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Won J, Lee S, Ahmad Khan Z, Choi J, Ho Lee T, Hong Y. Suppression of DAPK1 reduces ischemic brain injury through inhibiting cell death signaling and promoting neural remodeling. Brain Res 2023; 1820:148588. [PMID: 37742938 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2023.148588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
The role of death-associated protein kinase1 (DAPK1) in post-stroke functional recovery is controversial, as is its mechanism of action and any neural remodeling effect after ischemia. To assess the debatable role of DAPK1, we established the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) model in DAPK1 knockout mice and Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. We identified that the genetic deletion of the DAPK1 as well as pharmacological inhibition of DAPK1 showed reduced brain infarct volume and neurological deficit. We report that DAPK1 inhibition (DI) reduces post-stroke neuronal death by inhibiting BAX/BCL2 and LC3/Beclin1 mediated apoptosis and autophagy, respectively. Histological analysis displayed a reduction in nuclear condensation, neuronal dissociation, and degraded cytoplasm in the DI group. The DI treatment showed enhanced dendrite spine density and neurite outgrowth, upregulated neural proliferation marker proteins like brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and reduced structural abnormalities of the cortical pyramidal neurons. This research shows that DAPK1 drives cell death, its activation exacerbates functional recovery after cerebral ischemia and shows that oxazolone-based DI could be an excellent candidate for stroke and ischemic injury intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinyoung Won
- Department of Rehabilitation Science, Graduate School of Inje University, Gimhae, South Korea; Biohealth Products Research Center (BPRC), Inje University, Gimhae, South Korea; Research Center for Aged-life Redesign (RCAR), Inje University, Gimhae, South Korea
| | - Seunghoon Lee
- Biohealth Products Research Center (BPRC), Inje University, Gimhae, South Korea; Research Center for Aged-life Redesign (RCAR), Inje University, Gimhae, South Korea; Department of Physical Therapy, College of Healthcare Medical Science & Engineering, Inje University, Gimhae, South Korea
| | - Zeeshan Ahmad Khan
- Biohealth Products Research Center (BPRC), Inje University, Gimhae, South Korea; Research Center for Aged-life Redesign (RCAR), Inje University, Gimhae, South Korea; Department of Physical Therapy, College of Healthcare Medical Science & Engineering, Inje University, Gimhae, South Korea
| | - Jeonghyun Choi
- Department of Rehabilitation Science, Graduate School of Inje University, Gimhae, South Korea; Biohealth Products Research Center (BPRC), Inje University, Gimhae, South Korea; Research Center for Aged-life Redesign (RCAR), Inje University, Gimhae, South Korea
| | - Tae Ho Lee
- Fujian Key Laboratory for Translational Research in Cancer and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute for Translational Medicine, School of Basic Medical Science, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yonggeun Hong
- Department of Rehabilitation Science, Graduate School of Inje University, Gimhae, South Korea; Biohealth Products Research Center (BPRC), Inje University, Gimhae, South Korea; Research Center for Aged-life Redesign (RCAR), Inje University, Gimhae, South Korea; Department of Physical Therapy, College of Healthcare Medical Science & Engineering, Inje University, Gimhae, South Korea.
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2
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Wang J, Chen HS, Li HH, Wang HJ, Zou RS, Lu XJ, Wang J, Nie BB, Wu JF, Li S, Shan BC, Wu PF, Long LH, Hu ZL, Chen JG, Wang F. Microglia-dependent excessive synaptic pruning leads to cortical underconnectivity and behavioral abnormality following chronic social defeat stress in mice. Brain Behav Immun 2023; 109:23-36. [PMID: 36581303 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2022.12.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Synapse loss in medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) has been implicated in stress-related mood disorders, such as depression. However, the exact effect of synapse elimination in the depression and how it is triggered are largely unknown. Through repeated longitudinal imaging of mPFC in the living brain, we found both presynaptic and postsynaptic components were declined, together with the impairment of synapse remodeling and cross-synaptic signal transmission in the mPFC during chronic stress. Meanwhile, chronic stress also induced excessive microglia phagocytosis, leading to engulfment of excitatory synapses. Further investigation revealed that the elevated complement C3 during the stress acted as the tag of synapses to be eliminated by microglia. Besides, chronic stress induced a reduction of the connectivity between the mPFC and neighbor regions. C3 knockout mice displayed significant reduction of synaptic pruning and alleviation of disrupted functional connectivity in mPFC, resulting in more resilience to chronic stress. These results indicate that complement-mediated excessive microglia phagocytosis in adulthood induces synaptic dysfunction and cortical hypo-connectivity, leading to stress-related behavioral abnormality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan City, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Hong-Sheng Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan City, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Hou-Hong Li
- Department of Pharmacology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan City, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Hua-Jie Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan City, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Ruo-Si Zou
- Department of Pharmacology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan City, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Xiao-Jia Lu
- Department of Pharmacology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan City, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Jie Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Bin-Bin Nie
- State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jin-Feng Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Shuang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Bao-Ci Shan
- State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan, Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Peng-Fei Wu
- Department of Pharmacology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan City, Hubei 430030, China; The Research Center for Depression, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430030 Wuhan, China; The Key Laboratory for Drug Target Researches and Pharmacodynamic Evaluation of Hubei Province, 430030 Wuhan, China; Key Laboratory of Neurological Diseases (HUST), Ministry of Education of China, Wuhan, Wuhan City, Hubei 430030, China; Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, The Institute of Brain Research, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430030 Wuhan, China
| | - Li-Hong Long
- Department of Pharmacology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan City, Hubei 430030, China; The Research Center for Depression, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430030 Wuhan, China; The Key Laboratory for Drug Target Researches and Pharmacodynamic Evaluation of Hubei Province, 430030 Wuhan, China; Key Laboratory of Neurological Diseases (HUST), Ministry of Education of China, Wuhan, Wuhan City, Hubei 430030, China; Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, The Institute of Brain Research, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430030 Wuhan, China
| | - Zhuang-Li Hu
- Department of Pharmacology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan City, Hubei 430030, China; The Research Center for Depression, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430030 Wuhan, China; The Key Laboratory for Drug Target Researches and Pharmacodynamic Evaluation of Hubei Province, 430030 Wuhan, China; Key Laboratory of Neurological Diseases (HUST), Ministry of Education of China, Wuhan, Wuhan City, Hubei 430030, China; Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, The Institute of Brain Research, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430030 Wuhan, China.
| | - Jian-Guo Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan City, Hubei 430030, China; The Research Center for Depression, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430030 Wuhan, China; The Key Laboratory for Drug Target Researches and Pharmacodynamic Evaluation of Hubei Province, 430030 Wuhan, China; Key Laboratory of Neurological Diseases (HUST), Ministry of Education of China, Wuhan, Wuhan City, Hubei 430030, China; Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, The Institute of Brain Research, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430030 Wuhan, China.
| | - Fang Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan City, Hubei 430030, China; The Research Center for Depression, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430030 Wuhan, China; The Key Laboratory for Drug Target Researches and Pharmacodynamic Evaluation of Hubei Province, 430030 Wuhan, China; Key Laboratory of Neurological Diseases (HUST), Ministry of Education of China, Wuhan, Wuhan City, Hubei 430030, China; Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, The Institute of Brain Research, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430030 Wuhan, China.
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Dysregulated Signaling at Postsynaptic Density: A Systematic Review and Translational Appraisal for the Pathophysiology, Clinics, and Antipsychotics' Treatment of Schizophrenia. Cells 2023; 12:cells12040574. [PMID: 36831241 PMCID: PMC9954794 DOI: 10.3390/cells12040574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Emerging evidence from genomics, post-mortem, and preclinical studies point to a potential dysregulation of molecular signaling at postsynaptic density (PSD) in schizophrenia pathophysiology. The PSD that identifies the archetypal asymmetric synapse is a structure of approximately 300 nm in diameter, localized behind the neuronal membrane in the glutamatergic synapse, and constituted by more than 1000 proteins, including receptors, adaptors, kinases, and scaffold proteins. Furthermore, using FASS (fluorescence-activated synaptosome sorting) techniques, glutamatergic synaptosomes were isolated at around 70 nm, where the receptors anchored to the PSD proteins can diffuse laterally along the PSD and were stabilized by scaffold proteins in nanodomains of 50-80 nm at a distance of 20-40 nm creating "nanocolumns" within the synaptic button. In this context, PSD was envisioned as a multimodal hub integrating multiple signaling-related intracellular functions. Dysfunctions of glutamate signaling have been postulated in schizophrenia, starting from the glutamate receptor's interaction with scaffolding proteins involved in the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR). Despite the emerging role of PSD proteins in behavioral disorders, there is currently no systematic review that integrates preclinical and clinical findings addressing dysregulated PSD signaling and translational implications for antipsychotic treatment in the aberrant postsynaptic function context. Here we reviewed a critical appraisal of the role of dysregulated PSD proteins signaling in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia, discussing how antipsychotics may affect PSD structures and synaptic plasticity in brain regions relevant to psychosis.
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KASAI H. Unraveling the mysteries of dendritic spine dynamics: Five key principles shaping memory and cognition. PROCEEDINGS OF THE JAPAN ACADEMY. SERIES B, PHYSICAL AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES 2023; 99:254-305. [PMID: 37821392 PMCID: PMC10749395 DOI: 10.2183/pjab.99.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Recent research extends our understanding of brain processes beyond just action potentials and chemical transmissions within neural circuits, emphasizing the mechanical forces generated by excitatory synapses on dendritic spines to modulate presynaptic function. From in vivo and in vitro studies, we outline five central principles of synaptic mechanics in brain function: P1: Stability - Underpinning the integral relationship between the structure and function of the spine synapses. P2: Extrinsic dynamics - Highlighting synapse-selective structural plasticity which plays a crucial role in Hebbian associative learning, distinct from pathway-selective long-term potentiation (LTP) and depression (LTD). P3: Neuromodulation - Analyzing the role of G-protein-coupled receptors, particularly dopamine receptors, in time-sensitive modulation of associative learning frameworks such as Pavlovian classical conditioning and Thorndike's reinforcement learning (RL). P4: Instability - Addressing the intrinsic dynamics crucial to memory management during continual learning, spotlighting their role in "spine dysgenesis" associated with mental disorders. P5: Mechanics - Exploring how synaptic mechanics influence both sides of synapses to establish structural traces of short- and long-term memory, thereby aiding the integration of mental functions. We also delve into the historical background and foresee impending challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haruo KASAI
- International Research Center for Neurointelligence (WPI-IRCN), UTIAS, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
- Laboratory of Structural Physiology, Center for Disease Biology and Integrative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
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5
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Heck N, Santos MD. Dendritic Spines in Learning and Memory: From First Discoveries to Current Insights. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2023; 34:311-348. [PMID: 37962799 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-36159-3_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
The central nervous system is composed of neural ensembles, and their activity patterns are neural correlates of cognitive functions. Those ensembles are networks of neurons connected to each other by synapses. Most neurons integrate synaptic signal through a remarkable subcellular structure called spine. Dendritic spines are protrusions whose diverse shapes make them appear as a specific neuronal compartment, and they have been the focus of studies for more than a century. Soon after their first description by Ramón y Cajal, it has been hypothesized that spine morphological changes could modify neuronal connectivity and sustain cognitive abilities. Later studies demonstrated that changes in spine density and morphology occurred in experience-dependent plasticity during development, and in clinical cases of mental retardation. This gave ground for the assumption that dendritic spines are the particular locus of cerebral plasticity. With the discovery of synaptic long-term potentiation, a research program emerged with the aim to establish whether dendritic spine plasticity could explain learning and memory. The development of live imaging methods revealed on the one hand that dendritic spine remodeling is compatible with learning process and, on the other hand, that their long-term stability is compatible with lifelong memories. Furthermore, the study of the mechanisms of spine growth and maintenance shed new light on the rules of plasticity. In behavioral paradigms of memory, spine formation or elimination and morphological changes were found to correlate with learning. In a last critical step, recent experiments have provided evidence that dendritic spines play a causal role in learning and memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Heck
- Laboratory Neurosciences Paris Seine, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France.
