1
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Neher E. Interpretation of presynaptic phenotypes of synaptic plasticity in terms of a two-step priming process. J Gen Physiol 2024; 156:e202313454. [PMID: 38112713 PMCID: PMC10730358 DOI: 10.1085/jgp.202313454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Studies on synaptic proteins involved in neurotransmitter release often aim at distinguishing between their roles in vesicle priming (the docking of synaptic vesicles to the plasma membrane and the assembly of a release machinery) as opposed to the process of vesicle fusion. This has traditionally been done by estimating two parameters, the size of the pool of fusion-competent vesicles (the readily releasable pool, RRP) and the probability that such vesicles are released by an action potential, with the aim of determining how these parameters are affected by molecular perturbations. Here, it is argued that the assumption of a homogeneous RRP may be too simplistic and may blur the distinction between vesicle priming and fusion. Rather, considering priming as a dynamic and reversible multistep process allows alternative interpretations of mutagenesis-induced changes in synaptic transmission and suggests mechanisms for variability in synaptic strength and short-term plasticity among synapses, as well as for interactions between short- and long-term plasticity. In many cases, assigned roles of proteins or causes for observed phenotypes are shifted from fusion- to priming-related when considering multistep priming. Activity-dependent enhancement of priming is an essential element in this alternative view and its variation among synapse types can explain why some synapses show depression and others show facilitation at low to intermediate stimulation frequencies. Multistep priming also suggests a mechanism for frequency invariance of steady-state release, which can be observed in some synapses involved in sensory processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erwin Neher
- Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
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2
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Jetti SK, Crane AB, Akbergenova Y, Aponte-Santiago NA, Cunningham KL, Whittaker CA, Littleton JT. Molecular Logic of Synaptic Diversity Between Drosophila Tonic and Phasic Motoneurons. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.17.524447. [PMID: 36711745 PMCID: PMC9882338 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.17.524447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Although neuronal subtypes display unique synaptic organization and function, the underlying transcriptional differences that establish these features is poorly understood. To identify molecular pathways that contribute to synaptic diversity, single neuron PatchSeq RNA profiling was performed on Drosophila tonic and phasic glutamatergic motoneurons. Tonic motoneurons form weaker facilitating synapses onto single muscles, while phasic motoneurons form stronger depressing synapses onto multiple muscles. Super-resolution microscopy and in vivo imaging demonstrated synaptic active zones in phasic motoneurons are more compact and display enhanced Ca 2+ influx compared to their tonic counterparts. Genetic analysis identified unique synaptic properties that mapped onto gene expression differences for several cellular pathways, including distinct signaling ligands, post-translational modifications and intracellular Ca 2+ buffers. These findings provide insights into how unique transcriptomes drive functional and morphological differences between neuronal subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suresh K Jetti
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Biology and Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139
| | - Andrés B Crane
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Biology and Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139
| | - Yulia Akbergenova
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Biology and Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139
| | - Nicole A Aponte-Santiago
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Biology and Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139
| | - Karen L Cunningham
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Biology and Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139
| | - Charles A Whittaker
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139
| | - J Troy Littleton
- The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Biology and Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139
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3
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Chequer Charan D, Hua Y, Wang H, Huang W, Wang F, Elgoyhen AB, Boergens KM, Di Guilmi MN. Volume electron microscopy reveals age-related circuit remodeling in the auditory brainstem. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:1070438. [PMID: 36589288 PMCID: PMC9799098 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.1070438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB) is an integral component of the auditory brainstem circuitry involved in sound localization. The giant presynaptic nerve terminal with multiple active zones, the calyx of Held (CH), is a hallmark of this nucleus, which mediates fast and synchronized glutamatergic synaptic transmission. To delineate how these synaptic structures adapt to reduced auditory afferents due to aging, we acquired and reconstructed circuitry-level volumes of mouse MNTB at different ages (3 weeks, 6, 18, and 24 months) using serial block-face electron microscopy. We used C57BL/6J, the most widely inbred mouse strain used for transgenic lines, which displays a type of age-related hearing loss. We found that MNTB neurons reduce in density with age. Surprisingly we observed an average of approximately 10% of poly-innervated MNTB neurons along the mouse lifespan, with prevalence in the low frequency region. Moreover, a tonotopy-dependent heterogeneity in CH morphology was observed in young but not in older mice. In conclusion, our data support the notion that age-related hearing impairments can be in part a direct consequence of several structural alterations and circuit remodeling in the brainstem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Chequer Charan
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular, Dr. Héctor N. Torres, INGEBI-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Yunfeng Hua
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Haoyu Wang
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenqing Huang
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Fangfang Wang
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ana Belén Elgoyhen
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular, Dr. Héctor N. Torres, INGEBI-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Kevin M. Boergens
- Department of Physics, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States,*Correspondence: Kevin M. Boergens Mariano N. Di Guilmi
| | - Mariano N. Di Guilmi
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular, Dr. Héctor N. Torres, INGEBI-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina,*Correspondence: Kevin M. Boergens Mariano N. Di Guilmi
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4
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A sequential two-step priming scheme reproduces diversity in synaptic strength and short-term plasticity. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2207987119. [PMID: 35969787 PMCID: PMC9407230 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2207987119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Central nervous system synapses are diverse in strength and plasticity. Short-term plasticity has traditionally been evaluated with models postulating a single pool of functionally homogeneous fusion-competent synaptic vesicles. Many observations are not easily explainable by such simple models. We established and experimentally validated a scheme of synaptic vesicle priming consisting of two sequential and reversible steps of release–machinery assembly. This sequential two-step priming scheme faithfully reproduced plasticity at a glutamatergic model synapse. The proposed priming and fusion scheme was consistent with the measured mean responses and with the experimentally observed heterogeneity between synapses. Vesicle fusion probability was found to be relatively uniform among synapses, while the priming equilibrium at rest of mature versus immature vesicle priming states differed greatly. Glutamatergic synapses display variable strength and diverse short-term plasticity (STP), even for a given type of connection. Using nonnegative tensor factorization and conventional state modeling, we demonstrate that a kinetic scheme consisting of two sequential and reversible steps of release–machinery assembly and a final step of synaptic vesicle (SV) fusion reproduces STP and its diversity among synapses. Analyzing transmission at the calyx of Held synapses reveals that differences in synaptic strength and STP are not primarily caused by variable fusion probability (pfusion) but are determined by the fraction of docked synaptic vesicles equipped with a mature release machinery. Our simulations show that traditional quantal analysis methods do not necessarily report pfusion of SVs with a mature release machinery but reflect both pfusion and the distribution between mature and immature priming states at rest. Thus, the approach holds promise for a better mechanistic dissection of the roles of presynaptic proteins in the sequence of SV docking, two-step priming, and fusion. It suggests a mechanism for activity-induced redistribution of synaptic efficacy.
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Wichmann C, Kuner T. Heterogeneity of glutamatergic synapses: cellular mechanisms and network consequences. Physiol Rev 2022; 102:269-318. [PMID: 34727002 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00039.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemical synapses are commonly known as a structurally and functionally highly diverse class of cell-cell contacts specialized to mediate communication between neurons. They represent the smallest "computational" unit of the brain and are typically divided into excitatory and inhibitory as well as modulatory categories. These categories are subdivided into diverse types, each representing a different structure-function repertoire that in turn are thought to endow neuronal networks with distinct computational properties. The diversity of structure and function found among a given category of synapses is referred to as heterogeneity. The main building blocks for this heterogeneity are synaptic vesicles, the active zone, the synaptic cleft, the postsynaptic density, and glial processes associated with the synapse. Each of these five structural modules entails a distinct repertoire of functions, and their combination specifies the range of functional heterogeneity at mammalian excitatory synapses, which are the focus of this review. We describe synapse heterogeneity that is manifested on different levels of complexity ranging from the cellular morphology of the pre- and postsynaptic cells toward the expression of different protein isoforms at individual release sites. We attempt to define the range of structural building blocks that are used to vary the basic functional repertoire of excitatory synaptic contacts and discuss sources and general mechanisms of synapse heterogeneity. Finally, we explore the possible impact of synapse heterogeneity on neuronal network function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolin Wichmann
- Molecular Architecture of Synapses Group, Institute for Auditory Neuroscience, InnerEarLab and Institute for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Thomas Kuner
- Department of Functional Neuroanatomy, Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Heidelberg, Germany
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Lipstein N, Chang S, Lin KH, López-Murcia FJ, Neher E, Taschenberger H, Brose N. Munc13-1 is a Ca 2+-phospholipid-dependent vesicle priming hub that shapes synaptic short-term plasticity and enables sustained neurotransmission. Neuron 2021; 109:3980-4000.e7. [PMID: 34706220 PMCID: PMC8691950 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2021.09.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
During ongoing presynaptic action potential (AP) firing, transmitter release is limited by the availability of release-ready synaptic vesicles (SVs). The rate of SV recruitment (SVR) to release sites is strongly upregulated at high AP frequencies to balance SV consumption. We show that Munc13-1-an essential SV priming protein-regulates SVR via a Ca2+-phospholipid-dependent mechanism. Using knockin mouse lines with point mutations in the Ca2+-phospholipid-binding C2B domain of Munc13-1, we demonstrate that abolishing Ca2+-phospholipid binding increases synaptic depression, slows recovery of synaptic strength after SV pool depletion, and reduces temporal fidelity of synaptic transmission, while increased Ca2+-phospholipid binding has the opposite effects. Thus, Ca2+-phospholipid binding to the Munc13-1-C2B domain accelerates SVR, reduces short-term synaptic depression, and increases the endurance and temporal fidelity of neurotransmission, demonstrating that Munc13-1 is a core vesicle priming hub that adjusts SV re-supply to demand.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noa Lipstein
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Shuwen Chang
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Kun-Han Lin
- Emeritus Laboratory of Membrane Biophysics, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany
| | | | - Erwin Neher
- Emeritus Laboratory of Membrane Biophysics, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany; Cluster of Excellence "Multiscale Bioimaging," Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Holger Taschenberger
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Nils Brose
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany; Cluster of Excellence "Multiscale Bioimaging," Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany.
