecular Basis of Behavior, The Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw 02-093, Poland
| | - Edyta Skonieczna
- Laboratory of Molecular Basis of Behavior, The Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw 02-093, Poland
| | - Magdalena Chilimoniuk
- Laboratory of Molecular Basis of Behavior, The Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw 02-093, Poland
| | - Tytus Bernaś
- Laboratory of Imaging Tissue Structure and Function, The Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw 02-093, Poland.,Department of Anatomy and Neurology, VCU School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - K Peter Giese
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, 125 Coldharbour Lane, London SE5 9NU, UK
| | - Kasia Radwanska
- Laboratory of Molecular Basis of Behavior, The Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw 02-093, Poland
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41
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Gemin O, Serna P, Zamith J, Assendorp N, Fossati M, Rostaing P, Triller A, Charrier C. Unique properties of dually innervated dendritic spines in pyramidal neurons of the somatosensory cortex uncovered by 3D correlative light and electron microscopy. PLoS Biol 2021; 19:e3001375. [PMID: 34428203 PMCID: PMC8415616 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Pyramidal neurons (PNs) are covered by thousands of dendritic spines receiving excitatory synaptic inputs. The ultrastructure of dendritic spines shapes signal compartmentalization, but ultrastructural diversity is rarely taken into account in computational models of synaptic integration. Here, we developed a 3D correlative light-electron microscopy (3D-CLEM) approach allowing the analysis of specific populations of synapses in genetically defined neuronal types in intact brain circuits. We used it to reconstruct segments of basal dendrites of layer 2/3 PNs of adult mouse somatosensory cortex and quantify spine ultrastructural diversity. We found that 10% of spines were dually innervated and 38% of inhibitory synapses localized to spines. Using our morphometric data to constrain a model of synaptic signal compartmentalization, we assessed the impact of spinous versus dendritic shaft inhibition. Our results indicate that spinous inhibition is locally more efficient than shaft inhibition and that it can decouple voltage and calcium signaling, potentially impacting synaptic plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Gemin
- Institut de Biologie de l’Ecole Normale Supérieure (IBENS), CNRS, INSERM, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Pablo Serna
- Institut de Biologie de l’Ecole Normale Supérieure (IBENS), CNRS, INSERM, PSL Research University, Paris, France
- Laboratoire de Physique de l’Ecole Normale Supérieure, ENS, PSL Research University, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris-Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Joseph Zamith
- Institut de Biologie de l’Ecole Normale Supérieure (IBENS), CNRS, INSERM, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Nora Assendorp
- Institut de Biologie de l’Ecole Normale Supérieure (IBENS), CNRS, INSERM, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Matteo Fossati
- Institut de Biologie de l’Ecole Normale Supérieure (IBENS), CNRS, INSERM, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Philippe Rostaing
- Institut de Biologie de l’Ecole Normale Supérieure (IBENS), CNRS, INSERM, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Antoine Triller
- Institut de Biologie de l’Ecole Normale Supérieure (IBENS), CNRS, INSERM, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Cécile Charrier
- Institut de Biologie de l’Ecole Normale Supérieure (IBENS), CNRS, INSERM, PSL Research University, Paris, France
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42
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Computational roles of intrinsic synaptic dynamics. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2021; 70:34-42. [PMID: 34303124 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2021.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Conventional theories assume that long-term information storage in the brain is implemented by modifying synaptic efficacy. Recent experimental findings challenge this view by demonstrating that dendritic spine sizes, or their corresponding synaptic weights, are highly volatile even in the absence of neural activity. Here, we review previous computational works on the roles of these intrinsic synaptic dynamics. We first present the possibility for neuronal networks to sustain stable performance in their presence, and we then hypothesize that intrinsic dynamics could be more than mere noise to withstand, but they may improve information processing in the brain.