| | - Marc Dos Santos
- Department of Neuroscience, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
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6
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Frias ES, Hoseini MS, Krukowski K, Paladini MS, Grue K, Ureta G, Rienecker KDA, Walter P, Stryker MP, Rosi S. Aberrant cortical spine dynamics after concussive injury are reversed by integrated stress response inhibition. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2209427119. [PMID: 36227915 PMCID: PMC9586300 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2209427119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of long-term neurological disability in the world and the strongest environmental risk factor for the development of dementia. Even mild TBI (resulting from concussive injuries) is associated with a greater than twofold increase in the risk of dementia onset. Little is known about the cellular mechanisms responsible for the progression of long-lasting cognitive deficits. The integrated stress response (ISR), a phylogenetically conserved pathway involved in the cellular response to stress, is activated after TBI, and inhibition of the ISR-even weeks after injury-can reverse behavioral and cognitive deficits. However, the cellular mechanisms by which ISR inhibition restores cognition are unknown. Here, we used longitudinal two-photon imaging in vivo after concussive injury in mice to study dendritic spine dynamics in the parietal cortex, a brain region involved in working memory. Concussive injury profoundly altered spine dynamics measured up to a month after injury. Strikingly, brief pharmacological treatment with the drug-like small-molecule ISR inhibitor ISRIB entirely reversed structural changes measured in the parietal cortex and the associated working memory deficits. Thus, both neural and cognitive consequences of concussive injury are mediated in part by activation of the ISR and can be corrected by its inhibition. These findings suggest that targeting ISR activation could serve as a promising approach to the clinical treatment of chronic cognitive deficits after TBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elma S. Frias
- Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143
- Brain and Spinal Injury Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143
| | - Mahmood S. Hoseini
- Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143
| | - Karen Krukowski
- Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143
- Brain and Spinal Injury Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143
| | - Maria Serena Paladini
- Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143
- Brain and Spinal Injury Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143
| | - Katherine Grue
- Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143
- Brain and Spinal Injury Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143
| | - Gonzalo Ureta
- Department of Translational Research, Protein Folding and Disease Laboratory, Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, 7750000, Chile
| | - Kira D. A. Rienecker
- Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143
- Brain and Spinal Injury Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143
| | - Peter Walter
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143
- HHMI, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143
| | - Michael P. Stryker
- Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143
- Kavli Institute of Fundamental Neuroscience, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143
| | - Susanna Rosi
- Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143
- Brain and Spinal Injury Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143
- Kavli Institute of Fundamental Neuroscience, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143
- Weill Institute for Neuroscience, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143
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7
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Sohn J, Suzuki M, Youssef M, Hatada S, Larkum ME, Kawaguchi Y, Kubota Y. Presynaptic supervision of cortical spine dynamics in motor learning. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabm0531. [PMID: 35895812 PMCID: PMC9328689 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abm0531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
In mammalian neocortex, learning triggers the formation and turnover of new postsynaptic spines on pyramidal cell dendrites. However, the biological principles of spine reorganization during learning remain elusive because the identity of their presynaptic neuronal partners is unknown. Here, we show that two presynaptic neural circuits supervise distinct programs of spine dynamics to execute learning. We imaged spine dynamics in motor cortex during learning and performed post hoc identification of their afferent presynaptic neurons. New spines that appeared during learning formed small transient contacts with corticocortical neurons that were eliminated on skill acquisition. In contrast, persistent spines with axons from thalamic neurons were formed and enlarged. These results suggest that pyramidal cell dendrites in motor cortex use a neural circuit division of labor during skill learning, with dynamic teaching contacts from top-down intracortical axons followed by synaptic memory formation driven by thalamic axons. Dual spine supervision may govern diverse skill learning in the neocortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaerin Sohn
- Division of Cerebral Circuitry, National Institute for Physiological Sciences (NIPS), Okazaki 444-8787, Japan
- Section of Electron Microscopy, Supportive Center for Brain Research, National Institute for Physiological Sciences (NIPS), Okazaki 444-8787, Japan
| | - Mototaka Suzuki
- Neurocure Center for Excellence, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Mohammed Youssef
- Division of Cerebral Circuitry, National Institute for Physiological Sciences (NIPS), Okazaki 444-8787, Japan
- Department of Animal Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, South Valley University, Qena 83523, Egypt
| | - Sayuri Hatada
- Division of Cerebral Circuitry, National Institute for Physiological Sciences (NIPS), Okazaki 444-8787, Japan
| | - Matthew E. Larkum
- Neurocure Center for Excellence, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Biology, Humboldt University of Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Yasuo Kawaguchi
- Division of Cerebral Circuitry, National Institute for Physiological Sciences (NIPS), Okazaki 444-8787, Japan
- Department of Physiological Sciences, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI), Okazaki 444-8787, Japan
- Brain Science Institute, Tamagawa University, Machida, Tokyo 194-8610, Japan
| | - Yoshiyuki Kubota
- Division of Cerebral Circuitry, National Institute for Physiological Sciences (NIPS), Okazaki 444-8787, Japan
- Section of Electron Microscopy, Supportive Center for Brain Research, National Institute for Physiological Sciences (NIPS), Okazaki 444-8787, Japan
- Department of Physiological Sciences, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI), Okazaki 444-8787, Japan
- Support Unit for Electron Microscopy Techniques, Research Resources Division, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako 351-0198, Japan
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8
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Rathour RK, Kaphzan H. Voltage-Gated Ion Channels and the Variability in Information Transfer. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:906313. [PMID: 35936503 PMCID: PMC9352938 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.906313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The prerequisites for neurons to function within a circuit and be able to contain and transfer information efficiently and reliably are that they need to be homeostatically stable and fire within a reasonable range, characteristics that are governed, among others, by voltage-gated ion channels (VGICs). Nonetheless, neurons entail large variability in the expression levels of VGICs and their corresponding intrinsic properties, but the role of this variability in information transfer is not fully known. In this study, we aimed to investigate how this variability of VGICs affects information transfer. For this, we used a previously derived population of neuronal model neurons, each with the variable expression of five types of VGICs, fast Na+, delayed rectifier K+, A-type K+, T-type Ca++, and HCN channels. These analyses showed that the model neurons displayed variability in mutual information transfer, measured as the capability of neurons to successfully encode incoming synaptic information in output firing frequencies. Likewise, variability in the expression of VGICs caused variability in EPSPs and IPSPs amplitudes, reflected in the variability of output firing frequencies. Finally, using the virtual knockout methodology, we show that among the ion channels tested, the A-type K+ channel is the major regulator of information processing and transfer.
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Gross I, Brandt N, Vonk D, Köper F, Wöhlbrand L, Rabus R, Witt M, Heep A, Plösch T, Hipp MS, Bräuer AU. Plasticity-Related Gene 5 Is Expressed in a Late Phase of Neurodifferentiation After Neuronal Cell-Fate Determination. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:797588. [PMID: 35496908 PMCID: PMC9053830 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.797588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
During adult neurogenesis, neuronal stem cells differentiate into mature neurons that are functionally integrated into the existing network. One hallmark during the late phase of this neurodifferentiation process is the formation of dendritic spines. These morphological specialized structures form the basis of most excitatory synapses in the brain, and are essential for neuronal communication. Additionally, dendritic spines are affected in neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease or schizophrenia. However, the mechanisms underlying spinogenesis, as well as spine pathologies, are poorly understood. Plasticity-related Gene 5 (PRG5), a neuronal transmembrane protein, has previously been linked to spinogenesis in vitro. Here, we analyze endogenous expression of the PRG5 protein in different mouse brain areas, as well as on a subcellular level. We found that native PRG5 is expressed dendritically, and in high abundance in areas characterized by their regenerative capacity, such as the hippocampus and the olfactory bulb. During adult neurogenesis, PRG5 is specifically expressed in a late phase after neuronal cell-fate determination associated with dendritic spine formation. On a subcellular level, we found PRG5 not to be localized at the postsynaptic density, but at the base of the synapse. In addition, we showed that PRG5-induced formation of membrane protrusions is independent from neuronal activity, supporting a possible role in the morphology and stabilization of spines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Gross
- Research Group Anatomy, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
- School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Nicola Brandt
- Research Group Anatomy, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
- School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Danara Vonk
- Research Group Anatomy, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
- School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
- Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells and Systems, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Franziska Köper
- Research Group Anatomy, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
- School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
- Perinatal Neurobiology Research Group, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Lars Wöhlbrand
- General and Molecular Microbiology, Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Ralf Rabus
- General and Molecular Microbiology, Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Martin Witt
- Department of Anatomy, University Medical Center Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Axel Heep
- School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
- Perinatal Neurobiology Research Group, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
- Research Center Neurosensory Science, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Torsten Plösch
- School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
- Perinatal Neurobiology Research Group, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
- Research Center Neurosensory Science, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Mark S. Hipp
- School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
- Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells and Systems, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Anja U. Bräuer
- Research Group Anatomy, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
- School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
- Research Center Neurosensory Science, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
- *Correspondence: Anja U. Bräuer,
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10
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Kietzman HW, Shapiro LP, Trinoskey-Rice G, Gourley SL. Cell adhesion presence during adolescence controls the architecture of projection-defined prefrontal cortical neurons and reward-related action strategies later in life. Dev Cogn Neurosci 2022; 54:101097. [PMID: 35325840 PMCID: PMC8938620 DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2022.101097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2021] [Revised: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Adolescent brain development is characterized by neuronal remodeling in the prefrontal cortex; relationships with behavior are largely undefined. Integrins are cell adhesion factors that link the extracellular matrix with intracellular actin cytoskeleton. We find that β1-integrin presence in the prelimbic prefrontal cortex (PL) during adolescence, but not adulthood, is necessary for mice to select actions based on reward likelihood and value. As such, adult mice that lacked β1-integrin during adolescence failed to modify response strategies when rewards lost value or failed to be delivered. This pattern suggests that β1-integrin-mediated neuronal development is necessary for PL function in adulthood. We next visualized adolescent PL neurons, including those receiving input from the basolateral amygdala (BLA) - thought to signal salience - and projecting to the dorsomedial striatum (DMS) - the striatal output by which the PL controls goal-seeking behavior. Firstly, we found that these projection-defined neurons had a distinct morphology relative to general layer V PL neurons. Secondly, β1-integrin loss triggered the overexpression of stubby-type dendritic spines at the expense of mature spines, including on projection-defined neurons. This phenotype was not observed when β1-integrins were silenced before or after adolescence. Altogether, our experiments localize β1-integrin-mediated cell adhesion within a developing di-synaptic circuit coordinating adaptive action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henry W Kietzman
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Emory University School of Medicine, United States; Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry, Emory University School of Medicine, United States; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Emory University, United States; Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, United States
| | - Lauren P Shapiro
- Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry, Emory University School of Medicine, United States; Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, United States; Graduate Program in Molecular and Systems Pharmacology, Emory University, United States
| | - Gracy Trinoskey-Rice
- Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry, Emory University School of Medicine, United States; Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, United States
| | - Shannon L Gourley
- Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry, Emory University School of Medicine, United States; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Emory University, United States; Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, United States; Graduate Program in Molecular and Systems Pharmacology, Emory University, United States; Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, United States.
