Characterization of the extracellular free water signal in schizophrenia using multi-site diffusion MRI harmonization

Studies applying Free Water Imaging have consistently reported significant global increases in extracellular free water (FW) in populations of individuals with early psychosis. However, these published studies focused on homogenous clinical participant groups (e.g., only first episode or chronic), thereby limiting our understanding of the time course of free water elevations across illness stages. Moreover, the relationship between FW and duration of illness has yet to be directly tested. Leveraging our multi-site diffusion magnetic resonance imaging(dMRI) harmonization approach, we analyzed dMRI scans collected by 12 international sites from 441 healthy controls and 434 individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders at different illness stages and ages (15-58 years). We characterized the pattern of age-related FW changes by assessing whole brain white matter in individuals with schizophrenia and healthy controls. In individuals with schizophrenia, average whole brain FW was higher than in controls across all ages, with the greatest FW values observed from 15 to 23 years (effect size range = [0.70-0.87]). Following this peak, FW exhibited a monotonic decrease until reaching a minima at the age of 39 years. After 39 years, an attenuated monotonic increase in FW was observed, but with markedly smaller effect sizes when compared to younger patients (effect size range = [0.32-0.43]). Importantly, FW was found to be negatively associated with duration of illness in schizophrenia (p = 0.006), independent of the effects of other clinical and demographic data. In summary, our study finds in a large, age-diverse sample that participants with schizophrenia with a shorter duration of illness showed higher FW values compared to participants with more prolonged illness. Our findings provide further evidence that elevations in the FW are present in individuals with schizophrenia, with the greatest differences in the FW being observed in those at the early stages of the disorder, which might suggest acute extracellular processes.

Cognitive deficits, clinical variables, and white matter microstructure in schizophrenia: a multisite harmonization study

Cognitive deficits are among the best predictors of real-world functioning in schizophrenia. However, our understanding of how cognitive deficits relate to neuropathology and clinical presentation over the disease lifespan is limited. Here, we combine multi-site, harmonized cognitive, imaging, demographic, and clinical data from over 900 individuals to characterize a) cognitive deficits across the schizophrenia lifespan and b) the association between cognitive deficits, clinical presentation, and white matter (WM) microstructure. Multimodal harmonization was accomplished using T-scores for cognitive data, previously reported standardization methods for demographic and clinical data, and an established harmonization method for imaging data. We applied t-tests and correlation analysis to describe cognitive deficits in individuals with schizophrenia. We then calculated whole-brain WM fractional anisotropy (FA) and utilized regression-mediation analyses to model the association between diagnosis, FA, and cognitive deficits. We observed pronounced cognitive deficits in individuals with schizophrenia (p < 0.006), associated with more positive symptoms and medication dosage. Regression-mediation analyses showed that WM microstructure mediated the association between schizophrenia and language/processing speed/working memory/non-verbal memory. In addition, processing speed mediated the influence of diagnosis and WM microstructure on the other cognitive domains. Our study highlights the critical role of cognitive deficits in schizophrenia. We further show that WM is crucial when trying to understand the role of cognitive deficits, given that it explains the association between schizophrenia and cognitive deficits (directly and via processing speed).

A meta-analysis of deep brain structural shape and asymmetry abnormalities in 2,833 individuals with schizophrenia compared with 3,929 healthy volunteers via the ENIGMA Consortium

Schizophrenia is associated with widespread alterations in subcortical brain structure. While analytic methods have enabled more detailed morphometric characterization, findings are often equivocal. In this meta-analysis, we employed the harmonized ENIGMA shape analysis protocols to collaboratively investigate subcortical brain structure shape differences between individuals with schizophrenia and healthy control participants. The study analyzed data from 2,833 individuals with schizophrenia and 3,929 healthy control participants contributed by 21 worldwide research groups participating in the ENIGMA Schizophrenia Working Group. Harmonized shape analysis protocols were applied to each site's data independently for bilateral hippocampus, amygdala, caudate, accumbens, putamen, pallidum, and thalamus obtained from T1-weighted structural MRI scans. Mass univariate meta-analyses revealed more-concave-than-convex shape differences in the hippocampus, amygdala, accumbens, and thalamus in individuals with schizophrenia compared with control participants, more-convex-than-concave shape differences in the putamen and pallidum, and both concave and convex shape differences in the caudate. Patterns of exaggerated asymmetry were observed across the hippocampus, amygdala, and thalamus in individuals with schizophrenia compared to control participants, while diminished asymmetry encompassed ventral striatum and ventral and dorsal thalamus. Our analyses also revealed that higher chlorpromazine dose equivalents and increased positive symptom levels were associated with patterns of contiguous convex shape differences across multiple subcortical structures. Findings from our shape meta-analysis suggest that common neurobiological mechanisms may contribute to gray matter reduction across multiple subcortical regions, thus enhancing our understanding of the nature of network disorganization in schizophrenia.

Elucidating the relationship between white matter structure, demographic, and clinical variables in schizophrenia-a multicenter harmonized diffusion tensor imaging study

White matter (WM) abnormalities are repeatedly demonstrated across the schizophrenia time-course. However, our understanding of how demographic and clinical variables interact, influence, or are dependent on WM pathologies is limited. The most well-known barriers to progress are heterogeneous findings due to small sample sizes and the confounding influence of age on WM. The present study leverages access to the harmonized diffusion magnetic-resonance-imaging data and standardized clinical data from 13 international sites (597 schizophrenia patients (SCZ)). Fractional anisotropy (FA) values for all major WM structures in patients were predicted based on FA models estimated from a healthy population (n = 492). We utilized the deviations between predicted and real FA values to answer three essential questions. (1) "Which clinical variables explain WM abnormalities?". (2) "Does the degree of WM abnormalities predict symptom severity?". (3) "Does sex influence any of those relationships?". Regression and mediator analyses revealed that a longer duration-of-illness is associated with more severe WM abnormalities in several tracts. In addition, they demonstrated that a higher antipsychotic medication dose is related to more severe corpus callosum abnormalities. A structural equation model revealed that patients with more WM abnormalities display higher symptom severity. Last, the results exhibited sex-specificity. Males showed a stronger association between duration-of-illness and WM abnormalities. Females presented a stronger association between WM abnormalities and symptom severity, with IQ impacting this relationship. Our findings provide clear evidence for the interaction of demographic, clinical, and behavioral variables with WM pathology in SCZ. Our results also point to the need for longitudinal studies, directly investigating the casualty and sex-specificity of these relationships, as well as the impact of cognitive resiliency on structure-function relationships.

