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Szegedi V, Tiszlavicz Á, Furdan S, Douida A, Bakos E, Barzo P, Tamas G, Szucs A, Lamsa K. Aging-associated weakening of the action potential in fast-spiking interneurons in the human neocortex. J Biotechnol 2024; 389:1-12. [PMID: 38697361 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2024.04.020] [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: 01/29/2024] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
Aging is associated with the slowdown of neuronal processing and cognitive performance in the brain; however, the exact cellular mechanisms behind this deterioration in humans are poorly elucidated. Recordings in human acute brain slices prepared from tissue resected during brain surgery enable the investigation of neuronal changes with age. Although neocortical fast-spiking cells are widely implicated in neuronal network activities underlying cognitive processes, they are vulnerable to neurodegeneration. Herein, we analyzed the electrical properties of 147 fast-spiking interneurons in neocortex samples resected in brain surgery from 106 patients aged 11-84 years. By studying the electrophysiological features of action potentials and passive membrane properties, we report that action potential overshoot significantly decreases and spike half-width increases with age. Moreover, the action potential maximum-rise speed (but not the repolarization speed or the afterhyperpolarization amplitude) significantly changed with age, suggesting a particular weakening of the sodium channel current generated in the soma. Cell passive membrane properties measured as the input resistance, membrane time constant, and cell capacitance remained unaffected by senescence. Thus, we conclude that the action potential in fast-spiking interneurons shows a significant weakening in the human neocortex with age. This may contribute to the deterioration of cortical functions by aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viktor Szegedi
- Hungarian Centre of Excellence for Molecular Medicine Research Group for Human Neuron Physiology and Therapy, Szeged, Hungary; Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Szeged, Hungary
| | - Ádám Tiszlavicz
- Hungarian Centre of Excellence for Molecular Medicine Research Group for Human Neuron Physiology and Therapy, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Szabina Furdan
- Hungarian Centre of Excellence for Molecular Medicine Research Group for Human Neuron Physiology and Therapy, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Abdennour Douida
- Hungarian Centre of Excellence for Molecular Medicine Research Group for Human Neuron Physiology and Therapy, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Emoke Bakos
- Hungarian Centre of Excellence for Molecular Medicine Research Group for Human Neuron Physiology and Therapy, Szeged, Hungary; Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Szeged, Hungary
| | - Pal Barzo
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Szeged, Hungary
| | - Gabor Tamas
- MTA-SZTE Research Group for Cortical Microcircuits, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Szeged, Hungary
| | - Attila Szucs
- Neuronal Cell Biology Research Group, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Karri Lamsa
- Hungarian Centre of Excellence for Molecular Medicine Research Group for Human Neuron Physiology and Therapy, Szeged, Hungary; Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Szeged, Hungary.
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Barzó P, Szöts I, Tóth M, Csajbók ÉA, Molnár G, Tamás G. Electrophysiology and Morphology of Human Cortical Supragranular Pyramidal Cells in a Wide Age Range. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.13.598792. [PMID: 38915496 PMCID: PMC11195274 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.13.598792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
The basic excitatory neurons of the cerebral cortex, the pyramidal cells, are the most important signal integrators for the local circuit. They have quite characteristic morphological and electrophysiological properties that are known to be largely constant with age in the young and adult cortex. However, the brain undergoes several dynamic changes throughout life, such as in the phases of early development and cognitive decline in the aging brain. We set out to search for intrinsic cellular changes in supragranular pyramidal cells across a broad age range: from birth to 85 years of age and we found differences in several biophysical properties between defined age groups. During the first year of life, subthreshold and suprathreshold electrophysiological properties changed in a way that shows that pyramidal cells become less excitable with maturation, but also become temporarily more precise. According to our findings, the morphological features of the three-dimensional reconstructions from different life stages showed consistent morphological properties and systematic dendritic spine analysis of an infantile and an old pyramidal cell showed clear significant differences in the distribution of spine shapes. Overall, the changes that occur during development and aging may have lasting effects on the properties of pyramidal cells in the cerebral cortex. Understanding these changes is important to unravel the complex mechanisms underlying brain development, cognition and age-related neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pál Barzó
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Ildikó Szöts
- ELKH-SZTE Research Group for Cortical Microcircuits, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Martin Tóth
- ELKH-SZTE Research Group for Cortical Microcircuits, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Éva Adrienn Csajbók
- ELKH-SZTE Research Group for Cortical Microcircuits, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Gábor Molnár
- ELKH-SZTE Research Group for Cortical Microcircuits, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Gábor Tamás
- ELKH-SZTE Research Group for Cortical Microcircuits, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
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3
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Medeiros D, Ayala-Baylon K, Egido-Betancourt H, Miller E, Chapleau C, Robinson H, Phillips ML, Yang T, Longo FM, Li W, Pozzo-Miller L. A small-molecule TrkB ligand improves dendritic spine phenotypes and atypical behaviors in female Rett syndrome mice. Dis Model Mech 2024; 17:dmm050612. [PMID: 38785269 PMCID: PMC11139040 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.050612] [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: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Rett syndrome (RTT) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by mutations in MECP2, which encodes methyl-CpG-binding protein 2, a transcriptional regulator of many genes, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). BDNF levels are lower in multiple brain regions of Mecp2-deficient mice, and experimentally increasing BDNF levels improve atypical phenotypes in Mecp2 mutant mice. Due to the low blood-brain barrier permeability of BDNF itself, we tested the effects of LM22A-4, a brain-penetrant, small-molecule ligand of the BDNF receptor TrkB (encoded by Ntrk2), on dendritic spine density and form in hippocampal pyramidal neurons and on behavioral phenotypes in female Mecp2 heterozygous (HET) mice. A 4-week systemic treatment of Mecp2 HET mice with LM22A-4 restored spine volume in MeCP2-expressing neurons to wild-type (WT) levels, whereas spine volume in MeCP2-lacking neurons remained comparable to that in neurons from female WT mice. Female Mecp2 HET mice engaged in aggressive behaviors more than WT mice, the levels of which were reduced to WT levels by the 4-week LM22A-4 treatment. These data provide additional support to the potential usefulness of novel therapies not only for RTT but also to other BDNF-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Destynie Medeiros
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Karen Ayala-Baylon
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Hailey Egido-Betancourt
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Eric Miller
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Christopher Chapleau
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Holly Robinson
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Mary L. Phillips
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Tao Yang
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Frank M. Longo
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Lucas Pozzo-Miller
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
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4
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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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Benavides-Piccione R, Blazquez-Llorca L, Kastanauskaite A, Fernaud-Espinosa I, Tapia-González S, DeFelipe J. Key morphological features of human pyramidal neurons. Cereb Cortex 2024; 34:bhae180. [PMID: 38745556 PMCID: PMC11094408 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhae180] [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: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
The basic building block of the cerebral cortex, the pyramidal cell, has been shown to be characterized by a markedly different dendritic structure among layers, cortical areas, and species. Functionally, differences in the structure of their dendrites and axons are critical in determining how neurons integrate information. However, within the human cortex, these neurons have not been quantified in detail. In the present work, we performed intracellular injections of Lucifer Yellow and 3D reconstructed over 200 pyramidal neurons, including apical and basal dendritic and local axonal arbors and dendritic spines, from human occipital primary visual area and associative temporal cortex. We found that human pyramidal neurons from temporal cortex were larger, displayed more complex apical and basal structural organization, and had more spines compared to those in primary sensory cortex. Moreover, these human neocortical neurons displayed specific shared and distinct characteristics in comparison to previously published human hippocampal pyramidal neurons. Additionally, we identified distinct morphological features in human neurons that set them apart from mouse neurons. Lastly, we observed certain consistent organizational patterns shared across species. This study emphasizes the existing diversity within pyramidal cell structures across different cortical areas and species, suggesting substantial species-specific variations in their computational properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Benavides-Piccione
- Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales, Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid 28223, Spain
- Instituto Cajal, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Avda. Doctor Arce 37, Madrid 28002, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), ISCIII, Valderrebollo 5, Madrid 28031, Spain
| | - Lidia Blazquez-Llorca
- Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales, Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid 28223, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), ISCIII, Valderrebollo 5, Madrid 28031, Spain
- Departamento de Tecnología Fotónica y Bioingeniería, ETSI Telecomunicación, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid 28040, Spain
| | - Asta Kastanauskaite
- Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales, Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid 28223, Spain
| | - Isabel Fernaud-Espinosa
- Instituto Cajal, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Avda. Doctor Arce 37, Madrid 28002, Spain
| | - Silvia Tapia-González
- Laboratorio de Neurofisiología Celular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad San Pablo-CEU, CEU Universities, Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier DeFelipe
- Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales, Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid 28223, Spain
- Instituto Cajal, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Avda. Doctor Arce 37, Madrid 28002, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), ISCIII, Valderrebollo 5, Madrid 28031, Spain
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6
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Celii B, Papadopoulos S, Ding Z, Fahey PG, Wang E, Papadopoulos C, Kunin AB, Patel S, Bae JA, Bodor AL, Brittain D, Buchanan J, Bumbarger DJ, Castro MA, Cobos E, Dorkenwald S, Elabbady L, Halageri A, Jia Z, Jordan C, Kapner D, Kemnitz N, Kinn S, Lee K, Li K, Lu R, Macrina T, Mahalingam G, Mitchell E, Mondal SS, Mu S, Nehoran B, Popovych S, Schneider-Mizell CM, Silversmith W, Takeno M, Torres R, Turner NL, Wong W, Wu J, Yu SC, Yin W, Xenes D, Kitchell LM, Rivlin PK, Rose VA, Bishop CA, Wester B, Froudarakis E, Walker EY, Sinz F, Seung HS, Collman F, da Costa NM, Reid RC, Pitkow X, Tolias AS, Reimer J. NEURD: automated proofreading and feature extraction for connectomics. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.03.14.532674. [PMID: 36993282 PMCID: PMC10055177 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.14.532674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
We are now in the era of millimeter-scale electron microscopy (EM) volumes collected at nanometer resolution (Shapson-Coe et al., 2021; Consortium et al., 2021). Dense reconstruction of cellular compartments in these EM volumes has been enabled by recent advances in Machine Learning (ML) (Lee et al., 2017; Wu et al., 2021; Lu et al., 2021; Macrina et al., 2021). Automated segmentation methods can now yield exceptionally accurate reconstructions of cells, but despite this accuracy, laborious post-hoc proofreading is still required to generate large connectomes free of merge and split errors. The elaborate 3-D meshes of neurons produced by these segmentations contain detailed morphological information, from the diameter, shape, and branching patterns of axons and dendrites, down to the fine-scale structure of dendritic spines. However, extracting information about these features can require substantial effort to piece together existing tools into custom workflows. Building on existing open-source software for mesh manipulation, here we present "NEURD", a software package that decomposes each meshed neuron into a compact and extensively-annotated graph representation. With these feature-rich graphs, we implement workflows to automate a variety of tasks that would otherwise require extensive manual effort, such as state of the art automated post-hoc proofreading of merge errors, cell classification, spine detection, axon-dendritic proximities, and computation of other features. These features enable many downstream analyses of neural morphology and connectivity, making these new massive and complex datasets more accessible to neuroscience researchers focused on a variety of scientific questions.
