Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alexander Maltsev, Pavel M. Balaban
Summary: The study shows that blockade of protein synthesis and specific serine/threonine phosphatases (PP1 and PP2A) can lead to a switch from impaired long-term potentiation (LTP) to long-term depression (LTD). Additionally, it is found that these phosphatases influence both basal synaptic transmission and stimulation-induced synaptic plasticity.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Mohamad Azmeer Effendy, Suleiman Yunusa, Noorul Hamizah Mat, Ahmad Tarmizi Che Has, Christian P. Mueller, Zurina Hassan
Summary: Mitragynine can modify hippocampal synaptic transmission, with the involvement of AMPA and NMDA glutamate receptors.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Yixing Du, Faith H. Brennan, Phillip G. Popovich, Min Zhou
Summary: This study investigates the role of microglia in regulating the structure and function of astrocytes in the mouse hippocampus, revealing that depletion of microglia disrupts astrocyte syncytial isopotentiality and dye coupling, leading to reduced synaptic transmission in neurons. Activation of microglia enhances synaptic transmission, while leaving astrocyte network function unaffected.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Pedro Valada, Sofia Alcada-Morais, Rodrigo A. Cunha, Joao Pedro Lopes
Summary: Theobromine, a metabolite of caffeine, affects synaptic transmission and plasticity by antagonizing adenosine receptors, resulting in improved cognitive function and neuroprotection against disease-related conditions.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Leore R. Heim, Shiri Shoob, Lior de Marcas, Daniel Zarhin, Inna Slutsky
Summary: This study presents a versatile and robust protocol for recording field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fEPSPs) in behaving rodents. The protocol enables estimation of the input-output relationship of a specific pathway, short-term and long-term plasticity, and modulation by pharmacological or pharmacogenetic interventions and behavioral states.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ryota Fukaya, Marta Maglione, Stephan J. Sigrist, Takeshi Sakaba
Summary: This study suggests a potential mechanism for the cAMP-dependent increase in neurotransmission at hippocampal mossy fiber-CA3 synapses, involving an accumulation of active zone Ca2+ channels. Experimental results indicate an increase in the local Ca2+ concentration at the release site following potentiation, driven by rapid Ca2+ channel accumulation, rather than changes in intracellular Ca2+ sensitivity. Various microscopy techniques provide insights into the underlying mechanisms.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Giselle Cheung, Oana Chever, Astrid Rollenhagen, Nicole Quenech'du, Pascal Ezan, Joachim H. R. Luebke, Nathalie Rouach
Summary: A study found that Connexin 43 (Cx43) is enriched in astroglial processes and plays a crucial role in synaptic transmission. It was discovered that Cx43 controls synaptic glutamate levels and allows for activity-dependent glutamine release to sustain normal synaptic transmission and cognition. However, its importance in synaptic vesicle release remains unanswered.
Article
Immunology
Jing Rong, Yang Yang, Min Liang, Haiquan Zhong, Yingchun Li, Yichao Zhu, Sha Sha, Lei Chen, Rong Zhou
Summary: The mechanisms by which neonatal inflammation leads to cognitive deficits in adulthood remain poorly understood. In this study, the researchers investigated how neonatal inflammation affects GABAergic synaptic transmission, resulting in cognitive impairment.
JOURNAL OF NEUROINFLAMMATION
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anil Annamneedi, Miguel del Angel, Eckart D. Gundelfinger, Oliver Stork, Gursel Caliskan
Summary: Bassoon, an active zone organizer protein, plays a crucial role in coordinating various functions at the presynaptic active zone. The absence of Bassoon in forebrain glutamatergic synapses leads to developmental disturbances in the dentate gyrus and may affect signaling pathways related to TrkB and neurogenesis.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Xuechun Cai, Lili Qiu, Chaoran Wang, Hang Yang, Zhenhui Zhou, Meng Mao, Yunqing Zhu, Yazhou Wen, Wenlan Cai, Wei Zhu, Jie Sun
Summary: The alpha 5-containing GABA(A) receptors (GABA(A)Rs-alpha 5) play a crucial role in chronic neuropathic pain-induced cognitive impairment by weakening inhibitory synaptic transmission. Inhibition of GABA(A)Rs-alpha 5 can rescue weakened inhibitory synaptic transmission and cognitive impairment caused by chronic neuropathic pain.
MOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shihan Zhou, Jing Liu, Yan Sun, Ping Xu, Jin ling Liu, Suping Sun, Boran Zhu, Haoxin Wu
Summary: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is an intermediate state between healthy and dementia, which affects memory and cognitive function. Timely intervention and treatment of MCI can effectively prevent it from developing into an incurable neurodegenerative disease. Lifestyle factors, such as dietary habits, were highlighted as risk factors for MCI. The effect of a high-choline diet on cognitive function is contentious. This study focuses on the choline metabolite trimethylamine-oxide (TMAO) and its potential effect on synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus.
Article
Neurosciences
Kyle A. Brown, Panos Zanos, Chris F. Powels, Connor J. Fix, Michael Michaelides, Edna F. R. Pereira, Ruin Moaddel, Todd D. Gould
Summary: Benzethonium chloride (BZT) is an excipient commonly used in ketamine drug formulations, and recent research suggests that BZT has pharmacological activity. This study investigated the affinity of BZT for neurotransmitter receptors and transporters, its effects on synaptic transmission, and its distribution in the body. The results showed that BZT binds to various receptors and transporters, enhances synaptic potentials in the hippocampus, and can be detected in the plasma but not in the brain after administration. These findings suggest that previous studies attributing pharmacological effects to ketamine may be influenced by BZT and warrant further investigation of BZT's functional impact.
Article
Neurosciences
Soulmee Koh, Wongyoung Lee, Sang Myun Park, Sung Hyun Kim
Summary: The study demonstrates the important role of Cav1 in synaptic vesicle exocytosis, with its knockdown significantly impairing synaptic vesicle function. Neurons rescued by triple mutants lacking palmitoylation sites of Cav1 show impairments in both synaptic transmission and retrieval, highlighting the importance of Cav1 palmitoylation in activity-driven synaptic vesicle dynamics.
Article
Neurosciences
Radu Gugustea, Zhengping Jia
Summary: AMPARs are crucial for fast excitatory synaptic transmission and key mechanisms of learning and memory. Studies show multiple forms of LTP and LTD at the hippocampal CA1 synapse regulated by different AMPAR subunits and induction protocols, emphasizing the necessity to understand the mechanisms of each form and their impact on memory and brain disorders.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Karl F. W. Foley, Daniel Barnett, Deborah A. Cory-Slechta, Houhui Xia
Summary: Arsenic is a well-established carcinogen that can increase mortality, but its effects on the central nervous system, especially in early development, are not well understood. Research shows that exposure to arsenic early in life is associated with learning deficits and behavioral changes, affecting synaptic transmission and plasticity in the hippocampus.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Loretta Koenig, Liubov S. Kalinichenko, Sabine E. Huber, Andreas M. Voll, Michael Bauder, Johannes Kornhuber, Felix Hausch, Christian P. Mueller
Editorial Material
Substance Abuse
Christian P. Mueller
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Iulia Zoicas, Sabine E. Huber, Liubov S. Kalinichenko, Erich Gulbins, Christian P. Mueller, Johannes Kornhuber
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Georgios Kogias, Fang Zheng, Liubov S. Kalinichenko, Johannes Kornhuber, Christian Alzheimer, Dirk Mielenz, Christian P. Mueller
JOURNAL OF NEUROCHEMISTRY
(2020)
Review
Behavioral Sciences
Christian P. Mueller
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2020)
Review
Behavioral Sciences
Christian P. Mueller
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2020)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Liubov S. Kalinichenko, An-Li Wang, Christiane Muehle, Laila Abdel-Hafiz, Erich Gulbins, Johannes Kornhuber, Andre W. C. Oliveira, Marilia Barros, Joseph P. Huston, Christian P. Mueller
Summary: The study found that neutral ceramidase plays an important role in learning and memory mechanisms in rats and non-human primates, and serum NC activity may predict the performance of certain types of memory.