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11
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Deep-learning two-photon fiberscopy for video-rate brain imaging in freely-behaving mice. Nat Commun 2022; 13:1534. [PMID: 35318318 PMCID: PMC8940941 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29236-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Scanning two-photon (2P) fiberscopes (also termed endomicroscopes) have the potential to transform our understanding of how discrete neural activity patterns result in distinct behaviors, as they are capable of high resolution, sub cellular imaging yet small and light enough to allow free movement of mice. However, their acquisition speed is currently suboptimal, due to opto-mechanical size and weight constraints. Here we demonstrate significant advances in 2P fiberscopy that allow high resolution imaging at high speeds (26 fps) in freely-behaving mice. A high-speed scanner and a down-sampling scheme are developed to boost imaging speed, and a deep learning (DL) algorithm is introduced to recover image quality. For the DL algorithm, a two-stage learning transfer strategy is established to generate proper training datasets for enhancing the quality of in vivo images. Implementation enables video-rate imaging at ~26 fps, representing 10-fold improvement in imaging speed over the previous 2P fiberscopy technology while maintaining a high signal-to-noise ratio and imaging resolution. This DL-assisted 2P fiberscope is capable of imaging the arousal-induced activity changes in populations of layer2/3 pyramidal neurons in the primary motor cortex of freely-behaving mice, providing opportunities to define the neural basis of behavior. The acquisition speed of two-photon fiberscopes is currently suboptimal. Here the authors report advances, including a high-speed scanner and down-sampling scheme as well as a two-stage deep learning (DL) algorithm, to allow high-speed, high-resolution imaging in freely moving mice.
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12
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Chen CC, Brumberg JC. Sensory Experience as a Regulator of Structural Plasticity in the Developing Whisker-to-Barrel System. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 15:770453. [PMID: 35002626 PMCID: PMC8739903 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.770453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Cellular structures provide the physical foundation for the functionality of the nervous system, and their developmental trajectory can be influenced by the characteristics of the external environment that an organism interacts with. Historical and recent works have determined that sensory experiences, particularly during developmental critical periods, are crucial for information processing in the brain, which in turn profoundly influence neuronal and non-neuronal cortical structures that subsequently impact the animals' behavioral and cognitive outputs. In this review, we focus on how altering sensory experience influences normal/healthy development of the central nervous system, particularly focusing on the cerebral cortex using the rodent whisker-to-barrel system as an illustrative model. A better understanding of structural plasticity, encompassing multiple aspects such as neuronal, glial, and extra-cellular domains, provides a more integrative view allowing for a deeper appreciation of how all aspects of the brain work together as a whole.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Chien Chen
- Department of Psychology, Queens College City University of New York, Flushing, NY, United States.,Department of Neuroscience, Duke Kunshan University, Suzhou, China
| | - Joshua C Brumberg
- Department of Psychology, Queens College City University of New York, Flushing, NY, United States.,The Biology (Neuroscience) and Psychology (Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience) PhD Programs, The Graduate Center, The City University of New York, New York, NY, United States
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13
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Zhao F, Zeng Y, Bai J. Toward a Brain-Inspired Developmental Neural Network Based on Dendritic Spine Dynamics. Neural Comput 2021; 34:172-189. [PMID: 34710904 DOI: 10.1162/neco_a_01448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Neural networks with a large number of parameters are prone to overfitting problems when trained on a relatively small training set. Introducing weight penalties of regularization is a promising technique for solving this problem. Taking inspiration from the dynamic plasticity of dendritic spines, which plays an important role in the maintenance of memory, this letter proposes a brain-inspired developmental neural network based on dendritic spine dynamics (BDNN-dsd). The dynamic structure changes of dendritic spines include appearing, enlarging, shrinking, and disappearing. Such spine plasticity depends on synaptic activity and can be modulated by experiences-in particular, long-lasting synaptic enhancement/suppression (LTP/LTD), coupled with synapse formation (or enlargement)/elimination (or shrinkage), respectively. Subsequently, spine density characterizes an approximate estimate of the total number of synapses between neurons. Motivated by this, we constrain the weight to a tunable bound that can be adaptively modulated based on synaptic activity. Dynamic weight bound could limit the relatively redundant synapses and facilitate the contributing synapses. Extensive experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of our method on classification tasks of different complexity with the MNIST, Fashion MNIST, and CIFAR-10 data sets. Furthermore, compared to dropout and L2 regularization algorithms, our method can improve the network convergence rate and classification performance even for a compact network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feifei Zhao
- Research Center for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Yi Zeng
- Research Center for Brain-Inspired Intelligence and National Laboratory of Pattern Recognition Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China; School of Future Technology and School of Artificial Intelligence, Beijing 10049, China; and Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031
| | - Jun Bai
- Research Center for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
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14
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Zhou X, Chen Y, Peng J, Zuo M, Sun Y. Deafening-induced rapid changes to spine synaptic connectivity in the adult avian vocal basal ganglia. Integr Zool 2021; 17:1136-1146. [PMID: 34599554 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12593] [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] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The basal ganglia have been implicated in auditory-dependent vocal learning and plasticity in human and songbirds, but the underlying neural phenotype remains to be clarified. Here, using confocal imaging and three-dimensional electron microscopy, we investigated striatal structural plasticity in response to hearing loss in Area X, the avian vocal basal ganglia, in adult male zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata). We observed a rapid elongation of dendritic spines, by approximately 13%, by day 3 after deafening, and a considerable increase in spine synapse density, by approximately 61%, by day 14 after deafening, compared with the controls with an intact cochlea. These findings reveal structural sensitivity of Area X to auditory deprivation and suggest that this striatal plasticity might contribute to deafening-induced changes to learned vocal behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojuan Zhou
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Gene Resource and Molecular Development, College of Life Sciences, Bejiing Normal University, Beijing, China.,Chinese Institute for Brain Research (CIBR), Beijing, China
| | - Yalan Chen
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Gene Resource and Molecular Development, College of Life Sciences, Bejiing Normal University, Beijing, China.,Technology Center for Protein Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Jikan Peng
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Gene Resource and Molecular Development, College of Life Sciences, Bejiing Normal University, Beijing, China.,School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Mingxue Zuo
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Gene Resource and Molecular Development, College of Life Sciences, Bejiing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Yingyu Sun
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Gene Resource and Molecular Development, College of Life Sciences, Bejiing Normal University, Beijing, China
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15
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Yong HJ, Hwang JI, Seong JY. Alterations in Dendritic Spine Maturation and Neurite Development Mediated by FAM19A1. Cells 2021; 10:1868. [PMID: 34440636 PMCID: PMC8392516 DOI: 10.3390/cells10081868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurogenesis and functional brain activity require complex associations of inherently programmed secretory elements that are regulated precisely and temporally. Family with sequence similarity 19 A1 (FAM19A1) is a secreted protein primarily expressed in subsets of terminally differentiated neuronal precursor cells and fully mature neurons in specific brain substructures. Several recent studies have demonstrated the importance of FAM19A1 in brain physiology; however, additional information is needed to support its role in neuronal maturation and function. In this study, dendritic spine morphology in Fam19a1-ablated mice and neurite development during in vitro neurogenesis were examined to understand the putative role of FAM19A1 in neural integrity. Adult Fam19a1-deficient mice showed low dendritic spine density and maturity with reduced dendrite complexity compared to wild-type (WT) littermates. To further explore the effect of FAM19A1 on neuronal maturation, the neurite outgrowth pattern in primary neurons was analyzed in vitro with and without FAM19A1. In response to FAM19A1, WT primary neurons showed reduced neurite complexity, whereas Fam19a1-decifient primary neurons exhibited increased neurite arborization, which was reversed by supplementation with recombinant FAM19A1. Together, these findings suggest that FAM19A1 participates in dendritic spine development and neurite arborization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyo-Jeong Yong
- The GPCR Laboratory, Graduate School of Biomedical Science, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 02841, Korea;
| | - Jong-Ik Hwang
- The GPCR Laboratory, Graduate School of Biomedical Science, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 02841, Korea;
| | - Jae-Young Seong
- The GPCR Laboratory, Graduate School of Biomedical Science, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 02841, Korea;
- Division of Research, Neuracle Science Co., Ltd., Seoul 02841, Korea
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16
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Morphological Heterogeneity of the Endoplasmic Reticulum within Neurons and Its Implications in Neurodegeneration. Cells 2021; 10:cells10050970. [PMID: 33919188 PMCID: PMC8143122 DOI: 10.3390/cells10050970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Revised: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a multipurpose organelle comprising dynamic structural subdomains, such as ER sheets and tubules, serving to maintain protein, calcium, and lipid homeostasis. In neurons, the single ER is compartmentalized with a careful segregation of the structural subdomains in somatic and neurite (axodendritic) regions. The distribution and arrangement of these ER subdomains varies between different neuronal types. Mutations in ER membrane shaping proteins and morphological changes in the ER are associated with various neurodegenerative diseases implying significance of ER morphology in maintaining neuronal integrity. Specific neurons, such as the highly arborized dopaminergic neurons, are prone to stress and neurodegeneration. Differences in morphology and functionality of ER between the neurons may account for their varied sensitivity to stress and neurodegenerative changes. In this review, we explore the neuronal ER and discuss its distinct morphological attributes and specific functions. We hypothesize that morphological heterogeneity of the ER in neurons is an important factor that accounts for their selective susceptibility to neurodegeneration.