White matter abnormalities across the lifespan of schizophrenia: a harmonized multi-site diffusion MRI study

Several prominent theories of schizophrenia suggest that structural white matter pathologies may follow a developmental, maturational, and/or degenerative process. However, a lack of lifespan studies has precluded verification of these theories. Here, we analyze the largest sample of carefully harmonized diffusion MRI data to comprehensively characterize age-related white matter trajectories, as measured by fractional anisotropy (FA), across the course of schizophrenia. Our analysis comprises diffusion scans of 600 schizophrenia patients and 492 healthy controls at different illness stages and ages (14-65 years), which were gathered from 13 sites. We determined the pattern of age-related FA changes by cross-sectionally assessing the timing of the structural neuropathology associated with schizophrenia. Quadratic curves were used to model between-group FA differences across whole-brain white matter and fiber tracts at each age; fiber tracts were then clustered according to both the effect-sizes and pattern of lifespan white matter FA differences. In whole-brain white matter, FA was significantly lower across the lifespan (up to 7%; p < 0.0033) and reached peak maturation younger in patients (27 years) compared to controls (33 years). Additionally, three distinct patterns of neuropathology emerged when investigating white matter fiber tracts in patients: (1) developmental abnormalities in limbic fibers, (2) accelerated aging and abnormal maturation in long-range association fibers, (3) severe developmental abnormalities and accelerated aging in callosal fibers. Our findings strongly suggest that white matter in schizophrenia is affected across entire stages of the disease. Perhaps most strikingly, we show that white matter changes in schizophrenia involve dynamic interactions between neuropathological processes in a tract-specific manner.

Investigating Sexual Dimorphism of Human White Matter in a Harmonized, Multisite Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study

Axonal myelination and repair, critical processes for brain development, maturation, and aging, remain controlled by sexual hormones. Whether this influence is reflected in structural brain differences between sexes, and whether it can be quantified by neuroimaging, remains controversial. Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) is an in vivo method that can track myelination changes throughout the lifespan. We utilize a large, multisite sample of harmonized dMRI data (n = 551, age = 9-65 years, 46% females/54% males) to investigate the influence of sex on white matter (WM) structure. We model lifespan trajectories of WM using the most common dMRI measure fractional anisotropy (FA). Next, we examine the influence of both age and sex on FA variability. We estimate the overlap between male and female FA and test whether it is possible to label individual brains as male or female. Our results demonstrate regionally and spatially specific effects of sex. Sex differences are limited to limbic structures and young ages. Additionally, not only do sex differences diminish with age, but tracts within each subject become more similar to one another. Last, we show the high overlap in FA between sexes, which implies that determining sex based on WM remains open.

Retrospective harmonization of multi-site diffusion MRI data acquired with different acquisition parameters

A joint and integrated analysis of multi-site diffusion MRI (dMRI) datasets can dramatically increase the statistical power of neuroimaging studies and enable comparative studies pertaining to several brain disorders. However, dMRI data sets acquired on multiple scanners cannot be naively pooled for joint analysis due to scanner specific nonlinear effects as well as differences in acquisition parameters. Consequently, for joint analysis, the dMRI data has to be harmonized, which involves removing scanner-specific differences from the raw dMRI signal. In this work, we propose a dMRI harmonization method that is capable of removing scanner-specific effects, while accounting for minor differences in acquisition parameters such as b-value, spatial resolution and number of gradient directions. We validate our algorithm on dMRI data acquired from two sites: Philadelphia Neurodevelopmental Cohort (PNC) with 800 healthy adolescents (ages 8-22 years) and Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) with 70 healthy subjects (ages 14-54 years). In particular, we show that gender and age-related maturation differences in different age groups are preserved after harmonization, as measured using effect sizes (small, medium and large), irrespective of the test sample size. Since we use matched control subjects from different scanners to estimate scanner-specific effects, our goal in this work is also to determine the minimum number of well-matched subjects needed from each site to achieve best harmonization results. Our results indicate that at-least 16 to 18 well-matched healthy controls from each site are needed to reliably capture scanner related differences. The proposed method can thus be used for retrospective harmonization of raw dMRI data across sites despite differences in acquisition parameters, while preserving inter-subject anatomical variability.

Vertex- and atlas-based comparisons in measures of cortical thickness, gyrification and white matter volume between humans and chimpanzees

What changes in cortical organisation characterise global and localised variation between humans and chimpanzees remains a topic of considerable interest in evolutionary neuroscience. Here, we examined regional variation in cortical thickness, gyrification and white matter in samples of human and chimpanzee brains. Both species were MRI scanned on the same platform using identical procedures. The images were processed and segmented by FSL and FreeSurfer and the relative changes in cortical thickness, gyrification and white matter across the entire cortex were compared between species. In general, relative to chimpanzees, humans had significantly greater gyrification and significantly thinner cortex, particularly in the frontal lobe. Human brains also had disproportionately higher white matter volumes in the frontal lobe, particularly in prefrontal regions. Collectively, the findings suggest that after the split from the common ancestor, white matter expansion and subsequently increasing gyrification occurred in the frontal lobe possibly due to increased selection for human cognitive and motor specialisations.

Proteomic analysis of short- and intermediate-term memory in Hermissenda

Changes in cellular and synaptic plasticity related to learning and memory are accompanied by both upregulation and downregulation of the expression levels of proteins. Both de novo protein synthesis and post-translational modification of existing proteins have been proposed to support the induction and maintenance of memory underlying learning. However, little is known regarding the identity of proteins regulated by learning that are associated with the early stages supporting the formation of memory over time. In this study we have examined changes in protein abundance at two different times following one-trial in vitro conditioning of Hermissenda using two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE), quantification of differences in protein abundance between conditioned and unpaired controls, and protein identification with tandem mass spectrometry. Significant regulation of protein abundance following one-trial in vitro conditioning was detected 30 min and 3 h post-conditioning. Proteins were identified that exhibited statistically significant increased or decreased abundance at both 30 min and 3 h post-conditioning. Proteins were also identified that exhibited a significant increase in abundance only at 30 min, or only at 3 h post-conditioning. A few proteins were identified that expressed a significant decrease in abundance detected at both 30 min and 3 h post-conditioning, or a significant decrease in abundance only at 3 h post-conditioning. The proteomic analysis indicates that proteins involved in diverse cellular functions such as translational regulation, cell signaling, cytoskeletal regulation, metabolic activity, and protein degradation contribute to the formation of memory produced by one-trial in vitro conditioning. These findings support the view that changes in protein abundance over time following one-trial in vitro conditioning involve dynamic and complex interactions of the proteome.

Proteomic analysis of post-translational modifications in conditioned Hermissenda

Post-translational modifications of proteins are a major determinant of biological function. Phosphorylation of proteins involved in signal transduction contributes to the induction and maintenance of several examples of cellular and synaptic plasticity. In this study we have identified phosphoproteins regulated by Pavlovian conditioning in lysates of Hermissenda nervous systems using two-dimensional electrophoresis (2DE) in conjunction with (32)P labeling, fluorescence based phosphoprotein in-gel staining, and mass spectrometry. Modification of protein phosphorylation regulated by conditioning was first assessed by densitometric analysis of (32)P labeled proteins resolved by 2DE from lysates of conditioned and pseudorandom control nervous systems. An independent assessment of phosphorylation regulated by conditioning was obtained from an examination of 2D gels stained with Pro-Q Diamond phosphoprotein dye. Mass spectrometric analysis of protein digests from phosphoprotein stained analytical gels or Coomassie Blue stained preparative gels provided for the identification of phosphoproteins that exhibited statistically significant increased phosphorylation in conditioned groups as compared to pseudorandom controls. A previously identified cytoskeletal related protein, Csp24 (24 kDa conditioned stimulus pathway phosphoprotein), involved in intermediate-term memory exhibited significantly increased phosphorylation detected 24 h post-conditioning. Our results show that proteins involved in diverse cellular functions such as transcriptional regulation, cell signaling, cytoskeletal regulation, metabolic activity, and protein degradation contribute to long-term post-translational modifications associated with Pavlovian conditioning.