PHARMACOLOGICAL REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Substance Abuse
Christian P. Mueller, Christiane Muehle, Johannes Kornhuber, Bernd Lenz
Summary: This study surveyed instrumentalization goals in patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) and found that the most frequently reported goals were stress coping, craving for alcohol, and reduction of anxiety and / or depressive mood. Compared with non-addicted controls, patients with AUD reported these goals more frequently, indicating a shift in instrumentalization goals during the development of an AUD.
ALCOHOL-CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Daria A. Chestnykh, Davide Amato, Johannes Kornhuber, Christian P. Mueller
Summary: Schizophrenia is a complex multi-dimensional disorder with unknown etiology, where antipsychotic drugs (APDs) play a beneficial role but vary in dosage, clinical effects, and adverse reactions. The efficacy of APDs is associated with high dopamine D2 receptor occupancy and accumulation in synaptic vesicles, impacting on neuronal transmission and effects. Treatment failure in schizophrenia may be due to neuroadaptations induced by long-term APD administration, but could potentially be reversed through manipulating administration regimens or co-administration with dopamine transporter inhibitors.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Rahimah Hassan, Nurulhasanah Othman, Sharif M. Mansor, Christian P. Mueller, Zurina Hassan
Summary: The study investigated the effect of Mitragynine withdrawal in a rat model and found changes in protein expression, with Rab35 protein showing the most significant increase in the Mitragynine withdrawal group. This suggests that Rab35 in the brain could potentially be used as a biomarker during Mitragynine withdrawal and as a target protein for future pharmacotherapies.
BRAIN RESEARCH BULLETIN
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Michael J. Edwards, Gregory C. Wilson, Simone Keitsch, Matthias Soddemann, Barbara Wilker, Christian P. Mueller, Johannes Kornhuber, Erich Gulbins
Summary: The research found that ceramide levels in the blood plasma are increased in MDD patients and experimental mice. Neutralizing ceramide in the blood plasma can prevent experimental MDD in mice. Additionally, phosphatidic acid in the hippocampus regulates the activity of PTP1B, affecting cellular protein phosphorylation levels and ultimately influencing the occurrence and behavior of MDD.
JOURNAL OF NEUROCHEMISTRY
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Christian P. Mueller, Gunter Schumann, Jurgen Rehm, Johannes Kornhuber, Bernd Lenz
Summary: Self-management includes behavioral measures and cognitive activities aimed at coping with challenges throughout the lifespan. Alcohol consumption has been used as a tool to support coping with specific problems during adolescence, adulthood, and aging. This systematic review provides evidence of non-addictive alcohol use for self-managing developmental issues and psychiatric symptoms, as well as the neuropharmacological effects of alcohol. Adverse effects and risks associated with alcohol use for self-management are discussed, and a new perspective is suggested to implement harm-controlled self-management with alcohol.
MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yan Li, Christina Vogel, Liubov S. Kalinichenko, Harald Huebner, Dorothee Weikert, Natascha Schaefer, Peter Gmeiner, Carmen Villmann, Monika Pischetsrieder, Christian P. Mueller
Summary: The barley-derived compound hordenine in beer can limit alcohol consumption, prevent relapse drinking, and have positive effects on alcohol-induced conditioned place preference while enhancing alcohol dependency. Hordenine has an inhibitory effect on locomotor activity and can increase monoamine levels in the brain. These findings suggest that natural ingredients like hordenine in beer play a role in inhibiting and regulating alcohol use through modulation of monoaminergic signaling.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sabine E. Huber, Iulia Zoicas, Martin Reichel, Christiane Muehle, Christian Buettner, Arif B. Ekici, Volker Eulenburg, Bernd Lenz, Johannes Kornhuber, Christian P. Mueller