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17
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Rasia-Filho AA, Guerra KTK, Vásquez CE, Dall’Oglio A, Reberger R, Jung CR, Calcagnotto ME. The Subcortical-Allocortical- Neocortical continuum for the Emergence and Morphological Heterogeneity of Pyramidal Neurons in the Human Brain. Front Synaptic Neurosci 2021; 13:616607. [PMID: 33776739 PMCID: PMC7991104 DOI: 10.3389/fnsyn.2021.616607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Human cortical and subcortical areas integrate emotion, memory, and cognition when interpreting various environmental stimuli for the elaboration of complex, evolved social behaviors. Pyramidal neurons occur in developed phylogenetic areas advancing along with the allocortex to represent 70-85% of the neocortical gray matter. Here, we illustrate and discuss morphological features of heterogeneous spiny pyramidal neurons emerging from specific amygdaloid nuclei, in CA3 and CA1 hippocampal regions, and in neocortical layers II/III and V of the anterolateral temporal lobe in humans. Three-dimensional images of Golgi-impregnated neurons were obtained using an algorithm for the visualization of the cell body, dendritic length, branching pattern, and pleomorphic dendritic spines, which are specialized plastic postsynaptic units for most excitatory inputs. We demonstrate the emergence and development of human pyramidal neurons in the cortical and basomedial (but not the medial, MeA) nuclei of the amygdala with cells showing a triangular cell body shape, basal branched dendrites, and a short apical shaft with proximal ramifications as "pyramidal-like" neurons. Basomedial neurons also have a long and distally ramified apical dendrite not oriented to the pial surface. These neurons are at the beginning of the allocortex and the limbic lobe. "Pyramidal-like" to "classic" pyramidal neurons with laminar organization advance from the CA3 to the CA1 hippocampal regions. These cells have basal and apical dendrites with specific receptive synaptic domains and several spines. Neocortical pyramidal neurons in layers II/III and V display heterogeneous dendritic branching patterns adapted to the space available and the afferent inputs of each brain area. Dendritic spines vary in their distribution, density, shapes, and sizes (classified as stubby/wide, thin, mushroom-like, ramified, transitional forms, "atypical" or complex forms, such as thorny excrescences in the MeA and CA3 hippocampal region). Spines were found isolated or intermingled, with evident particularities (e.g., an extraordinary density in long, deep CA1 pyramidal neurons), and some showing a spinule. We describe spiny pyramidal neurons considerably improving the connectional and processing complexity of the brain circuits. On the other hand, these cells have some vulnerabilities, as found in neurodegenerative Alzheimer's disease and in temporal lobe epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto A. Rasia-Filho
- Department of Basic Sciences/Physiology and Graduate Program in Biosciences, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Kétlyn T. Knak Guerra
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Carlos Escobar Vásquez
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Aline Dall’Oglio
- Department of Basic Sciences/Physiology and Graduate Program in Biosciences, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Roman Reberger
- Medical Engineering Program, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Cláudio R. Jung
- Institute of Informatics, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Maria Elisa Calcagnotto
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
- Neurophysiology and Neurochemistry of Neuronal Excitability and Synaptic Plasticity Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Biochemistry Graduate Program, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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18
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Something Scary Is Out There: Remembrances of Where the Threat Was Located by Preschool Children and Adults with Nighttime Fear. EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s40806-021-00279-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
AbstractYoung children frequently report imaginary scary things in their bedrooms at night. This study examined the remembrances of 140 preschool children and 404 adults selecting either above, side, or below locations for a scary thing relative to their beds. The theoretical framework for this investigation posited that sexual-size dimorphism in Australopithecus afarensis, the presumed human ancestor in the Middle Pliocene, constrained sleeping site choice to mitigate predation. Smaller-bodied females nesting in trees would have anticipated predatory attacks from below, while male nesting on the ground would have anticipated attacks from their side. Such anticipation of nighttime attacks from below is present in many arboreal primates and might still persist as a cognitive relict in humans. In remembrances of nighttime fear, girls and women were predicted to select the below location and males the side location. Following interviews of children and adult questionnaires, multinomial log-linear analyses indicated statistically significant interactions (p < 0.001) of sex by location for the combined sample and each age class driven, in part, by larger frequencies of males selecting the side location and females selecting the below location. Data partitioning further revealed that males selected the side location at larger frequencies (p < 0.001) than the below location, whereas female selection of side and below locations did not differ significantly. While indicative of evolutionary persistence in cognitive appraisal of threat locations, the female hypothesis did not consider natural selection acting on assessment of nighttime terrestrial threats following the advent of early Homo in the Late Pliocene.
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19
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de Agustín-Durán D, Mateos-White I, Fabra-Beser J, Gil-Sanz C. Stick around: Cell-Cell Adhesion Molecules during Neocortical Development. Cells 2021; 10:118. [PMID: 33435191 PMCID: PMC7826847 DOI: 10.3390/cells10010118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The neocortex is an exquisitely organized structure achieved through complex cellular processes from the generation of neural cells to their integration into cortical circuits after complex migration processes. During this long journey, neural cells need to establish and release adhesive interactions through cell surface receptors known as cell adhesion molecules (CAMs). Several types of CAMs have been described regulating different aspects of neurodevelopment. Whereas some of them mediate interactions with the extracellular matrix, others allow contact with additional cells. In this review, we will focus on the role of two important families of cell-cell adhesion molecules (C-CAMs), classical cadherins and nectins, as well as in their effectors, in the control of fundamental processes related with corticogenesis, with special attention in the cooperative actions among the two families of C-CAMs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Cristina Gil-Sanz
- Neural Development Laboratory, Instituto Universitario de Biomedicina y Biotecnología (BIOTECMED) and Departamento de Biología Celular, Facultat de Biología, Universidad de Valencia, 46100 Burjassot, Spain; (D.d.A.-D.); (I.M.-W.); (J.F.-B.)
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20
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RAB39B-mediated trafficking of the GluA2-AMPAR subunit controls dendritic spine maturation and intellectual disability-related behaviour. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:6531-6549. [PMID: 34035473 PMCID: PMC8760075 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-021-01155-5] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Revised: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Mutations in the RAB39B gene cause X-linked intellectual disability (XLID), comorbid with autism spectrum disorders or early Parkinson's disease. One of the functions of the neuronal small GTPase RAB39B is to drive GluA2/GluA3 α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor (AMPAR) maturation and trafficking, determining AMPAR subunit composition at glutamatergic postsynaptic neuronal terminals. Taking advantage of the Rab39b knockout murine model, we show that a lack of RAB39B affects neuronal dendritic spine refinement, prompting a more Ca2+-permeable and excitable synaptic network, which correlates with an immature spine arrangement and behavioural and cognitive alterations in adult mice. The persistence of immature circuits is triggered by increased hypermobility of the spine, which is restored by the Ca2+-permeable AMPAR antagonist NASPM. Together, these data confirm that RAB39B controls AMPAR trafficking, which in turn plays a pivotal role in neuronal dendritic spine remodelling and that targeting Ca2+-permeable AMPARs may highlight future pharmaceutical interventions for RAB39B-associated disease conditions.
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21
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Tomorsky J, Parker PRL, Doe CQ, Niell CM. Precise levels of nectin-3 are required for proper synapse formation in postnatal visual cortex. Neural Dev 2020; 15:13. [PMID: 33160402 PMCID: PMC7648993 DOI: 10.1186/s13064-020-00150-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Developing cortical neurons express a tightly choreographed sequence of cytoskeletal and transmembrane proteins to form and strengthen specific synaptic connections during circuit formation. Nectin-3 is a cell-adhesion molecule with previously described roles in synapse formation and maintenance. This protein and its binding partner, nectin-1, are selectively expressed in upper-layer neurons of mouse visual cortex, but their role in the development of cortical circuits is unknown. METHODS Here we block nectin-3 expression (via shRNA) or overexpress nectin-3 in developing layer 2/3 visual cortical neurons using in utero electroporation. We then assay dendritic spine densities at three developmental time points: eye opening (postnatal day (P)14), one week following eye opening after a period of heightened synaptogenesis (P21), and at the close of the critical period for ocular dominance plasticity (P35). RESULTS Knockdown of nectin-3 beginning at E15.5 or ~ P19 increased dendritic spine densities at P21 or P35, respectively. Conversely, overexpressing full length nectin-3 at E15.5 decreased dendritic spine densities when all ages were considered together. The effects of nectin-3 knockdown and overexpression on dendritic spine densities were most significant on proximal secondary apical dendrites. Interestingly, an even greater decrease in dendritic spine densities, particularly on basal dendrites at P21, was observed when we overexpressed nectin-3 lacking its afadin binding domain. CONCLUSION These data collectively suggest that the proper levels and functioning of nectin-3 facilitate normal synapse formation after eye opening on apical and basal dendrites in layer 2/3 of visual cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Tomorsky
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403, USA.
- Department of Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403, USA.
- Stanford University, 318 Campus Drive, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
| | - Philip R L Parker
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403, USA
| | - Chris Q Doe
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403, USA
- Institute of Molecular Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403, USA
| | - Cristopher M Niell
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403, USA.
- Department of Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97403, USA.
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22
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AUTS2 Regulation of Synapses for Proper Synaptic Inputs and Social Communication. iScience 2020; 23:101183. [PMID: 32498016 PMCID: PMC7267731 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2019] [Revised: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Impairments in synapse development are thought to cause numerous psychiatric disorders. Autism susceptibility candidate 2 (AUTS2) gene has been associated with various psychiatric disorders, such as autism and intellectual disabilities. Although roles for AUTS2 in neuronal migration and neuritogenesis have been reported, its involvement in synapse regulation remains unclear. In this study, we found that excitatory synapses were specifically increased in the Auts2-deficient primary cultured neurons as well as Auts2 mutant forebrains. Electrophysiological recordings and immunostaining showed increases in excitatory synaptic inputs as well as c-fos expression in Auts2 mutant brains, suggesting that an altered balance of excitatory and inhibitory inputs enhances brain excitability. Auts2 mutant mice exhibited autistic-like behaviors including impairments in social interaction and altered vocal communication. Together, these findings suggest that AUTS2 regulates excitatory synapse number to coordinate E/I balance in the brain, whose impairment may underlie the pathology of psychiatric disorders in individuals with AUTS2 mutations. AUTS2 regulates excitatory synapse number in forebrain pyramidal neurons Loss of Auts2 leads to increased spine formation in development and adulthood Loss of Auts2 alters the balance of excitatory and inhibitory synaptic inputs Auts2 mutant mice exhibit cognitive and sociobehavioral deficits
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23
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Hlushchenko I, Hotulainen P. Chemical LTD, but not LTP, induces transient accumulation of gelsolin in dendritic spines. Biol Chem 2020; 400:1129-1139. [PMID: 31280237 DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2019-0110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Accepted: 06/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Synaptic plasticity underlies central brain functions, such as learning. Ca2+ signaling is involved in both strengthening and weakening of synapses, but it is still unclear how one signal molecule can induce two opposite outcomes. By identifying molecules, which can distinguish between signaling leading to weakening or strengthening, we can improve our understanding of how synaptic plasticity is regulated. Here, we tested gelsolin's response to the induction of chemical long-term potentiation (cLTP) or long-term depression (cLTD) in cultured rat hippocampal neurons. We show that gelsolin relocates from the dendritic shaft to dendritic spines upon cLTD induction while it did not show any relocalization upon cLTP induction. Dendritic spines are small actin-rich protrusions on dendrites, where LTD/LTP-responsive excitatory synapses are located. We propose that the LTD-induced modest - but relatively long-lasting - elevation of Ca2+ concentration increases the affinity of gelsolin to F-actin. As F-actin is enriched in dendritic spines, it is probable that increased affinity to F-actin induces the relocalization of gelsolin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iryna Hlushchenko
- Minerva Foundation Institute for Medical Research, Biomedicum Helsinki 2U, Tukholmankatu 8, FI-00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Pirta Hotulainen
- Minerva Foundation Institute for Medical Research, Biomedicum Helsinki 2U, Tukholmankatu 8, FI-00290 Helsinki, Finland