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43
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Actin Cytoskeleton Role in the Maintenance of Neuronal Morphology and Long-Term Memory. Cells 2021; 10:cells10071795. [PMID: 34359964 PMCID: PMC8305626 DOI: 10.3390/cells10071795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 07/11/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Evidence indicates that long-term memory formation creates long-lasting changes in neuronal morphology within a specific neuronal network that forms the memory trace. Dendritic spines, which include most of the excitatory synapses in excitatory neurons, are formed or eliminated by learning. These changes may be long-lasting and correlate with memory strength. Moreover, learning-induced changes in the morphology of existing spines can also contribute to the formation of the neuronal network that underlies memory. Altering spines morphology after memory consolidation can erase memory. These observations strongly suggest that learning-induced spines modifications can constitute the changes in synaptic connectivity within the neuronal network that form memory and that stabilization of this network maintains long-term memory. The formation and elimination of spines and other finer morphological changes in spines are mediated by the actin cytoskeleton. The actin cytoskeleton forms networks within the spine that support its structure. Therefore, it is believed that the actin cytoskeleton mediates spine morphogenesis induced by learning. Any long-lasting changes in the spine morphology induced by learning require the preservation of the spine actin cytoskeleton network to support and stabilize the spine new structure. However, the actin cytoskeleton is highly dynamic, and the turnover of actin and its regulatory proteins that determine and support the actin cytoskeleton network structure is relatively fast. Molecular models, suggested here, describe ways to overcome the dynamic nature of the actin cytoskeleton and the fast protein turnover and to support an enduring actin cytoskeleton network within the spines, spines stability and long-term memory. These models are based on long-lasting changes in actin regulatory proteins concentrations within the spine or the formation of a long-lasting scaffold and the ability for its recurring rebuilding within the spine. The persistence of the actin cytoskeleton network within the spine is suggested to support long-lasting spine structure and the maintenance of long-term memory.
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44
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Ambrozkiewicz MC, Borisova E, Schwark M, Ripamonti S, Schaub T, Smorodchenko A, Weber AI, Rhee HJ, Altas B, Yilmaz R, Mueller S, Piepkorn L, Horan ST, Straussberg R, Zaqout S, Jahn O, Dere E, Rosário M, Boehm-Sturm P, Borck G, Willig KI, Rhee J, Tarabykin V, Kawabe H. The murine ortholog of Kaufman oculocerebrofacial syndrome protein Ube3b regulates synapse number by ubiquitinating Ppp3cc. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:1980-1995. [PMID: 32249816 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-020-0714-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2019] [Revised: 02/21/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Kaufman oculocerebrofacial syndrome (KOS) is a severe autosomal recessive disorder characterized by intellectual disability, developmental delays, microcephaly, and characteristic dysmorphisms. Biallelic mutations of UBE3B, encoding for a ubiquitin ligase E3B are causative for KOS. In this report, we characterize neuronal functions of its murine ortholog Ube3b and show that Ube3b regulates dendritic branching in a cell-autonomous manner. Moreover, Ube3b knockout (KO) neurons exhibit increased density and aberrant morphology of dendritic spines, altered synaptic physiology, and changes in hippocampal circuit activity. Dorsal forebrain-specific Ube3b KO animals show impaired spatial learning, altered social interactions, and repetitive behaviors. We further demonstrate that Ube3b ubiquitinates the catalytic γ-subunit of calcineurin, Ppp3cc, the overexpression of which phenocopies Ube3b loss with regard to dendritic spine density. This work provides insights into the molecular pathologies underlying intellectual disability-like phenotypes in a genetically engineered mouse model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mateusz C Ambrozkiewicz
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hermann-Rein-Str. 3, 37075, Göttingen, Germany. .,International Max Planck Research School for Neurosciences, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Griesebachstr. 5, 37077, Göttingen, Germany. .,Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Ekaterina Borisova
- Institute of Neuroscience, Lobachevsky University of Nizhny Novgorod, pr. Gagarina 24, Nizhny Novgorod, Russian Federation
| | - Manuela Schwark
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hermann-Rein-Str. 3, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Silvia Ripamonti
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hermann-Rein-Str. 3, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Theres Schaub
- Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Alina Smorodchenko
- Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - A Ioana Weber
- Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Hong Jun Rhee
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hermann-Rein-Str. 3, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Bekir Altas
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hermann-Rein-Str. 3, 37075, Göttingen, Germany.,International Max Planck Research School for Neurosciences, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Griesebachstr. 5, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Rüstem Yilmaz
- Center for Rare Diseases (ZSE Ulm), Ulm University Hospital, Eythstraße 24, 89075, Ulm, Germany
| | - Susanne Mueller
- Department of Experimental Neurology and Center for Stroke Research, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany.,NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence and Charité Core Facility 7T Experimental MRIs, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lars Piepkorn
- Proteomics Group, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hermann-Rein-Str. 3, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Stephen T Horan
- Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Rachel Straussberg
- Institute of Child Neurology, Schneider's Children Medical Center, Petah Tikvah, Israel.,Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
| | - Sami Zaqout
- Basic Medical Science Department, College of Medicine, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Olaf Jahn
- Proteomics Group, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hermann-Rein-Str. 3, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ekrem Dere
- Clinical Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hermann-Rein-Str. 3, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Marta Rosário
- Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Philipp Boehm-Sturm
- Department of Experimental Neurology and Center for Stroke Research, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany.,NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence and Charité Core Facility 7T Experimental MRIs, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Guntram Borck
- Center for Rare Diseases (ZSE Ulm), Ulm University Hospital, Eythstraße 24, 89075, Ulm, Germany
| | - Katrin I Willig
- Center for Nanoscale Microscopy and Molecular Physiology of the Brain, University Medical Center Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Str. 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany.,Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | - JeongSeop Rhee
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hermann-Rein-Str. 3, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Victor Tarabykin
- Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany.,Institute of Neuroscience, Lobachevsky University of Nizhny Novgorod, pr. Gagarina 24, Nizhny Novgorod, Russian Federation
| | - Hiroshi Kawabe
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hermann-Rein-Str. 3, 37075, Göttingen, Germany. .,Division of Pathogenetic Signaling, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-5-6 Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, 650-0047, Japan. .,Department of Gerontology, Laboratory of Molecular Life Science, Institute of Biomedical Research and Innovation, Foundation for Biomedical Research and Innovation at Kobe, 2-2 Minatojima-minamimachi Chuo-ku, Kobe, 650-0047, Japan.
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45
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The importance of ultrastructural analysis of memory. Brain Res Bull 2021; 173:28-36. [PMID: 33984429 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2021.04.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Plasticity of glutamatergic synapses in the hippocampus is believed to underlie learning and memory processes. Surprisingly, very few studies report long-lasting structural changes of synapses induced by behavioral training. It remains, therefore, unclear which synaptic changes in the hippocampus contribute to memory storage. Here, we systematically compare how long-term potentiation of synaptic transmission (LTP) (a primary form of synaptic plasticity and cellular model of memory) and behavioral training affect hippocampal glutamatergic synapses at the ultrastructural level enabled by electron microscopy. The review of the literature indicates that while LTP induces growth of dendritic spines and post-synaptic densities (PSD), that represent postsynaptic part of a glutamatergic synapse, after behavioral training there is transient (< 6 h) synaptogenesis and long-lasting (> 24 h) increase in PSD volume (without a significant change of dendritic spine volume), indicating that training-induced PSD growth may reflect long-term enhancement of synaptic functions. Additionally, formation of multi-innervated spines (MIS), is associated with long-term memory in aged mice and LTP-deficient mutant mice. Since volume of PSD, as well as atypical synapses, can be reliably observed only with electron microscopy, we argue that the ultrastructural level of analysis is required to reveal synaptic changes that are associated with long-term storage of information in the brain.