One-trial in vitro conditioning regulates an association between the beta-thymosin repeat protein Csp24 and actin

One-trial conditioning in Hermissenda results in enhanced intrinsic cellular excitability of sensory neurons in the conditioned stimulus pathway, and the phosphorylation of several proteins. Previous results demonstrated that the development of enhanced intrinsic excitability was dependent on the expression of conditioned stimulus pathway phosphoprotein-24 (Csp24), an intracellular protein containing four repeated beta-thymosin homology domains. Consistent with this, antisense oligonucleotide-mediated inhibition of Csp24 expression prevents the reduction in amplitude of the A-type transient K+ current (I(A)) and the depolarized shift in the steady-state activation curve normally produced by one-trial in vitro conditioning of isolated photoreceptors. One-trial conditioning also regulates Csp24 phosphorylation. We now show that purified recombinant Csp24 sequesters G-actin in vitro with an approximate K(d) value of 2.8 microM. We also observed a significant increase in the coprecipitation of actin with Csp24 after one-trial in vitro conditioning using antibodies directed toward either Csp24 or phospho-Csp24. Preincubation with protein kinase C (PKC) selective inhibitors attenuated the increase in Csp24 phosphorylation and coprecipitated actin observed after one-trial conditioning. Our findings indicate that the PKC signaling pathway contributes to the phosphorylation of Csp24 after one-trial conditioning, and that PKC activity modulates an association between Csp24 and actin. These data suggest Csp24 may influence intrinsic excitability by regulating cytoskeletal dynamics.

Characterization of the human Xq21.3/Yp11 homology block and conservation of organization in primates

The Xq21.3/Yp11 homology block on the human sex chromosomes represents a recent addition to the Y chromosome through a transposition event. It is believed that this transfer of material occurred after the divergence of the hominid lineage from other great apes. In this paper we investigate the structure and evolution of the block through fluorescence in situ hybridisation, contig assembly, the polymerase chain reaction, exon trapping, sequence comparison, and annotation of sequence data. The overall structure is well conserved between the human X chromosome and the Y chromosome as well as between the X chromosomes from different primates. Although the sequence data reveal a high level of nucleotide sequence identity for the human X and Y, there are regions of significant divergence, such as that around the marker DXS214. These are presumably the consequence of multiple rearrangements during evolution and are of particular importance with respect to the potential gene content in this segment of the interval.

Serotonin activation of the ERK pathway in Hermissenda: contribution of calcium-dependent protein kinase C

The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade is an important contributor to synaptic plasticity and learning in both vertebrates and invertebrates. In the nudibranch mollusk Hermissenda, phosphorylation and activation of the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK), a key member of a MAPK cascade, is produced by one-trial and multitrial Pavlovian conditioning. Several signal transduction pathways that are activated by 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and may contribute to conditioning have been identified in type B photoreceptors. However, the regulation of ERK activity by 'upstream' signaling molecules has not been previously investigated in Hermissenda. In the present study we examined the role of protein kinase C (PKC) in the serotonin (5-HT) activation of the ERK pathway. The phorbol ester TPA produced an increase in ERK phosphorylation that was blocked by the PKC inhibitors GF109203X or Gö6976. TPA-dependent ERK phosphorylation was also blocked by the MEK1 inhibitors PD098059 or U0126. The increased phosphorylation of ERK by 5-HT was reduced but not blocked by pretreatment with the calcium chelator BAPTA-AM or pretreatment with Gö6976 or GF109203X. These results indicate that Ca(2+)-dependent PKC activation contributes to ERK phosphorylation, although a PKC-independent pathway is also involved in 5-HT-dependent ERK phosphorylation and activation.

Monosynaptic connections between identified A and B photoreceptors and interneurons in Hermissenda: evidence for labeled-lines

The cellular and synaptic organization of the eye of the nudibranch mollusk Hermissenda is well-documented. The five photoreceptors within each eye are mutally inhibitory and can be classified into two types: A and B based on electrophysiological and anatomical criteria. Two of the three type B and two type A photoreceptors can be further identified according to their medial or lateral positions within each eye. In addition to reciprocal synaptic connections between photoreceptors, photoreceptors also project to second-order neurons in the cerebropleural ganglion. The second-order neurons receive convergent synaptic input from two additional sensory pathways; however, it has not been previously established if lateral A, lateral B, or medial B photoreceptors converge onto the same second-order neurons. To determine the specific synaptic organization of these components of the visual system, we have examined monosynaptic connections between identified lateral and medial type A and B photoreceptors and second-order cerebropleural (CP) interneurons. We found that monosynaptic connections between identified lateral A and lateral and medial B photoreceptors and CP interneurons follow a labeled-line principle. Illumination of the eyes or extrinsic depolarizing current applied to identified photoreceptors evoked excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs and IPSPs, respectively) in different CP interneurons. The PSPs in CP interneurons followed one-for-one spikes in the photoreceptors and could be elicited in artificial seawater solutions containing high divalent cations. Identified photoreceptors projected to more than one CP interneuron and expressed both excitatory and inhibitory connections with the different CP interneurons. In examples where a monosynaptic connection between a lateral B photoreceptor and a CP interneuron was identified, lateral A, medial A, or medial B photoreceptors did not project to the same CP interneuron. Moreover, when connections between medial B and CP interneurons were identified, lateral A, medial A, and lateral B connections were not found to project to the same CP interneuron. Similar results were obtained for a lateral A and CP interneuron connection. These results indicate that divergent labeled-lines exist between specific photoreceptors and second-order CP interneurons and potential convergence of synaptic input from primary and secondary elements of the visual system must occur at sites that are postsynaptic to the CP interneurons.

Identification of a 24 kDa phosphoprotein associated with an intermediate stage of memory in Hermissenda

A requirement for protein synthesis is a critical feature in dissociating different phases of memory. However, in examples of cellular and synaptic plasticity in which an early or intermediate requirement for protein synthesis has been implicated, specific proteins have not been identified. Here we report the identification of a 24 kDa phosphoprotein (CSP24) associated with an intermediate stage of memory, distinct from short-term memory, detected after one-trial conditioning of Hermissenda. CSP24, initially identified from (32)PO(4)-labeled proteins resolved by two dimensional (2-D) PAGE, was excised from multiple Coomassie blue-stained 2-D gels and subjected to reverse phase HPLC and automated sequence analysis. The sequenced peptides exhibited a homology to the beta-thymosin family of actin-binding protein. Anti-CSP24 antibody recognized CSP24 on 1- and 2-D gels by Western blot analysis. Labeled CSP24 immunoprecipitated with anti-CSP24 antibody revealed that significantly more (32)PO(4) was incorporated in preparations that received one-trial conditioning compared with unpaired controls. In contrast, labeled CSP24 immunoprecipitated with anti-CSP24 from conditioned and unpaired control preparations receiving a procedure that only produced short-term enhanced excitability did not exhibit differences in (32)PO(4) incorporation into the immunoprecipitates. These results show that a specific identified phosphoprotein is associated with an intermediate stage of memory for one-trial conditioning in Hermissenda.