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Berdenis van Berlekom A, Muflihah CH, Snijders GJLJ, MacGillavry HD, Middeldorp J, Hol EM, Kahn RS, de Witte LD. Synapse Pathology in Schizophrenia: A Meta-analysis of Postsynaptic Elements in Postmortem Brain Studies. Schizophr Bull 2020; 46:374-386. [PMID: 31192350 PMCID: PMC7442385 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbz060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Changed synapse density has been suggested to be involved in the altered brain connectivity underlying schizophrenia (SCZ) pathology. However, postmortem studies addressing this topic are heterogeneous and it is not known whether changes are restricted to specific brain regions. Using meta-analysis, we systematically and quantitatively reviewed literature on the density of postsynaptic elements in postmortem brain tissue of patients with SCZ compared to healthy controls. We included 3 outcome measurements for postsynaptic elements: dendritic spine density (DSD), postsynaptic density (PSD) number, and PSD protein expression levels. Random-effects meta-analysis (31 studies) revealed an overall decrease in density of postsynaptic elements in SCZ (Hedges's g: -0.33; 95% CI: -0.60 to -0.05; P = .020). Subgroup analyses showed reduction of postsynaptic elements in cortical but not subcortical tissues (Hedges's g: -0.44; 95% CI: -0.76 to -0.12; P = .008, Hedges's g: -0.11; 95% CI: -0.54 to 0.35; P = .671) and specifically a decrease for the outcome measure DSD (Hedges's g: -0.81; 95% CI: -1.37 to -0.26; P = .004). Further exploratory analyses showed a significant decrease of postsynaptic elements in the prefrontal cortex and cortical layer 3. In all analyses, substantial heterogeneity was present. Meta-regression analyses showed no influence of age, sex, postmortem interval, or brain bank on the effect size. This meta-analysis shows a region-specific decrease in the density of postsynaptic elements in SCZ. This phenotype provides an important cellular hallmark for future preclinical and neuropathological research in order to increase our understanding of brain dysconnectivity in SCZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amber Berdenis van Berlekom
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands,Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands,To whom correspondence should be addressed; tel: +31-88-75-68811, fax: +31(0)887569032, e-mail:
| | - Cita H Muflihah
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands,Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta, Sukoharjo, Indonesia
| | - Gijsje J L J Snijders
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands,Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Harold D MacGillavry
- Cell Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jinte Middeldorp
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Elly M Hol
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - René S Kahn
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands,Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY,Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), James J Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY
| | - Lot D de Witte
- Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands,Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY,Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), James J Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY
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25
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Breach MR, Moench KM, Wellman CL. Social instability in adolescence differentially alters dendritic morphology in the medial prefrontal cortex and its response to stress in adult male and female rats. Dev Neurobiol 2019; 79:839-856. [PMID: 31612626 DOI: 10.1002/dneu.22723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2019] [Revised: 10/09/2019] [Accepted: 10/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Adolescence is an important period for HPA axis development and synapse maturation and reorganization in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Thus, stress during adolescence could alter stress-sensitive brain regions such as the PFC and may alter the impact of future stressors on these brain regions. Given that women are more susceptible to many stress-linked psychological disorders in which dysfunction of PFC is implicated, and that this increased vulnerability emerges in adolescence, stress during this time could have sex-dependent effects. Therefore, we investigated the effects of adolescent social instability stress (SIS) on dendritic morphology of Golgi-stained pyramidal cells in the medial PFC of adult male and female rats. We then examined dendritic reorganization following chronic restraint stress (CRS) with and without a rest period in adult rats that had been stressed in adolescence. Adolescent SIS conferred long-term alterations in prelimbic of males and females, whereby females show reduced apical length and basilar thin spine density and males show reduced basilar length. CRS in adulthood failed to produce immediate dendritic remodeling in SIS rats. However, CRS followed by a rest period reduced apical dendritic length and increases mushroom spine density in adolescently stressed adult males. Conversely, CRS followed by rest produced apical outgrowth and decreased mushroom spine density in adolescently stressed adult females. These results suggest that stress during adolescence alters development of the PFC and modulates stress-induced dendritic changes in adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michaela R Breach
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Kelly M Moench
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
- Program in Neuroscience, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
- Center for the Integrative Study of Animal Behavior, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Cara L Wellman
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
- Program in Neuroscience, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
- Center for the Integrative Study of Animal Behavior, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
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26
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Rathour RK, Narayanan R. Degeneracy in hippocampal physiology and plasticity. Hippocampus 2019; 29:980-1022. [PMID: 31301166 PMCID: PMC6771840 DOI: 10.1002/hipo.23139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2018] [Revised: 05/27/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Degeneracy, defined as the ability of structurally disparate elements to perform analogous function, has largely been assessed from the perspective of maintaining robustness of physiology or plasticity. How does the framework of degeneracy assimilate into an encoding system where the ability to change is an essential ingredient for storing new incoming information? Could degeneracy maintain the balance between the apparently contradictory goals of the need to change for encoding and the need to resist change towards maintaining homeostasis? In this review, we explore these fundamental questions with the mammalian hippocampus as an example encoding system. We systematically catalog lines of evidence, spanning multiple scales of analysis that point to the expression of degeneracy in hippocampal physiology and plasticity. We assess the potential of degeneracy as a framework to achieve the conjoint goals of encoding and homeostasis without cross-interferences. We postulate that biological complexity, involving interactions among the numerous parameters spanning different scales of analysis, could establish disparate routes towards accomplishing these conjoint goals. These disparate routes then provide several degrees of freedom to the encoding-homeostasis system in accomplishing its tasks in an input- and state-dependent manner. Finally, the expression of degeneracy spanning multiple scales offers an ideal reconciliation to several outstanding controversies, through the recognition that the seemingly contradictory disparate observations are merely alternate routes that the system might recruit towards accomplishment of its goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahul K. Rathour
- Cellular Neurophysiology LaboratoryMolecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of ScienceBangaloreIndia
| | - Rishikesh Narayanan
- Cellular Neurophysiology LaboratoryMolecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of ScienceBangaloreIndia
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27
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Persistence of learning-induced synapses depends on neurotrophic priming of glucocorticoid receptors. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:13097-13106. [PMID: 31182610 PMCID: PMC6601006 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1903203116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Signal transduction upon activation of receptor tyrosine kinases by neurotrophins and nuclear receptors by glucocorticoids is essential for homeostasis. Phosphorylation (PO4) is one way these receptors communicate with one another to support homeostatic reactions in learning and memory. Using a newly developed glucocorticoid receptor (GR)-PO4–deficient knock-in mouse, we show that consolidation of learning-induced neuroplasticity depends on both GR-PO4 and neurotrophic signaling. Cross-talk between these pathways affects experience-dependent neuroplasticity and behavior, extending previous implications of neurotrophic priming of glucocorticoid response for adaptive plasticity to chronic stress and antidepressant response. Therefore, a disruption of cross-talk between these pathways by, for example, the misalignment of circadian glucocorticoid release and experience-dependent neurotrophic signaling may contribute to the pathophysiology of stress-related disorders. Stress can either promote or impair learning and memory. Such opposing effects depend on whether synapses persist or decay after learning. Maintenance of new synapses formed at the time of learning upon neuronal network activation depends on the stress hormone-activated glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and neurotrophic factor release. Whether and how concurrent GR and neurotrophin signaling integrate to modulate synaptic plasticity and learning is not fully understood. Here, we show that deletion of the neurotrophin brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)–dependent GR-phosphorylation (PO4) sites impairs long-term memory retention and maintenance of newly formed postsynaptic dendritic spines in the mouse cortex after motor skills training. Chronic stress and the BDNF polymorphism Val66Met disrupt the BDNF-dependent GR-PO4 pathway necessary for preserving training-induced spines and previously acquired memories. Conversely, enrichment living promotes spine formation but fails to salvage training-related spines in mice lacking BDNF-dependent GR-PO4 sites, suggesting it is essential for spine consolidation and memory retention. Mechanistically, spine maturation and persistence in the motor cortex depend on synaptic mobilization of the glutamate receptor subunit A1 (GluA1) mediated by GR-PO4. Together, these findings indicate that regulation of GR-PO4 via activity-dependent BDNF signaling is important for the formation and maintenance of learning-dependent synapses. They also define a signaling mechanism underlying these effects.
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28
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Density of small dendritic spines and microtubule-associated-protein-2 immunoreactivity in the primary auditory cortex of subjects with schizophrenia. Neuropsychopharmacology 2019; 44:1055-1061. [PMID: 30795003 PMCID: PMC6461932 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-019-0350-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2018] [Revised: 02/15/2019] [Accepted: 02/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Previously, we demonstrated that dendritic spine density (DSD) in deep layer 3 of the primary auditory cortex (A1) is lower, due to having fewer small spines, in subjects with schizophrenia (SZ) than non-psychiatric control (NPC) subjects. We also previously demonstrated that microtubule-associated-protein-2 immunoreactivity (MAP2-IR) in A1 deep layer 3 is lower, and positively correlated with DSD, in SZ subjects. Here, we first sought to confirm these findings in an independent cohort of 25 SZ-NPC subject pairs (cohort 1). We used immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy to measure DSD and MAP2-IR in A1 deep layer 3. Consistent with previous studies, both DSD and MAP2-IR were lower in SZ subjects. We then tested the hypothesis that MAP2-IR mediates the effect of SZ on DSD in a cohort of 45 SZ-NPC subject pairs (combined cohort) that included all subjects from cohort 1 and two previously studied cohorts. Based on the distribution of MAP2-IR values in NPC subjects, we categorized each SZ subject as having either low MAP2-IR (SZ MAP2-IR(low)) or normal MAP2-IR (SZ MAP2-IR(normal)). Among SZ MAP-IR(low) subjects, mean DSD was significantly lower than in NPC subjects. However, mean DSD did not differ between SZ MAP2-IR(normal) and NPC subjects. Moreover, MAP2-IR statistically mediated small spine differences, with lower MAP2-IR values associated with fewer small spines. Our findings confirm that low density of small spines and low MAP2-IR are robust SZ phenotypes and suggest that MAP2-IR mediates the effect of SZ on DSD.
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29
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Estrogen-Dependent Functional Spine Dynamics in Neocortical Pyramidal Neurons of the Mouse. J Neurosci 2019; 39:4874-4888. [PMID: 30992373 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2772-18.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2018] [Revised: 04/09/2019] [Accepted: 04/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Surgical ovariectomy has been shown to reduce spine density in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells of rodents, and this reduction is reversed by 17β-estradiol (E2) treatment in a model of human estrogen replacement therapy. Here, we report reduction of spine density in apical dendrites of layer 5 pyramidal neurons of several neocortical regions that is reversed by subsequent E2 treatment in ovariectomized (OVX) female Thy1M-EGFP mice. We also found that OVX-associated reduction of spine density in somatosensory cortex was accompanied by a reduction in miniature EPSC (mEPSC) frequency (but not mIPSC frequency), indicating a change in functional synapses. OVX-associated spine loss in somatosensory cortex was also rescued by an agonist of the G-protein-linked estrogen receptor (GPER) but not by agonists of the classic estrogen receptors ERα/ERβ, whereas the opposite selectivity was found in area CA1. Acute treatment of neocortical slices with E2 also rescued the OVX-associated reduction in mEPSC frequency, which could be mimicked by a GPER agonist and abolished by a GPER antagonist. Time-lapse in vivo two-photon imaging showed that OVX-associated reduction in spine density is achieved by both an increase in spine loss rate and a decrease in spine gain rate and that subsequent rescue by E2 reversed both of these processes. Crucially, the spines added after E2 rescue were no more likely to reappear at or nearby the sites of pre-OVX spines than those in control mice treated with vehicle. Thus, a model of estrogen replacement therapy, although restoring spine density and dynamics, does not entirely restore functional connectivity.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Estrogen replacement therapy following menopause or surgical removal of the ovaries is a widespread medical practice, yet little is known about the consequences of such treatment for cells in the brain. Here, we show that estrogen replacement reverses some of the effects of surgical removal of the ovaries on the structure and function of brain cells in the mouse. Yet, importantly, the fine wiring of the brain is not returned to the presurgery state by estrogen treatment, suggesting lasting functional consequences.