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46
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Dembitskaya Y, Gavrilov N, Kraev I, Doronin M, Tang Y, Li L, Semyanov A. Attenuation of the extracellular matrix increases the number of synapses but suppresses synaptic plasticity through upregulation of SK channels. Cell Calcium 2021; 96:102406. [PMID: 33848733 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceca.2021.102406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Revised: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The effect of brain extracellular matrix (ECM) on synaptic plasticity remains controversial. Here, we show that targeted enzymatic attenuation with chondroitinase ABC (ChABC) of ECM triggers the appearance of new glutamatergic synapses on hippocampal pyramidal neurons, thereby increasing the amplitude of field EPSPs while decreasing both the mean miniature EPSC amplitude and AMPA/NMDA ratio. Although the increased proportion of 'unpotentiated' synapses caused by ECM attenuation should promote long-term potentiation (LTP), surprisingly, LTP was suppressed. The upregulation of small conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (SK) channels decreased the excitability of pyramidal neurons, thereby suppressing LTP. A blockade of SK channels restored cell excitability and enhanced LTP; this enhancement was abolished by a blockade of Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK), which is involved in the maturation of dendritic spines. Thus, targeting ECM elicits the appearance of new synapses, which can have potential applications in regenerative medicine. However, this process is compensated for by a reduction in postsynaptic neuron excitability, preventing network overexcitation at the expense of synaptic plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulia Dembitskaya
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya Street 16/10, Moscow, 117997, Russia
| | - Nikolay Gavrilov
- Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, Nizhny Novgorod, 603950, Russia
| | - Igor Kraev
- Electron Microscopy Suite, Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, Open University, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK
| | - Maxim Doronin
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya Street 16/10, Moscow, 117997, Russia
| | - Yong Tang
- School of Acupuncture and Tuina and International Collaborative Centre on Big Science Plan for Purinergic Signalling, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Li Li
- Department of Physiology, Jiaxing University College of Medicine, Zhejiang, 314033 China
| | - Alexey Semyanov
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya Street 16/10, Moscow, 117997, Russia; Department of Physiology, Jiaxing University College of Medicine, Zhejiang, 314033 China; Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Bolshaya Pirogovskaya Str 19с1, Moscow, 119146, Russia.
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47
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Parato J, Bartolini F. The microtubule cytoskeleton at the synapse. Neurosci Lett 2021; 753:135850. [PMID: 33775740 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2021.135850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Revised: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
In neurons, microtubules (MTs) provide routes for transport throughout the cell and structural support for dendrites and axons. Both stable and dynamic MTs are necessary for normal neuronal functions. Research in the last two decades has demonstrated that MTs play additional roles in synaptic structure and function in both pre- and postsynaptic elements. Here, we review current knowledge of the functions that MTs perform in excitatory and inhibitory synapses, as well as in the neuromuscular junction and other specialized synapses, and discuss the implications that this knowledge may have in neurological disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Parato
- Columbia University Medical Center, Department of Pathology & Cell Biology, 630 West 168(th)Street, P&S 15-421, NY, NY, 10032, United States; SUNY Empire State College, Department of Natural Sciences, 177 Livingston Street, Brooklyn, NY, 11201, United States
| | - Francesca Bartolini
- Columbia University Medical Center, Department of Pathology & Cell Biology, 630 West 168(th)Street, P&S 15-421, NY, NY, 10032, United States.
