Improved data processing for optical imaging of developing neuronal connectivity in the neonatal mouse barrel cortex

Optical recording methods using voltage-sensitive dyes have proven valuable for the analysis of neuronal networks both in vivo and in vitro. This technique detects membrane potential changes as changes in the absorption or fluorescence of voltage-sensitive dyes incorporated into the cellular plasma membranes. The reliability of the optical recording technique is dependent on the dye-related response being fast enough to follow the electrical activity and of the response being more or less proportional to the amplitude of the membrane potential change. A high spatial resolution can be achieved using an appropriate imaging system and a dye with a response of sufficiently high signal-to-noise ratio. Thus, it is now anticipated that this method will be able to shed more light on the spatio-temporal information processing of neocortical circuitry. While the FUJIX HR Deltaron 1700 optical imaging system offers a reasonably high time (0.6 ms) and space-resolution (7 microm at 10x magnification), one drawback of this system, however, is its relatively poor data processing capabilities. We have therefore developed a protocol to improve the signal-to-noise ratio by modifying the calculation algorithm of the optical data. Consequently, we characterized optical responses in thalamocortical slices to find developmental landmarks of thalamocortical and intracortical connectivity in the neonatal mouse barrel cortex. Successful application of this method has been published on the analysis of thalamocortical glutamatergic connectivity [8].

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor requirement for activity-dependent maturation of glutamatergic synapse in developing mouse somatosensory cortex

The maturation of cortical circuitry critically depends on experience. Recently, a model of silent synapse has been proposed as a mechanism of activity-mediated transition of immature synapse to mature synapse. It is not clear, however, how activity could regulate this transition. Here, we show the evidence that endogenous brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is required for the maturation of glutamatergic synapse in developing mouse somatosensory cortex. Field potential recordings of thalamocortical glutamatergic synaptic activity with brain slices from the BDNF mutant mice showed that AMPA receptor responses are low, but NMDA receptor responses remain high in layer 4, thus, the relative contribution of AMPA receptor response is significantly lower compared to the age-matched wild-type mouse. Furthermore, optical images of development of thalamocortical connectivity with a voltage-sensitive dye showed that NMDA receptor-dominant synapse is established first in layer 4 and layer 5/6 then AMPA receptor response appears later in concomitant with reduction of NMDA receptor response in layer 4 and that the maturation of the silent synapse is impaired in the BDNF mutant mice. In layer 5/6, NMDA receptor response was suppressed without upregulation of AMPA receptor response. This process also required BDNF function. Interestingly, whisker-trimming of the wild-type mouse from just after birth showed quite similar results with the homozygous mutant of their whiskers left intact. Therefore, we would propose that BDNF is a critical mediator for the maturation of glutamatergic synapse in developing mouse somatosensory cortex.

Growth inhibition, morphological change, and ectoenzyme release of LLC-PK1 cells by phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C of Bacillus thuringiensis

Phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) from Bacillus thuringiensis added to a culture of LLC-PK1 cells inhibited cell growth by 40%. In contrast with normal cells, the cells cultured in the presence of PI-PLC showed needle-like appendages which seemed to have been formed due to portions of the cell remaining adhered to the culture dish as the cell shrank. When LLC-PK1 cells were treated with PI-PLC, significant amounts of alkaline phosphatase and alkaline phosphodiesterase I were released specifically from the apical surface of the LLC-PK1 cells. Furthermore, PI-PLC treatment caused a delay of enzyme production and dome formation. These data indicate that glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored proteins on the surface of LLC-PK1 cells are important in cell growth and differentiation. Also, the combined use of LLC-PK1 cells and PI-PLC of B. thuringiensis is effective for investigating the function of GPI-anchor proteins.

Release of ectoenzymes from small intestine brush border membranes of mice by phospholipases

This study investigated ectoenzyme release from small intestine brush border membranes (duodenum and jejunum, Preparation A; ileum, Preparation B) of mice by the action of phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C or glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase D. Most of the alkaline phosphatase was solubilized from Preparation A, but about 60% was released from Preparation B. As for alkaline phosphodiesterase I activity, 15 and 10% were released from Preparations A and B, respectively. With Preparation B, octylglucoside treatment followed by phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C or glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase D completely solubilized the alkaline phosphatase activity. However, this treatment did not change the ratio of release of alkaline phosphodiesterase I from Preparation A or B. These results indicate that the resistance to alkaline phosphatase found in Preparation B is due to hindered accessibility of the bonding splitting by phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C and not to a modified glycosyl-phosphatidylinositolanchor.

Superoxide dismutase mimetic activities of metal complexes of L-2(2-pyridyl)-1-pyrroline-5-carboxylic acid (pyrimine)

We previously isolated the strain Z-54 (Serratia marcescens O5:H1) which produces a reddish-violet pigment. The structure of this pigment was confirmed to be that of a peptide complex containing Fe2+ and L-2(2-pyridyl)-1-pyrroline-5-carboxylic acid (pyrimine), as a chromophore. We measured the superoxide dismutase mimetic activities for the pyrimine-metal complexes by xanthine oxidase/nitroblue tetrazolium and cytochrome c methods and found that the pyrimine-Cu2+ (2:1) complex shows the highest activity yet reported (IC50 = 0.11 microM) among the complexes tested. Pyrimine-Cu+, -Fe2+ and -Mn2+ complexes also gave relatively high SOD mimetic activities. ESR spectra observed for pyrimine-Cu2+ (4:1) showed the structure of the Cu(2+)-complex to be tetrahedral and coordinated with four nitrogen atoms. These results support the idea that the pyrimine-metal complexes might be potent SOD mimics.