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7
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Mueller SG. 7T MP2RAGE for cortical myelin segmentation: Impact of aging. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0299670. [PMID: 38626149 PMCID: PMC11020839 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0299670] [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: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Myelin and iron are major contributors to the cortical MR signal. The aim of this study was to investigate 1. Can MP2RAGE-derived contrasts at 7T in combination with k-means clustering be used to distinguish between heavily and sparsely myelinated layers in cortical gray matter (GM)? 2. Does this approach provide meaningful biological information? METHODS The following contrasts were generated from the 7T MP2RAGE images from 45 healthy controls (age: 19-75, f/m = 23/22) from the ATAG data repository: 1. T1 weighted image (UNI). 2. T1 relaxation image (T1map). 3. INVC/T1map ratio (RATIO). K-means clustering identified 6 clusters/tissue maps (csf, csf/gm-transition, wm, wm/gm transition, heavily myelinated cortical GM (dGM), sparsely myelinated cortical GM (sGM)). These tissue maps were then processed with SPM/DARTEL (volume-based analyses) and Freesurfer (surface-based analyses) and dGM and sGM volume/thickness of young adults (n = 27, 19-27 years) compared to those of older adults (n = 18, 42-75 years) at p<0.001 uncorrected. RESULTS The resulting maps showed good agreement with histological maps in the literature. Volume- and surface analyses found age-related dGM loss/thinning in the mid-posterior cingulate and parahippocampal/entorhinal gyrus and age-related sGM losses in lateral, mesial and orbitofrontal frontal, insular cortex and superior temporal gyrus. CONCLUSION The MP2RAGE derived UNI, T1map and RATIO contrasts can be used to identify dGM and sGM. Considering the close relationship between cortical myelo- and cytoarchitecture, the findings reported here indicate that this new technique might provide new insights into the nature of cortical GM loss in physiological and pathological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanne G. Mueller
- Dept. of Radiology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
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8
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Masoli S, Sanchez-Ponce D, Vrieler N, Abu-Haya K, Lerner V, Shahar T, Nedelescu H, Rizza MF, Benavides-Piccione R, DeFelipe J, Yarom Y, Munoz A, D'Angelo E. Human Purkinje cells outperform mouse Purkinje cells in dendritic complexity and computational capacity. Commun Biol 2024; 7:5. [PMID: 38168772 PMCID: PMC10761885 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05689-y] [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: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Purkinje cells in the cerebellum are among the largest neurons in the brain and have been extensively investigated in rodents. However, their morphological and physiological properties remain poorly understood in humans. In this study, we utilized high-resolution morphological reconstructions and unique electrophysiological recordings of human Purkinje cells ex vivo to generate computational models and estimate computational capacity. An inter-species comparison showed that human Purkinje cell had similar fractal structures but were larger than those of mouse Purkinje cells. Consequently, given a similar spine density (2/μm), human Purkinje cell hosted approximately 7.5 times more dendritic spines than those of mice. Moreover, human Purkinje cells had a higher dendritic complexity than mouse Purkinje cells and usually emitted 2-3 main dendritic trunks instead of one. Intrinsic electro-responsiveness was similar between the two species, but model simulations revealed that the dendrites could process ~6.5 times (n = 51 vs. n = 8) more input patterns in human Purkinje cells than in mouse Purkinje cells. Thus, while human Purkinje cells maintained spike discharge properties similar to those of rodents during evolution, they developed more complex dendrites, enhancing computational capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Masoli
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Diana Sanchez-Ponce
- Centro de Tecnología Biomédica (CTB), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Nora Vrieler
- Feinberg school of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Neurobiology and ELSC, Edmond J. Safra Campus, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Karin Abu-Haya
- Department of Neurobiology and ELSC, Edmond J. Safra Campus, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Vitaly Lerner
- Department of Neurobiology and ELSC, Edmond J. Safra Campus, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
- Brain and Cognitive Sciences and Center of Visual Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Tal Shahar
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
| | | | | | - Ruth Benavides-Piccione
- Centro de Tecnología Biomédica (CTB), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Instituto Cajal (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier DeFelipe
- Centro de Tecnología Biomédica (CTB), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Instituto Cajal (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Yosef Yarom
- Department of Neurobiology and ELSC, Edmond J. Safra Campus, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Alberto Munoz
- Centro de Tecnología Biomédica (CTB), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Departamento de Biología Celular, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Egidio D'Angelo
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
- Digital Neuroscience Center, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy.
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9
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Karbowski J, Urban P. Information encoded in volumes and areas of dendritic spines is nearly maximal across mammalian brains. Sci Rep 2023; 13:22207. [PMID: 38097675 PMCID: PMC10721930 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-49321-9] [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: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Many experiments suggest that long-term information associated with neuronal memory resides collectively in dendritic spines. However, spines can have a limited size due to metabolic and neuroanatomical constraints, which should effectively limit the amount of encoded information in excitatory synapses. This study investigates how much information can be stored in the population of sizes of dendritic spines, and whether it is optimal in any sense. It is shown here, using empirical data for several mammalian brains across different regions and physiological conditions, that dendritic spines nearly maximize entropy contained in their volumes and surface areas for a given mean size in cortical and hippocampal regions. Although both short- and heavy-tailed fitting distributions approach [Formula: see text] of maximal entropy in the majority of cases, the best maximization is obtained primarily for short-tailed gamma distribution. We find that most empirical ratios of standard deviation to mean for spine volumes and areas are in the range [Formula: see text], which is close to the theoretical optimal ratios coming from entropy maximization for gamma and lognormal distributions. On average, the highest entropy is contained in spine length ([Formula: see text] bits per spine), and the lowest in spine volume and area ([Formula: see text] bits), although the latter two are closer to optimality. In contrast, we find that entropy density (entropy per spine size) is always suboptimal. Our results suggest that spine sizes are almost as random as possible given the constraint on their size, and moreover the general principle of entropy maximization is applicable and potentially useful to information and memory storing in the population of cortical and hippocampal excitatory synapses, and to predicting their morphological properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Karbowski
- Institute of Applied Mathematics and Mechanics, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Paulina Urban
- Laboratory of Functional and Structural Genomics, Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
- College of Inter-Faculty Individual Studies in Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
- Laboratory of Databases and Business Analytics, National Information Processing Institute, National Research Institute, Warsaw, Poland
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10
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Knobloch JA, Laurent G, Lauterbach MA. STED microscopy reveals dendrite-specificity of spines in turtle cortex. Prog Neurobiol 2023; 231:102541. [PMID: 37898315 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2023.102541] [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: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/30/2023]
Abstract
Dendritic spines are key structures for neural communication, learning and memory. Spine size and shape probably reflect synaptic strength and learning. Imaging with superresolution STED microscopy the detailed shape of the majority of the spines of individual neurons in turtle cortex (Trachemys scripta elegans) revealed several distinguishable shape classes. Dendritic spines of a given class were not distributed randomly, but rather decorated significantly more often some dendrites than others. The individuality of dendrites was corroborated by significant inter-dendrite differences in other parameters such as spine density and length. In addition, many spines were branched or possessed spinules. These findings may have implications for the role of individual dendrites in this cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan A Knobloch
- Department of Molecular Imaging, Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine, Saarland University, Building 48, 66421 Homburg, Germany
| | - Gilles Laurent
- Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Max-von-Laue-Str. 4, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Marcel A Lauterbach
- Department of Molecular Imaging, Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine, Saarland University, Building 48, 66421 Homburg, Germany; Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Max-von-Laue-Str. 4, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
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11
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Medeiros D, Ayala-Baylon K, Egido-Betancourt H, Miller E, Chapleau CA, Robinson HA, Phillips ML, Yang T, Longo F, Li W, Pozzo-Miller L. A small-molecule TrkB ligand improves dendritic spine phenotypes and atypical behaviors in female Rett syndrome mice. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.09.566435. [PMID: 37986936 PMCID: PMC10659425 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.09.566435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Rett syndrome (RTT) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by mutations in methyl-CpG-binding protein-2 (MECP2), encoding a transcriptional regulator of many genes, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (Bdnf). BDNF mRNA and protein levels are lower in RTT autopsy brains and in multiple brain regions of Mecp2-deficient mice, and experimentally increasing BDNF levels improve atypical phenotypes in Mecp2 mutant mice. Due to the low blood-brain barrier permeability of BDNF itself, we tested the effects of a brain penetrant, small molecule ligand of its TrkB receptors. Applied in vitro, LM22A-4 increased dendritic spine density in pyramidal neurons in cultured hippocampal slices from postnatal day (P) 7 male Mecp2 knockout (KO) mice as much as recombinant BDNF, and both effects were prevented by the TrkB receptor inhibitors K-252a and ANA-12. Consistent with its partial agonist activity, LM22A-4 did not affect spine density in CA1 pyramidal neurons in slice cultures from male wildtype (WT) mice, where typical BDNF levels outcompete its binding to TrkB. To identify neurons of known genotypes in the "mosaic" brain of female Mecp2 heterozygous (HET) mice, we treated 4-6-month-old female MeCP2-GFP WT and HET mice with peripheral injections of LM22A-4 for 4 weeks. Surprisingly, mutant neurons lacking MeCP2-GFP showed dendritic spine volumes comparable to that in WT controls, while MeCP2-GFP-expressing neurons showed larger spines, similar to the phenotype we described in symptomatic male Mecp2 KO mice where all neurons lack MeCP2. Consistent with this non-cell-autonomous mechanism, a 4-week systemic treatment with LM22A-4 had an effect only in MeCP2-GFP-expressing neurons in female Mecp2 HET mice, bringing dendritic spine volumes down to WT control levels, and without affecting spines of MeCP2-GFP-lacking neurons. At the behavioral level, we found that female Mecp2 HET mice engaged in aggressive behaviors significantly more than WT controls, which were reduced to WT levels by a 4-week systemic treatment with LM22A-4. Altogether, these data revealed differences in dendritic spine size and altered behaviors in Mecp2 HET mice, while providing support to the potential usefulness of BDNF-related therapeutic approaches such as the partial TrkB agonist LM22A-4.
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12
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Woelfle S, Pedro MT, Wagner J, Schön M, Boeckers TM. Expression profiles of the autism-related SHANK proteins in the human brain. BMC Biol 2023; 21:254. [PMID: 37953224 PMCID: PMC10641957 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-023-01712-0] [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: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND SHANKs are major scaffolding proteins at postsynaptic densities (PSDs) in the central nervous system. Mutations in all three family members have been associated with neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Despite the pathophysiological importance of SHANK2 and SHANK3 mutations in humans, research on the expression of these proteins is mostly based on rodent model organisms. RESULTS In the present study, cellular and neuropil SHANK2 expression was analyzed by immunofluorescence (IF) staining of post mortem human brain tissue from four male individuals (19 brain regions). Mouse brains were analyzed in comparison to evaluate the degree of phylogenetic conservation. Furthermore, SHANK2 and SHANK3 isoform patterns were compared in human and mouse brain lysates. While isoform expression and subcellular distribution were largely conserved, differences in neuropil levels of SHANK2 were found by IF staining: Maximum expression was concordantly measured in the cerebellum; however, higher SHANK2 expression was detected in the human brainstem and thalamus when compared to mice. One of the lowest SHANK2 levels was found in the human amygdala, a moderately expressing region in mouse. Quantification of SHANK3 IF in mouse brains unveiled a distribution comparable to humans. CONCLUSIONS In summary, these data show that the overall expression pattern of SHANK is largely conserved in defined brain regions; however, differences do exist, which need to be considered in the translation of rodent studies. The summarized expression patterns of SHANK2 and SHANK3 should serve as a reference for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Woelfle
- Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Maria T Pedro
- Department of Neurosurgery, Ulm University, Campus Günzburg, Lindenallee 2, 89312, Günzburg, Germany
| | - Jan Wagner
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University and Universitäts- and Rehabilitationskliniken Ulm, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Michael Schön
- Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany.
| | - Tobias M Boeckers
- Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany.
- Deutsches Zentrum Für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen, DZNE, Ulm Site, 89081, Ulm, Germany.
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13
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Chameh HM, Falby M, Movahed M, Arbabi K, Rich S, Zhang L, Lefebvre J, Tripathy SJ, De Pittà M, Valiante TA. Distinctive biophysical features of human cell-types: insights from studies of neurosurgically resected brain tissue. Front Synaptic Neurosci 2023; 15:1250834. [PMID: 37860223 PMCID: PMC10584155 DOI: 10.3389/fnsyn.2023.1250834] [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: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Electrophysiological characterization of live human tissue from epilepsy patients has been performed for many decades. Although initially these studies sought to understand the biophysical and synaptic changes associated with human epilepsy, recently, it has become the mainstay for exploring the distinctive biophysical and synaptic features of human cell-types. Both epochs of these human cellular electrophysiological explorations have faced criticism. Early studies revealed that cortical pyramidal neurons obtained from individuals with epilepsy appeared to function "normally" in comparison to neurons from non-epilepsy controls or neurons from other species and thus there was little to gain from the study of human neurons from epilepsy patients. On the other hand, contemporary studies are often questioned for the "normalcy" of the recorded neurons since they are derived from epilepsy patients. In this review, we discuss our current understanding of the distinct biophysical features of human cortical neurons and glia obtained from tissue removed from patients with epilepsy and tumors. We then explore the concept of within cell-type diversity and its loss (i.e., "neural homogenization"). We introduce neural homogenization to help reconcile the epileptogenicity of seemingly "normal" human cortical cells and circuits. We propose that there should be continued efforts to study cortical tissue from epilepsy patients in the quest to understand what makes human cell-types "human".