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7
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Lee BJ, Yang CH, Lee SY, Lee SH, Kim Y, Ho WK. Voltage-gated calcium channels contribute to spontaneous glutamate release directly via nanodomain coupling or indirectly via calmodulin. Prog Neurobiol 2021; 208:102182. [PMID: 34695543 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2021.102182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Neurotransmitter release occurs either synchronously with action potentials (evoked release) or spontaneously (spontaneous release). Whether the molecular mechanisms underlying evoked and spontaneous release are identical, especially whether voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) can trigger spontaneous events, is still a matter of debate in glutamatergic synapses. To elucidate this issue, we characterized the VGCC dependence of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs) in various synapses with different coupling distances between VGCCs and synaptic vesicles, known as a critical factor in evoked release. We found that most of the extracellular calcium-dependent mEPSCs were attributable to VGCCs in cultured autaptic hippocampal neurons and the mature calyx of Held where VGCCs and vesicles were tightly coupled. Among loosely coupled synapses, mEPSCs were not VGCC-dependent at immature calyx of Held and CA1 pyramidal neuron synapses, whereas VGCCs contribution was significant at CA3 pyramidal neuron synapses. Interestingly, the contribution of VGCCs to spontaneous glutamate release in CA3 pyramidal neurons was abolished by a calmodulin antagonist, calmidazolium. These data suggest that coupling distance between VGCCs and vesicles determines VGCC dependence of spontaneous release at tightly coupled synapses, yet VGCC contribution can be achieved indirectly at loosely coupled synapses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Byoung Ju Lee
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Natural Science, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Physiology, Seoul National University College of Natural Science, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Che Ho Yang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Natural Science, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Physiology, Seoul National University College of Natural Science, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Brain and Cognitive Science, Seoul National University College of Natural Science, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Yeon Lee
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Natural Science, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Physiology, Seoul National University College of Natural Science, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Suk-Ho Lee
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Natural Science, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Physiology, Seoul National University College of Natural Science, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Neuroscience Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Republic of Korea; Department of Brain and Cognitive Science, Seoul National University College of Natural Science, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yujin Kim
- Department of Physiology, Seoul National University College of Natural Science, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Neuroscience Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Republic of Korea; Department of Brain and Cognitive Science, Seoul National University College of Natural Science, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Won-Kyung Ho
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Natural Science, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Physiology, Seoul National University College of Natural Science, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Neuroscience Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Republic of Korea; Department of Brain and Cognitive Science, Seoul National University College of Natural Science, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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8
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Eshra A, Schmidt H, Eilers J, Hallermann S. Calcium dependence of neurotransmitter release at a high fidelity synapse. eLife 2021; 10:70408. [PMID: 34612812 PMCID: PMC8494478 DOI: 10.7554/elife.70408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The Ca2+-dependence of the priming, fusion, and replenishment of synaptic vesicles are fundamental parameters controlling neurotransmitter release and synaptic plasticity. Despite intense efforts, these important steps in the synaptic vesicles’ cycle remain poorly understood due to the technical challenge in disentangling vesicle priming, fusion, and replenishment. Here, we investigated the Ca2+-sensitivity of these steps at mossy fiber synapses in the rodent cerebellum, which are characterized by fast vesicle replenishment mediating high-frequency signaling. We found that the basal free Ca2+ concentration (<200 nM) critically controls action potential-evoked release, indicating a high-affinity Ca2+ sensor for vesicle priming. Ca2+ uncaging experiments revealed a surprisingly shallow and non-saturating relationship between release rate and intracellular Ca2+ concentration up to 50 μM. The rate of vesicle replenishment during sustained elevated intracellular Ca2+ concentration exhibited little Ca2+-dependence. Finally, quantitative mechanistic release schemes with five Ca2+ binding steps incorporating rapid vesicle replenishment via parallel or sequential vesicle pools could explain our data. We thus show that co-existing high- and low-affinity Ca2+ sensors mediate priming, fusion, and replenishment of synaptic vesicles at a high-fidelity synapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdelmoneim Eshra
- Carl-Ludwig-Institute for Physiology, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Hartmut Schmidt
- Carl-Ludwig-Institute for Physiology, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jens Eilers
- Carl-Ludwig-Institute for Physiology, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Stefan Hallermann
- Carl-Ludwig-Institute for Physiology, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
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9
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Yang CH, Ho WK, Lee SH. Postnatal maturation of glutamate clearance and release kinetics at the rat and mouse calyx of Held synapses. Synapse 2021; 75:e22215. [PMID: 34057239 DOI: 10.1002/syn.22215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Although calyx of Held synapses undergo dramatic changes around the hearing onset, previous in vivo studies suggest that the calyx synapses undergo further post-hearing maturation process. While developmental changes over the hearing onset have been extensively studied, this post-hearing maturation process remained relatively little investigated. Because of post-hearing maturation, previous results from studies around hearing onset and studies of post-hearing calyx synapses are somewhat inconsistent. Here, we characterized the post-hearing maturation of calyx synapses with regard to in vitro electrophysiological properties in rats and mice. We found that parameters for residual glutamate in the cleft during a train, EPSC kinetics, and vesicle pool size became close to a full mature level by P14, but they further matured until P16 in the rats. Consistently, the phasic and slow EPSCs evoked by action potential trains at P16 calyx synapses were not different from those at P18 or P25 under physiological extracellular [Ca2+ ]o (1.2 mM). In contrast, the parameters for residual current and EPSC kinetics displayed drastic changes until P16 in mice, and slow EPSCs during the train further decreased between P16 and P18, suggesting that maturation of calyx synapses progresses at least up to P16 in rats and P18 in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Che Ho Yang
- Cell Physiology Lab, Department of Physiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine and Neuroscience Research Institute, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Won-Kyung Ho
- Cell Physiology Lab, Department of Physiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine and Neuroscience Research Institute, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,Department of Brain and Cognitive Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Suk-Ho Lee
- Cell Physiology Lab, Department of Physiology, Seoul National University College of Medicine and Neuroscience Research Institute, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,Department of Brain and Cognitive Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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10
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Gurma M, Yang YM, Wang LY. Developmental plasticity of NMDA receptors at the calyx of Held synapse. Neuropharmacology 2021; 196:108697. [PMID: 34242682 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2021.108697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Revised: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Excitatory synaptic transmission is largely mediated by glutamate receptors in central synapses, such as the calyx of Held synapse in the auditory brainstem. This synapse is best known for undergoing extensive morphological and functional changes throughout early development and thereby has served as a prominent model system to study presynaptic mechanisms of neurotransmitter release. However, the pivotal roles of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) in gating acute forms of activity-dependent, persistent plasticity in vitro and chronic developmental remodeling in vivo are hardly noted. This article will provide a retrospective review of key experimental evidence to conceptualize the impact of a transient abundance of NMDARs during the early postnatal stage on the functionality of fast-spiking central synapses while raising a series of outstanding questions that are of general significance for understanding the developing brain in health and diseases. This article is part of the special Issue on "Glutamate Receptors - NMDA receptors".
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Gurma
- Program in Neurosciences & Mental Health, SickKids Research Institute, 555 University Ave, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8, Canada; Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, 1 Kings Circle, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Yi-Mei Yang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota, Duluth MN, 55812, USA
| | - Lu-Yang Wang
- Program in Neurosciences & Mental Health, SickKids Research Institute, 555 University Ave, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8, Canada; Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, 1 Kings Circle, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1A8, Canada.