Anticipation in schizophrenia: a review and reconsideration

There have been several reports on anticipation and schizophrenia, and the purpose of the present article is to review the literature and present data from an ongoing family study of schizophrenia. The published data find on average a 10-year difference in the age of onset between the parental and offspring generation in family sets that have been ascertained for a genetic linkage study. The biases inherent in such studies include the biases of ascertainment that were described by Penrose [1948]. Several investigators have searched for evidence of enlarged triplet repeats, and some find evidence consistent with expanded triplet repeats, whereas others do not. In any event the phenomenon of anticipation in schizophrenia appears to be consistently found and an explanation is needed. Data are presented from pairwise analyses using intergenerational pairs from 61 pedigrees with schizophrenia showing evidence of anticipation as well as the fertility bias. Anticipation was found in aunt:niece/nephew pairs (14.5 years) but not in uncle:niece/nephew pairs (0.5 years). The sex difference in age of onset was accentuated in uncles versus aunts (8.5 years), present in parents (4.5 years), but absent in the proband generation. Therefore, there appears to be an interaction within families between age of onset and sex that deserves further investigation. Am. J. Med. Genet. (Neuropsychiatr. Genet.) 88:686-693, 1999.

Protein synthesis-dependent and mRNA synthesis-independent intermediate phase of memory in Hermissenda

The conditioned stimulus pathway in Hermissenda has been used to examine the time-dependent mechanisms of memory consolidation following one-trial conditioning. Here we report an intermediate phase of memory consolidation following one-trial conditioning that requires protein synthesis, but not mRNA synthesis. In conditioned animals, enhanced excitability normally expressed during an intermediate phase of memory was reversed by the protein synthesis inhibitor anisomycin, but not by the mRNA synthesis inhibitor 5, 6-dichloro-1-beta-D-ribobenzimidazole (DRB). Associated with the intermediate phase of memory is an increase in the phosphorylation of a 24-kDa protein. Anisomycin present during the intermediate phase blocked the increased phosphorylation of the 24-kDa phosphoprotein, but did not block the increased phosphorylation of other proteins associated with conditioning or significantly change their baseline phosphorylation. DRB did not reverse enhanced excitability or decrease protein phosphorylation expressed during the intermediate phase of memory formation, but it did reverse enhanced excitability 3.5 h after conditioning. Phosphorylation of the 24-kDa protein may support enhanced excitability during the intermediate phase, in the transition period between short- and long-term memory.

Expression of different types of inward rectifier currents confers specificity of light and dark responses in type A and B photoreceptors of Hermissenda

Each eye of the mollusc Hermissenda consists of five photoreceptors, two type A and three type B cells. Type A cells are quiescent, whereas B cells are spontaneously active in the dark. Differences in the intrinsic membrane properties of type A and B photoreceptors were studied using voltage- and current-clamp techniques. The current density of a Ni2+-sensitive, low-voltage activated Ca2+ current was similar in the two cell types. However, type B cells express an inward rectifier current (Ih) that has different permeation and pharmacological properties from the inward rectifier current in type A cells. The current in the B cells was time-dependent and was blocked by Cs+. Na+ and K+ were the charge carriers for Ih. The inward rectifier current in A cells (IK1) was time-independent, was selectively permeable to K+, and was blocked by Ba2+. Ni2+ reduced the spontaneous spike activities of type A and B cells, whereas Cs+ produced membrane hyperpolarization and reduced the spike activities of dark-adapted B cells. The application of both Cs+ and Ni2+ completely blocked dark-adapted spontaneous activities of B cells. Moreover, Ba2+ increased the excitability of type A cells but not B cells. Hence, differential expression of the two distinct inward rectifiers found in type A and B cells contributes to differences in their intrinsic membrane properties. Because changes in the excitability of the two cell types are correlates of conditioning in Hermissenda, modulation of these underlying currents may play a major role during conditioning-induced plasticity.

Phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase by one-trial and multi-trial classical conditioning

The pathway supporting the conditioned stimulus (CS) is one site of plasticity that has been studied extensively in conditioned Hermissenda. Several signal transduction pathways have been implicated in classical conditioning of this preparation, although the major emphasis has been on protein kinase C. Here we provide evidence for the activation and phosphorylation of a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway by one-trial and multi-trial conditioning. A one-trial in vitro conditioning procedure consisting of light (CS) paired with the application of 5-HT results in the increased incorporation of 32PO4 into proteins detected with two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Two of the phosphoproteins have molecular weights of 44 and 42 kDa, consistent with extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases (ERK1 and ERK2). Phosphorylation of the 44 and 42 kDa proteins by one-trial conditioning was inhibited by pretreatment with PD098059, A MEK1 (ERK-Activating kinase) inhibitor. Assays of ERK activity with brain myelin basic protein as a substrate revealed greater ERK activity for the group that received one-trial conditioning compared with an unpaired control group. Western blot analysis of phosphorylated ERK using antibodies recognizing the dually phosphorylated forms of ERK1 and ERK2 showed an increase in phosphorylation after one-trial conditioning compared with unpaired controls. The increased phosphorylation of ERK after one-trial conditioning was blocked by pretreatment with PD098059. Hermissenda that received 10 or 15 conditioning trials showed significant behavioral suppression compared with pseudo-random controls. After conditioning and behavioral testing, the conditioned animals showed significantly greater phosphorylation of ERK compared with the pseudo-random controls. These results show that the ERK-MAPK signaling pathway is activated in Pavlovian conditioning of Hermissenda.

Time-dependent changes in excitability after one-trial conditioning of Hermissenda

The visual system of Hermissenda has been studied extensively as a site of cellular plasticity produced by classical conditioning. A one-trial conditioning procedure consisting of light paired with the application of serotonin (5-HT) to the exposed, but otherwise intact, nervous system produces suppression of phototactic behavior tested 24 h after conditioning. Short- and long-term enhancement (STE and LTE) of excitability in identified type B photoreceptors is a cellular correlate of one-trial conditioning. LTE can be expressed in the absence of STE suggesting that STE and LTE may be parallel processes. To examine the development of enhancement, we studied its time-dependent alterations after one-trial conditioning. Intracellular recordings from identified type B photoreceptors of independent groups collected at different times after conditioning revealed that enhanced excitability follows a biphasic pattern in its development. The analysis of spikes elicited by 2 and 30 s extrinsic current pulses at different levels of depolarization showed that enhancement reached a peak 3 h after conditioning. From its peak, excitability decreased toward baseline control levels 5-6 h after conditioning followed by an increase to a stable plateau at 16 to 24 h postconditioning. Excitability changes measured in cells from unpaired control groups showed maximal changes 1 h posttreatment that rapidly decremented within 2 h. The conditioned stimulus (CS) elicited significantly more spikes 24 h postconditioning for the conditioned group as compared with the unpaired control group. The analysis of the time-dependent development of enhancement may reveal the processes underlying different stages of memory for this associative experience.