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Affiliation(s)
- Homeira Moradi Chameh
- Division of Clinical and Computational Neuroscience, Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network (UHN), Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Madeleine Falby
- Division of Clinical and Computational Neuroscience, Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network (UHN), Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mandana Movahed
- Division of Clinical and Computational Neuroscience, Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network (UHN), Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Keon Arbabi
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Krembil Centre for Neuroinformatics, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Scott Rich
- Neurosciences and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Liang Zhang
- Division of Clinical and Computational Neuroscience, Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network (UHN), Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jérémie Lefebvre
- Division of Clinical and Computational Neuroscience, Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network (UHN), Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Mathematics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Shreejoy J. Tripathy
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Krembil Centre for Neuroinformatics, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Maurizio De Pittà
- Division of Clinical and Computational Neuroscience, Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network (UHN), Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Physiology, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Basque Center for Applied Mathematics, Bilbao, Spain
- Faculty of Medicine, University of the Basque Country, Leioa, Spain
| | - Taufik A. Valiante
- Division of Clinical and Computational Neuroscience, Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network (UHN), Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Center for Advancing Neurotechnological Innovation to Application (CRANIA), Toronto, ON, Canada
- Max Planck-University of Toronto Center for Neural Science and Technology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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14
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de Kock CPJ, Feldmeyer D. Shared and divergent principles of synaptic transmission between cortical excitatory neurons in rodent and human brain. Front Synaptic Neurosci 2023; 15:1274383. [PMID: 37731775 PMCID: PMC10508294 DOI: 10.3389/fnsyn.2023.1274383] [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: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Information transfer between principal neurons in neocortex occurs through (glutamatergic) synaptic transmission. In this focussed review, we provide a detailed overview on the strength of synaptic neurotransmission between pairs of excitatory neurons in human and laboratory animals with a specific focus on data obtained using patch clamp electrophysiology. We reach two major conclusions: (1) the synaptic strength, measured as unitary excitatory postsynaptic potential (or uEPSP), is remarkably consistent across species, cortical regions, layers and/or cell-types (median 0.5 mV, interquartile range 0.4-1.0 mV) with most variability associated with the cell-type specific connection studied (min 0.1-max 1.4 mV), (2) synaptic function cannot be generalized across human and rodent, which we exemplify by discussing the differences in anatomical and functional properties of pyramidal-to-pyramidal connections within human and rodent cortical layers 2 and 3. With only a handful of studies available on synaptic transmission in human, it is obvious that much remains unknown to date. Uncovering the shared and divergent principles of synaptic transmission across species however, will almost certainly be a pivotal step toward understanding human cognitive ability and brain function in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christiaan P. J. de Kock
- Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Dirk Feldmeyer
- Research Center Juelich, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Jülich, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Aachen, Germany
- Jülich-Aachen Research Alliance, Translational Brain Medicine (JARA Brain), Aachen, Germany
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15
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Fonseca C, Ettcheto M, Bicker J, Fernandes MJ, Falcão A, Camins A, Fortuna A. Under the umbrella of depression and Alzheimer's disease physiopathology: Can cannabinoids be a dual-pleiotropic therapy? Ageing Res Rev 2023; 90:101998. [PMID: 37414155 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.101998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
Depression and Alzheimer´s disease (AD) are two disorders highly prevalent worldwide. Depression affects more than 300 million people worldwide while AD affects 60-80% of the 55 million cases of dementia. Both diseases are affected by aging with high prevalence in elderly and share not only the main brain affected areas but also several physiopathological mechanisms. Depression disease is already ascribed as a risk factor to the development of AD. Despite the wide diversity of pharmacological treatments currently available in clinical practice for depression management, they remain associated to a slow recovery process and to treatment-resistant depression. On the other hand, AD treatment is essentially based in symptomatology relieve. Thus, the need for new multi-target treatments arises. Herein, we discuss the current state-of-art regarding the contribution of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in synaptic transmission processes, synapses plasticity and neurogenesis and consequently the use of exogenous cannabinoids in the treatment of depression and on delaying the progression of AD. Besides the well-known imbalance of neurotransmitter levels, including serotonin, noradrenaline, dopamine and glutamate, recent scientific evidence highlights aberrant spine density, neuroinflammation, dysregulation of neurotrophic factor levels and formation of amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides, as the main physiopathological mechanisms compromised in depression and AD. The contribution of the ECS in these mechanisms is herein specified as well as the pleiotropic effects of phytocannabinoids. At the end, it became evident that Cannabinol, Cannabidiol, Cannabigerol, Cannabidivarin and Cannabichromene may act in novel therapeutic targets, presenting high potential in the pharmacotherapy of both diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Fonseca
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; CIBIT - Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Science, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Institute of Neurosciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Miren Ettcheto
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Science, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Institute of Neurosciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Biomedical Research Networking Centre in Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain
| | - Joana Bicker
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; CIBIT - Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Maria José Fernandes
- Departamento de Neurologia/Neurocirurgia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo-UNIFESP, Rua Pedro de Toledo, 669, CEP, São Paulo 04039-032, Brazil
| | - Amílcar Falcão
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; CIBIT - Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Antoni Camins
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Science, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Institute of Neurosciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Biomedical Research Networking Centre in Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Fortuna
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; CIBIT - Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
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16
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Cano-Astorga N, Plaza-Alonso S, DeFelipe J, Alonso-Nanclares L. 3D synaptic organization of layer III of the human anterior cingulate and temporopolar cortex. Cereb Cortex 2023; 33:9691-9708. [PMID: 37455478 PMCID: PMC10472499 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhad232] [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: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The human anterior cingulate and temporopolar cortices have been proposed as highly connected nodes involved in high-order cognitive functions, but their synaptic organization is still basically unknown due to the difficulties involved in studying the human brain. Using Focused Ion Beam/Scanning Electron Microscopy (FIB/SEM) to study the synaptic organization of the human brain obtained with a short post-mortem delay allows excellent results to be obtained. We have used this technology to analyze layer III of the anterior cingulate cortex (Brodmann area 24) and the temporopolar cortex, including the temporal pole (Brodmann area 38 ventral and dorsal) and anterior middle temporal gyrus (Brodmann area 21). Our results, based on 6695 synaptic junctions fully reconstructed in 3D, revealed that Brodmann areas 24, 21 and ventral area 38 showed similar synaptic density and synaptic size, whereas dorsal area 38 displayed the highest synaptic density and the smallest synaptic size. However, the proportion of the different types of synapses (excitatory and inhibitory), the postsynaptic targets, and the shapes of excitatory and inhibitory synapses were similar, regardless of the region examined. These observations indicate that certain aspects of the synaptic organization are rather homogeneous, whereas others show specific variations across cortical regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolás Cano-Astorga
- Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales, Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Pozuelo de Alarcón, 28223 Madrid, Spain
- Instituto Cajal, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Avda. Doctor Arce 37, 28002 Madrid, Spain
- PhD Program in Neuroscience, Autonoma de Madrid University - Cajal Institute, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Sergio Plaza-Alonso
- Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales, Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Pozuelo de Alarcón, 28223 Madrid, Spain
- Instituto Cajal, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Avda. Doctor Arce 37, 28002 Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier DeFelipe
- Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales, Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Pozuelo de Alarcón, 28223 Madrid, Spain
- Instituto Cajal, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Avda. Doctor Arce 37, 28002 Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), ISCIII, Valderrebollo 5, 28031 Madrid, Spain
| | - Lidia Alonso-Nanclares
- Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales, Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Pozuelo de Alarcón, 28223 Madrid, Spain
- Instituto Cajal, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Avda. Doctor Arce 37, 28002 Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), ISCIII, Valderrebollo 5, 28031 Madrid, Spain
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17
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Sequeira MK, Swanson AM, Kietzman HW, Gourley SL. Cocaine and habit training cause dendritic spine rearrangement in the prelimbic cortex. iScience 2023; 26:106240. [PMID: 37153443 PMCID: PMC10156587 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Successfully navigating dynamic environments requires organisms to learn the consequences of their actions. The prelimbic prefrontal cortex (PL) formulates action-consequence memories and is modulated by addictive drugs like cocaine. We trained mice to obtain food rewards and then unexpectedly withheld reinforcement, triggering new action-consequence memory. New memory was disrupted by cocaine when delivered immediately following non-reinforcement, but not when delayed, suggesting that cocaine disrupted memory consolidation. Cocaine also rapidly inactivated cofilin, a primary regulator of the neuronal actin cytoskeleton. This observation led to the discovery that cocaine also within the time of memory consolidation elevated dendritic spine elimination and blunted spine formation rates on excitatory PL neurons, culminating in thin-type spine attrition. Training drug-naive mice to utilize inflexible response strategies also eliminated thin-type dendritic spines. Thus, cocaine may disrupt action-consequence memory, at least in part, by recapitulating neurobiological sequalae occurring in the formation of inflexible habits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle K. Sequeira
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Emory National Primate Research Center, Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
- Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Andrew M. Swanson
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Emory National Primate Research Center, Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
- Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Henry W. Kietzman
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Emory National Primate Research Center, Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
- Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Shannon L. Gourley
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Emory National Primate Research Center, Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
- Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
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18
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Insausti R, Insausti AM, Muñoz López M, Medina Lorenzo I, Arroyo-Jiménez MDM, Marcos Rabal MP, de la Rosa-Prieto C, Delgado-González JC, Montón Etxeberria J, Cebada-Sánchez S, Raspeño-García JF, Iñiguez de Onzoño MM, Molina Romero FJ, Benavides-Piccione R, Tapia-González S, Wisse LEM, Ravikumar S, Wolk DA, DeFelipe J, Yushkevich P, Artacho-Pérula E. Ex vivo, in situ perfusion protocol for human brain fixation compatible with microscopy, MRI techniques, and anatomical studies. Front Neuroanat 2023; 17:1149674. [PMID: 37034833 PMCID: PMC10076536 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2023.1149674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
We present a method for human brain fixation based on simultaneous perfusion of 4% paraformaldehyde through carotids after a flush with saline. The left carotid cannula is used to perfuse the body with 10% formalin, to allow further use of the body for anatomical research or teaching. The aim of our method is to develop a vascular fixation protocol for the human brain, by adapting protocols that are commonly used in experimental animal studies. We show that a variety of histological procedures can be carried out (cyto- and myeloarchitectonics, histochemistry, immunohistochemistry, intracellular cell injection, and electron microscopy). In addition, ex vivo, ex situ high-resolution MRI (9.4T) can be obtained in the same specimens. This procedure resulted in similar morphological features to those obtained by intravascular perfusion in experimental animals, provided that the postmortem interval was under 10 h for several of the techniques used and under 4 h in the case of intracellular injections and electron microscopy. The use of intravascular fixation of the brain inside the skull provides a fixed whole human brain, perfectly fitted to the skull, with negligible deformation compared to conventional techniques. Given this characteristic of ex vivo, in situ fixation, this procedure can probably be considered the most suitable one available for ex vivo MRI scans of the brain. We describe the compatibility of the method proposed for intravascular fixation of the human brain and fixation of the donor's body for anatomical purposes. Thus, body donor programs can provide human brain tissue, while the remainder of the body can also be fixed for anatomical studies. Therefore, this method of human brain fixation through the carotid system optimizes the procurement of human brain tissue, allowing a greater understanding of human neurological diseases, while benefiting anatomy departments by making the remainder of the body available for teaching purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Insausti
- Human Neuroanatomy Laboratory, Neuromax CSIC Associated Unit, Medical Sciences Department, School of Medicine and CRIB, University of Castilla La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
| | - Ana María Insausti
- Department of Health, School of Medicine, Public University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Mónica Muñoz López
- Human Neuroanatomy Laboratory, Neuromax CSIC Associated Unit, Medical Sciences Department, School of Medicine and CRIB, University of Castilla La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
| | - Isidro Medina Lorenzo
- Human Neuroanatomy Laboratory, Neuromax CSIC Associated Unit, Medical Sciences Department, School of Medicine and CRIB, University of Castilla La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
| | - Maria del Mar Arroyo-Jiménez
- Human Neuroanatomy Laboratory, Neuromax CSIC Associated Unit, Medical Sciences Department, School of Medicine and CRIB, University of Castilla La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
| | - María Pilar Marcos Rabal
- Human Neuroanatomy Laboratory, Neuromax CSIC Associated Unit, Medical Sciences Department, School of Medicine and CRIB, University of Castilla La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
| | - Carlos de la Rosa-Prieto
- Human Neuroanatomy Laboratory, Neuromax CSIC Associated Unit, Medical Sciences Department, School of Medicine and CRIB, University of Castilla La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
| | - José Carlos Delgado-González
- Human Neuroanatomy Laboratory, Neuromax CSIC Associated Unit, Medical Sciences Department, School of Medicine and CRIB, University of Castilla La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
| | - Javier Montón Etxeberria
- Human Neuroanatomy Laboratory, Neuromax CSIC Associated Unit, Medical Sciences Department, School of Medicine and CRIB, University of Castilla La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
| | - Sandra Cebada-Sánchez
- Human Neuroanatomy Laboratory, Neuromax CSIC Associated Unit, Medical Sciences Department, School of Medicine and CRIB, University of Castilla La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
| | - Juan Francisco Raspeño-García
- Human Neuroanatomy Laboratory, Neuromax CSIC Associated Unit, Medical Sciences Department, School of Medicine and CRIB, University of Castilla La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