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11
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Young SM, Veeraraghavan P. Presynaptic voltage-gated calcium channels in the auditory brainstem. Mol Cell Neurosci 2021; 112:103609. [PMID: 33662542 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2021.103609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 02/06/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Sound information encoding within the initial synapses in the auditory brainstem requires reliable and precise synaptic transmission in response to rapid and large fluctuations in action potential (AP) firing rates. The magnitude and location of Ca2+ entry through voltage-gated Ca2+ channels (CaV) in the presynaptic terminal are key determinants in triggering AP-mediated release. In the mammalian central nervous system (CNS), the CaV2.1 subtype is the critical subtype for CNS function, since it is the most efficient CaV2 subtype in triggering AP-mediated synaptic vesicle (SV) release. Auditory brainstem synapses utilize CaV2.1 to sustain fast and repetitive SV release to encode sound information. Therefore, understanding the presynaptic mechanisms that control CaV2.1 localization, organization and biophysical properties are integral to understanding auditory processing. Here, we review our current knowledge about the control of presynaptic CaV2 abundance and organization in the auditory brainstem and impact on the regulation of auditory processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel M Young
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Department of Otolaryngology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Iowa Neuroscience Institute, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
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12
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Brill SE, Maraslioglu A, Kurz C, Kramer F, Fuhr MF, Singh A, Friauf E. Glycinergic Transmission in the Presence and Absence of Functional GlyT2: Lessons From the Auditory Brainstem. Front Synaptic Neurosci 2021; 12:560008. [PMID: 33633558 PMCID: PMC7900164 DOI: 10.3389/fnsyn.2020.560008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Synaptic transmission is controlled by re-uptake systems that reduce transmitter concentrations in the synaptic cleft and recycle the transmitter into presynaptic terminals. The re-uptake systems are thought to ensure cytosolic concentrations in the terminals that are sufficient for reloading empty synaptic vesicles (SVs). Genetic deletion of glycine transporter 2 (GlyT2) results in severely disrupted inhibitory neurotransmission and ultimately to death. Here we investigated the role of GlyT2 at inhibitory glycinergic synapses in the mammalian auditory brainstem. These synapses are tuned for resilience, reliability, and precision, even during sustained high-frequency stimulation when endocytosis and refilling of SVs probably contribute substantially to efficient replenishment of the readily releasable pool (RRP). Such robust synapses are formed between MNTB and LSO neurons (medial nucleus of the trapezoid body, lateral superior olive). By means of patch-clamp recordings, we assessed the synaptic performance in controls, in GlyT2 knockout mice (KOs), and upon acute pharmacological GlyT2 blockade. Via computational modeling, we calculated the reoccupation rate of empty release sites and RRP replenishment kinetics during 60-s challenge and 60-s recovery periods. Control MNTB-LSO inputs maintained high fidelity neurotransmission at 50 Hz for 60 s and recovered very efficiently from synaptic depression. During 'marathon-experiments' (30,600 stimuli in 20 min), RRP replenishment accumulated to 1,260-fold. In contrast, KO inputs featured severe impairments. For example, the input number was reduced to ~1 (vs. ~4 in controls), implying massive functional degeneration of the MNTB-LSO microcircuit and a role of GlyT2 during synapse maturation. Surprisingly, neurotransmission did not collapse completely in KOs as inputs still replenished their small RRP 80-fold upon 50 Hz | 60 s challenge. However, they totally failed to do so for extended periods. Upon acute pharmacological GlyT2 inactivation, synaptic performance remained robust, in stark contrast to KOs. RRP replenishment was 865-fold in marathon-experiments, only ~1/3 lower than in controls. Collectively, our empirical and modeling results demonstrate that GlyT2 re-uptake activity is not the dominant factor in the SV recycling pathway that imparts indefatigability to MNTB-LSO synapses. We postulate that additional glycine sources, possibly the antiporter Asc-1, contribute to RRP replenishment at these high-fidelity brainstem synapses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sina E Brill
- Animal Physiology Group, Department of Biology, University of Kaiserslautern, Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Ayse Maraslioglu
- Animal Physiology Group, Department of Biology, University of Kaiserslautern, Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Catharina Kurz
- Animal Physiology Group, Department of Biology, University of Kaiserslautern, Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Florian Kramer
- Animal Physiology Group, Department of Biology, University of Kaiserslautern, Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Martin F Fuhr
- Animal Physiology Group, Department of Biology, University of Kaiserslautern, Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Abhyudai Singh
- Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States
| | - Eckhard Friauf
- Animal Physiology Group, Department of Biology, University of Kaiserslautern, Kaiserslautern, Germany
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Abstract
Neurotransmitter release occurs by regulated exocytosis from synaptic vesicles (SVs). Evolutionarily conserved proteins mediate the essential aspects of this process, including the membrane fusion step and priming steps that make SVs release-competent. Unlike the proteins constituting the core fusion machinery, the SV protein Mover does not occur in all species and all synapses. Its restricted expression suggests that Mover may modulate basic aspects of transmitter release and short-term plasticity. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed synaptic transmission electrophysiologically at the mouse calyx of Held synapse in slices obtained from wild-type mice and mice lacking Mover. Spontaneous transmission was unaffected, indicating that the basic release machinery works in the absence of Mover. Evoked release and vesicular release probability were slightly reduced, and the paired pulse ratio was increased in Mover knockout mice. To explore whether Mover's role is restricted to certain subpools of SVs, we analyzed our data in terms of two models of priming. A model assuming two SV pools in parallel showed a reduced release probability of so-called "superprimed vesicles" while "normally primed" ones were unaffected. For the second model, which holds that vesicles transit sequentially from a loosely docked state to a tightly docked state before exocytosis, we found that knocking out Mover selectively decreased the release probability of tight state vesicles. These results indicate that Mover regulates a subclass of primed SVs in the mouse calyx of Held.
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14
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Subramanian S, Jonas EA. Mitochondria: powerhouses of presynaptic plasticity. J Physiol 2021; 599:1363-1364. [PMID: 33428213 DOI: 10.1113/jp281040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Shobana Subramanian
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Endocrinology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Jonas
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Endocrinology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.,Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA, USA
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15
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Yang CH, Lee KH, Ho WK, Lee SH. Inter-spike mitochondrial Ca 2+ release enhances high frequency synaptic transmission. J Physiol 2020; 599:1567-1594. [PMID: 33140422 DOI: 10.1113/jp280351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
KEY POINTS Presynaptic mitochondria not only absorb but also release Ca2+ during high frequency stimulation (HFS) when presynaptic [Ca2+ ] is kept low (<500 nm) by high cytosolic Ca2+ buffer or strong plasma membrane calcium clearance mechanisms under physiological external [Ca2+ ]. Mitochondrial Ca2+ release (MCR) does not alter the global presynaptic Ca2+ transients. MCR during HFS enhances short-term facilitation and steady state excitatory postsynaptic currents by increasing vesicular release probability. The intra-train MCR may provide residual calcium at interspike intervals, and thus support high frequency neurotransmission at central glutamatergic synapses. ABSTRACT Emerging evidence indicates that mitochondrial Ca2+ buffering contributes to local regulation of synaptic transmission. It is unknown, however, whether mitochondrial Ca2+ release (MCR) occurs during high frequency synaptic transmission. Confirming the previous notion that 2 μm tetraphenylphosphonium (TPP+ ) is a specific inhibitor of the mitochondrial Na+ /Ca2+ exchanger (mNCX), we studied the role of MCR via mNCX in short-term plasticity during high frequency stimulation (HFS) at the calyx of Held synapse of the rat. TPP+ reduced short-term facilitation (STF) and steady state excitatory postsynaptic currents during HFS at mature calyx synapses under physiological extracellular [Ca2+ ] ([Ca2+ ]o = 1.2 mm), but not at immature calyx or at 2 mm [Ca2+ ]o . The inhibitory effects of TPP+ were stronger at synapses with morphologically complex calyces harbouring many swellings and at 32°C than at simple calyx synapses and at room temperature. These effects of TPP+ on STF were well correlated with those on the presynaptic mitochondrial [Ca2+ ] build-up during HFS. Mitochondrial [Ca2+ ] during HFS was increased by TPP+ at mature calyces under 1.2 mm [Ca2+ ]o , and further enhanced at 32°C, but not under 2 mm [Ca2+ ]o or at immature calyces. The close correlation of the effects of TPP+ on mitochondrial [Ca2+ ] with those on STF suggests that mNCX contributes to STF at the calyx of Held synapses. The intra-train MCR enhanced vesicular release probability without altering global presynaptic [Ca2+ ]. Our results suggest that MCR during HFS elevates local [Ca2+ ] near synaptic sites at interspike intervals to enhance STF and to support stable synaptic transmission under physiological [Ca2+ ]o .
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Affiliation(s)
- Che Ho Yang
- Department of Physiology, Cell Physiology Lab., Seoul National University College of Medicine and Neuroscience Research Institute, Seoul National University Medical Research Centre, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyu-Hee Lee
- Department of Physiology, Cell Physiology Lab., Seoul National University College of Medicine and Neuroscience Research Institute, Seoul National University Medical Research Centre, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Won-Kyung Ho
- Department of Physiology, Cell Physiology Lab., Seoul National University College of Medicine and Neuroscience Research Institute, Seoul National University Medical Research Centre, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,Department of Brain and Cognitive Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Suk-Ho Lee
- Department of Physiology, Cell Physiology Lab., Seoul National University College of Medicine and Neuroscience Research Institute, Seoul National University Medical Research Centre, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,Department of Brain and Cognitive Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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16
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Hu H, Wang X, Li C, Li Y, Hao J, Zhou Y, Yang X, Chen P, Shen X, Zhang S. Loss of Dysbindin Implicates Synaptic Vesicle Replenishment Dysregulation as a Potential Pathogenic Mechanism in Schizophrenia. Neuroscience 2020; 452:138-152. [PMID: 33186610 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2020.10.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2020] [Revised: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The schizophrenia-susceptibility gene, dystrobrevin-binding protein 1 (DTNBP1), encodes the dysbindin protein and mediates neurotransmission and neurodevelopment in normal subjects. Functional studies show that DTNBP1 loss may cause deficient presynaptic vesicle transmission, which is related to multiple psychiatric disorders. However, the functional mechanism of dysbindin-mediated synaptic vesicle transmission has not been investigated systematically. In this study, we performed electrophysiological recordings in calyx of Held synapses. We found that excitatory postsynaptic current (EPSC) and miniature EPSC (mEPSC) amplitudes were unchanged in dysbindin-deficient synapses, but readily releasable pool (RRP) size and calcium dependent vesicle replenishment were affected during high-frequency stimulation. Moreover, dysbindin loss accompanied slightly decreases in Munc18-1 and snapin expression levels, which are associated with vesicle priming and synaptic homeostasis under high-frequency stimulation. Together, we inferred that dysbindin directly interacts with Munc18-1 and snapin to mediate calcium dependent RRP replenishment. Dysbindin loss may lead to RRP replenishment dysregulation during high-frequency stimulation, potentially causing cognitive impairment in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xuefeng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Chao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Junfeng Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Yuanli Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Xiaopeng Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Peihua Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, CAS, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen 518055, China.
| | - Xuefeng Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, CAS, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen 518055, China.