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30
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Key periods of cognitive decline in a nonhuman primate model of cognitive aging, the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus). Neurobiol Aging 2019; 74:1-14. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2018.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2018] [Revised: 10/02/2018] [Accepted: 10/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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31
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Delevich K, Thomas AW, Wilbrecht L. Adolescence and "Late Blooming" Synapses of the Prefrontal Cortex. COLD SPRING HARBOR SYMPOSIA ON QUANTITATIVE BIOLOGY 2019; 83:37-43. [PMID: 30674651 DOI: 10.1101/sqb.2018.83.037507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The maturation of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) during adolescence is thought to be important for cognitive and affective development and mental health risk. Whereas many summaries of adolescent development have focused on dendritic spine pruning and gray matter thinning in the PFC during adolescence, we highlight recent rodent data from our laboratory and others to call attention to continued synapse formation and plasticity in the adolescent period in specific cell types and circuits. In particular, we highlight changes in inhibitory neurotransmission onto intratelencephalic (IT-type) projecting cortical neurons and late expansion of connectivity between the amygdala and PFC and the ventral tegmental area and PFC. Continued work on these "late blooming" synapses in specific cell types and circuits, and their interrelationships, will illuminate new opportunities for understanding and shaping the biology of adolescent development. We also address which aspects of adolescent PFC development are dependent on pubertal processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen Delevich
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
| | - A Wren Thomas
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.,Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
| | - Linda Wilbrecht
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.,Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
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32
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Gorlewicz A, Kaczmarek L. Pathophysiology of Trans-Synaptic Adhesion Molecules: Implications for Epilepsy. Front Cell Dev Biol 2018; 6:119. [PMID: 30298130 PMCID: PMC6160742 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2018.00119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2018] [Accepted: 08/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemical synapses are specialized interfaces between neurons in the brain that transmit and modulate information, thereby integrating cells into multiplicity of interacting neural circuits. Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) might form trans-synaptic complexes that are crucial for the appropriate identification of synaptic partners and further for the establishment, properties, and dynamics of synapses. When affected, trans-synaptic adhesion mechanisms play a role in synaptopathies in a variety of neuropsychiatric disorders including epilepsy. This review recapitulates current understanding of trans-synaptic interactions in pathophysiology of interneuronal connections. In particular, we discuss here the possible implications of trans-synaptic adhesion dysfunction for epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Gorlewicz
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
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33
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Omar MH, Kerrisk Campbell M, Xiao X, Zhong Q, Brunken WJ, Miner JH, Greer CA, Koleske AJ. CNS Neurons Deposit Laminin α5 to Stabilize Synapses. Cell Rep 2018; 21:1281-1292. [PMID: 29091766 PMCID: PMC5776391 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2017.10.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2017] [Revised: 09/21/2017] [Accepted: 10/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Synapses in the developing brain are structurally dynamic but become stable by early adulthood. We demonstrate here that an α5-subunit-containing laminin stabilizes synapses during this developmental transition. Hippocampal neurons deposit laminin α5 at synapses during adolescence as connections stabilize. Disruption of laminin α5 in neurons causes dramatic fluctuations in dendritic spine head size that can be rescued by exogenous α5-containing laminin. Conditional deletion of laminin α5 in vivo increases dendritic spine size and leads to an age-dependent loss of synapses accompanied by behavioral defects. Remaining synapses have larger postsynaptic densities and enhanced neurotransmission. Finally, we provide evidence that laminin α5 acts through an integrin α3β1-Abl2 kinase-p190RhoGAP signaling cascade and partners with laminin β2 to regulate dendritic spine density and behavior. Together, our results identify laminin α5 as a stabilizer of dendritic spines and synapses in the brain and elucidate key cellular and molecular mechanisms by which it acts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitchell H Omar
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Meghan Kerrisk Campbell
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Xiao Xiao
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Qiaonan Zhong
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - William J Brunken
- Department of Ophthalmology, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13202, USA
| | - Jeffrey H Miner
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Charles A Greer
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Anthony J Koleske
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06510, USA.
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Clark TA, Fu M, Dunn AK, Zuo Y, Jones TA. Preferential stabilization of newly formed dendritic spines in motor cortex during manual skill learning predicts performance gains, but not memory endurance. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2018; 152:50-60. [PMID: 29778761 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2018.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2018] [Revised: 04/26/2018] [Accepted: 05/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Previous findings that skill learning is associated with the formation and preferential stabilization of new dendritic spines in cortex have raised the possibility that this preferential stabilization is a mechanism for lasting skill memory. We investigated this possibility in adult mice using in vivo two-photon imaging to monitor spine dynamics on superficial apical dendrites of layer V pyramidal neurons in motor cortex during manual skill learning. Spine formation increased over the first 3 days of training on a skilled reaching task, followed by increased spine elimination. A greater proportion of spines formed during the first 3 training days were lost if training stopped after 3, compared with 15 days. However, performance gains achieved in 3 training days persisted, indicating that preferential new spine stabilization was non-essential for skill retention. Consistent with a role in ongoing skill refinement, the persistence of spines formed early in training strongly predicted performance improvements. Finally, while we observed no net spine density change on superficial dendrites, the density of spines on deeper apical branches of the same neuronal population was increased regardless of training duration, suggestive of a potential role in the retention of the initial skill memory. Together, these results indicate dendritic subpopulation-dependent variation in spine structural responses to skill learning, which potentially reflect distinct contributions to the refinement and retention of newly acquired motor skills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor A Clark
- Institute for Neuroscience, University of Texas, Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
| | - Min Fu
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Andrew K Dunn
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Yi Zuo
- Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Theresa A Jones
- Institute for Neuroscience, University of Texas, Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
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35
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Postnatal Ablation of Synaptic Retinoic Acid Signaling Impairs Cortical Information Processing and Sensory Discrimination in Mice. J Neurosci 2018; 38:5277-5288. [PMID: 29760176 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.3028-17.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2017] [Revised: 04/28/2018] [Accepted: 05/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinoic acid (RA) and its receptors (RARs) are well established essential transcriptional regulators during embryonic development. Recent findings in cultured neurons identified an independent and critical post-transcriptional role of RA and RARα in the homeostatic regulation of excitatory and inhibitory synaptic transmission in mature neurons. However, the functional relevance of synaptic RA signaling in vivo has not been established. Here, using somatosensory cortex as a model system and the RARα conditional knock-out mouse as a tool, we applied multiple genetic manipulations to delete RARα postnatally in specific populations of cortical neurons, and asked whether synaptic RA signaling observed in cultured neurons is involved in cortical information processing in vivo Indeed, conditional ablation of RARα in mice via a CaMKIIα-Cre or a layer 5-Cre driver line or via somatosensory cortex-specific viral expression of Cre-recombinase impaired whisker-dependent texture discrimination, suggesting a critical requirement of RARα expression in L5 pyramidal neurons of somatosensory cortex for normal tactile sensory processing. Transcranial two-photon imaging revealed a significant increase in dendritic spine elimination on apical dendrites of somatosensory cortical layer 5 pyramidal neurons in these mice. Interestingly, the enhancement of spine elimination is whisker experience-dependent as whisker trimming rescued the spine elimination phenotype. Additionally, experiencing an enriched environment improved texture discrimination in RARα-deficient mice and reduced excessive spine pruning. Thus, RA signaling is essential for normal experience-dependent cortical circuit remodeling and sensory processing.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The importance of synaptic RA signaling has been demonstrated in in vitro studies. However, whether RA signaling mediated by RARα contributes to neural circuit functions in vivo remains largely unknown. In this study, using a RARα conditional knock-out mouse, we performed multiple regional/cell-type-specific manipulation of RARα expression in the postnatal brain, and show that RARα signaling contributes to normal whisker-dependent texture discrimination as well as regulating spine dynamics of apical dendrites from layer (L5) pyramidal neurons in S1. Deletion of RARα in excitatory neurons in the forebrain induces elevated spine elimination and impaired sensory discrimination. Our study provides novel insights into the role of RARα signaling in cortical processing and experience-dependent spine maturation.
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36
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Abstract
Dynamic modification of synaptic connectivity in response to sensory experience is a vital step in the refinement of brain circuits as they are established during development and modified during learning. In addition to the well-established role for new spine growth and stabilization in the experience-dependent plasticity of neural circuits, dendritic spine elimination has been linked to improvements in learning, and dysregulation of spine elimination has been associated with intellectual disability and behavioral impairment. Proper brain function requires a tightly regulated balance between spine formation and spine elimination. Although most studies have focused on the mechanisms of spine formation, considerable progress has been made recently in delineating the neural activity patterns and downstream molecular mechanisms that drive dendritic spine elimination. Here, we review the current state of knowledge concerning the signaling pathways that drive dendritic spine shrinkage and elimination in the cerebral cortex and we discuss their implication in neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivar S Stein
- 1 Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Karen Zito
- 1 Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
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37
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PDE4D regulates Spine Plasticity and Memory in the Retrosplenial Cortex. Sci Rep 2018; 8:3895. [PMID: 29497131 PMCID: PMC5832851 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-22193-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2017] [Accepted: 02/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The retrosplenial cortex (RSC) plays a critical role in episodic memory, but the molecular mechanisms governing plasticity in this structure are poorly understood. Diverse studies have demonstrated a role for RSC in acquisition, early consolidation and retrieval similar to the hippocampus (HC), as well as in systems consolidation similar to the anterior cingulate cortex. Here, we asked whether established molecular and structural substrates of memory consolidation in the HC also engage in RSC shortly after learning. We show striking parallels in training induced gene-activation in HC and RSC following contextual conditioning, which is blocked by systemic administration of an NMDA receptor antagonist. Long-term memory is enhanced by retrosplenial and hippocampal knockdown (KD) of the cAMP specific phosphodiesterase Pde4d. However, while training per se induces lasting spine changes in HC, this does not occur in RSC. Instead, increases in the number of mature dendritic spines are found in the RSC only if cAMP signaling is augmented by Pde4d KD, and spine changes are at least partially independent of training. This research highlights parallels and differences in spine plasticity mechanisms between HC and RSC, and provides evidence for a functional dissociation of the two.
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Quantitative 3-D morphometric analysis of individual dendritic spines. Sci Rep 2018; 8:3545. [PMID: 29476060 PMCID: PMC5825014 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-21753-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2017] [Accepted: 02/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The observation and analysis of dendritic spines morphological changes poses a major challenge in neuroscience studies. The alterations of their density and/or morphology are indicators of the cellular processes involved in neural plasticity underlying learning and memory, and are symptomatic in neuropsychiatric disorders. Despite ongoing intense investigations in imaging approaches, the relationship between changes in spine morphology and synaptic function is still unknown. The existing quantitative analyses are difficult to perform and require extensive user intervention. Here, we propose a new method for (1) the three-dimensional (3-D) segmentation of dendritic spines using a multi-scale opening approach and (2) define 3-D morphological attributes of individual spines for the effective assessment of their structural plasticity. The method was validated using confocal light microscopy images of dendritic spines from dissociated hippocampal cultures and brain slices (1) to evaluate accuracy relative to manually labeled ground-truth annotations and relative to the state-of-the-art Imaris tool, (2) to analyze reproducibility of user-independence of the segmentation method, and (3) to quantitatively analyze morphological changes in individual spines before and after chemically induced long-term potentiation. The method was monitored and used to precisely describe the morphology of individual spines in real-time using consecutive images of the same dendritic fragment.
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Gaskill PJ, Miller DR, Gamble-George J, Yano H, Khoshbouei H. HIV, Tat and dopamine transmission. Neurobiol Dis 2017; 105:51-73. [PMID: 28457951 PMCID: PMC5541386 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2017.04.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2017] [Revised: 04/04/2017] [Accepted: 04/16/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a progressive infection that targets the immune system, affecting more than 37 million people around the world. While combinatorial antiretroviral therapy (cART) has lowered mortality rates and improved quality of life in infected individuals, the prevalence of HIV associated neurocognitive disorders is increasing and HIV associated cognitive decline remains prevalent. Recent research has suggested that HIV accessory proteins may be involved in this decline, and several studies have indicated that the HIV protein transactivator of transcription (Tat) can disrupt normal neuronal and glial function. Specifically, data indicate that Tat may directly impact dopaminergic neurotransmission, by modulating the function of the dopamine transporter and specifically damaging dopamine-rich regions of the CNS. HIV infection of the CNS has long been associated with dopaminergic dysfunction, but the mechanisms remain undefined. The specific effect(s) of Tat on dopaminergic neurotransmission may be, at least partially, a mechanism by which HIV infection directly or indirectly induces dopaminergic dysfunction. Therefore, precisely defining the specific effects of Tat on the dopaminergic system will help to elucidate the mechanisms by which HIV infection of the CNS induces neuropsychiatric, neurocognitive and neurological disorders that involve dopaminergic neurotransmission. Further, this will provide a discussion of the experiments needed to further these investigations, and may help to identify or develop new therapeutic approaches for the prevention or treatment of these disorders in HIV-infected individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter J Gaskill
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19102, United States.
| | - Douglas R Miller
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States
| | - Joyonna Gamble-George
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States
| | - Hideaki Yano
- National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, United States
| | - Habibeh Khoshbouei
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States.