| | - María Mercedes Iñiguez de Onzoño
- Human Neuroanatomy Laboratory, Neuromax CSIC Associated Unit, Medical Sciences Department, School of Medicine and CRIB, University of Castilla La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
| | - Francisco Javier Molina Romero
- Human Neuroanatomy Laboratory, Neuromax CSIC Associated Unit, Medical Sciences Department, School of Medicine and CRIB, University of Castilla La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
| | - Ruth Benavides-Piccione
- Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales, Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, and Instituto Cajal, CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Silvia Tapia-González
- Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales, Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, and Instituto Cajal, CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Sadhana Ravikumar
- Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - David A. Wolk
- Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Javier DeFelipe
- Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales, Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, and Instituto Cajal, CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Paul Yushkevich
- Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Emilio Artacho-Pérula
- Human Neuroanatomy Laboratory, Neuromax CSIC Associated Unit, Medical Sciences Department, School of Medicine and CRIB, University of Castilla La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
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19
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Hunt S, Leibner Y, Mertens EJ, Barros-Zulaica N, Kanari L, Heistek TS, Karnani MM, Aardse R, Wilbers R, Heyer DB, Goriounova NA, Verhoog MB, Testa-Silva G, Obermayer J, Versluis T, Benavides-Piccione R, de Witt-Hamer P, Idema S, Noske DP, Baayen JC, Lein ES, DeFelipe J, Markram H, Mansvelder HD, Schürmann F, Segev I, de Kock CPJ. Strong and reliable synaptic communication between pyramidal neurons in adult human cerebral cortex. Cereb Cortex 2023; 33:2857-2878. [PMID: 35802476 PMCID: PMC10016070 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhac246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Synaptic transmission constitutes the primary mode of communication between neurons. It is extensively studied in rodent but not human neocortex. We characterized synaptic transmission between pyramidal neurons in layers 2 and 3 using neurosurgically resected human middle temporal gyrus (MTG, Brodmann area 21), which is part of the distributed language circuitry. We find that local connectivity is comparable with mouse layer 2/3 connections in the anatomical homologue (temporal association area), but synaptic connections in human are 3-fold stronger and more reliable (0% vs 25% failure rates, respectively). We developed a theoretical approach to quantify properties of spinous synapses showing that synaptic conductance and voltage change in human dendritic spines are 3-4-folds larger compared with mouse, leading to significant NMDA receptor activation in human unitary connections. This model prediction was validated experimentally by showing that NMDA receptor activation increases the amplitude and prolongs decay of unitary excitatory postsynaptic potentials in human but not in mouse connections. Since NMDA-dependent recurrent excitation facilitates persistent activity (supporting working memory), our data uncovers cortical microcircuit properties in human that may contribute to language processing in MTG.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Eline J Mertens
- Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Natalí Barros-Zulaica
- Blue Brain Project, Ecole polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne, Campus Biotech, Geneva 1202, Switzerland
| | - Lida Kanari
- Blue Brain Project, Ecole polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne, Campus Biotech, Geneva 1202, Switzerland
| | - Tim S Heistek
- Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Mahesh M Karnani
- Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Romy Aardse
- Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - René Wilbers
- Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Djai B Heyer
- Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Natalia A Goriounova
- Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | | | - Joshua Obermayer
- Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Tamara Versluis
- Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ruth Benavides-Piccione
- Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid and Instituto Cajal (CSIC), Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid 28223, Spain
| | - Philip de Witt-Hamer
- Neurosurgery Department, Amsterdam Universitair Medische Centra, location VUmc, 1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Sander Idema
- Neurosurgery Department, Amsterdam Universitair Medische Centra, location VUmc, 1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - David P Noske
- Neurosurgery Department, Amsterdam Universitair Medische Centra, location VUmc, 1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Johannes C Baayen
- Neurosurgery Department, Amsterdam Universitair Medische Centra, location VUmc, 1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ed S Lein
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Javier DeFelipe
- Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid and Instituto Cajal (CSIC), Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid 28223, Spain
| | - Henry Markram
- Blue Brain Project, Ecole polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne, Campus Biotech, Geneva 1202, Switzerland
| | - Huibert D Mansvelder
- Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Felix Schürmann
- Blue Brain Project, Ecole polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne, Campus Biotech, Geneva 1202, Switzerland
| | - Idan Segev
- Department of Neurobiology and Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 9190501 Jerusalem, Israel
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20
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Renner J, Rasia-Filho AA. Morphological Features of Human Dendritic Spines. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2023; 34:367-496. [PMID: 37962801 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-36159-3_9] [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
Dendritic spine features in human neurons follow the up-to-date knowledge presented in the previous chapters of this book. Human dendrites are notable for their heterogeneity in branching patterns and spatial distribution. These data relate to circuits and specialized functions. Spines enhance neuronal connectivity, modulate and integrate synaptic inputs, and provide additional plastic functions to microcircuits and large-scale networks. Spines present a continuum of shapes and sizes, whose number and distribution along the dendritic length are diverse in neurons and different areas. Indeed, human neurons vary from aspiny or "relatively aspiny" cells to neurons covered with a high density of intermingled pleomorphic spines on very long dendrites. In this chapter, we discuss the phylogenetic and ontogenetic development of human spines and describe the heterogeneous features of human spiny neurons along the spinal cord, brainstem, cerebellum, thalamus, basal ganglia, amygdala, hippocampal regions, and neocortical areas. Three-dimensional reconstructions of Golgi-impregnated dendritic spines and data from fluorescence microscopy are reviewed with ultrastructural findings to address the complex possibilities for synaptic processing and integration in humans. Pathological changes are also presented, for example, in Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia. Basic morphological data can be linked to current techniques, and perspectives in this research field include the characterization of spines in human neurons with specific transcriptome features, molecular classification of cellular diversity, and electrophysiological identification of coexisting subpopulations of cells. These data would enlighten how cellular attributes determine neuron type-specific connectivity and brain wiring for our diverse aptitudes and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josué Renner
- Department of Basic Sciences/Physiology and Graduate Program in Biosciences, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Alberto A Rasia-Filho
- Department of Basic Sciences/Physiology and Graduate Program in Biosciences, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
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21
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Petanjek Z, Banovac I, Sedmak D, Hladnik A. Dendritic Spines: Synaptogenesis and Synaptic Pruning for the Developmental Organization of Brain Circuits. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2023; 34:143-221. [PMID: 37962796 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-36159-3_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Synaptic overproduction and elimination is a regular developmental event in the mammalian brain. In the cerebral cortex, synaptic overproduction is almost exclusively correlated with glutamatergic synapses located on dendritic spines. Therefore, analysis of changes in spine density on different parts of the dendritic tree in identified classes of principal neurons could provide insight into developmental reorganization of specific microcircuits.The activity-dependent stabilization and selective elimination of the initially overproduced synapses is a major mechanism for generating diversity of neural connections beyond their genetic determination. The largest number of overproduced synapses was found in the monkey and human cerebral cortex. The highest (exceeding adult values by two- to threefold) and most protracted overproduction (up to third decade of life) was described for associative layer IIIC pyramidal neurons in the human dorsolateral prefrontal cortex.Therefore, the highest proportion and extraordinarily extended phase of synaptic spine overproduction is a hallmark of neural circuitry in human higher-order associative areas. This indicates that microcircuits processing the most complex human cognitive functions have the highest level of developmental plasticity. This finding is the backbone for understanding the effect of environmental impact on the development of the most complex, human-specific cognitive and emotional capacities, and on the late onset of human-specific neuropsychiatric disorders, such as autism and schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zdravko Petanjek
- Department of Anatomy and Clinical Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
- Department of Neuroscience, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
- Center of Excellence for Basic, Clinical and Translational Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Ivan Banovac
- Department of Anatomy and Clinical Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
- Department of Neuroscience, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
- Center of Excellence for Basic, Clinical and Translational Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Dora Sedmak
- Department of Anatomy and Clinical Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
- Department of Neuroscience, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
- Center of Excellence for Basic, Clinical and Translational Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ana Hladnik
- Department of Anatomy and Clinical Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
- Department of Neuroscience, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
- Center of Excellence for Basic, Clinical and Translational Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
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22
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Bulovaite E, Qiu Z, Kratschke M, Zgraj A, Fricker DG, Tuck EJ, Gokhale R, Koniaris B, Jami SA, Merino-Serrais P, Husi E, Mendive-Tapia L, Vendrell M, O'Dell TJ, DeFelipe J, Komiyama NH, Holtmaat A, Fransén E, Grant SGN. A brain atlas of synapse protein lifetime across the mouse lifespan. Neuron 2022; 110:4057-4073.e8. [PMID: 36202095 PMCID: PMC9789179 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2022.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Revised: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
The lifetime of proteins in synapses is important for their signaling, maintenance, and remodeling, and for memory duration. We quantified the lifetime of endogenous PSD95, an abundant postsynaptic protein in excitatory synapses, at single-synapse resolution across the mouse brain and lifespan, generating the Protein Lifetime Synaptome Atlas. Excitatory synapses have a wide range of PSD95 lifetimes extending from hours to several months, with distinct spatial distributions in dendrites, neurons, and brain regions. Synapses with short protein lifetimes are enriched in young animals and in brain regions controlling innate behaviors, whereas synapses with long protein lifetimes accumulate during development, are enriched in the cortex and CA1 where memories are stored, and are preferentially preserved in old age. Synapse protein lifetime increases throughout the brain in a mouse model of autism and schizophrenia. Protein lifetime adds a further layer to synapse diversity and enriches prevailing concepts in brain development, aging, and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edita Bulovaite
- Genes to Cognition Program, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4SB, UK
| | - Zhen Qiu
- Genes to Cognition Program, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4SB, UK
| | - Maximilian Kratschke
- Genes to Cognition Program, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4SB, UK
| | - Adrianna Zgraj
- Genes to Cognition Program, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4SB, UK
| | - David G Fricker
- Genes to Cognition Program, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4SB, UK
| | - Eleanor J Tuck
- Genes to Cognition Program, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4SB, UK
| | - Ragini Gokhale
- Genes to Cognition Program, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4SB, UK
| | - Babis Koniaris
- Genes to Cognition Program, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4SB, UK; School of Computing, Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh EH10 5DT, UK
| | - Shekib A Jami
- Department of Physiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Integrative Center for Learning and Memory, Brain Research Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Paula Merino-Serrais
- Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales, Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, UPM, 28223 Madrid, Spain; Instituto Cajal, CSIC, 28002 Madrid, Spain
| | - Elodie Husi
- Department of Basic Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Lorena Mendive-Tapia
- Centre for Inflammation Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Marc Vendrell
- Centre for Inflammation Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Thomas J O'Dell
- Department of Physiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Integrative Center for Learning and Memory, Brain Research Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Javier DeFelipe
- Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales, Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, UPM, 28223 Madrid, Spain; Instituto Cajal, CSIC, 28002 Madrid, Spain
| | - Noboru H Komiyama
- Genes to Cognition Program, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4SB, UK; Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain (SIDB), Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK; The Patrick Wild Centre for Research into Autism, Fragile X Syndrome & Intellectual Disabilities, Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK; Muir Maxwell Epilepsy Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK
| | - Anthony Holtmaat
- Department of Basic Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Erik Fransén
- Department of Computational Science and Technology, School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 10044 Stockholm, Sweden; Science for Life Laboratory, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 171 65 Solna, Sweden
| | - Seth G N Grant
- Genes to Cognition Program, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4SB, UK; Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain (SIDB), Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK.
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23
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Galakhova AA, Hunt S, Wilbers R, Heyer DB, de Kock CPJ, Mansvelder HD, Goriounova NA. Evolution of cortical neurons supporting human cognition. Trends Cogn Sci 2022; 26:909-922. [PMID: 36117080 PMCID: PMC9561064 DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2022.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Human cognitive abilities are generally thought to arise from cortical expansion over the course of human brain evolution. In addition to increased neuron numbers, this cortical expansion might be driven by adaptations in the properties of single neurons and their local circuits. We review recent findings on the distinct structural, functional, and transcriptomic features of human cortical neurons and their organization in cortical microstructure. We focus on the supragranular cortical layers, which showed the most prominent expansion during human brain evolution, and the properties of their principal cells: pyramidal neurons. We argue that the evolutionary adaptations in neuronal features that accompany the expansion of the human cortex partially underlie interindividual variability in human cognitive abilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- A A Galakhova
- Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research (CNCR), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
| | - S Hunt
- Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research (CNCR), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
| | - R Wilbers
- Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research (CNCR), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
| | - D B Heyer
- Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research (CNCR), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
| | - C P J de Kock
- Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research (CNCR), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
| | - H D Mansvelder
- Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research (CNCR), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
| | - N A Goriounova
- Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research (CNCR), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands.