| | - Shuli Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
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17
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McCullagh EA, Rotschafer SE, Auerbach BD, Klug A, Kaczmarek LK, Cramer KS, Kulesza RJ, Razak KA, Lovelace JW, Lu Y, Koch U, Wang Y. Mechanisms underlying auditory processing deficits in Fragile X syndrome. FASEB J 2020; 34:3501-3518. [PMID: 32039504 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201902435r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Revised: 12/31/2019] [Accepted: 01/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are strongly associated with auditory hypersensitivity or hyperacusis (difficulty tolerating sounds). Fragile X syndrome (FXS), the most common monogenetic cause of ASD, has emerged as a powerful gateway for exploring underlying mechanisms of hyperacusis and auditory dysfunction in ASD. This review discusses examples of disruption of the auditory pathways in FXS at molecular, synaptic, and circuit levels in animal models as well as in FXS individuals. These examples highlight the involvement of multiple mechanisms, from aberrant synaptic development and ion channel deregulation of auditory brainstem circuits, to impaired neuronal plasticity and network hyperexcitability in the auditory cortex. Though a relatively new area of research, recent discoveries have increased interest in auditory dysfunction and mechanisms underlying hyperacusis in this disorder. This rapidly growing body of data has yielded novel research directions addressing critical questions regarding the timing and possible outcomes of human therapies for auditory dysfunction in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A McCullagh
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Colorado Anschutz, Aurora, CO, USA.,Department of Integrative Biology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA
| | - Sarah E Rotschafer
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Mercer University School of Medicine, Savannah, GA, USA
| | - Benjamin D Auerbach
- Center for Hearing and Deafness, Department of Communicative Disorders & Sciences, SUNY at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Achim Klug
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Colorado Anschutz, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Leonard K Kaczmarek
- Departments of Pharmacology and Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Karina S Cramer
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Randy J Kulesza
- Department of Anatomy, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Erie, PA, USA
| | - Khaleel A Razak
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA
| | | | - Yong Lu
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, College of Medicine, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH, USA
| | - Ursula Koch
- Institute of Biology, Neurophysiology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Yuan Wang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Program in Neuroscience, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA
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18
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Distinct Nanoscale Calcium Channel and Synaptic Vesicle Topographies Contribute to the Diversity of Synaptic Function. Neuron 2019; 104:693-710.e9. [PMID: 31558350 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2019.08.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2018] [Revised: 05/31/2019] [Accepted: 08/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The nanoscale topographical arrangement of voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCC) and synaptic vesicles (SVs) determines synaptic strength and plasticity, but whether distinct spatial distributions underpin diversity of synaptic function is unknown. We performed single bouton Ca2+ imaging, Ca2+ chelator competition, immunogold electron microscopic (EM) localization of VGCCs and the active zone (AZ) protein Munc13-1, at two cerebellar synapses. Unexpectedly, we found that weak synapses exhibited 3-fold more VGCCs than strong synapses, while the coupling distance was 5-fold longer. Reaction-diffusion modeling could explain both functional and structural data with two strikingly different nanotopographical motifs: strong synapses are composed of SVs that are tightly coupled (∼10 nm) to VGCC clusters, whereas at weak synapses VGCCs were excluded from the vicinity (∼50 nm) of docked vesicles. The distinct VGCC-SV topographical motifs also confer differential sensitivity to neuromodulation. Thus, VGCC-SV arrangements are not canonical, and their diversity could underlie functional heterogeneity across CNS synapses.
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19
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Presynaptic Mitochondria Volume and Abundance Increase during Development of a High-Fidelity Synapse. J Neurosci 2019; 39:7994-8012. [PMID: 31455662 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0363-19.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2019] [Revised: 08/19/2019] [Accepted: 08/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The calyx of Held, a large glutamatergic presynaptic terminal in the auditory brainstem undergoes developmental changes to support the high action-potential firing rates required for auditory information encoding. In addition, calyx terminals are morphologically diverse, which impacts vesicle release properties and synaptic plasticity. Mitochondria influence synaptic plasticity through calcium buffering and are crucial for providing the energy required for synaptic transmission. Therefore, it has been postulated that mitochondrial levels increase during development and contribute to the morphological-functional diversity in the mature calyx. However, the developmental profile of mitochondrial volumes and subsynaptic distribution at the calyx of Held remains unclear. To provide insight on this, we developed a helper-dependent adenoviral vector that expresses the genetically encoded peroxidase marker for mitochondria, mito-APEX2, at the mouse calyx of Held. We developed protocols to detect labeled mitochondria for use with serial block face scanning electron microscopy to carry out semiautomated segmentation of mitochondria, high-throughput whole-terminal reconstruction, and presynaptic ultrastructure in mice of either sex. Subsequently, we measured mitochondrial volumes and subsynaptic distributions at the immature postnatal day (P)7 and the mature (P21) calyx. We found an increase of mitochondria volumes in terminals and axons from P7 to P21 but did not observe differences between stalk and swelling subcompartments in the mature calyx. Based on these findings, we propose that mitochondrial volumes and synaptic localization developmentally increase to support high firing rates required in the initial stages of auditory information processing.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Elucidating the developmental processes of auditory brainstem presynaptic terminals is critical to understanding auditory information encoding. Additionally, morphological-functional diversity at these terminals is proposed to enhance coding capacity. Mitochondria provide energy for synaptic transmission and can buffer calcium, impacting synaptic plasticity; however, their developmental profile to ultimately support the energetic demands of synapses following the onset of hearing remains unknown. Therefore, we created a helper-dependent adenoviral vector with the mitochondria-targeting peroxidase mito-APEX2 and expressed it at the mouse calyx of Held. Volumetric reconstructions of serial block face electron microscopy data of immature and mature labeled calyces reveal that mitochondrial volumes are increased to support high firing rates upon maturity.
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20
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Lu Y. Subtle differences in synaptic transmission in medial nucleus of trapezoid body neurons between wild-type and Fmr1 knockout mice. Brain Res 2019; 1717:95-103. [PMID: 31004576 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2019.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2019] [Revised: 03/27/2019] [Accepted: 04/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
In animal models for fragile X syndrome where the gene for fragile X mental retardation protein is knocked out (Fmr1 KO), neurotransmission in multiple brain regions shifts excitation/inhibition balance, resulting in hyperexcitability in neural circuits. Here, using whole-cell recordings from brainstem slices, we investigated synaptic transmission at the medial nucleus of trapezoid body (MNTB, a critical nucleus in the brainstem sound localization circuit), in Fmr1 KO and wild-type (WT) mice 2-3 weeks of age in both sexes. Surprisingly, neither synaptic excitation nor inhibition in KO neurons was significantly changed. The synaptic strength, kinetics, and short-term plasticity of synaptic excitation remained largely unaltered. Subtle differences were observed in response patterns, with KO neurons displaying less all-or-none eEPSCs. Similarly, synaptic inhibition mediated by glycine and GABA remains largely unchanged, except for a slower kinetics of mixed sIPSCs. In pharmacologically isolated glycinergic and GABAergic inhibition, no significant differences in synaptic strength and kinetics were detected between the two genotypes. These results demonstrate that at the cellular level synaptic transmission at MNTB is largely unaffected in Fmr1 KO mice by 2-3 weeks after birth, suggesting the existence of compensatory mechanisms that maintain the inhibitory output of MNTB to its targets in the auditory brainstem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Lu
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, College of Medicine, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH 44272, USA.
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21
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Fekete A, Nakamura Y, Yang YM, Herlitze S, Mark MD, DiGregorio DA, Wang LY. Underpinning heterogeneity in synaptic transmission by presynaptic ensembles of distinct morphological modules. Nat Commun 2019; 10:826. [PMID: 30778063 PMCID: PMC6379440 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-08452-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2018] [Accepted: 12/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Synaptic heterogeneity is widely observed but its underpinnings remain elusive. We addressed this issue using mature calyx of Held synapses whose numbers of bouton-like swellings on stalks of the nerve terminals inversely correlate with release probability (Pr). We examined presynaptic Ca2+ currents and transients, topology of fluorescently tagged knock-in Ca2+ channels, and Ca2+ channel-synaptic vesicle (SV) coupling distance using Ca2+ chelator and inhibitor of septin cytomatrix in morphologically diverse synapses. We found that larger clusters of Ca2+ channels with tighter coupling distance to SVs elevate Pr in stalks, while smaller clusters with looser coupling distance lower Pr in swellings. Septin is a molecular determinant of the differences in coupling distance. Supported by numerical simulations, we propose that varying the ensemble of two morphological modules containing distinct Ca2+ channel-SV topographies diversifies Pr in the terminal, thereby establishing a morpho-functional continuum that expands the coding capacity within a single synapse population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Fekete
- Program in Neurosciences and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Ave, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Yukihiro Nakamura
- Department of Pharmacology, Jikei University School of Medicine, Nishishinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 1058461, Japan
| | - Yi-Mei Yang
- Program in Neurosciences and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Ave, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School, 1035 University Drive, Duluth, MN, 55812, USA
| | - Stefan Herlitze
- Department of General Zoology and Neurobiology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstrasse 150, D-44780, Bochum, Germany
| | - Melanie D Mark
- Department of General Zoology and Neurobiology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstrasse 150, D-44780, Bochum, Germany
| | - David A DiGregorio
- Unit of Dynamic Neuronal Imaging, Institut Pasteur, 25 rue du Dr Roux, 75724, Paris Cedex 15, France
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), UMR 3571, Genes, Synapses and Cognition, Institut Pasteur, 25 rue du Dr Roux, 75724, Paris Cedex 15, France
| | - Lu-Yang Wang
- Program in Neurosciences and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Ave, Toronto, ON, M5G 1X8, Canada.
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada.