Long-term enhancement but not short-term in Hermissenda is dependent upon mRNA synthesis

The reversible transcription inhibitor 5,6-dichloro-1-beta-D-ribobenzimidazole (DRB) was used to examine the contribution of mRNA synthesis to long-term enhancement (LTE) following one-trial conditioning of Hermissenda. Inhibition of mRNA synthesis by DRB or inhibition of protein synthesis by anisomycin did not significantly affect the induction and maintenance of short-term enhancement (STE) examined 1 h after one-trial conditioning. In contrast to the absence of an effect of the inhibitors on STE, LTE was blocked by DRB or anisomycin applied shortly before and during the presentation of the conditioning trial. Consistent with previous reports, animals that received an unpaired CS and US did not exhibit LTE. In addition, a control group that received a concentration of DRB (10(-7) M) that does not significantly affect mRNA synthesis exhibited typical LTE when tested 24 h postconditioning. These results demonstrate that the induction of LTE produced by one-trial conditioning is dependent upon transcription and the regulation of gene expression.

Synaptic enhancement and enhanced excitability in presynaptic and postsynaptic neurons in the conditioned stimulus pathway of Hermissenda

Identified type A photoreceptors of Hermissenda express differential effects of classical conditioning. Lateral type A photoreceptors exhibit an increase in excitability to both the conditioned stimulus (CS; light) and extrinsic current. In contrast, medial type A photoreceptors do not express enhanced excitability, but do show enhancement of the medial B to medial A synaptic connection. Therefore, both enhanced excitability and changes in synaptic strength may contribute to long-term plasticity underlying classical conditioning. The activation of protein kinase C (PKC) is involved in the induction of enhanced excitability of identified type B photoreceptors produced by one-trial conditioning and the expression of enhanced excitability in B photoreceptors after multitrial classical conditioning. We have examined a possible role for persistent kinase activity in the expression of enhanced excitability in lateral type A photoreceptors and enhancement of the medial B to medial type A synaptic connection after classical conditioning. Injection of the PKC inhibitor peptide PKC(19-36) into medial type B photoreceptors of conditioned animals did not significantly change the amplitude of medial A IPSPs elicited by single spikes in the medial B photoreceptor. Injections of PKC(19-36) into medial B photoreceptors of pseudorandom controls also did not significantly change the amplitude of IPSPs recorded from the medial A photoreceptor. In contrast, spikes elicited by extrinsic current in lateral type A photoreceptors of conditioned animals were significantly reduced in frequency after intracellular injection of PKC(19-36) as compared with pseudorandom controls. Injection of the noninhibitory analog peptide [glu27]PKC(19-36) did not affect excitability. Thus, enhanced excitability in the lateral A photoreceptor of conditioned animals seems to be influenced, in part, by a constitutively active kinase or a persistent kinase activator, whereas synaptic enhancement of the connection between the medial B and medial A photoreceptors of conditioned animals may involve a different mechanism.

Protein kinase and G-protein regulation of Ca2+ currents in Hermissenda photoreceptors by 5-HT and GABA

The effects of serotonin (5-HT) and GABA on two Ca2+ currents, a transient low-voltage-activated current (tLVA) and a sustained high-voltage-activated current (sHVA) were examined in isolated photoreceptors of Hermissenda. The sHVA current was blocked by 5-HT and reduced by activation of protein kinase C (PKC) with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. The effects of 5-HT were transiently reversed by staurosporine and partially blocked by the PKC inhibitor peptide [PKC(19-36)]. GABA enhanced both the tLVA and sHVA currents at low concentrations (5 nM to 5 microM) and reduced the sHVA current at high concentrations (>10 microM). The GABA-mediated enhancement of the Ca2+ current at low concentrations was sensitive to block by picrotoxin. The protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor peptide [PKI(6-22)amide] blocked enhancement of both Ca2+ currents produced by cAMP analogs and GABA, suggesting that the effects at low concentrations may be PKA mediated. Caged GTP-gamma-S released by flash photolysis reduced the sHVA current, and pretreatment of the photoreceptors with pertussis toxin blocked the effects of higher concentrations of GABA, indicating that at higher concentrations, the effects may be G-protein mediated.

Time-dependent increase in protein phosphorylation following one-trial enhancement in Hermissenda

One-trial conditioning of the nudibranch mollusk Hermissenda produces short- and long-term changes in excitability (enhancement) of identified sensory neurons. To investigate the biochemical mechanisms underlying this example of plasticity, we have examined changes in protein phosphorylation at different times following the in vitro conditioning trial. Changes in the incorporation of 32 PO4 into proteins were determined using two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, autoradiography, and densitometry. Conditioning resulted in increases in levels of several phosphoproteins, five of which, ranging in apparent molecular mass from 22 to 55 kDa, were chosen for analysis. The increased phosphorylation of the 46- and 55-kDa phosphoproteins, detected 2 h postconditioning was significantly greater than the level of phosphorylation detected in an unpaired control group, indicating that long-term enhancement is pairing specific. Statistically significant increases in phosphorylation as compared with the control group that received only light were detected immediately after conditioning (5 min) for the 55-, 46-, and 22-kDa phosphoproteins, at 1 h for the 55- and 46-kDa phosphoproteins, and at 2 h for the 55-, 46-, and 22-kDa phosphoproteins. The 46- and 55-kDa phosphoproteins are putative structural proteins, and the 22-kDa phosphoprotein is proposed to be a protein kinase C substrate previously identified in Hermissenda following multitrial classical conditioning. Time-dependent increases in protein phosphorylation may contribute to the induction and maintenance of different memory stages expressed in sensory neurons after one-trial conditioning.

Consensus on minimal criteria of clinical and neuropathological diagnosis of schizophrenia and affective disorders for post mortem research. Report from the European Dementia and Schizophrenia Network (BIOMED I)

The sophisticated analysis of and growing information on the human brain requires that acquisition, dissection, storage and distribution of rare material are managed in a professional way. In this publication we present the consensus of the European work group "European Dementia and Schizophrenia Network", granted by the BIOMED I project of the EU, on minimal neuropathological and clinical requirements to include brains of patients with schizophrenia and affective disorders in post mortem studies. The description of clinical prerequisites in different EU countries and institutions is followed by a consensus on tissue handling, a consensus on minimal neuropathological criteria and a consensus on minimal clinical diagnostic criteria including clinical vignette, family, social, education/professional and general medical histories, general physical history including neurostatus, neurological, psychiatric, medication and general pathological histories, psychostatus, laboratory tests and a history provided by family/health care giver questionnaire. This publication should give help to interconnect different European brain bank centers on a basis of standardized protocols.