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24
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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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25
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Kim SH, Woo J, Choi K, Choi M, Han K. Neural Information Processing and Computations of Two-Input Synapses. Neural Comput 2022; 34:2102-2131. [PMID: 36027799 DOI: 10.1162/neco_a_01534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Information processing in artificial neural networks is largely dependent on the nature of neuron models. While commonly used models are designed for linear integration of synaptic inputs, accumulating experimental evidence suggests that biological neurons are capable of nonlinear computations for many converging synaptic inputs via homo- and heterosynaptic mechanisms. This nonlinear neuronal computation may play an important role in complex information processing at the neural circuit level. Here we characterize the dynamics and coding properties of neuron models on synaptic transmissions delivered from two hidden states. The neuronal information processing is influenced by the cooperative and competitive interactions among synapses and the coherence of the hidden states. Furthermore, we demonstrate that neuronal information processing under two-input synaptic transmission can be mapped to linearly nonseparable XOR as well as basic AND/OR operations. In particular, the mixtures of linear and nonlinear neuron models outperform the fashion-MNIST test compared to the neural networks consisting of only one type. This study provides a computational framework for assessing information processing of neuron and synapse models that may be beneficial for the design of brain-inspired artificial intelligence algorithms and neuromorphic systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soon Ho Kim
- Laboratory of Computational Neurophysics, Convergence Research Center for Brain Science, Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, South Korea
| | - Junhyuk Woo
- Laboratory of Computational Neurophysics, Convergence Research Center for Brain Science, Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, South Korea
| | - Kiri Choi
- School of Computational Sciences, Korea Institute for Advanced Study, Seoul 02455, South Korea
| | - MooYoung Choi
- Department of Physics and Astronomy and Center for Theoretical Physics, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, South Korea
| | - Kyungreem Han
- Laboratory of Computational Neurophysics, Convergence Research Center for Brain Science, Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, South Korea
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26
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Loomba S, Straehle J, Gangadharan V, Heike N, Khalifa A, Motta A, Ju N, Sievers M, Gempt J, Meyer HS, Helmstaedter M. Connectomic comparison of mouse and human cortex. Science 2022; 377:eabo0924. [PMID: 35737810 DOI: 10.1126/science.abo0924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The human cerebral cortex houses 1,000 times more neurons than the cerebral cortex of a mouse, but the possible differences in synaptic circuits between these species are still poorly understood. We used 3-dimensional electron microscopy of mouse, macaque and human cortical samples to study their cell type composition and synaptic circuit architecture. The 2.5-fold increase in interneurons in humans compared to mouse was compensated by a change in axonal connection probabilities and therefore did not yield a commensurate increase in inhibitory-vs-excitatory synaptic input balance on human pyramidal cells. Rather, increased inhibition created an expanded interneuron-to-interneuron network, driven by an expansion of interneuron-targeting interneuron types and an increase in their synaptic selectivity for interneuron innervation. These constitute key neuronal network alterations in human cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahil Loomba
- Department of Connectomics, Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Frankfurt, Germany.,Faculty of Science, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Jakob Straehle
- Department of Connectomics, Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Vijayan Gangadharan
- Department of Connectomics, Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Natalie Heike
- Department of Connectomics, Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Abdelrahman Khalifa
- Department of Connectomics, Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Alessandro Motta
- Department of Connectomics, Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Niansheng Ju
- Department of Connectomics, Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Meike Sievers
- Department of Connectomics, Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Frankfurt, Germany.,Faculty of Science, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Jens Gempt
- Department of Neurosurgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Germany
| | - Hanno S Meyer
- Department of Neurosurgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Germany
| | - Moritz Helmstaedter
- Department of Connectomics, Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Frankfurt, Germany
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27
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Merino-Serrais P, Plaza-Alonso S, Hellal F, Valero-Freitag S, Kastanauskaite A, Muñoz A, Plesnila N, DeFelipe J. Microanatomical study of pyramidal neurons in the contralesional somatosensory cortex after experimental ischemic stroke. Cereb Cortex 2022; 33:1074-1089. [PMID: 35353195 PMCID: PMC9930620 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhac121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
At present, many studies support the notion that after stroke, remote regions connected to the infarcted area are also affected and may contribute to functional outcome. In the present study, we have analyzed possible microanatomical alterations in pyramidal neurons from the contralesional hemisphere after induced stroke. We performed intracellular injections of Lucifer yellow in pyramidal neurons from layer III in the somatosensory cortex of the contralesional hemisphere in an ischemic stroke mouse model. A detailed 3-dimensional analysis of the neuronal complexity and morphological alterations of dendritic spines was then performed. Our results demonstrate that pyramidal neurons from layer III in the somatosensory cortex of the contralesional hemisphere show selective changes in their dendritic arbors, namely, less dendritic complexity of the apical dendritic arbor-but no changes in the basal dendritic arbor. In addition, we found differences in spine morphology in both apical and basal dendrites comparing the contralesional hemisphere with the lesional hemisphere. Our results show that pyramidal neurons of remote areas connected to the infarct zone exhibit a series of selective changes in neuronal complexity and morphological distribution of dendritic spines, supporting the hypothesis that remote regions connected to the peri-infarcted area are also affected after stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Merino-Serrais
- Corresponding author: Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales, Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Campus Montegancedo S/N, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid 28223/Instituto Cajal (CSIC), Avenida Doctor Arce, 37, Madrid 28002, Spain.
| | - Sergio Plaza-Alonso
- Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales, Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid 28223, Spain,Departamento de Neurobiología Funcional y de Sistemas, Instituto Cajal, CSIC, Madrid 28002, Spain
| | - Farida Hellal
- Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research (ISD), University of Munich, Munich 81337, Germany,iTERM, Helmholtz center, Munich 85764, Germany
| | - Susana Valero-Freitag
- Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research (ISD), University of Munich, Munich 81337, Germany
| | - Asta Kastanauskaite
- Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales, Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid 28223, Spain,Departamento de Neurobiología Funcional y de Sistemas, Instituto Cajal, CSIC, Madrid 28002, Spain
| | - Alberto Muñoz
- Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales, Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid 28223, Spain,Departamento de Neurobiología Funcional y de Sistemas, Instituto Cajal, CSIC, Madrid 28002, Spain,Departamento de Biología Celular, Universidad Complutense, Madrid 28040, Spain
| | - Nikolaus Plesnila
- Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research (ISD), University of Munich, Munich 81337, Germany,Munich Cluster of Systems Neurology (Synergy), Munich 85764, Germany
| | - Javier DeFelipe
- Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales, Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid 28223, Spain,Departamento de Neurobiología Funcional y de Sistemas, Instituto Cajal, CSIC, Madrid 28002, Spain,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas. (CIBERNED), ISCIII, Madrid 28031, Spain
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Turner NL, Macrina T, Bae JA, Yang R, Wilson AM, Schneider-Mizell C, Lee K, Lu R, Wu J, Bodor AL, Bleckert AA, Brittain D, Froudarakis E, Dorkenwald S, Collman F, Kemnitz N, Ih D, Silversmith WM, Zung J, Zlateski A, Tartavull I, Yu SC, Popovych S, Mu S, Wong W, Jordan CS, Castro M, Buchanan J, Bumbarger DJ, Takeno M, Torres R, Mahalingam G, Elabbady L, Li Y, Cobos E, Zhou P, Suckow S, Becker L, Paninski L, Polleux F, Reimer J, Tolias AS, Reid RC, da Costa NM, Seung HS. Reconstruction of neocortex: Organelles, compartments, cells, circuits, and activity. Cell 2022; 185:1082-1100.e24. [PMID: 35216674 PMCID: PMC9337909 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2022.01.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
We assembled a semi-automated reconstruction of L2/3 mouse primary visual cortex from ∼250 × 140 × 90 μm3 of electron microscopic images, including pyramidal and non-pyramidal neurons, astrocytes, microglia, oligodendrocytes and precursors, pericytes, vasculature, nuclei, mitochondria, and synapses. Visual responses of a subset of pyramidal cells are included. The data are publicly available, along with tools for programmatic and three-dimensional interactive access. Brief vignettes illustrate the breadth of potential applications relating structure to function in cortical circuits and neuronal cell biology. Mitochondria and synapse organization are characterized as a function of path length from the soma. Pyramidal connectivity motif frequencies are predicted accurately using a configuration model of random graphs. Pyramidal cells receiving more connections from nearby cells exhibit stronger and more reliable visual responses. Sample code shows data access and analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas L Turner
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA; Computer Science Department, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Thomas Macrina
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA; Computer Science Department, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - J Alexander Bae
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA; Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Runzhe Yang
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA; Computer Science Department, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Alyssa M Wilson
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | | | - Kisuk Lee
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA; Brain & Cognitive Sciences Department, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Ran Lu
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Jingpeng Wu
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Agnes L Bodor
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | | | | | - Emmanouil Froudarakis
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Center for Neuroscience and Artificial Intelligence, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Sven Dorkenwald
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA; Computer Science Department, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | | | - Nico Kemnitz
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Dodam Ih
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | | | - Jonathan Zung
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA; Computer Science Department, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Aleksandar Zlateski
- Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Ignacio Tartavull
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Szi-Chieh Yu
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Sergiy Popovych
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA; Computer Science Department, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Shang Mu
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - William Wong
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Chris S Jordan
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Manuel Castro
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - JoAnn Buchanan
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | | | - Marc Takeno
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Russel Torres
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | | | - Leila Elabbady
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Yang Li
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Erick Cobos
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Center for Neuroscience and Artificial Intelligence, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Pengcheng Zhou
- Department of Statistics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA; Center for Theoretical Neuroscience, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA; Grossman Center for the Statistics of Mind, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Shelby Suckow
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Lynne Becker
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Liam Paninski
- Department of Statistics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA; Center for Theoretical Neuroscience, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA; Grossman Center for the Statistics of Mind, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA; Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA; Kavli Institute for Brain Science at Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Franck Polleux
- Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA; Kavli Institute for Brain Science at Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Jacob Reimer
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Center for Neuroscience and Artificial Intelligence, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Andreas S Tolias
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Center for Neuroscience and Artificial Intelligence, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
| | - R Clay Reid
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | | | - H Sebastian Seung
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA; Computer Science Department, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.
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Vidaurre-Gallart I, Fernaud-Espinosa I, Cosmin-Toader N, Talavera-Martínez L, Martin-Abadal M, Benavides-Piccione R, Gonzalez-Cid Y, Pastor L, DeFelipe J, García-Lorenzo M. A Deep Learning-Based Workflow for Dendritic Spine Segmentation. Front Neuroanat 2022; 16:817903. [PMID: 35370569 PMCID: PMC8967951 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2022.817903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The morphological analysis of dendritic spines is an important challenge for the neuroscientific community. Most state-of-the-art techniques rely on user-supervised algorithms to segment the spine surface, especially those designed for light microscopy images. Therefore, processing large dendritic branches is costly and time-consuming. Although deep learning (DL) models have become one of the most commonly used tools in image segmentation, they have not yet been successfully applied to this problem. In this article, we study the feasibility of using DL models to automatize spine segmentation from confocal microscopy images. Supervised learning is the most frequently used method for training DL models. This approach requires large data sets of high-quality segmented images (ground truth). As mentioned above, the segmentation of microscopy images is time-consuming and, therefore, in most cases, neuroanatomists only reconstruct relevant branches of the stack. Additionally, some parts of the dendritic shaft and spines are not segmented due to dyeing problems. In the context of this research, we tested the most successful architectures in the DL biomedical segmentation field. To build the ground truth, we used a large and high-quality data set, according to standards in the field. Nevertheless, this data set is not sufficient to train convolutional neural networks for accurate reconstructions. Therefore, we implemented an automatic preprocessing step and several training strategies to deal with the problems mentioned above. As shown by our results, our system produces a high-quality segmentation in most cases. Finally, we integrated several postprocessing user-supervised algorithms in a graphical user interface application to correct any possible artifacts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Isabel Fernaud-Espinosa
- Instituto Cajal, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
- Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales, Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | - Miguel Martin-Abadal
- Departament de Matemàtiques i Informàtica, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Palma, Spain
| | - Ruth Benavides-Piccione
- Instituto Cajal, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
- Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales, Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- *Correspondence: Ruth Benavides-Piccione
| | - Yolanda Gonzalez-Cid
- Departament de Matemàtiques i Informàtica, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Palma, Spain
- E-Health and Multidisciplinary Telemedicine Through Cyber-Physical Intelligent Systems, IdISBa, Palma, Spain
| | - Luis Pastor
- VG-LAB, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Móstoles, Spain
- Research Center for Computational Simulation (CCS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier DeFelipe
- Instituto Cajal, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
- Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales, Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marcos García-Lorenzo
- VG-LAB, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Móstoles, Spain
- Research Center for Computational Simulation (CCS), Madrid, Spain
- Marcos García-Lorenzo
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Hoffe B, Holahan MR. Hyperacute Excitotoxic Mechanisms and Synaptic Dysfunction Involved in Traumatic Brain Injury. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:831825. [PMID: 35283730 PMCID: PMC8907921 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.831825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The biological response of brain tissue to biomechanical strain are of fundamental importance in understanding sequela of a brain injury. The time after impact can be broken into four main phases: hyperacute, acute, subacute and chronic. It is crucial to understand the hyperacute neural outcomes from the biomechanical responses that produce traumatic brain injury (TBI) as these often result in the brain becoming sensitized and vulnerable to subsequent TBIs. While the precise physical mechanisms responsible for TBI are still a matter of debate, strain-induced shearing and stretching of neural elements are considered a primary factor in pathology; however, the injury-strain thresholds as well as the earliest onset of identifiable pathologies remain unclear. Dendritic spines are sites along the dendrite where the communication between neurons occurs. These spines are dynamic in their morphology, constantly changing between stubby, thin, filopodia and mushroom depending on the environment and signaling that takes place. Dendritic spines have been shown to react to the excitotoxic conditions that take place after an impact has occurred, with a shift to the excitatory, mushroom phenotype. Glutamate released into the synaptic cleft binds to NMDA and AMPA receptors leading to increased Ca2+ entry resulting in an excitotoxic cascade. If not properly cleared, elevated levels of glutamate within the synaptic cleft will have detrimental consequences on cellular signaling and survival of the pre- and post-synaptic elements. This review will focus on the synaptic changes during the hyperacute phase that occur after a TBI. With repetitive head trauma being linked to devastating medium – and long-term maladaptive neurobehavioral outcomes, including chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), understanding the hyperacute cellular mechanisms can help understand the course of the pathology and the development of effective therapeutics.