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22
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Presynaptic Diversity Revealed by Ca 2+-Permeable AMPA Receptors at the Calyx of Held Synapse. J Neurosci 2019; 39:2981-2994. [PMID: 30679394 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2565-18.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2018] [Revised: 12/14/2018] [Accepted: 01/03/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
GluA2-lacking Ca2+-permeable AMPARs (CP-AMPARs) play integral roles in synaptic plasticity and can mediate excitotoxic cellular signaling at glutamatergic synapses. However, the developmental profile of functional CP-AMPARs at the auditory brainstem remains poorly understood. Through a combination of electrophysiological and live-cell Ca2+ imaging from mice of either sex, we show that the synaptic release of glutamate from the calyx of Held nerve terminal activates CP-AMPARs in the principal cells of the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body in the brainstem. This leads to significant Ca2+ influx through these receptors before the onset of hearing at postnatal day 12 (P12). Using a selective open channel blocker of CP-AMPARs, IEM-1460, we estimate that ∼80% of the AMPAR population are permeable to Ca2+ at immature P4-P5 synapses. However, after the onset of hearing, Ca2+ influx through these receptors was greatly reduced. We estimate that CP-AMPARs comprise approximately 40% and 33% of the AMPAR population at P18-P22 and P30-P34, respectively. By quantifying the rate of EPSC block by IEM-1460, we found an increased heterogeneity in glutamate release probability for adult-like calyces (P30-P34). Using tetraethylammonium (TEA), a presynaptic potassium channel blocker, we show that the apparent reduction of CP-AMPARs in more mature synapses is not a consequence of presynaptic action potential (AP) speeding. Finally, through postsynaptic AP recordings, we show that inhibition of CP-AMPARs reduces spike fidelity in juvenile synapses, but not in more mature synapses. We conclude that the expression of functional CP-AMPARs declines over early postnatal development in the calyx of Held synapse.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The calyx of Held synapse is pivotal to the circuitry that computes sound localization. Postsynaptic Ca2+ influx via AMPARs may be critical for signaling the maturation of this brainstem synapse. The GluA4 subunit may dominate the AMPAR complex at mature synapses because of its fast gating kinetics and large unitary conductance. The expectation is that AMPARs dominated by GluA4 subunits should be highly Ca2+ permeable. However, we find that Ca2+-permeable AMPAR expression declines during postnatal development. Using the rate of EPSC block by IEM-1460, an open channel blocker of Ca2+-permeable AMPARs, we propose a novel method to determine glutamate release probability and uncover an increased heterogeneity in release probability for more mature calyces of Held nerve terminals.
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23
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Lauer AM, Dent ML, Sun W, Xu-Friedman MA. Effects of Non-traumatic Noise and Conductive Hearing Loss on Auditory System Function. Neuroscience 2019; 407:182-191. [PMID: 30685543 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2019.01.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2018] [Revised: 01/11/2019] [Accepted: 01/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
The effects of traumatic noise-exposure and deafening on auditory system function have received a great deal of attention. However, lower levels of noise as well as temporary conductive hearing loss also have consequences on auditory physiology and hearing. Here we review how abnormal acoustic experience at early ages affects the ascending and descending auditory pathways, as well as hearing behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda M Lauer
- Dept of Otolaryngology-HNS, Center for Hearing and Balance, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, United States
| | - Micheal L Dent
- Dept. Psychology, University at Buffalo, SUNY, United States
| | - Wei Sun
- Dept. Communicative Disorders and Sciences, University at Buffalo, SUNY, United States
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24
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Scarnati MS, Kataria R, Biswas M, Paradiso KG. Active presynaptic ribosomes in the mammalian brain, and altered transmitter release after protein synthesis inhibition. eLife 2018; 7:e36697. [PMID: 30375975 PMCID: PMC6231766 DOI: 10.7554/elife.36697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2018] [Accepted: 10/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Presynaptic neuronal activity requires the localization of thousands of proteins that are typically synthesized in the soma and transported to nerve terminals. Local translation for some dendritic proteins occurs, but local translation in mammalian presynaptic nerve terminals is difficult to demonstrate. Here, we show an essential ribosomal component, 5.8S rRNA, at a glutamatergic nerve terminal in the mammalian brain. We also show active translation in nerve terminals, in situ, in brain slices demonstrating ongoing presynaptic protein synthesis in the mammalian brain. Shortly after inhibiting translation, the presynaptic terminal exhibits increased spontaneous release, an increased paired pulse ratio, an increased vesicle replenishment rate during stimulation trains, and a reduced initial probability of release. The rise and decay rates of postsynaptic responses were not affected. We conclude that ongoing protein synthesis can limit excessive vesicle release which reduces the vesicle replenishment rate, thus conserving the energy required for maintaining synaptic transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew S Scarnati
- Department of Cell Biology and NeuroscienceRutgers UniversityPiscatawayUnited States
| | - Rahul Kataria
- Department of Cell Biology and NeuroscienceRutgers UniversityPiscatawayUnited States
| | - Mohana Biswas
- Department of Cell Biology and NeuroscienceRutgers UniversityPiscatawayUnited States
| | - Kenneth G Paradiso
- Department of Cell Biology and NeuroscienceRutgers UniversityPiscatawayUnited States
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25
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Schlüter T, Berger C, Rosengauer E, Fieth P, Krohs C, Ushakov K, Steel KP, Avraham KB, Hartmann AK, Felmy F, Nothwang HG. miR-96 is required for normal development of the auditory hindbrain. Hum Mol Genet 2018; 27:860-874. [DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddy007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2017] [Accepted: 12/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Tina Schlüter
- Neurogenetics Group, Center of Excellence Hearing4All, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, 26111 Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Christina Berger
- Division of Neurobiology, Department Biology II, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Elena Rosengauer
- Neurogenetics Group, Center of Excellence Hearing4All, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, 26111 Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Pascal Fieth
- Computational Theoretical Physics Group, Institute of Physics, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, 26111 Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Constanze Krohs
- Neurogenetics Group, Center of Excellence Hearing4All, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, 26111 Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Kathy Ushakov
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler Faculty of Medicine and Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Karen P Steel
- Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, King's College London, Guy's Campus, London SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Karen B Avraham
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler Faculty of Medicine and Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Alexander K Hartmann
- Computational Theoretical Physics Group, Institute of Physics, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, 26111 Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Felix Felmy
- Division of Neurobiology, Department Biology II, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
- Institute of Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, 30559 Hannover, Germany
| | - Hans Gerd Nothwang
- Neurogenetics Group, Center of Excellence Hearing4All, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, 26111 Oldenburg, Germany
- Research Center for Neurosensory Science, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, 26111 Oldenburg, Germany
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26
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Wang T, van Woerden GM, Elgersma Y, Borst JGG. Enhanced Transmission at the Calyx of Held Synapse in a Mouse Model for Angelman Syndrome. Front Cell Neurosci 2018; 11:418. [PMID: 29354033 PMCID: PMC5758499 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2017.00418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2017] [Accepted: 12/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The neurodevelopmental disorder Angelman syndrome (AS) is characterized by intellectual disability, motor dysfunction, distinct behavioral aspects, and epilepsy. AS is caused by a loss of the maternally expressed UBE3A gene, and many of the symptoms are recapitulated in a Ube3a mouse model of this syndrome. At the cellular level, changes in the axon initial segment (AIS) have been reported, and changes in vesicle cycling have indicated the presence of presynaptic deficits. Here we studied the role of UBE3A in the auditory system by recording synaptic transmission at the calyx of Held synapse in the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB) through in vivo whole cell and juxtacellular recordings. We show that MNTB principal neurons in Ube3a mice exhibit a hyperpolarized resting membrane potential, an increased action potential (AP) amplitude and a decreased AP half width. Moreover, both the pre- and postsynaptic AP in the calyx of Held synapse of Ube3a mice showed significantly faster recovery from spike depression. An increase in AIS length was observed in the principal MNTB neurons of Ube3a mice, providing a possible substrate for these gain-of-function changes. Apart from the effect on APs, we also observed that EPSPs showed decreased short-term synaptic depression (STD) during long sound stimulations in AS mice, and faster recovery from STD following these tones, which is suggestive of a presynaptic gain-of-function. Our findings thus provide in vivo evidence that UBE3A plays a critical role in controlling synaptic transmission and excitability at excitatory synapses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiantian Wang
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Geeske M van Woerden
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands.,ENCORE Expertise Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Ype Elgersma
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands.,ENCORE Expertise Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - J Gerard G Borst
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
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Changes in Properties of Auditory Nerve Synapses following Conductive Hearing Loss. J Neurosci 2017; 37:323-332. [PMID: 28077712 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0523-16.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2016] [Revised: 11/10/2016] [Accepted: 11/19/2016] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Auditory activity plays an important role in the development of the auditory system. Decreased activity can result from conductive hearing loss (CHL) associated with otitis media, which may lead to long-term perceptual deficits. The effects of CHL have been mainly studied at later stages of the auditory pathway, but early stages remain less examined. However, changes in early stages could be important because they would affect how information about sounds is conveyed to higher-order areas for further processing and localization. We examined the effects of CHL at auditory nerve synapses onto bushy cells in the mouse anteroventral cochlear nucleus following occlusion of the ear canal. These synapses, called endbulbs of Held, normally show strong depression in voltage-clamp recordings in brain slices. After 1 week of CHL, endbulbs showed even greater depression, reflecting higher release probability. We observed no differences in quantal size between control and occluded mice. We confirmed these observations using mean-variance analysis and the integration method, which also revealed that the number of release sites decreased after occlusion. Consistent with this, synaptic puncta immunopositive for VGLUT1 decreased in area after occlusion. The level of depression and number of release sites both showed recovery after returning to normal conditions. Finally, bushy cells fired fewer action potentials in response to evoked synaptic activity after occlusion, likely because of increased depression and decreased input resistance. These effects appear to reflect a homeostatic, adaptive response of auditory nerve synapses to reduced activity. These effects may have important implications for perceptual changes following CHL. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Normal hearing is important to everyday life, but abnormal auditory experience during development can lead to processing disorders. For example, otitis media reduces sound to the ear, which can cause long-lasting deficits in language skills and verbal production, but the location of the problem is unknown. Here, we show that occluding the ear causes synapses at the very first stage of the auditory pathway to modify their properties, by decreasing in size and increasing the likelihood of releasing neurotransmitter. This causes synapses to deplete faster, which reduces fidelity at central targets of the auditory nerve, which could affect perception. Temporary hearing loss could cause similar changes at later stages of the auditory pathway, which could contribute to disorders in behavior.