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40
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Hoxha E, Lippiello P, Scelfo B, Tempia F, Ghirardi M, Miniaci MC. Maturation, Refinement, and Serotonergic Modulation of Cerebellar Cortical Circuits in Normal Development and in Murine Models of Autism. Neural Plast 2017; 2017:6595740. [PMID: 28894610 PMCID: PMC5574313 DOI: 10.1155/2017/6595740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2017] [Revised: 07/06/2017] [Accepted: 07/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The formation of the complex cerebellar cortical circuits follows different phases, with initial synaptogenesis and subsequent processes of refinement guided by a variety of mechanisms. The regularity of the cellular and synaptic organization of the cerebellar cortex allowed detailed studies of the structural plasticity mechanisms underlying the formation of new synapses and retraction of redundant ones. For the attainment of the monoinnervation of the Purkinje cell by a single climbing fiber, several signals are involved, including electrical activity, contact signals, homosynaptic and heterosynaptic interaction, calcium transients, postsynaptic receptors, and transduction pathways. An important role in this developmental program is played by serotonergic projections that, acting on temporally and spatially regulated postsynaptic receptors, induce and modulate the phases of synaptic formation and maturation. In the adult cerebellar cortex, many developmental mechanisms persist but play different roles, such as supporting synaptic plasticity during learning and formation of cerebellar memory traces. A dysfunction at any stage of this process can lead to disorders of cerebellar origin, which include autism spectrum disorders but are not limited to motor deficits. Recent evidence in animal models links impairment of Purkinje cell function with autism-like symptoms including sociability deficits, stereotyped movements, and interspecific communication by vocalization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eriola Hoxha
- Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi (NICO), Torino, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | | | - Bibiana Scelfo
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Filippo Tempia
- Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi (NICO), Torino, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
- National Institute of Neuroscience (INN), Torino, Italy
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41
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Schaefer N, Rotermund C, Blumrich EM, Lourenco MV, Joshi P, Hegemann RU, Jamwal S, Ali N, García Romero EM, Sharma S, Ghosh S, Sinha JK, Loke H, Jain V, Lepeta K, Salamian A, Sharma M, Golpich M, Nawrotek K, Paidi RK, Shahidzadeh SM, Piermartiri T, Amini E, Pastor V, Wilson Y, Adeniyi PA, Datusalia AK, Vafadari B, Saini V, Suárez-Pozos E, Kushwah N, Fontanet P, Turner AJ. The malleable brain: plasticity of neural circuits and behavior - a review from students to students. J Neurochem 2017. [PMID: 28632905 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.14107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
One of the most intriguing features of the brain is its ability to be malleable, allowing it to adapt continually to changes in the environment. Specific neuronal activity patterns drive long-lasting increases or decreases in the strength of synaptic connections, referred to as long-term potentiation and long-term depression, respectively. Such phenomena have been described in a variety of model organisms, which are used to study molecular, structural, and functional aspects of synaptic plasticity. This review originated from the first International Society for Neurochemistry (ISN) and Journal of Neurochemistry (JNC) Flagship School held in Alpbach, Austria (Sep 2016), and will use its curriculum and discussions as a framework to review some of the current knowledge in the field of synaptic plasticity. First, we describe the role of plasticity during development and the persistent changes of neural circuitry occurring when sensory input is altered during critical developmental stages. We then outline the signaling cascades resulting in the synthesis of new plasticity-related proteins, which ultimately enable sustained changes in synaptic strength. Going beyond the traditional understanding of synaptic plasticity conceptualized by long-term potentiation and long-term depression, we discuss system-wide modifications and recently unveiled homeostatic mechanisms, such as synaptic scaling. Finally, we describe the neural circuits and synaptic plasticity mechanisms driving associative memory and motor learning. Evidence summarized in this review provides a current view of synaptic plasticity in its various forms, offers new insights into the underlying mechanisms and behavioral relevance, and provides directions for future research in the field of synaptic plasticity. Read the Editorial Highlight for this article on page 788. Cover Image for this issue: doi: 10.1111/jnc.13815.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natascha Schaefer
- Institute for Clinical Neurobiology, Julius-Maximilians-University of Wuerzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Carola Rotermund
- German Center of Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Eva-Maria Blumrich
- Centre for Biomolecular Interactions Bremen, Faculty 2 (Biology/Chemistry), University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany.,Centre for Environmental Research and Sustainable Technology, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Mychael V Lourenco
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Pooja Joshi
- Inserm UMR 1141, Robert Debre Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Regina U Hegemann
- Department of Psychology, Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Sumit Jamwal
- Department of Pharmacology, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga, Punjab, India
| | - Nilufar Ali
- Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, USA
| | | | - Sorabh Sharma
- Neuropharmacology Division, Department of Pharmacy, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, Rajasthan, India
| | - Shampa Ghosh
- National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Tarnaka, Hyderabad, India
| | - Jitendra K Sinha
- National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Tarnaka, Hyderabad, India
| | - Hannah Loke
- Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Molecular and Translational Science, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Vishal Jain
- Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences, Delhi, India
| | - Katarzyna Lepeta
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Ahmad Salamian
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Mahima Sharma
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Mojtaba Golpich
- Department of Medicine, University Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (HUKM), Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Katarzyna Nawrotek
- Department of Process Thermodynamics, Faculty of Process and Environmental Engineering, Lodz University of Technology, Lodz, Poland
| | - Ramesh K Paidi
- CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Jadavpur, Kolkata, India
| | - Sheila M Shahidzadeh
- Department of Biology, Program in Neuroscience, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, USA
| | - Tetsade Piermartiri
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, Brazil
| | - Elham Amini
- Department of Medicine, University Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (HUKM), Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Veronica Pastor
- Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencia Prof. Eduardo De Robertis, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Yvette Wilson
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Philip A Adeniyi
- Cell Biology and Neurotoxicity Unit, Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Afe Babalola University, Ado - Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria
| | | | - Benham Vafadari
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Vedangana Saini
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, Munroe-Meyer Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Edna Suárez-Pozos
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Toxicología, México
| | - Neetu Kushwah
- Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences, Delhi, India
| | - Paula Fontanet
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, Institute of Cellular Biology and Neuroscience (IBCN), CONICET-UBA, School of Medicine, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Anthony J Turner
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
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Chronic CB1 cannabinoid receptor antagonism persistently increases dendritic spine densities in brain regions important to zebra finch vocal learning and production in an antidepressant-sensitive manner. Brain Res 2017; 1672:1-9. [PMID: 28743448 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2017.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2016] [Revised: 07/14/2017] [Accepted: 07/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
During typical late-postnatal CNS development, net reductions in dendritic spine densities are associated with activity-dependent learning. Prior results showed agonist exposure in young animals increased spine densities in a subset of song regions while adult exposures did not, suggesting endocannabinoid signaling regulates dendritic spine dynamics important to vocal development. Here we addressed this question using the CB1 receptor-selective antagonist SR141716A (SR) to disrupt endocannabinoid signaling both during and after vocal learning. We hypothesized antagonist exposure during vocal development, but not adulthood, would alter spine densities. Following 25days of exposure and a 25day maturation period, 3D reconstructions of Golgi-Cox stained neurons were used to measure spine densities. We found antagonist treatments during both age periods increased densities within Area X (basal ganglia) and following adult treatments within HVC (premotor cortical-like). Results suggest both inappropriate cannabinoid receptor stimulation and inhibition are capable of similar disregulatory effects during establishment of circuits important to vocal learning, with antagonism extending these effects through adulthood. Given clinical evidence of depressant effects of SR, we tested the ability of the antidepressant monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) phenelzine to mitigate SR-induced spine density increases. This was confirmed implicating interaction between monoamine and endocannabinoid systems. Finally, we evaluated acute effects of these drugs to alter ability of novel song exposure to increase spine densities in auditory NCM and other regions, finding when combined, SR and phenelzine increased densities within Area X. These results contribute to understanding relevance of dendritic spine dynamics in neuronal development, drug abuse, and depression.
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Abstract
Recent advances in connectomics have led to a synthesis of perspectives regarding the brain's functional organization that reconciles classical concepts of localized specialization with an appreciation for properties that emerge from interactions across distributed functional networks. This provides a more comprehensive framework for understanding neural mechanisms of normal cognition and disease. Although fMRI has not become a routine clinical tool, research has already had important influences on clinical concepts guiding diagnosis and patient management. Here we review illustrative examples. Studies demonstrating the network plasticity possible in adults and the global consequences of even focal brain injuries or disease both have had substantial impact on modern concepts of disease evolution and expression. Applications of functional connectomics in studies of clinical populations are challenging traditional disease classifications and helping to clarify biological relationships between clinical syndromes (and thus also ways of extending indications for, or "re-purposing," current treatments). Large datasets from prospective, longitudinal studies promise to enable the discovery and validation of functional connectomic biomarkers with the potential to identify people at high risk of disease before clinical onset, at a time when treatments may be most effective. Studies of pain and consciousness have catalyzed reconsiderations of approaches to clinical management, but also have stimulated debate about the clinical meaningfulness of differences in internal perceptual or cognitive states inferred from functional connectomics or other physiological correlates. By way of a closing summary, we offer a personal view of immediate challenges and potential opportunities for clinically relevant applications of fMRI-based functional connectomics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul M Matthews
- Division of Brain Sciences, Department of Medicine and Centre for Neurotechnology, Imperial College London, London WC12 0NN, UK.