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Age-related alterations to working memory and to pyramidal neurons in the prefrontal cortex of rhesus monkeys begin in early middle-age and are partially ameliorated by dietary curcumin. Neurobiol Aging 2022; 109:113-124. [PMID: 34715442 PMCID: PMC8671373 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2021.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Layer 3 (L3) pyramidal neurons in aged rhesus monkey lateral prefrontal cortex (LPFC) exhibit significantly elevated excitability in vitro and reduced spine density compared to neurons in young subjects. The time-course of these alterations, and whether they can be ameliorated in middle age by the powerful anti-oxidant curcumin is unknown. We compared the properties of L3 pyramidal neurons from the LPFC of behaviorally characterized rhesus monkeys over the adult lifespan using whole-cell patch clamp recordings and neuronal reconstructions. Working memory (WM) impairment, neuronal hyperexcitability, and spine loss began in middle age. There was no significant relationship between neuronal properties and WM performance. Middle-aged subjects given curcumin exhibited better WM performance and less neuronal excitability compared to control subjects. These findings suggest that the appropriate time frame for intervention for age-related cognitive changes is early middle age, and points to the efficacy of curcumin in delaying WM decline. Because there was no relationship between excitability and behavior, the effects of curcumin on these measures appear to be independent.
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32
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Wang M, Ren Q, Shi Y, Shu H, Liu D, Gu L, Xie C, Zhang Z, Wu T, Wang Z. The effect of Alzheimer's disease risk factors on brain aging in normal Chineses: Cognitive aging and cognitive reserve. Neurosci Lett 2021; 771:136398. [PMID: 34923042 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2021.136398] [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: 08/03/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Aging has been recognized as a major driving force of the Alzheimer's disease's (AD) progression, however, the relationship between brain aging and AD is still unclear. There is also a lack of studies investigating the influence of AD risk factors on brain aging in cognitively normal people. Here, the "Brain Age Gap Estimation" (BrainAGE) framework was applied to investigate the effects of AD risk factors on individual brain aging. Across a total of 165 cognitively normal elderly subjects, although no significant difference was observed in the BrainAGE scores among the three groups, AD risk dose (i.e., the number of AD risk factors) is tend to associated with an increased BrainAGE scores (high-risk > middle risk > low risk). Female exhibited more advanced brain aging (P = 0.004), and higher education years were associated with preserved brain aging (P < 0.001). APOE-ɛ4 (P = 0.846) and family history (FH) of dementia (P = 0.209) did not increase BrainAGE scores. When comparing 52 aMCI patients with 38 cognitively normal controls from ADNI dataset, aMCI patients showed significantly increased BrainAGE scores. BrainAGE scores were negatively correlated with CSF Aβ42 levels in the aMCI group (r = -0.275, P = 0.048). With an accuracy of 68.9%, BrainAGE outperformed APOE-ɛ4 and hippocampus gray matter volume (GMV) in predicting aMCI. In conclusion, AD is independently associated with structural changes in the brain that reflect advanced aging. Potentially, BrainAGE combined with APOE-ɛ4 and hippocampus GMV could be used as a pre-screening tool in early-stage AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengxue Wang
- School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Qingguo Ren
- School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China; Department of Neurology, Affiliated ZhongDa Hospital of Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China.
| | - Yachen Shi
- School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Hao Shu
- School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China; Department of Neurology, Affiliated ZhongDa Hospital of Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Duan Liu
- School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Lihua Gu
- School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China; Department of Neurology, Affiliated ZhongDa Hospital of Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Chunming Xie
- School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China; Department of Neurology, Affiliated ZhongDa Hospital of Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Zhijun Zhang
- School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China; Department of Neurology, Affiliated ZhongDa Hospital of Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Tiange Wu
- School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Zan Wang
- School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China; Department of Neurology, Affiliated ZhongDa Hospital of Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China.
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Wildenberg GA, Rosen MR, Lundell J, Paukner D, Freedman DJ, Kasthuri N. Primate neuronal connections are sparse in cortex as compared to mouse. Cell Rep 2021; 36:109709. [PMID: 34525373 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Detailing how primate and mouse neurons differ is critical for creating generalized models of how neurons process information. We reconstruct 15,748 synapses in adult Rhesus macaques and mice and ask how connectivity differs on identified cell types in layer 2/3 of primary visual cortex. Primate excitatory and inhibitory neurons receive 2-5 times fewer excitatory and inhibitory synapses than similar mouse neurons. Primate excitatory neurons have lower excitatory-to-inhibitory (E/I) ratios than mouse but similar E/I ratios in inhibitory neurons. In both species, properties of inhibitory axons such as synapse size and frequency are unchanged, and inhibitory innervation of excitatory neurons is local and specific. Using artificial recurrent neural networks (RNNs) optimized for different cognitive tasks, we find that penalizing networks for creating and maintaining synapses, as opposed to neuronal firing, reduces the number of connections per node as the number of nodes increases, similar to primate neurons compared with mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregg A Wildenberg
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA; Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL 60439, USA.
| | - Matt R Rosen
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Jack Lundell
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Dawn Paukner
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - David J Freedman
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Narayanan Kasthuri
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA; Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL 60439, USA.
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Cano-Astorga N, DeFelipe J, Alonso-Nanclares L. Three-Dimensional Synaptic Organization of Layer III of the Human Temporal Neocortex. Cereb Cortex 2021; 31:4742-4764. [PMID: 33999122 PMCID: PMC8408440 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhab120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
In the present study, we have used focused ion beam/scanning electron microscopy (FIB/SEM) to perform a study of the synaptic organization of layer III of Brodmann's area 21 in human tissue samples obtained from autopsies and biopsies. We analyzed the synaptic density, 3D spatial distribution, and type (asymmetric/symmetric), as well as the size and shape of each synaptic junction of 4945 synapses that were fully reconstructed in 3D. Significant differences in the mean synaptic density between autopsy and biopsy samples were found (0.49 and 0.66 synapses/μm3, respectively). However, in both types of samples (autopsy and biopsy), the asymmetric:symmetric ratio was similar (93:7) and most asymmetric synapses were established on dendritic spines (75%), while most symmetric synapses were established on dendritic shafts (85%). We also compared several electron microscopy methods and analysis tools to estimate the synaptic density in the same brain tissue. We have shown that FIB/SEM is much more reliable and robust than the majority of the other commonly used EM techniques. The present work constitutes a detailed description of the synaptic organization of cortical layer III. Further studies on the rest of the cortical layers are necessary to better understand the functional organization of this temporal cortical region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolás Cano-Astorga
- Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales, Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid 28223, Spain
- Instituto Cajal, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid 28002, Spain
| | - Javier DeFelipe
- Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales, Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid 28223, Spain
- Instituto Cajal, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid 28002, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), ISCIII, Madrid 28031, Spain
| | - Lidia Alonso-Nanclares
- Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales, Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid 28223, Spain
- Instituto Cajal, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid 28002, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), ISCIII, Madrid 28031, Spain
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Oris C, Bouillon-Minois JB, Pinguet J, Kahouadji S, Durif J, Meslé V, Pereira B, Schmidt J, Sapin V, Bouvier D. Predictive Performance of Blood S100B in the Management of Patients Over 65 Years Old With Mild Traumatic Brain Injury. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2021; 76:1471-1479. [PMID: 33647933 DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glab055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We previously assessed the inclusion of S100B blood determination into clinical decision rules for mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) management in the Emergency Department (ED) of Clermont-Ferrand Hospital. At the 0.10 µg/L threshold, S100B reduced the use of cranial computed tomography (CCT) scan in adults by at least 30% with a ~100% sensitivity. Older patients had higher serum S100B values, resulting in lower specificity (18.7%) and decreased CCT reduction. We conducted this study to confirm the age effect on S100B concentrations, and to propose new decisional thresholds for older patients. METHODS A total of 1172 mTBI patients aged 65 and over were included. They were divided into 3 age groups: 65-79, 80-89, and ≥ 90 years old. S100B's performance to identify intracranial lesions (sensitivity [SE] and specificity [SP]) was assessed using the routine 0.10 µg/L threshold and also other more efficient thresholds established for each age group. RESULTS S100B concentration medians were 0.18, 0.26, and 0.32 µg/L for the 65-79, 80-89, and ≥ 90 years old age groups, respectively (p < .001). The most efficient thresholds were 0.11 µg/L for the 65-79 age group and 0.15 µg/L for the other groups. At these new thresholds, SP was respectively 28.4%, 34.3%, and 20.5% for each age group versus 24.9%, 18.2%, and 10.5% at the 0.10 µg/L threshold. CONCLUSIONS Adjustment of the S100B threshold is necessary in older patients' management. An increased threshold of 0.15 µg/L is particularly interesting for patients ≥ 80 years old, allowing a significant increase of CCT scan reduction (29.3%).
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Oris
- University Hospital, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetic Department, Clermont-Ferrand, France.,Clermont Auvergne University, CNRS 6293, INSERM 1103, GReD, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | | | - Jérémy Pinguet
- University Hospital, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetic Department, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Samy Kahouadji
- University Hospital, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetic Department, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Julie Durif
- University Hospital, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetic Department, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Vallauris Meslé
- Clermont Auvergne University, CNRS 6293, INSERM 1103, GReD, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Bruno Pereira
- University Hospital, Biostatistics unit (DRCI) Department, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Jeannot Schmidt
- University Hospital, Adult Emergency Department, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Vincent Sapin
- University Hospital, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetic Department, Clermont-Ferrand, France.,Clermont Auvergne University, CNRS 6293, INSERM 1103, GReD, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Damien Bouvier
- University Hospital, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetic Department, Clermont-Ferrand, France.,Clermont Auvergne University, CNRS 6293, INSERM 1103, GReD, Clermont-Ferrand, France
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36
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Benavides-Piccione R, Rojo C, Kastanauskaite A, DeFelipe J. Variation in Pyramidal Cell Morphology Across the Human Anterior Temporal Lobe. Cereb Cortex 2021; 31:3592-3609. [PMID: 33723567 PMCID: PMC8258433 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhab034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Pyramidal neurons are the most abundant and characteristic neuronal type in the cerebral cortex and their dendritic spines are the main postsynaptic elements of cortical excitatory synapses. Previous studies have shown that pyramidal cell structure differs across layers, cortical areas, and species. However, within the human cortex, the pyramidal dendritic morphology has been quantified in detail in relatively few cortical areas. In the present work, we performed intracellular injections of Lucifer Yellow at several distances from the temporal pole. We found regional differences in pyramidal cell morphology, which showed large inter-individual variability in most of the morphological variables measured. However, some values remained similar in all cases. The smallest and least complex cells in the most posterior temporal region showed the greatest dendritic spine density. Neurons in the temporal pole showed the greatest sizes with the highest number of spines. Layer V cells were larger, more complex, and had a greater number of dendritic spines than those in layer III. The present results suggest that, while some aspects of pyramidal structure are conserved, there are specific variations across cortical regions, and species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Benavides-Piccione
- Instituto Cajal, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid 28002, Spain.,Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales, Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid 28223, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), ISCIII, Madrid 28031, Spain
| | - Concepcion Rojo
- Sección Departamental de Anatomía y Embriología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid 28040, Spain
| | - Asta Kastanauskaite
- Instituto Cajal, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid 28002, Spain.,Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales, Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid 28223, Spain
| | - Javier DeFelipe
- Instituto Cajal, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid 28002, Spain.,Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales, Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid 28223, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), ISCIII, Madrid 28031, Spain
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37
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Dendrites of Neocortical Pyramidal Neurons: The Key to Understand Intellectual Disability. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2021; 42:147-153. [PMID: 34216332 PMCID: PMC8732981 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-021-01123-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Pyramidal neurons (PNs) are the most abundant cells of the neocortex and display a vast dendritic tree, divided into basal and apical compartments. Morphological and functional anomalies of PN dendrites are at the basis of virtually all neurological and mental disorders, including intellectual disability. Here, we provide evidence that the cognitive deficits observed in different types of intellectual disability might be sustained by different parts of the PN dendritic tree, or by a dysregulation of their interaction.