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48
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NMDA Receptors Enhance the Fidelity of Synaptic Integration. eNeuro 2021; 8:ENEURO.0396-20.2020. [PMID: 33468538 PMCID: PMC7932188 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0396-20.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Revised: 11/15/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Excitatory synaptic transmission in many neurons is mediated by two coexpressed ionotropic glutamate receptor subtypes, AMPA and NMDA receptors, that differ in kinetics, ion selectivity, and voltage-sensitivity. AMPA receptors have fast kinetics and are voltage-insensitive, while NMDA receptors have slower kinetics and increased conductance at depolarized membrane potentials. Here, we report that the voltage dependency and kinetics of NMDA receptors act synergistically to stabilize synaptic integration of EPSPs across spatial and voltage domains. Simulations of synaptic integration in simplified and morphologically realistic dendritic trees revealed that the combined presence of AMPA and NMDA conductances reduce the variability of somatic responses to spatiotemporal patterns of excitatory synaptic input presented at different initial membrane potentials and/or in different dendritic domains. This moderating effect of the NMDA conductance on synaptic integration was robust across a wide range of AMPA-to-NMDA ratios, and results from synergistic interaction of NMDA kinetics (which reduces variability across membrane potential) and voltage dependence (which favors stabilization across dendritic location). When combined with AMPA conductance, the NMDA conductance compensates for voltage-dependent and impedance-dependent changes in synaptic driving force, and distance-dependent attenuation of synaptic potentials arriving at the axon, to increase the fidelity of synaptic integration and EPSP-spike coupling across both neuron state (i.e., initial membrane potential) and dendritic location of synaptic input. Thus, synaptic NMDA receptors convey advantages for synaptic integration that are independent of, but fully compatible with, their importance for coincidence detection and synaptic plasticity.
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49
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Saneyoshi T. Reciprocal activation within a kinase effector complex: A mechanism for the persistence of molecular memory. Brain Res Bull 2021; 170:58-64. [PMID: 33556559 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2021.01.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 01/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Synaptic connections in neuronal circuits change in response to neuronal activity patterns. This can induce a persistent change in the efficacy of synaptic transmission, a phenomenon known as synaptic plasticity. One form of plasticity, long-term potentiation (LTP) has been extensively studied as the cellular basis of memory. In LTP, the potentiated synaptic transmission persists along with structural changes in the synapses. Many studies have sought to identify the "memory molecule" or the "molecular engram". Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) is probably the most well-studied candidate for the memory molecule. However, consensus has not yet been reached on a very basic aspect: how CaMKII is regulated during LTP. Here, I propose a new model of CaMKII regulation: reciprocal activation within a kinase effector complex (RAKEC) that is made between CaMKII and its effector protein, which is mediated by a persistent interaction between CaMKII and a pseudosubstrate sequence on T-lymphoma invasion and metastasis protein 1 (Tiam1), resulting in reciprocal activation of these two molecules. Through the RAKEC mechanism, CaMKII can maintain memory as biochemical activity in a synapse-specific manner. In this review, the detailed mechanism of the RAKEC and its expansion for the maintenance of LTP is described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takeo Saneyoshi
- Department of Pharmacology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.
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50
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Tamada H, Blanc J, Korogod N, Petersen CC, Knott GW. Ultrastructural comparison of dendritic spine morphology preserved with cryo and chemical fixation. eLife 2020; 9:56384. [PMID: 33274717 PMCID: PMC7748412 DOI: 10.7554/elife.56384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Previously, we showed that cryo fixation of adult mouse brain tissue gave a truer representation of brain ultrastructure in comparison with a standard chemical fixation method (Korogod et al., 2015). Extracellular space matched physiological measurements, there were larger numbers of docked vesicles and less glial coverage of synapses and blood capillaries. Here, using the same preservation approaches, we compared the morphology of dendritic spines. We show that the length of the spine and the volume of its head is unchanged; however, the spine neck width is thinner by more than 30% after cryo fixation. In addition, the weak correlation between spine neck width and head volume seen after chemical fixation was not present in cryo-fixed spines. Our data suggest that spine neck geometry is independent of the spine head volume, with cryo fixation showing enhanced spine head compartmentalization and a higher predicted electrical resistance between spine head and parent dendrite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiromi Tamada
- Laboratory of Sensory Processing, Brain Mind Institute, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland.,Biological Electron Microscopy Facility, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland.,Functional Anatomy and Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan.,Japan Society of the Promotion of Sciences (JSPS), Tokyo, Japan
| | - Jerome Blanc
- Biological Electron Microscopy Facility, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Natalya Korogod
- Biological Electron Microscopy Facility, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland.,School of Health Sciences (HESAV), University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland (HES-SO), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Carl Ch Petersen
- Laboratory of Sensory Processing, Brain Mind Institute, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Graham W Knott
- Biological Electron Microscopy Facility, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
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