Evidence for a contribution of ICa to serotonergic modulation of IK,Ca in Hermissenda photoreceptors

1. The Ca(2+)-dependent K+ current (IK,Ca) contributes to both the plateau phase of light-elicited generator potentials and enhanced excitability of identified type B photoreceptors of Hermissenda detected after classical conditioning. Serotonergic modulation of membrane conductances mimics some of the effects of conditioning. Serotonin (5-HT) reduces the magnitude of IK,Ca and decreases the sustained voltage-activated Ca2+ current (ICa) in type B photoreceptors. We have examined the modulatory role of 5-HT in regulation of IK,Ca by ICa using a Ca2+ ionophore in conjunction with the whole cell patch-clamp technique in isolated photoreceptors. 2. The 40-50% reduction of IK,Ca by 5-HT was voltage independent. Cd2+ blocked ICa and reduced IK,Ca by 70-80%. The remaining 20-30% of IK,Ca may result from Ca2+ release from intracellular stores, because IK,Ca was further reduced to 5-10% as the pipette ethylene glycol-bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) was raised from 0.5 to 5 mM. The application of the Ca2+ ionophore A23187, which was designed to produce Ca2+ influx independent of the voltage-activated Ca2+ channels, restored IK,Ca. 3. The application of A23187 reversed the effects of 5-HT and Cd2+ on IK,Ca for experiments lasting 15-20 min. However, for longer time periods (> 25 min), complete restoration of IK,Ca by A23187 was obtained in the presence of Cd2+ but not 5-HT. These results suggest that for 15 to 20 min exposures the reduction of IK,Ca by 5-HT is a consequence of modulation of ICa by 5-HT and not a direct effect of 5-HT on IK,Ca.

Characterization of voltage-activated currents in Hermissenda type B-photoreceptors

Two distinct voltage-dependent K+ currents have been previously identified in the type B-photoreceptors of Hermissenda: an early, rapidly inactivating K+ current (IA), and a late, 4-AP- and TEA-resistant voltage and Ca(2+)-dependent current (IK(Ca)). Using conventional two-electrode voltage-clamp techniques, we have characterized two additional currents, a late voltage-dependent outward K+ current (IK(v)) and a voltage-dependent inward current identified as an inward rectifier (Iir). In addition, we have further studied the activation-inactivation kinetics of IA. In 0-Na+ ASW, Iir activates at a potential of > -50 mV, is steeply voltage-dependent and noninactivating, and reaches steady-state within 800 msec to 3 sec at -100 mV. In addition to the variability in activation kinetics, there was also considerable variability in Iir magnitude (-5 to -80 nA, at -100 mV). Iir was blocked by external 4-AP (5 mM), external and internal TEA, internal Cs+, but not external Ba2+. The major component of outward K+ current in type B-photoreceptors is IK(v), the delayed rectifier. IK(v) was isolated after removal of IA and IK(Ca). IK(v) activates at around -25 mV or more positive membrane potentials and its activation and inactivation are strongly voltage dependent. IK(v) inactivation to steady state is reached within 1.5-2.5 sec. The wide range of activation-inactivation rates suggests that there may be kinetic subtypes of IK(v). The proposed "slow" IK(v) peaked in 50-90 msec at +30 mV, and decayed with a single exponential component with an average tau off of 279 msec. Proposed "intermediate" and "fast" IK(v) subtypes peaked within 12-50 msec at +30 mV, and had a decay fitted by two exponentials, with an average tau 1 of 147 msec and tau 2 of 275 msec, respectively. IK(v) exhibited marked twin-pulse inactivation with a recovery time of 30-40 sec, and also exhibited time- and voltage-dependent cumulative inactivation to repeated depolarizing pulses. Both types of inactivation were quickly removed by a prepulse hyperpolarization. 4-AP (5 mM) produced partial to complete block of the inactivating component of IK(v), leaving only a residual sustained component. Complete block of the transient and sustained components of IK(v) was obtained by 100 mM TEA. Reliable voltage separation of IA from IK(v) was achieved by activating IA in the range of -50 to -20 mV, from a Vh of -80 mV. Voltage-dependent steady-state inactivation curves for IA were determined, yielding an average h0.5 value of -56 mV.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Two components of calcium currents in the soma of photoreceptors of Hermissenda

1. The proposed mechanism of cellular plasticity underlying classical conditioning of Hermissenda involves Ca2+ influx through voltage-activated channels. This influx triggers several molecular cascades and leads to the phosphorylation of K+ channels in identified photoreceptors. We studied Ca2+ currents from isolated photoreceptors of Hermissenda with the whole cell patch-clamp technique. Two distinct Ca2+ currents were identified in isolated photoreceptors on the basis of differences in their voltage dependence, kinetics, and pharmacology. 2. One Ca2+ current was transient (ICa(t)), with a fast onset (approximately 5 ms), activated at -50 mV from a holding potential of -90 mV, and peaked at 0 mV. The second Ca2+ current, designated as sustained (ICa(s)), exhibited a delayed time-to-peak, activated at -30 mV, and reached maximum at 30 mV. 3. Steady-state activation curves for both currents were generated from normalized currents and fitted with the Boltzmann function; estimates of half-activation voltages for ICa(t) were -38.8 +/- 6.7 mV (mean +/- SD; n = 9) and 3.2 +/- 8.2 mV for ICa(s) (n = 11) with maximum slopes of 8.9 +/- 1.6 mV (n = 9) and 11.0 +/- 2.4 mV (n = 11). 4. The inactivation of ICa(s) was slow (time constants > 3 s) whereas ICa(t) inactivated rapidly (time constant of inactivation at various voltages; 75-600 ms). 5. Ni2+ (0.8 mM), Gd3+ (0.5 mM), and amiloride (10 microM) produced a reversible block of ICa(t) without affecting ICa(s). omega-Conotoxin GVIA (10 nM) irreversibly blocked ICa(s) whereas nitrendipine (20 microM) produced a reversible block. 6. ICa(t) may be responsible for steady-state membrane potential oscillations. ICa(s) may contribute to the maintenance of the amplitude of the plateau phase of the generator potential.

Enhancement of type B and A photoreceptor inhibitory synaptic connections in conditioned Hermissenda

Intrinsic changes have been identified in isolated and intact type A and type B photoreceptors following classical conditioning of the nudibranch mollusk Hermissenda. Aspects of various intrinsic, nonsynaptic modifications are expressed by alterations in the excitability of identified photoreceptors in response to the conditioned stimulus. In addition to changes in cellular excitability, changes in synaptic strength between identified neurons have been proposed as a possible mechanism of associative learning in several invertebrate preparations. Here we report that classical conditioning produces differential effects upon the strength of inhibitory monosynaptic connections between identified pairs of type B and type A photoreceptors. The amplitude of IPSPs elicited by an action potential in the medial type B photoreceptor and recorded from medical type A photoreceptors was significantly enhanced in conditioned animals as compared to pseudorandom controls. In contrast, the amplitude of IPSPs elicited by an action potential in the lateral type B photoreceptor and recorded from lateral type A photoreceptors did not show significant synaptic enhancement following conditioning. These results provide additional evidence for differential effects of conditioning upon cellular modifications in identified type A and type B photoreceptors, and further indicate that multiple sites of cellular plasticity exist in the visual system of conditioned Hermissenda.