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Benavides-Piccione R, Regalado-Reyes M, Fernaud-Espinosa I, Kastanauskaite A, Tapia-González S, León-Espinosa G, Rojo C, Insausti R, Segev I, DeFelipe J. Differential Structure of Hippocampal CA1 Pyramidal Neurons in the Human and Mouse. Cereb Cortex 2021; 30:730-752. [PMID: 31268532 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhz122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2019] [Revised: 05/07/2019] [Accepted: 05/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Pyramidal neurons are the most common cell type and are considered the main output neuron in most mammalian forebrain structures. In terms of function, differences in the structure of the dendrites of these neurons appear to be crucial in determining how neurons integrate information. To further shed light on the structure of the human pyramidal neurons we investigated the geometry of pyramidal cells in the human and mouse CA1 region-one of the most evolutionary conserved archicortical regions, which is critically involved in the formation, consolidation, and retrieval of memory. We aimed to assess to what extent neurons corresponding to a homologous region in different species have parallel morphologies. Over 100 intracellularly injected and 3D-reconstructed cells across both species revealed that dendritic and axonal morphologies of human cells are not only larger but also have structural differences, when compared to mouse. The results show that human CA1 pyramidal cells are not a stretched version of mouse CA1 cells. These results indicate that there are some morphological parameters of the pyramidal cells that are conserved, whereas others are species-specific.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Benavides-Piccione
- Instituto Cajal, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid 28002, Spain.,Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales, Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid 28223, Spain
| | - Mamen Regalado-Reyes
- Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales, Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid 28223, Spain
| | - Isabel Fernaud-Espinosa
- Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales, Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid 28223, Spain
| | - Asta Kastanauskaite
- Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales, Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid 28223, Spain
| | - Silvia Tapia-González
- Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales, Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid 28223, Spain
| | - Gonzalo León-Espinosa
- Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales, Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid 28223, Spain.,Departamento de Química y Bioquímica, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad San Pablo Centro de Estudios Universitarios (CEU), Madrid 28925, Spain
| | - Concepcion Rojo
- Sección Departamental de Anatomía y Embriología (veterinaria). Facultad de Veterinaria. Universidad Complutense de Madrid 28040, Spain
| | - Ricardo Insausti
- Laboratorio de Neuroanatomía Humana, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Albacete 02008, Spain
| | - Idan Segev
- Department of Neurobiology, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190501, Israel.,Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190501, Israel
| | - Javier DeFelipe
- Instituto Cajal, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid 28002, Spain.,Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales, Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid 28223, Spain
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Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a deterioration of neuronal connectivity. The pathological accumulation of tau in neurons is one of the hallmarks of AD and has been connected to the loss of dendritic spines of pyramidal cells, which are the major targets of cortical excitatory synapses and key elements in memory storage. However, the detailed mechanisms underlying the loss of dendritic spines in individuals with AD are still unclear. Here, we used graph-theory approaches to compare the distribution of dendritic spines from neurons with and without tau pathology of AD individuals. We found that the presence of tau pathology determines the loss of dendritic spines in clusters, ruling out alternative models where spine loss occurs at random locations. Since memory storage has been associated with synaptic clusters, the present results provide a new insight into the mechanisms by which tau drives synaptic damage in AD, paving the way to memory deficits through alterations of spine organization.
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Okabe S. Recent advances in computational methods for measurement of dendritic spines imaged by light microscopy. Microscopy (Oxf) 2021; 69:196-213. [PMID: 32244257 DOI: 10.1093/jmicro/dfaa016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2019] [Revised: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Dendritic spines are small protrusions that receive most of the excitatory inputs to the pyramidal neurons in the neocortex and the hippocampus. Excitatory neural circuits in the neocortex and hippocampus are important for experience-dependent changes in brain functions, including postnatal sensory refinement and memory formation. Several lines of evidence indicate that synaptic efficacy is correlated with spine size and structure. Hence, precise and accurate measurement of spine morphology is important for evaluation of neural circuit function and plasticity. Recent advances in light microscopy and image analysis techniques have opened the way toward a full description of spine nanostructure. In addition, large datasets of spine nanostructure can be effectively analyzed using machine learning techniques and other mathematical approaches, and recent advances in super-resolution imaging allow researchers to analyze spine structure at an unprecedented level of precision. This review summarizes computational methods that can effectively identify, segment and quantitate dendritic spines in either 2D or 3D imaging. Nanoscale analysis of spine structure and dynamics, combined with new mathematical approaches, will facilitate our understanding of spine functions in physiological and pathological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shigeo Okabe
- Department of Cellular Neurobiology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
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Energetics of stochastic BCM type synaptic plasticity and storing of accurate information. J Comput Neurosci 2021; 49:71-106. [PMID: 33528721 PMCID: PMC8046702 DOI: 10.1007/s10827-020-00775-0] [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: 08/01/2019] [Revised: 10/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Excitatory synaptic signaling in cortical circuits is thought to be metabolically expensive. Two fundamental brain functions, learning and memory, are associated with long-term synaptic plasticity, but we know very little about energetics of these slow biophysical processes. This study investigates the energy requirement of information storing in plastic synapses for an extended version of BCM plasticity with a decay term, stochastic noise, and nonlinear dependence of neuron’s firing rate on synaptic current (adaptation). It is shown that synaptic weights in this model exhibit bistability. In order to analyze the system analytically, it is reduced to a simple dynamic mean-field for a population averaged plastic synaptic current. Next, using the concepts of nonequilibrium thermodynamics, we derive the energy rate (entropy production rate) for plastic synapses and a corresponding Fisher information for coding presynaptic input. That energy, which is of chemical origin, is primarily used for battling fluctuations in the synaptic weights and presynaptic firing rates, and it increases steeply with synaptic weights, and more uniformly though nonlinearly with presynaptic firing. At the onset of synaptic bistability, Fisher information and memory lifetime both increase sharply, by a few orders of magnitude, but the plasticity energy rate changes only mildly. This implies that a huge gain in the precision of stored information does not have to cost large amounts of metabolic energy, which suggests that synaptic information is not directly limited by energy consumption. Interestingly, for very weak synaptic noise, such a limit on synaptic coding accuracy is imposed instead by a derivative of the plasticity energy rate with respect to the mean presynaptic firing, and this relationship has a general character that is independent of the plasticity type. An estimate for primate neocortex reveals that a relative metabolic cost of BCM type synaptic plasticity, as a fraction of neuronal cost related to fast synaptic transmission and spiking, can vary from negligible to substantial, depending on the synaptic noise level and presynaptic firing.
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42
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Glutamatergic Dysfunction and Synaptic Ultrastructural Alterations in Schizophrenia and Autism Spectrum Disorder: Evidence from Human and Rodent Studies. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 22:ijms22010059. [PMID: 33374598 PMCID: PMC7793137 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22010059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2020] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The correlation between dysfunction in the glutamatergic system and neuropsychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder, is undisputed. Both disorders are associated with molecular and ultrastructural alterations that affect synaptic plasticity and thus the molecular and physiological basis of learning and memory. Altered synaptic plasticity, accompanied by changes in protein synthesis and trafficking of postsynaptic proteins, as well as structural modifications of excitatory synapses, are critically involved in the postnatal development of the mammalian nervous system. In this review, we summarize glutamatergic alterations and ultrastructural changes in synapses in schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder of genetic or drug-related origin, and briefly comment on the possible reversibility of these neuropsychiatric disorders in the light of findings in regular synaptic physiology.
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Habes M, Pomponio R, Shou H, Doshi J, Mamourian E, Erus G, Nasrallah I, Launer LJ, Rashid T, Bilgel M, Fan Y, Toledo JB, Yaffe K, Sotiras A, Srinivasan D, Espeland M, Masters C, Maruff P, Fripp J, Völzk H, Johnson SC, Morris JC, Albert MS, Miller MI, Bryan RN, Grabe HJ, Resnick SM, Wolk DA, Davatzikos C. The Brain Chart of Aging: Machine-learning analytics reveals links between brain aging, white matter disease, amyloid burden, and cognition in the iSTAGING consortium of 10,216 harmonized MR scans. Alzheimers Dement 2020; 17:89-102. [PMID: 32920988 DOI: 10.1002/alz.12178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Revised: 07/12/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Relationships between brain atrophy patterns of typical aging and Alzheimer's disease (AD), white matter disease, cognition, and AD neuropathology were investigated via machine learning in a large harmonized magnetic resonance imaging database (11 studies; 10,216 subjects). METHODS Three brain signatures were calculated: Brain-age, AD-like neurodegeneration, and white matter hyperintensities (WMHs). Brain Charts measured and displayed the relationships of these signatures to cognition and molecular biomarkers of AD. RESULTS WMHs were associated with advanced brain aging, AD-like atrophy, poorer cognition, and AD neuropathology in mild cognitive impairment (MCI)/AD and cognitively normal (CN) subjects. High WMH volume was associated with brain aging and cognitive decline occurring in an ≈10-year period in CN subjects. WMHs were associated with doubling the likelihood of amyloid beta (Aβ) positivity after age 65. Brain aging, AD-like atrophy, and WMHs were better predictors of cognition than chronological age in MCI/AD. DISCUSSION A Brain Chart quantifying brain-aging trajectories was established, enabling the systematic evaluation of individuals' brain-aging patterns relative to this large consortium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamad Habes
- Center for Biomedical Image Computing and Analytics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.,Department of Neurology and Penn Memory Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.,Neuroimage Analytics Laboratory and Biggs Institute Neuroimaging Core, Glenn Biggs Institute for Neurodegenerative Disorders, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA.,Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Raymond Pomponio
- Center for Biomedical Image Computing and Analytics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.,Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Haochang Shou
- Center for Biomedical Image Computing and Analytics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.,Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jimit Doshi
- Center for Biomedical Image Computing and Analytics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.,Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Elizabeth Mamourian
- Center for Biomedical Image Computing and Analytics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.,Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Guray Erus
- Center for Biomedical Image Computing and Analytics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.,Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Ilya Nasrallah
- Center for Biomedical Image Computing and Analytics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.,Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Lenore J Launer
- Laboratory of Epidemiology and Population Sciences, National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Tanweer Rashid
- Center for Biomedical Image Computing and Analytics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.,Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Murat Bilgel
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Yong Fan
- Center for Biomedical Image Computing and Analytics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.,Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jon B Toledo
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute on Aging, Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.,Stanley Appel Department of Neurology, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Kristine Yaffe
- Departments of Neurology, Psychiatry and Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Aristeidis Sotiras
- Center for Biomedical Image Computing and Analytics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.,Department of Radiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Dhivya Srinivasan
- Center for Biomedical Image Computing and Analytics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.,Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Mark Espeland
- Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Colin Masters
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Paul Maruff
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Jurgen Fripp
- CSIRO Health and Biosecurity, Australian e-Health Research Centre CSIRO, Australia
| | - Henry Völzk
- Institute for Community Medicine, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Sterling C Johnson
- Wisconsin Alzheimer's Institute, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - John C Morris
- Department of Neurology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Marilyn S Albert
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Michael I Miller
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - R Nick Bryan
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine, University of Texas, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Hans J Grabe
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Greifswald, Germany.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Rostock, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Susan M Resnick
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - David A Wolk
- Center for Biomedical Image Computing and Analytics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.,Department of Neurology and Penn Memory Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Christos Davatzikos
- Center for Biomedical Image Computing and Analytics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.,Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | -
- Center for Biomedical Image Computing and Analytics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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Synaptic Organization of the Human Temporal Lobe Neocortex as Revealed by High-Resolution Transmission, Focused Ion Beam Scanning, and Electron Microscopic Tomography. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21155558. [PMID: 32756507 PMCID: PMC7432700 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21155558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Revised: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Modern electron microscopy (EM) such as fine-scale transmission EM, focused ion beam scanning EM, and EM tomography have enormously improved our knowledge about the synaptic organization of the normal, developmental, and pathologically altered brain. In contrast to various animal species, comparably little is known about these structures in the human brain. Non-epileptic neocortical access tissue from epilepsy surgery was used to generate quantitative 3D models of synapses. Beside the overall geometry, the number, size, and shape of active zones and of the three functionally defined pools of synaptic vesicles representing morphological correlates for synaptic transmission and plasticity were quantified. EM tomography further allowed new insights in the morphological organization and size of the functionally defined readily releasable pool. Beside similarities, human synaptic boutons, although comparably small (approximately 5 µm), differed substantially in several structural parameters, such as the shape and size of active zones, which were on average 2 to 3-fold larger than in experimental animals. The total pool of synaptic vesicles exceeded that in experimental animals by approximately 2 to 3-fold, in particular the readily releasable and recycling pool by approximately 2 to 5-fold, although these pools seemed to be layer-specifically organized. Taken together, synaptic boutons in the human temporal lobe neocortex represent unique entities perfectly adapted to the “job” they have to fulfill in the circuitry in which they are embedded. Furthermore, the quantitative 3D models of synaptic boutons are useful to explain and even predict the functional properties of synaptic connections in the human neocortex.