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Bilirubin augments Ca 2+ load of developing bushy neurons by targeting specific subtype of voltage-gated calcium channels. Sci Rep 2017; 7:431. [PMID: 28348377 PMCID: PMC5427978 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-00275-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2016] [Accepted: 02/15/2017] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Neonatal brain is particularly vulnerable to pathological levels of bilirubin which elevates and overloads intracellular Ca2+, leading to neurotoxicity. However, how voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) are functionally involved in excess calcium influx remains unknown. By performing voltage-clamp recordings from bushy cells in the ventral cochlear nucleus (VCN) in postnatal rat pups (P4-17), we found the total calcium current density was more than doubled over P4-17, but the relative weight of VGCC subtypes changed dramatically, being relatively equal among T, L, N, P/Q and R-type at P4-6 to predominantly L, N, R over T and P/Q at P15-17. Surprisingly, acute administration of bilirubin augmented the VGCC currents specifically mediated by high voltage-activated (HVA) P/Q-type calcium currents. This augment was attenuated by intracellular loading of Ca2+ buffer EGTA or calmodulin inhibitory peptide. Our findings indicate that acute exposure to bilirubin increases VGCC currents, primarily by targeting P/Q-type calcium channels via Ca2+ and calmodulin dependent mechanisms to overwhelm neurons with excessive Ca2+. Since P/Q-subtype calcium channels are more prominent in neonatal neurons (e.g. P4-6) than later stages, we suggest this subtype-specific enhancement of P/Q-type Ca2+ currents likely contributes to the early neuronal vulnerability to hyperbilirubinemia in auditory and other brain regions.
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Krächan EG, Fischer AU, Franke J, Friauf E. Synaptic reliability and temporal precision are achieved via high quantal content and effective replenishment: auditory brainstem versus hippocampus. J Physiol 2017; 595:839-864. [PMID: 27673320 PMCID: PMC5285727 DOI: 10.1113/jp272799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2016] [Accepted: 09/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
KEY POINTS Auditory brainstem neurons involved in sound source localization are equipped with several morphological and molecular features that enable them to compute interaural level and time differences. As sound source localization works continually, synaptic transmission between these neurons should be reliable and temporally precise, even during sustained periods of high-frequency activity. Using patch-clamp recordings in acute brain slices, we compared synaptic reliability and temporal precision in the seconds-minute range between auditory and two types of hippocampal synapses; the latter are less confronted with temporally precise high-frequency transmission than the auditory ones. We found striking differences in synaptic properties (e.g. continually high quantal content) that allow auditory synapses to reliably release vesicles at much higher rate than their hippocampal counterparts. Thus, they are indefatigable and also in a position to transfer information with exquisite temporal precision and their performance appears to be supported by very efficient replenishment mechanisms. ABSTRACT At early stations of the auditory pathway, information is encoded by precise signal timing and rate. Auditory synapses must maintain the relative timing of events with submillisecond precision even during sustained and high-frequency stimulation. In non-auditory brain regions, e.g. telencephalic ones, synapses are activated at considerably lower frequencies. Central to understanding the heterogeneity of synaptic systems is the elucidation of the physical, chemical and biological factors that determine synapse performance. In this study, we used slice recordings from three synapse types in the mouse auditory brainstem and hippocampus. Whereas the auditory brainstem nuclei experience high-frequency activity in vivo, the hippocampal circuits are activated at much lower frequencies. We challenged the synapses with sustained high-frequency stimulation (up to 200 Hz for 60 s) and found significant performance differences. Our results show that auditory brainstem synapses differ considerably from their hippocampal counterparts in several aspects, namely resistance to synaptic fatigue, low failure rate and exquisite temporal precision. Their high-fidelity performance supports the functional demands and appears to be due to the large size of the readily releasable pool and a high release probability, which together result in a high quantal content. In conjunction with very efficient vesicle replenishment mechanisms, these properties provide extremely rapid and temporally precise signalling required for neuronal communication at early stations of the auditory system, even during sustained activation in the minute range.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa G Krächan
- Animal Physiology Group, Department of BiologyUniversity of KaiserslauternD‐67663KaiserslauternGermany
| | - Alexander U Fischer
- Animal Physiology Group, Department of BiologyUniversity of KaiserslauternD‐67663KaiserslauternGermany
| | - Jürgen Franke
- Chair for Applied Mathematical Statistics, Department of MathematicsUniversity of KaiserslauternD‐67663KaiserslauternGermany
| | - Eckhard Friauf
- Animal Physiology Group, Department of BiologyUniversity of KaiserslauternD‐67663KaiserslauternGermany
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30
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Superpriming of synaptic vesicles as a common basis for intersynapse variability and modulation of synaptic strength. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:E4548-57. [PMID: 27432975 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1606383113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Glutamatergic synapses show large variations in strength and short-term plasticity (STP). We show here that synapses displaying an increased strength either after posttetanic potentiation (PTP) or through activation of the phospholipase-C-diacylglycerol pathway share characteristic properties with intrinsically strong synapses, such as (i) pronounced short-term depression (STD) during high-frequency stimulation; (ii) a conversion of that STD into a sequence of facilitation followed by STD after a few conditioning stimuli at low frequency; (iii) an equalizing effect of such conditioning stimulation, which reduces differences among synapses and abolishes potentiation; and (iv) a requirement of long periods of rest for reconstitution of the original STP pattern. These phenomena are quantitatively described by assuming that a small fraction of "superprimed" synaptic vesicles are in a state of elevated release probability (p ∼ 0.5). This fraction is variable in size among synapses (typically about 30%), but increases after application of phorbol ester or during PTP. The majority of vesicles, released during repetitive stimulation, have low release probability (p ∼ 0.1), are relatively uniform in number across synapses, and are rapidly recruited. In contrast, superprimed vesicles need several seconds to be regenerated. They mediate enhanced synaptic strength at the onset of burst-like activity, the impact of which is subject to modulation by slow modulatory transmitter systems.
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31
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Mahfooz K, Singh M, Renden R, Wesseling JF. A Well-Defined Readily Releasable Pool with Fixed Capacity for Storing Vesicles at Calyx of Held. PLoS Comput Biol 2016; 12:e1004855. [PMID: 27035349 PMCID: PMC4818018 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1004855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2015] [Accepted: 03/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The readily releasable pool (RRP) of vesicles is a core concept in studies of presynaptic function. However, operating principles lack consensus definition and the utility for quantitative analysis has been questioned. Here we confirm that RRPs at calyces of Held from 14 to 21 day old mice have a fixed capacity for storing vesicles that is not modulated by Ca2+. Discrepancies with previous studies are explained by a dynamic flow-through pool, established during heavy use, containing vesicles that are released with low probability despite being immediately releasable. Quantitative analysis ruled out a posteriori explanations for the vesicles with low release probability, such as Ca2+-channel inactivation, and established unexpected boundary conditions for remaining alternatives. Vesicles in the flow-through pool could be incompletely primed, in which case the full sequence of priming steps downstream of recruitment to the RRP would have an average unitary rate of at least 9/s during heavy use. Alternatively, vesicles with low and high release probability could be recruited to distinct types of release sites; in this case the timing of recruitment would be similar at the two types, and the downstream transition from recruited to fully primed would be much faster. In either case, further analysis showed that activity accelerates the upstream step where vesicles are initially recruited to the RRP. Overall, our results show that the RRP can be well defined in the mathematical sense, and support the concept that the defining mechanism is a stable group of autonomous release sites. Short-term plasticity has a dramatic impact on the connection strength of almost every type of synapse during normal use. Some synapses enhance, some depress, and many enhance or depress depending on the recent history of use. A better understanding is needed for modeling information processing in biological circuits and for studying the molecular biology of neurotransmission. Here we show that first principles at the calyx of Held, such as whether or not a readily-releasable pool of vesicles in the presynaptic terminal has a fixed capacity for storing vesicles, are unexpectedly similar to synapse types that are used at much lower frequencies. Our study establishes new methods for studying the function of presynaptic molecules, and the results suggest that a tractable general model of short-term plasticity can capture the full computational power of dynamic synaptic modulation across a large range of synapse types and situations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kashif Mahfooz
- Department Neurociencias (CIMA), Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Mahendra Singh
- Department of Physiology & Cell Biology, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Reno, Nevada, United States of America
| | - Robert Renden
- Department of Physiology & Cell Biology, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Reno, Nevada, United States of America
| | - John F. Wesseling
- Department Neurociencias (CIMA), Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- * E-mail:
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32
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Abstract
To sustain ongoing synaptic transmission, new transmitter-filled vesicles must be recruited to empty release sites rapidly. However, in this issue of Neuron, Midorikawa and Sakaba (2015) show that, before being released, vesicles are tethered at the membrane for seconds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Hallermann
- Carl-Ludwig-Institute for Physiology, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Liebigstrasse 27, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
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33
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Ford MC, Alexandrova O, Cossell L, Stange-Marten A, Sinclair J, Kopp-Scheinpflug C, Pecka M, Attwell D, Grothe B. Tuning of Ranvier node and internode properties in myelinated axons to adjust action potential timing. Nat Commun 2015; 6:8073. [PMID: 26305015 PMCID: PMC4560803 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms9073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 173] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2014] [Accepted: 07/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Action potential timing is fundamental to information processing; however, its determinants are not fully understood. Here we report unexpected structural specializations in the Ranvier nodes and internodes of auditory brainstem axons involved in sound localization. Myelination properties deviated significantly from the traditionally assumed structure. Axons responding best to low-frequency sounds had a larger diameter than high-frequency axons but, surprisingly, shorter internodes. Simulations predicted that this geometry helps to adjust the conduction velocity and timing of action potentials within the circuit. Electrophysiological recordings in vitro and in vivo confirmed higher conduction velocities in low-frequency axons. Moreover, internode length decreased and Ranvier node diameter increased progressively along the distal axon segments, which simulations show was essential to ensure precisely timed depolarization of the giant calyx of Held presynaptic terminal. Thus, individual anatomical parameters of myelinated axons can be tuned to optimize pathways involved in temporal processing. Action potential timing is fundamental to information processing, but its determinants are not fully understood. Here the authors demonstrate unexpected structural specializations of myelinated axons in the auditory brainstem that help to adjust action potential arrival time for sound localization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc C Ford
- Division of Neurobiology, Department Biology II, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Munich D-82152, Germany.,Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Olga Alexandrova
- Division of Neurobiology, Department Biology II, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Munich D-82152, Germany
| | - Lee Cossell
- Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Annette Stange-Marten
- Division of Neurobiology, Department Biology II, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Munich D-82152, Germany
| | - James Sinclair
- Division of Neurobiology, Department Biology II, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Munich D-82152, Germany
| | - Conny Kopp-Scheinpflug
- Division of Neurobiology, Department Biology II, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Munich D-82152, Germany
| | - Michael Pecka
- Division of Neurobiology, Department Biology II, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Munich D-82152, Germany
| | - David Attwell
- Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Benedikt Grothe
- Division of Neurobiology, Department Biology II, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Munich D-82152, Germany
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Skipped-stimulus approach reveals that short-term plasticity dominates synaptic strength during ongoing activity. J Neurosci 2015; 35:8297-307. [PMID: 26019343 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.4299-14.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
All synapses show activity-dependent changes in strength, which affect the fidelity of postsynaptic spiking. This is particularly important at auditory nerve synapses, where the presence and timing of spikes carry information about a sound's structure, which must be passed along for proper processing. However, it is not clear how synaptic plasticity influences spiking during ongoing activity. Under these conditions, conventional analyses erroneously suggest that synaptic plasticity has no influence on EPSC amplitude or spiking. Therefore, we developed new approaches to study how ongoing activity influences synaptic strength, using voltage- and current-clamp recordings from bushy cells in brain slices from mouse anteroventral cochlear nucleus. We applied identical trains of stimuli, except for one skipped stimulus, and found that EPSC amplitude was affected for 60 ms following a skipped stimulus. We further showed that the initial probability of release, calcium-dependent mechanisms of recovery, and desensitization all play a role even during ongoing activity. Current-clamp experiments indicated that these processes had a significant effect on postsynaptic spiking, as did the refractory period to a smaller extent. Thus short-term plasticity has real, important functional consequences.