Linkage analysis between schizophrenia and a microsatellite polymorphism for the D5 dopamine receptor gene

Using 23 multiplex pedigrees we tested for linkage between schizophrenia and a microsatellite polymorphism for the D5 dopamine receptor gene (DRD5). Assuming autosomal dominant inheritance and a maximum penetrance of 0.6, an overall lod score of -4.54 was derived at 0% recombination. For recessive transmission the summary lod score was -8.37 at 0% recombination. These data suggest that mutations of the D5 dopamine receptor gene are unlikely to be of major etiological importance in the pathogeneses of schizophrenia in the families studied. However, our study does not exclude the D5 dopamine receptor gene as a candidate gene for schizophrenia because some of our families were not informative for linkage and because of the likelihood of genetic heterogeneity.

Serotonin increases the frequency of light-elicited discrete waves in type-B photoreceptors of Hermissenda

Serotonin (5-HT) produces both short- and long-term enhancement of generator potentials in identified type B-photoreceptors of Hermissenda. The actions of 5-HT have been shown to modulate both light- and voltage-dependent conductances. To further examine light-dependent processes we studied spontaneous and light-elicited discrete waves in the presence of 5-HT. Serotonin significantly increased the frequency of light-elicited discrete waves without initially increasing spontaneous discrete waves recorded in the dark. The increase in discrete wave frequency produced by 5-HT could not be described by a simple Poisson process, since the observed interval distribution after 5-HT application deviated significantly from the predicted exponential interval distribution.

Differential modulation of voltage-dependent currents in Hermissenda type B photoreceptors by serotonin

1. In identified photoreceptors in the eyes of Hermissenda, serotonin (5-HT) enhances the peak and plateau phases of light-evoked generator potentials and modulates light-dependent and voltage-dependent currents. In addition, electrophysiological and morphological studies indicate that 5-HT may contribute to cellular plasticity detected in the visual system of Hermissenda produced by classical conditioning procedures. With the use of conventional two-electrode voltage-clamp techniques, we examined the effects of 5-HT on three distinct currents recorded across the soma membranes of identified lateral and medial type B photoreceptors in the isolated circumesophageal nervous system. 2. The inward rectifier (Iir), a putative K(+)-dependent conductance, activates in 0-Na artificial seawater at membrane potentials greater than -60 mV, is voltage dependent, noninactivating, and reaches steady-state within 800 ms to 3 s at -100 mV. Bath application of 10(-4) M 5-HT consistently enhanced the magnitude of Iir at all potentials tested (-60 to -100 mV) and, in some cases, allowed expression of Iir, which was not initially detectable before the application of 5-HT. 3. The major component of outward K+ current in type B photoreceptors with IA and IK(Ca) blocked is the delayed rectifier [IK(v)]. 5-HT (10(-4) M) produced both an increase as well as a decrease in the peak amplitude of IK(v) and consistently slowed its inactivation rate and reduced twin-pulse inactivation. 4. A previously identified outward K+ current in type B photoreceptors has properties that are similar to the A current (IA).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Differential expression of correlates of classical conditioning in identified medial and lateral type A photoreceptors of Hermissenda

Classical conditioning of Hermissenda produces neurophysiological correlates in the primary sensory neurons of the pathway mediating the conditioned stimulus (CS), the type B and type A photoreceptors. Biophysical and biochemical changes intrinsic to the type B photoreceptors have been studied extensively in conditioned animals. A second site for intrinsic modification with learning has been recently identified in type A photoreceptors. We have recorded from identified medial and lateral type A photoreceptors in conditioned animals and animals that received pseudorandom presentations of light (CS) and rotation (unconditioned stimulus). Here we report that conditioning produces differential effects upon CS-elicited spike frequency and intrinsic excitability detected in identified lateral and medial type A photoreceptors. Lateral type A photoreceptors from conditioned animals exhibited significant increases in spike frequency elicited by the CS as compared to pseudorandom controls. In contrast, CS-elicited spike frequency recorded in medial type A photoreceptors was not significantly different from random controls. The amplitude of the peak and plateau phases of the generator potential of medial and lateral type A photoreceptors was decreased in conditioned animals as compared to random controls. In addition, only lateral type A photoreceptors exhibited enhanced cellular excitability as expressed by increased spike discharges produced by the injection of extrinsic depolarizing current pulses. Conditioning also decreased spike frequency accommodation in lateral type A photoreceptors. In normal controls, medial type B photoreceptors produced stronger synaptic inhibition of medial type A photoreceptors than the lateral type B photoreceptors inhibition of lateral type A photoreceptors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Search for a genetic event in monozygotic twins discordant for schizophrenia

When monozygotic twins are discordant for the diagnosis of schizophrenia, this discordance has been traditionally attributed to environmental factors acting upon a genome susceptible for the schizophrenia phenotype. The study presented here was designed to examine the occurrence of a genetic event, such as a postzygotic mitotic crossover, that could account for the discordance. Such a postzygotic event could affect cis-acting sequences and result in a phenotype of variable severity. We used molecular genetic methods to evaluate such an event with 94 microsatellite repeat polymorphic markers distributed on all autosomes and the X chromosome in five pairs of monozygotic twins discordant for schizophrenia. In this search, no genetic marker discordances were identified between the co-twins. The lack of a genetic difference may implicate nongenetic factors that are responsible in eliciting or suppressing the phenotype. However, the experiments performed in this study cannot eliminate the possibility that a tissue-specific mitotic crossover might have occurred in one of the discordant twins, which could not have been detected in our current study.

Protein kinase inhibitors do not block the expression of established enhancement in identified Hermissenda B-photoreceptors

One-trial conditioning of Hermissenda produces short- and long-term enhancement of generator potentials in identified type B-photoreceptors. The induction of short-term enhancement is blocked by kinase inhibitors and down-regulation of protein kinase C. We now report that established short- and long-term enhancement produced by one-trial conditioning is not reversed by the kinase inhibitors H-7 or sphingosine. These results indicate that persistent protein kinase C activity is not required in the maintenance or expression of enhancement.