| | - Adam Hampshire
- Division of Brain Sciences, Department of Medicine and Centre for Neurotechnology, Imperial College London, London WC12 0NN, UK
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Tjia M, Yu X, Jammu LS, Lu J, Zuo Y. Pyramidal Neurons in Different Cortical Layers Exhibit Distinct Dynamics and Plasticity of Apical Dendritic Spines. Front Neural Circuits 2017; 11:43. [PMID: 28674487 PMCID: PMC5474458 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2017.00043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2016] [Accepted: 05/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The mammalian cerebral cortex is typically organized in six layers containing multiple types of neurons, with pyramidal neurons (PNs) being the most abundant. PNs in different cortical layers have distinct morphology, physiology and functional roles in neural circuits. Therefore, their development and synaptic plasticity may also differ. Using in vivo transcranial two-photon microscopy, we followed the structural dynamics of dendritic spines on apical dendrites of layer (L) 2/3 and L5 PNs at different developmental stages. We show that the density and dynamics of spines are significantly higher in L2/3 PNs than L5 PNs in both adolescent (1 month old) and adult (4 months old) mice. While spine density of L5 PNs decreases during adolescent development due to a higher rate of spine elimination than formation, there is no net change in the spine density along apical dendrites of L2/3 PNs over this period. In addition, experiences exert differential impact on the dynamics of apical dendritic spines of PNs resided in different cortical layers. While motor skill learning promotes spine turnover on L5 PNs in the motor cortex, it does not change the spine dynamics on L2/3 PNs. In addition, neonatal sensory deprivation decreases the spine density of both L2/3 and L5 PNs, but leads to opposite changes in spine dynamics among these two populations of neurons in adolescence. In summary, our data reveal distinct dynamics and plasticity of apical dendritic spines on PNs in different layers in the living mouse cortex, which may arise from their distinct functional roles in cortical circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Tjia
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of CaliforniaSanta Cruz, CA, United States
| | - Xinzhu Yu
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of CaliforniaSanta Cruz, CA, United States
| | - Lavpreet S Jammu
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of CaliforniaSanta Cruz, CA, United States
| | - Ju Lu
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of CaliforniaSanta Cruz, CA, United States
| | - Yi Zuo
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of CaliforniaSanta Cruz, CA, United States
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MacDonald ML, Alhassan J, Newman JT, Richard M, Gu H, Kelly RM, Sampson AR, Fish KN, Penzes P, Wills ZP, Lewis DA, Sweet RA. Selective Loss of Smaller Spines in Schizophrenia. Am J Psychiatry 2017; 174:586-594. [PMID: 28359200 PMCID: PMC5800878 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2017.16070814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Decreased density of dendritic spines in adult schizophrenia subjects has been hypothesized to result from increased pruning of excess synapses in adolescence. In vivo imaging studies have confirmed that synaptic pruning is largely driven by the loss of large or mature synapses. Thus, increased pruning throughout adolescence would likely result in a deficit of large spines in adulthood. Here, the authors examined the density and volume of dendritic spines in deep layer 3 of the auditory cortex of 20 schizophrenia and 20 matched comparison subjects as well as aberrant voltage-gated calcium channel subunit protein expression linked to spine loss. METHOD Primary auditory cortex deep layer 3 spine density and volume was assessed in 20 pairs of schizophrenia and matched comparison subjects in an initial and replication cohort (12 and eight pairs) by immunohistochemistry-confocal microscopy. Targeted mass spectrometry was used to quantify postsynaptic density and voltage-gated calcium channel protein expression. The effect of increased voltage-gated calcium channel subunit protein expression on spine density and volume was assessed in primary rat neuronal culture. RESULTS Only the smallest spines are lost in deep layer 3 of the primary auditory cortex in subjects with schizophrenia, while larger spines are retained. Levels of the tryptic peptide ALFDFLK, found in the schizophrenia risk gene CACNB4, are inversely correlated with the density of smaller, but not larger, spines in schizophrenia subjects. Consistent with this observation, CACNB4 overexpression resulted in a lower density of smaller spines in primary neuronal cultures. CONCLUSIONS These findings require a rethinking of the overpruning hypothesis, demonstrate a link between small spine loss and a schizophrenia risk gene, and should spur more in-depth investigations of the mechanisms that govern new or small spine generation and stabilization under normal conditions as well as how this process is impaired in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew L. MacDonald
- Translational Neuroscience Program, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Jamil Alhassan
- Translational Neuroscience Program, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Jason T. Newman
- Translational Neuroscience Program, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Michelle Richard
- Translational Neuroscience Program, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Hong Gu
- Department of Statistics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Ryan M. Kelly
- Department of Statistics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Alan R. Sampson
- Department of Statistics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Kenneth N. Fish
- Translational Neuroscience Program, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Peter Penzes
- Department of Physiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
| | - Zachary P. Wills
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - David A. Lewis
- Translational Neuroscience Program, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Robert A. Sweet
- Translational Neuroscience Program, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
- Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
- Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA
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46
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Fast high-resolution miniature two-photon microscopy for brain imaging in freely behaving mice. Nat Methods 2017; 14:713-719. [PMID: 28553965 DOI: 10.1038/nmeth.4305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 254] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2016] [Accepted: 04/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Developments in miniaturized microscopes have enabled visualization of brain activities and structural dynamics in animals engaging in self-determined behaviors. However, it remains a challenge to resolve activity at single dendritic spines in freely behaving animals. Here, we report the design and application of a fast high-resolution, miniaturized two-photon microscope (FHIRM-TPM) that accomplishes this goal. With a headpiece weighing 2.15 g and a hollow-core photonic crystal fiber delivering 920-nm femtosecond laser pulses, the FHIRM-TPM is capable of imaging commonly used biosensors (GFP and GCaMP6) at high spatiotemporal resolution (0.64 μm laterally and 3.35 μm axially, 40 Hz at 256 × 256 pixels for raster scanning and 10,000 Hz for free-line scanning). We demonstrate the microscope's robustness with hour-long recordings of neuronal activities at the level of spines in mice experiencing vigorous body movements.
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47
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McKinney B, Ding Y, Lewis DA, Sweet RA. DNA methylation as a putative mechanism for reduced dendritic spine density in the superior temporal gyrus of subjects with schizophrenia. Transl Psychiatry 2017; 7:e1032. [PMID: 28195572 PMCID: PMC5438028 DOI: 10.1038/tp.2016.297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2016] [Accepted: 11/13/2016] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Reduced dendritic spine density (DSD) in cortical layer 3 of the superior temporal gyrus (STG), and multiple other brain regions, is consistently observed in postmortem studies of schizophrenia (SZ). Elucidating the molecular mechanisms of this intermediate phenotype holds promise for understanding SZ pathophysiology, identifying SZ treatment targets and developing animal models. DNA methylation (DNAm), the addition of a methyl group to a cytosine nucleotide, regulates gene transcription and is a strong candidate for such a mechanism. We tested the hypothesis that DNAm correlates with DSD in the human STG and that this relationship is disrupted in SZ. We used the Illumina Infinium HumanMethylation450 Beadchip Array to quantify DNAm on a genome-wide scale in the postmortem STG from 22 SZ subjects and matched non-psychiatric control (NPC) subjects; DSD measures were available for 17 of the 22 subject pairs. We found DNAm to correlate with DSD at more sites than expected by chance in NPC, but not SZ, subjects. In addition, we show that the slopes of the linear DNAm-DSD correlations differed between SZ and NPC subjects at more sites than expected by chance. From these data, we identified 2 candidate genes for mediating DSD abnormalities in SZ: brain-specific angiogenesis inhibitor 1-associated protein 2 (BAIAP2) and discs large, Drosophila, homolog of, 1 (DLG1). Together, these data suggest that altered DNAm in SZ may be a mechanism for SZ-related DSD reductions.
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Affiliation(s)
- B McKinney
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA,Translational Neuroscience Program, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Y Ding
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - D A Lewis
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA,Translational Neuroscience Program, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA,Department of Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - R A Sweet
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA,Translational Neuroscience Program, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA,Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA,Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA, USA,Department of Psychiatry, Neurology and VISN 4 Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Biomedical Science Tower, Room W-1645, 3811 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. E-mail:
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48
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Abstract
Experience-driven synaptic plasticity is believed to underlie adaptive behavior by rearranging the way neuronal circuits process information. We have previously discovered that O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT), an enzyme that modifies protein function by attaching β-N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) to serine and threonine residues of intracellular proteins (O-GlcNAc), regulates food intake by modulating excitatory synaptic function in neurons in the hypothalamus. However, how OGT regulates excitatory synapse function is largely unknown. Here we demonstrate that OGT is enriched in the postsynaptic density of excitatory synapses. In the postsynaptic density, O-GlcNAcylation on multiple proteins increased upon neuronal stimulation. Knockout of the OGT gene decreased the synaptic expression of the AMPA receptor GluA2 and GluA3 subunits, but not the GluA1 subunit. The number of opposed excitatory presynaptic terminals was sharply reduced upon postsynaptic knockout of OGT. There were also fewer and less mature dendritic spines on OGT knockout neurons. These data identify OGT as a molecular mechanism that regulates synapse maturity.
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Piekarski DJ, Johnson CM, Boivin JR, Thomas AW, Lin WC, Delevich K, M Galarce E, Wilbrecht L. Does puberty mark a transition in sensitive periods for plasticity in the associative neocortex? Brain Res 2017; 1654:123-144. [PMID: 27590721 PMCID: PMC5283387 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2016.08.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2016] [Revised: 08/17/2016] [Accepted: 08/29/2016] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Postnatal brain development is studded with sensitive periods during which experience dependent plasticity is enhanced. This enables rapid learning from environmental inputs and reorganization of cortical circuits that matches behavior with environmental contingencies. Significant headway has been achieved in characterizing and understanding sensitive period biology in primary sensory cortices, but relatively little is known about sensitive period biology in associative neocortex. One possible mediator is the onset of puberty, which marks the transition to adolescence, when animals shift their behavior toward gaining independence and exploring their social world. Puberty onset correlates with reduced behavioral plasticity in some domains and enhanced plasticity in others, and therefore may drive the transition from juvenile to adolescent brain function. Pubertal onset is also occurring earlier in developed nations, particularly in unserved populations, and earlier puberty is associated with vulnerability for substance use, depression and anxiety. In the present article we review the evidence that supports a causal role for puberty in developmental changes in the function and neurobiology of the associative neocortex. We also propose a model for how pubertal hormones may regulate sensitive period plasticity in associative neocortex. We conclude that the evidence suggests puberty onset may play a causal role in some aspects of associative neocortical development, but that further research that manipulates puberty and measures gonadal hormones is required. We argue that further work of this kind is urgently needed to determine how earlier puberty may negatively impact human health and learning potential. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled SI: Adolescent plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Piekarski
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley CA 94720, USA
| | - Carolyn M Johnson
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley CA 94720, USA
| | - Josiah R Boivin
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco CA 94158, USA
| | - A Wren Thomas
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley CA 94720, USA
| | - Wan Chen Lin
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley CA 94720, USA
| | - Kristen Delevich
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley CA 94720, USA
| | - Ezequiel M Galarce
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley CA 94720, USA
| | - Linda Wilbrecht
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley CA 94720, USA; Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley CA 94720, USA.
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Cell-Autonomous Regulation of Dendritic Spine Density by PirB. eNeuro 2016; 3:eN-NWR-0089-16. [PMID: 27752542 PMCID: PMC5054304 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0089-16.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2016] [Revised: 09/17/2016] [Accepted: 09/23/2016] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Synapse density on cortical pyramidal neurons is modulated by experience. This process is highest during developmental critical periods, when mechanisms of synaptic plasticity are fully engaged. In mouse visual cortex, the critical period for ocular dominance (OD) plasticity coincides with the developmental pruning of synapses. At this time, mice lacking paired Ig-like receptor B (PirB) have excess numbers of dendritic spines on L5 neurons; these spines persist and are thought to underlie the juvenile-like OD plasticity observed in adulthood. Here we examine whether PirB is required specifically in excitatory neurons to exert its effect on dendritic spine and synapse density during the critical period. In mice with a conditional allele of PirB (PirBfl/fl), PirB was deleted only from L2/3 cortical pyramidal neurons in vivo by timed in utero electroporation of Cre recombinase. Sparse mosaic expression of Cre produced neurons lacking PirB in a sea of wild-type neurons and glia. These neurons had significantly elevated dendritic spine density, as well as increased frequency of miniature EPSCs, suggesting that they receive a greater number of synaptic inputs relative to Cre– neighbors. The effect of cell-specific PirB deletion on dendritic spine density was not accompanied by changes in dendritic branching complexity or axonal bouton density. Together, results imply a neuron-specific, cell-autonomous action of PirB on synaptic density in L2/3 pyramidal cells of visual cortex. Moreover, they are consistent with the idea that PirB functions normally to corepress spine density and synaptic plasticity, thereby maintaining headroom for cells to encode ongoing experience-dependent structural change throughout life.
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