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35
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Wichmann C. Molecularly and structurally distinct synapses mediate reliable encoding and processing of auditory information. Hear Res 2015; 330:178-90. [PMID: 26188105 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2015.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2015] [Revised: 06/21/2015] [Accepted: 07/10/2015] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Hearing impairment is the most common human sensory deficit. Considering the sophisticated anatomy and physiology of the auditory system, disease-related failures frequently occur. To meet the demands of the neuronal circuits responsible for processing auditory information, the synapses of the lower auditory pathway are anatomically and functionally specialized to process acoustic information indefatigably with utmost temporal precision. Despite sharing some functional properties, the afferent synapses of the cochlea and of auditory brainstem differ greatly in their morphology and employ distinct molecular mechanisms for regulating synaptic vesicle release. Calyceal synapses of the endbulb of Held and the calyx of Held profit from a large number of release sites that project onto one principal cell. Cochlear inner hair cell ribbon synapses exhibit a unique one-to-one relation of the presynaptic active zone to the postsynaptic cell and use hair-cell-specific proteins such as otoferlin for vesicle release. The understanding of the molecular physiology of the hair cell ribbon synapse has been advanced by human genetics studies of sensorineural hearing impairment, revealing human auditory synaptopathy as a new nosological entity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolin Wichmann
- Molecular Architecture of Synapses Group, Institute for Auditory Neuroscience & InnerEarLab, University Medical Center, Göttingen, Germany.
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36
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Wang T, de Kok L, Willemsen R, Elgersma Y, Borst JGG. In vivo synaptic transmission and morphology in mouse models of Tuberous sclerosis, Fragile X syndrome, Neurofibromatosis type 1, and Costello syndrome. Front Cell Neurosci 2015; 9:234. [PMID: 26190969 PMCID: PMC4490249 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2015.00234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2015] [Accepted: 06/08/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Defects in the rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (Ras)/extracellular-signal-regulated kinase and the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathways are responsible for several neurodevelopmental disorders. These disorders are an important cause for intellectual disability; additional manifestations include autism spectrum disorder, seizures, and brain malformations. Changes in synaptic function are thought to underlie the neurological conditions associated with these syndromes. We therefore studied morphology and in vivo synaptic transmission of the calyx of Held synapse, a relay synapse in the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB) of the auditory brainstem, in mouse models of tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), Fragile X syndrome (FXS), Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), and Costello syndrome. Calyces from both Tsc1+/- and from Fmr1 knock-out (KO) mice showed increased volume and surface area compared to wild-type (WT) controls. In addition, in Fmr1 KO animals a larger fraction of calyces showed complex morphology. In MNTB principal neurons of Nf1+/- mice the average delay between EPSPs and APs was slightly smaller compared to WT controls, which could indicate an increased excitability. Otherwise, no obvious changes in synaptic transmission, or short-term plasticity were observed during juxtacellular recordings in any of the four lines. Our results in these four mutants thus indicate that abnormalities of mTOR or Ras signaling do not necessarily result in changes in in vivo synaptic transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiantian Wang
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Laura de Kok
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Rob Willemsen
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Ype Elgersma
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam Rotterdam, Netherlands ; ENCORE Expertise Center for Neurodevelopmental disorders, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - J Gerard G Borst
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam Rotterdam, Netherlands
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37
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Synaptic plasticity in the auditory system: a review. Cell Tissue Res 2015; 361:177-213. [PMID: 25896885 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-015-2176-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2015] [Accepted: 03/18/2015] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Synaptic transmission via chemical synapses is dynamic, i.e., the strength of postsynaptic responses may change considerably in response to repeated synaptic activation. Synaptic strength is increased during facilitation, augmentation and potentiation, whereas a decrease in synaptic strength is characteristic for depression and attenuation. This review attempts to discuss the literature on short-term and long-term synaptic plasticity in the auditory brainstem of mammals and birds. One hallmark of the auditory system, particularly the inner ear and lower brainstem stations, is information transfer through neurons that fire action potentials at very high frequency, thereby activating synapses >500 times per second. Some auditory synapses display morphological specializations of the presynaptic terminals, e.g., calyceal extensions, whereas other auditory synapses do not. The review focuses on short-term depression and short-term facilitation, i.e., plastic changes with durations in the millisecond range. Other types of short-term synaptic plasticity, e.g., posttetanic potentiation and depolarization-induced suppression of excitation, will be discussed much more briefly. The same holds true for subtypes of long-term plasticity, like prolonged depolarizations and spike-time-dependent plasticity. We also address forms of plasticity in the auditory brainstem that do not comprise synaptic plasticity in a strict sense, namely short-term suppression, paired tone facilitation, short-term adaptation, synaptic adaptation and neural adaptation. Finally, we perform a meta-analysis of 61 studies in which short-term depression (STD) in the auditory system is opposed to short-term depression at non-auditory synapses in order to compare high-frequency neurons with those that fire action potentials at a lower rate. This meta-analysis reveals considerably less STD in most auditory synapses than in non-auditory ones, enabling reliable, failure-free synaptic transmission even at frequencies >100 Hz. Surprisingly, the calyx of Held, arguably the best-investigated synapse in the central nervous system, depresses most robustly. It will be exciting to reveal the molecular mechanisms that set high-fidelity synapses apart from other synapses that function much less reliably.