Down-regulation of protein kinase C and kinase inhibitors dissociate short- and long-term enhancement produced by one-trial conditioning of Hermissenda

1. The visual system of Hermissenda has been studied extensively as a site of cellular plasticity produced by classical conditioning. Previous research has shown that one-trial conditioning, consisting of light paired with serotonin (5-HT) results in short- and long-term enhancement of light-elicited generator potentials in identified type B-photoreceptors. Recent evidence suggests that 5-HT exerts its effects on the induction of short-term enhancement by activation of protein kinase C (PKC), a Ca(2+)-activated and phospholipid-dependent protein kinase. However, the contribution of protein kinases in general, and specifically PKC in long-term enhancement has not been established. 2. The protein kinase inhibitors H-7 and sphingosine blocked the induction of short-term enhancement when applied before one-trial conditioning. However, the conditions that are sufficient to block the induction of short-term enhancement do not block long-term enhancement. Sphingosine and H-7 do not block the induction and expression of long-term enhancement when applied before one-trial conditioning. 3. Pretreatment before conditioning with 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA), which leads to down-regulation of PKC, also did not block long-term enhancement. Down-regulation by itself did not produce enhancement, although the transient peak of light-elicited generator potentials was reduced by pretreatment with TPA. 4. The results suggest that the induction of short- and long-term enhancement involve parallel processes, and thus the expression of long-term cellular plasticity produced by one-trial conditioning does not depend on the induction or expression of short-term enhancement.

Intracellular injections of BAPTA block induction of enhancement in Hermissenda type B-photoreceptors

Light paired with serotonin (5-HT) in vivo produces both short- and long-term enhancement of generator potentials in identified B-photoreceptors in Hermissenda. The role of intracellular Ca2+ in the induction of enhancement in B-photoreceptors was assessed by buffering intracellular Ca2+ with the iontophoretic injection of BAPTA. Blocking light-elicited photoreceptor desensitization with BAPTA loading prior to applying 5-HT was used as an indication of the effectiveness of Ca2+ buffering. Enhancement was blocked in preparations that received BAPTA loading prior to the application of 5-HT while typical enhancement was elicited by light and 5-HT in control preparations. These results indicate that enhancement involves a Ca(2+)-dependent process.

Service use among low-income minority elderly: strategies for overcoming barriers

The 1987 amendments to the Older Americans Act mandate a special effort to serve low-income minority elderly persons. A literature review showed that "practice-oriented" research on service use has focused primarily on identifying barriers with much less attention to identification of strategies for overcoming the barriers. This paper identifies and describes strategies used throughout Texas. Strategies addressing the "lack of knowledge" barrier included use of influential groups, working with significant individuals, and the media. Strategies addressing the "lack of access" barrier included transportation, affordability, and availability. Strategies addressing the "lack of intent" barrier focused on cultural differences, making services attractive, and overcoming negative attitudes toward service use.

Cellular correlates of classical conditioning in identified light responsive pedal neurons of Hermissenda crassicornis

Cellular correlates of classical conditioning were examined in two recently identified light responsive pedal neurons. The correlates of conditioning consisted of significant decreases in the pedal cells' responses to light (conditioned stimulus) recorded from conditioned animals compared to random controls. Pedal cell P7, which exhibits an inhibitory response to light in naive animals, showed significantly less inhibition during a 5 min light step in conditioned animals as compared to random controls. Pedal neuron P9, which exhibits an excitatory response to light in naive animals, showed significantly less excitation during a 10 s light step in conditioned animals as compared to random controls. The changes in the response to light recorded from pedal neurons P7 and P9 in conditioned animals were not accompanied by any significant changes in membrane potential, action potential amplitude or dark-adapted spike frequency.

Characterization of 4 light-responsive putative motor neurons in the pedal ganglia of Hermissenda crassicornis

As part of the analysis of the circuitry underlying phototaxis, 4 light-responsive pedal neurons were identified and characterized. The 4 newly identified neurons have been designated as pedal neurons P7, P8, P9 and P10. Pedal cell P7 has an inhibitory response to light, lasting several minutes. Pedal cells P8, P9 and P10 exhibit excitatory 'on' responses to light that last for a few seconds after light onset. Lucifer yellow fills showed that each identified pedal cell has only one process which exits the nervous system through one of the pedal nerves. Various procedures were used to investigate the responses to illumination expressed by the 4 identified pedal neurons. The results indicate that: (1) the light responses are not intrinsic, but are due to synaptic input from other light-responsive cell(s), and (2) the sources of the synaptic input to the pedal cells are the photoreceptors of the eye, and not extraocular photoreceptors or light sensitive neurons within the circumesophageal nervous system.

Light paired with serotonin in vivo produces both short- and long-term enhancement of generator potentials of identified B-photoreceptors in Hermissenda

An in vivo conditioning procedure consisting of light paired with the direct application of 5-HT to the exposed but otherwise intact nervous system of Hermissenda produces a long-term modification of phototactic behavior. The long-term change in phototactic behavior produced by in vivo conditioning is dependent upon pairing light with 5-HT. In this paper, we investigate neural correlates of in vivo conditioning detected in 2 different identified photoreceptors. We found that in vivo conditioning produces a short-term and long-term enhancement of light-evoked generator potentials recorded from medial and lateral B-photoreceptors. We show that short-term enhancement is not dependent upon pairing light with 5-HT, is observed in both lateral and medial B-photoreceptors, and is expressed by a larger peak and plateau phase of light-evoked generator potentials. In contrast to short-term enhancement, we found that long-term enhancement is dependent upon pairing light with 5-HT, is detected in only lateral B-photoreceptors, and is expressed by a larger steady-state plateau phase of light-evoked generator potentials. We also present evidence that the direct action of 5-HT interacting with light- and/or voltage-dependent processes is sufficient to mimic the effects of in vivo conditioning on long-term enhancement. These results suggest that long-term enhancement may contribute to modified phototactic behavior in Hermissenda produced by 1-trial in vivo conditioning.

Down-regulation of protein kinase C blocks 5-HT-induced enhancement in Hermissenda B photoreceptors

Light paired with serotonin (5-HT) in vivo produces both short and long-term enhancement of generator potentials in identified B-photoreceptors in Hermissenda. The contribution of protein kinase C to the induction of enhancement was assessed by pretreatment with 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA), which produces a depletion or down-regulation of protein kinase C. Presentation of light and 5-HT after an 8 h pretreatment with TPA blocked the induction of enhancement of light-evoked generator potentials. Typical enhancement produced by light and 5-HT was observed after pretreatment with an inactive phorbol (4 alpha-phorbol). These results indicate that activation of protein kinase C is an important step in the induction of enhancement.

Inhibition of protein synthesis blocks long-term enhancement of generator potentials produced by one-trial in vivo conditioning in Hermissenda

A one-trial in vivo conditioning procedure produces short- and long-term cellular changes that can be detected in identified sensory neurons of the pathway mediating the conditioned stimulus. The memory of the associative experience in the conditioned stimulus pathway is expressed by short- and long-term enhancement of light-evoked generator potentials recorded from identified lateral and medial type B photoreceptors within the eyes of Hermissenda. To identify mechanisms of the induction and expression of short- and long-term enhancement in identified photoreceptors, we have investigated the effects of inhibiting protein synthesis during the application of the one-trial in vivo conditioning procedure. Anisomycin (1 microM) present during and after the conditioning trial blocked long-term enhancement without affecting the induction or expression of short-term enhancement. Application of a control compound, deacetylanisomycin (1 microM), or delaying the application of anisomycin until 1 hr after the conditioning trial did not block either long- or short-term enhancement. These results indicate that synthesis of proteins during or shortly after training may be a critical step in the formation of long-term memory of the associative experience.