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45
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Changes in the intracellular microenvironment in the aging human brain. Neurobiol Aging 2020; 95:168-175. [PMID: 32814258 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2020.07.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Revised: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Normal brain aging is associated with changes occurring at all levels. This study investigates age-related differences in the brain intracellular microenvironment by comparing the apparent diffusion coefficients (ADC) and apparent transverse relaxation time constants (T2) of 5 neurochemicals (i.e., total N-acetyl-aspartate, total creatine, total choline, glutamate, and myo-inositol) between young and older adults. Thirty-two young healthy adults (18-22 years) and 26 older healthy adults (70-83 years) were recruited. Three brain regions were studied at 3 T: prefrontal, posterior cingulate and occipital cortices. ADC and T2 were measured using stimulated echo acquisition mode and localization by adiabatic selective refocusing sequences, respectively. This study shows that the diffusivities of several neurochemicals are higher in older than in younger adults. In contrast, shorter apparent T2 values for several metabolites were measured in older adults. Age-related difference in ADC and apparent T2 of metabolites seem to be region-specific. Furthermore, this study shows that it is feasible to observe age-related differences in the cellular microenvironment of neurochemicals in the normal aging brain.
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46
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Patel Y, Shin J, Gowland PA, Pausova Z, Paus T. Maturation of the Human Cerebral Cortex During Adolescence: Myelin or Dendritic Arbor? Cereb Cortex 2020; 29:3351-3362. [PMID: 30169567 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhy204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2018] [Revised: 07/31/2018] [Accepted: 08/03/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous in vivo studies revealed robust age-related variations in structural properties of the human cerebral cortex during adolescence. Neurobiology underlying these maturational phenomena is largely unknown. Here we employ a virtual-histology approach to gain insights into processes associated with inter-regional variations in cortical microstructure and its maturation, as indexed by magnetization transfer ratio (MTR). Inter-regional variations in MTR correlate with inter-regional variations in expression of genes specific to pyramidal cells (CA1) and ependymal cells; enrichment analyses indicate involvement of these genes in dendritic growth. On the other hand, inter-regional variations in the change of MTR during adolescence correlate with inter-regional profiles of oligodendrocyte-specific gene expression. Complemented by a quantitative hypothetical model of the contribution of surfaces associated with dendritic arbor (1631 m2) and myelin (48 m2), these findings suggest that MTR signals are driven mainly by macromolecules associated with dendritic arbor while maturational changes in the MTR signal are associated with myelination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Patel
- Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - J Shin
- Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - P A Gowland
- Sir Peter Mansfield Imaging Centre, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Z Pausova
- The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Physiology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - T Paus
- Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Regalado-Reyes M, Benavides-Piccione R, Fernaud-Espinosa I, DeFelipe J, León-Espinosa G. Effect of Phosphorylated Tau on Cortical Pyramidal Neuron Morphology during Hibernation. Cereb Cortex Commun 2020; 1:tgaa018. [PMID: 34296096 PMCID: PMC8152943 DOI: 10.1093/texcom/tgaa018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2020] [Revised: 05/02/2020] [Accepted: 05/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The dendritic spines of pyramidal cells are the main postsynaptic target of excitatory glutamatergic synapses. Morphological alterations have been described in hippocampal dendritic spines during hibernation-a state of inactivity and metabolic depression that occurs via a transient neuronal tau hyperphosphorylation. Here, we have used the hibernating Syrian hamster to investigate the effect of hyperphosphorylated tau regarding neocortical neuronal structure. In particular, we examined layer Va pyramidal neurons. Our results indicate that hibernation does not promote significant changes in dendritic spine density. However, tau hyperphosphorylated neurons show a decrease in complexity, an increase in the tortuosity of the apical dendrites, and an increase in the diameter of the basal dendrites. Tau protein hyperphosphorylation and aggregation have been associated with loss or alterations of dendritic spines in neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Our results may shed light on the correlation between tau hyperphosphorylation and the neuropathological processes in AD. Moreover, we observed changes in the length and area of the apical and basal dendritic spines during hibernation regardless of tau hyperphosphorylation. The morphological changes observed here also suggest region specificity, opening up debate about a possible relationship with the differential brain activity registered in these regions in previous studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mamen Regalado-Reyes
- Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales, Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid 28002, Spain
| | - Ruth Benavides-Piccione
- Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales, Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid 28002, Spain
| | - Isabel Fernaud-Espinosa
- Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales, Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid 28002, Spain
| | - Javier DeFelipe
- Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales, Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid 28002, Spain
| | - Gonzalo León-Espinosa
- Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales, Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid 28002, Spain
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48
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Kikuchi T, Gonzalez-Soriano J, Kastanauskaite A, Benavides-Piccione R, Merchan-Perez A, DeFelipe J, Blazquez-Llorca L. Volume Electron Microscopy Study of the Relationship Between Synapses and Astrocytes in the Developing Rat Somatosensory Cortex. Cereb Cortex 2020; 30:3800-3819. [PMID: 31989178 PMCID: PMC7233003 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhz343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Revised: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, numerous studies have shown that astrocytes play an important role in neuronal processing of information. One of the most interesting findings is the existence of bidirectional interactions between neurons and astrocytes at synapses, which has given rise to the concept of “tripartite synapses” from a functional point of view. We used focused ion beam milling and scanning electron microscopy (FIB/SEM) to examine in 3D the relationship of synapses with astrocytes that were previously labeled by intracellular injections in the rat somatosensory cortex. We observed that a large number of synapses (32%) had no contact with astrocytic processes. The remaining synapses (68%) were in contact with astrocytic processes, either at the level of the synaptic cleft (44%) or with the pre- and/or post-synaptic elements (24%). Regarding synaptic morphology, larger synapses with more complex shapes were most frequently found within the population that had the synaptic cleft in contact with astrocytic processes. Furthermore, we observed that although synapses were randomly distributed in space, synapses that were free of astrocytic processes tended to form clusters. Overall, at least in the developing rat neocortex, the concept of tripartite synapse only seems to be applicable to a subset of synapses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toko Kikuchi
- Center for Biosciences and Informatics, School of Fundamental Science and Technology, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Keio University, 223-8522 Kanagawa, Japan.,Department of Fundamental Neuroscience, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Juncal Gonzalez-Soriano
- Departamento de Anatomía, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Asta Kastanauskaite
- Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales, Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ruth Benavides-Piccione
- Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales, Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain.,Departamento de Neurobiología Funcional y de Sistemas, Instituto Cajal, CSIC, 28002 Madrid, Spain
| | - Angel Merchan-Perez
- Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales, Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain.,Departamento de Arquitectura y Tecnología de Sistemas Informáticos, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Informáticos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier DeFelipe
- Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales, Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain.,Departamento de Neurobiología Funcional y de Sistemas, Instituto Cajal, CSIC, 28002 Madrid, Spain
| | - Lidia Blazquez-Llorca
- Laboratorio Cajal de Circuitos Corticales, Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain.,Departamento de Psicobiología, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED), 28040 Madrid, Spain
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49
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Das SC, Chen D, Callor WB, Christensen E, Coon H, Williams ME. DiI-mediated analysis of presynaptic and postsynaptic structures in human postmortem brain tissue. J Comp Neurol 2019; 527:3087-3098. [PMID: 31152449 DOI: 10.1002/cne.24722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2019] [Revised: 05/24/2019] [Accepted: 05/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Most cognitive and psychiatric disorders are thought to be disorders of the synapse, yet the precise synapse defects remain unknown. Because synapses are highly specialized anatomical structures, defects in synapse formation and function can often be observed as changes in microscale neuroanatomy. Unfortunately, few methods are available for accurate analysis of synaptic structures in human postmortem tissues. Here, we present a methodological pipeline for assessing presynaptic and postsynaptic structures in human postmortem tissue that is accurate, rapid, and relatively inexpensive. Our method uses small tissue blocks from postmortem human brains, immersion fixation, lipophilic dye (DiI) labeling, and confocal microscopy. As proof of principle, we analyzed presynaptic and postsynaptic structures from hippocampi of 13 individuals aged 4 months to 71 years. Our results indicate that postsynaptic CA1 dendritic spine shape and density do not change in adults, while presynaptic DG mossy fiber boutons undergo significant structural rearrangements with normal aging. This suggests that mossy fiber synapses, which play a major role in learning and memory, may remain dynamic throughout life. Importantly, we find that human CA1 spine densities observed using this method on tissue that is up to 28 h postmortem is comparable to prior studies using tissue with much shorter postmortem intervals. Thus, the ease of our protocol and suitability on tissue with longer postmortem intervals should facilitate higher-powered studies of human presynaptic and postsynaptic structures in healthy and diseased states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujan C Das
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Danli Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | | | - Eric Christensen
- Utah State Office of Medical Examiner, Utah Department of Health, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Hilary Coon
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Megan E Williams
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah
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50
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Chidambaram SB, Rathipriya AG, Bolla SR, Bhat A, Ray B, Mahalakshmi AM, Manivasagam T, Thenmozhi AJ, Essa MM, Guillemin GJ, Chandra R, Sakharkar MK. Dendritic spines: Revisiting the physiological role. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2019; 92:161-193. [PMID: 30654089 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2019.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 150] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2018] [Revised: 01/04/2019] [Accepted: 01/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Dendritic spines are small, thin, specialized protrusions from neuronal dendrites, primarily localized in the excitatory synapses. Sophisticated imaging techniques revealed that dendritic spines are complex structures consisting of a dense network of cytoskeletal, transmembrane and scaffolding molecules, and numerous surface receptors. Molecular signaling pathways, mainly Rho and Ras family small GTPases pathways that converge on actin cytoskeleton, regulate the spine morphology and dynamics bi-directionally during synaptic activity. During synaptic plasticity the number and shapes of dendritic spines undergo radical reorganizations. Long-term potentiation (LTP) induction promote spine head enlargement and the formation and stabilization of new spines. Long-term depression (LTD) results in their shrinkage and retraction. Reports indicate increased spine density in the pyramidal neurons of autism and Fragile X syndrome patients and reduced density in the temporal gyrus loci of schizophrenic patients. Post-mortem reports of Alzheimer's brains showed reduced spine number in the hippocampus and cortex. This review highlights the spine morphogenesis process, the activity-dependent structural plasticity and mechanisms by which synaptic activity sculpts the dendritic spines, the structural and functional changes in spines during learning and memory using LTP and LTD processes. It also discusses on spine status in neurodegenerative diseases and the impact of nootropics and neuroprotective agents on the functional restoration of dendritic spines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saravana Babu Chidambaram
- Department of Pharmacology, JSS College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research (JSSAHER), Mysuru, Karnataka 570015, India.
| | - A G Rathipriya
- Food and Brain Research Foundation, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Srinivasa Rao Bolla
- Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Damam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abid Bhat
- Department of Pharmacology, JSS College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research (JSSAHER), Mysuru, Karnataka 570015, India
| | - Bipul Ray
- Department of Pharmacology, JSS College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research (JSSAHER), Mysuru, Karnataka 570015, India
| | - Arehally Marappa Mahalakshmi
- Department of Pharmacology, JSS College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research (JSSAHER), Mysuru, Karnataka 570015, India
| | - Thamilarasan Manivasagam
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar, Tamilnadu, India
| | - Arokiasamy Justin Thenmozhi
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar, Tamilnadu, India
| | - Musthafa Mohamed Essa
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, CAMS, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman
| | - Gilles J Guillemin
- Neuropharmacology Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Deb Bailey MND Research Laboratory, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Ramesh Chandra
- Department of Chemistry, Ambedkar Centre for BioMedical Research, Delhi University, Delhi 110007, India
| | - Meena Kishore Sakharkar
- College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, 107, Wiggins Road, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5C9, Canada.
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