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38
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Mayer F, Albrecht O, Dondzillo A, Klug A. Glycinergic inhibition to the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body shows prominent facilitation and can sustain high levels of ongoing activity. J Neurophysiol 2014; 112:2901-15. [PMID: 25185813 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00864.2013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurons in the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB) are well known for their prominent excitatory inputs, mediated by the calyx of Held. Less attention has been paid to the prominent inhibitory inputs that MNTB neurons also receive. Because of their auditory nature, both excitatory and inhibitory synapses are highly active in vivo. These high levels of activity are known to reduce excitatory synaptic currents considerably, such that in vivo synaptic currents produced by the calyx are smaller than typically measured in standard brain slice experiments. The goal of this study was to investigate the properties of the inhibitory inputs in the Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) under activity levels that correspond to those in the intact brain to facilitate a direct comparison between the two inputs. Our results suggest that inhibitory inputs to MNTB are largely mediated by a fast and phasic glycinergic component, and to a lesser degree by a GABAergic component. The glycinergic component can sustain prolonged high levels of activity. Even when challenged with stimulus patterns consisting of thousands of stimuli over tens of minutes, glycinergic inputs to MNTB maintain large conductances and fast decays and even facilitate substantially when the stimulation frequency is increased. The inhibition is mediated by a relatively small number of independent input fibers. The data presented here suggest that inhibitory inputs to MNTB sustain high levels of activity and need to be considered for a full understanding of mechanisms underlying processing of auditory information in MNTB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Mayer
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Otto Albrecht
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Anna Dondzillo
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Achim Klug
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado
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39
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Yang YM, Wang W, Fedchyshyn MJ, Zhou Z, Ding J, Wang LY. Enhancing the fidelity of neurotransmission by activity-dependent facilitation of presynaptic potassium currents. Nat Commun 2014; 5:4564. [PMID: 25078759 PMCID: PMC4503407 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms5564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2014] [Accepted: 07/01/2014] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurons convey information in bursts of spikes across chemical synapses where the fidelity of information transfer critically depends on synaptic input-output relationship. With a limited number of synaptic vesicles (SVs) in the readily-releasable pool (RRP), how nerve terminals sustain transmitter release during intense activity remains poorly understood. Here we report that presynaptic K+ currents evoked by spikes facilitate in a Ca2+-independent but frequency- and voltage-dependent manner. Experimental evidence and computer simulations demonstrate this facilitation originates from dynamic transition of intermediate gating states of voltage-gated K+ channels (Kvs), and specifically attenuates spike amplitude and inter-spike potential during high-frequency firing. Single or paired recordings from a mammalian central synapse further reveal that facilitation of Kvs constrains presynaptic Ca2+ influx, thereby efficiently allocating SVs in the RRP to drive postsynaptic spiking at high rates. We conclude that presynaptic Kv facilitation imparts neurons with a powerful control of transmitter release to dynamically support high-fidelity neurotransmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Mei Yang
- 1] Program in Neurosciences and Mental Health, SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 1X8 [2] Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 1A8 [3]
| | - Wei Wang
- 1] Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China [2] Department of Medical Engineering, the 180th Hospital of PLA, Quanzhou 362000, China [3]
| | - Michael J Fedchyshyn
- 1] Program in Neurosciences and Mental Health, SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 1X8 [2] Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 1A8
| | - Zhuan Zhou
- Institute of Molecular Medicine &PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Jiuping Ding
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Lu-Yang Wang
- 1] Program in Neurosciences and Mental Health, SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 1X8 [2] Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 1A8
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Synaptic gain-of-function effects of mutant Cav2.1 channels in a mouse model of familial hemiplegic migraine are due to increased basal [Ca2+]i. J Neurosci 2014; 34:7047-58. [PMID: 24849341 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2526-13.2014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Specific missense mutations in the CACNA1A gene, which encodes a subunit of voltage-gated CaV2.1 channels, are associated with familial hemiplegic migraine type 1 (FHM1), a rare monogenic subtype of common migraine with aura. We used transgenic knock-in (KI) mice harboring the human pathogenic FHM1 mutation S218L to study presynaptic Ca(2+) currents, EPSCs, and in vivo activity at the calyx of Held synapse. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings of presynaptic terminals from S218L KI mice showed a strong shift of the calcium current I-V curve to more negative potentials, leading to an increase in basal [Ca(2+)]i, increased levels of spontaneous transmitter release, faster recovery from synaptic depression, and enhanced synaptic strength despite smaller action-potential-elicited Ca(2+) currents. The gain-of-function of transmitter release of the S218L mutant was reproduced in vivo, including evidence for an increased release probability, demonstrating its relevance for glutamatergic transmission. This synaptic phenotype may explain the misbalance between excitation and inhibition in neuronal circuits resulting in a persistent hyperexcitability state and other migraine-relevant mechanisms such as an increased susceptibility to cortical spreading depression.
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Calcium-dependent PKC isoforms have specialized roles in short-term synaptic plasticity. Neuron 2014; 82:859-71. [PMID: 24794094 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2014.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/26/2014] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Posttetanic potentiation (PTP) is a widely observed form of short-term plasticity lasting for tens of seconds after high-frequency stimulation. Here we show that although protein kinase C (PKC) mediates PTP at the calyx of Held synapse in the auditory brainstem before and after hearing onset, PTP is produced primarily by an increased probability of release (p) before hearing onset, and by an increased readily releasable pool of vesicles (RRP) thereafter. We find that these mechanistic differences, which have distinct functional consequences, reflect unexpected differential actions of closely related calcium-dependent PKC isoforms. Prior to hearing onset, when PKCγ and PKCβ are both present, PKCγ mediates PTP by increasing p and partially suppressing PKCβ actions. After hearing onset, PKCγ is absent and PKCβ produces PTP by increasing RRP. In hearing animals, virally expressed PKCγ overrides PKCβ to produce PTP by increasing p. Thus, two similar PKC isoforms mediate PTP in distinctly different ways.
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Grande G, Negandhi J, Harrison RV, Wang LY. Remodelling at the calyx of Held-MNTB synapse in mice developing with unilateral conductive hearing loss. J Physiol 2014; 592:1581-600. [PMID: 24469075 DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.2013.268839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Structure and function of central synapses are profoundly influenced by experience during developmental sensitive periods. Sensory synapses, which are the indispensable interface for the developing brain to interact with its environment, are particularly plastic. In the auditory system, moderate forms of unilateral hearing loss during development are prevalent but the pre- and postsynaptic modifications that occur when hearing symmetry is perturbed are not well understood. We investigated this issue by performing experiments at the large calyx of Held synapse. Principal neurons of the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB) are innervated by calyx of Held terminals that originate from the axons of globular bushy cells located in the contralateral ventral cochlear nucleus. We compared populations of synapses in the same animal that were either sound deprived (SD) or sound experienced (SE) after unilateral conductive hearing loss (CHL). Middle ear ossicles were removed 1 week prior to hearing onset (approx. postnatal day (P) 12) and morphological and electrophysiological approaches were applied to auditory brainstem slices taken from these mice at P17-19. Calyces in the SD and SE MNTB acquired their mature digitated morphology but these were structurally more complex than those in normal hearing mice. This was accompanied by bilateral decreases in initial EPSC amplitude and synaptic conductance despite the CHL being unilateral. During high-frequency stimulation, some SD synapses displayed short-term depression whereas others displayed short-term facilitation followed by slow depression similar to the heterogeneities observed in normal hearing mice. However SE synapses predominantly displayed short-term facilitation followed by slow depression which could be explained in part by the decrease in release probability. Furthermore, the excitability of principal cells in the SD MNTB had increased significantly. Despite these unilateral changes in short-term plasticity and excitability, heterogeneities in the spiking fidelity among the population of both SD and SE synapses showed similar continuums to those in normal hearing mice. Our study suggests that preservations in the heterogeneity in spiking fidelity via synaptic remodelling ensures symmetric functional stability which is probably important for retaining the capability to maximally code sound localization cues despite moderate asymmetries in hearing experience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanbattista Grande
- Corresponding Author L.-Y. Wang, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Ave, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 1X8.
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Vasileva M, Renden R, Horstmann H, Gitler D, Kuner T. Overexpression of synapsin Ia in the rat calyx of Held accelerates short-term plasticity and decreases synaptic vesicle volume and active zone area. Front Cell Neurosci 2013; 7:270. [PMID: 24391547 PMCID: PMC3868894 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2013.00270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2013] [Accepted: 12/04/2013] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Synapsins are synaptic vesicle (SV) proteins organizing a component of the reserve pool of vesicles at most central nervous system synapses. Alternative splicing of the three mammalian genes results in multiple isoforms that may differentially contribute to the organization and maintenance of the SV pools. To address this, we first characterized the expression pattern of synapsin isoforms in the rat calyx of Held. At postnatal day 16, synapsins Ia, Ib, IIb and IIIa were present, while IIa-known to sustain repetitive transmission in glutamatergic terminals-was not detectable. To test if the synapsin I isoforms could mediate IIa-like effect, and if this depends on the presence of the E-domain, we overexpressed either synapsin Ia or synapsin Ib in the rat calyx of Held via recombinant adeno-associated virus-mediated gene transfer. Although the size and overall structure of the perturbed calyces remained unchanged, short-term depression and recovery from depression were accelerated upon overexpression of synapsin I isoforms. Using electron microscopic three-dimensional reconstructions we found a redistribution of SV clusters proximal to the active zones (AZ) alongside with a decrease of both AZ area and SV volume. The number of SVs at individual AZs was strongly reduced. Hence, our data indicate that the amount of synapsin Ia expressed in the calyx regulates the rate and extent of short-term synaptic plasticity by affecting vesicle recruitment to the AZ. Finally, our study reveals a novel contribution of synapsin Ia to define the surface area of AZs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariya Vasileva
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Heidelberg University Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Robert Renden
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Heidelberg University Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Heinz Horstmann
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Heidelberg University Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Daniel Gitler
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences and Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Thomas Kuner
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Heidelberg University Heidelberg, Germany
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Wang T, Rusu SI, Hruskova B, Turecek R, Borst JGG. Modulation of synaptic depression of the calyx of Held synapse by GABA(B) receptors and spontaneous activity. J Physiol 2013; 591:4877-94. [PMID: 23940376 DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.2013.256875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The calyx of Held synapse of the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body is a giant axosomatic synapse in the auditory brainstem, which acts as a relay synapse showing little dependence of its synaptic strength on firing frequency. The main mechanism that is responsible for its resistance to synaptic depression is its large number of release sites with low release probability. Here, we investigated the contribution of presynaptic GABA(B) receptors and spontaneous activity to release probability both in vivo and in vitro in young-adult mice. Maximal activation of presynaptic GABA(B) receptors by baclofen reduced synaptic output by about 45% in whole-cell voltage clamp slice recordings, which was accompanied by a reduction in short-term depression. A similar reduction in transmission was observed when baclofen was applied in vivo by microiontophoresis during juxtacellular recordings using piggyback electrodes. No significant change in synaptic transmission was observed during application of the GABA(B) receptor antagonist CGP54626 both during in vivo and slice recordings, suggesting a low ambient GABA concentration. Interestingly, we observed that synapses with a high spontaneous frequency showed almost no synaptic depression during auditory stimulation, whereas synapses with a low spontaneous frequency did depress during noise bursts. Our data thus suggest that spontaneous firing can tonically reduce release probability in vivo. In addition, our data show that the ambient GABA concentration in the auditory brainstem is too low to activate the GABA(B) receptor at the calyx of Held significantly, but that activation of GABA(B) receptors can reduce sound-evoked synaptic depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiantian Wang
- J. G. G. Borst: Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Dr. Molewaterplein 50, 3015 GE Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
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Vasileva M, Horstmann H, Geumann C, Gitler D, Kuner T. Synapsin-dependent reserveo pool of synaptic vesicles supports replenishment of the readily releasable pool under intense synaptic transmission. Eur J Neurosci 2012; 36:3005-20. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2012.08225.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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