Article
Neurosciences
Roberto Colangeli, Maria Morena, Allison Werner, Roger J. Thompson, Mario van der Stelt, Quentin J. Pittman, Matthew N. Hill, Campbell Teskey
Summary: Repeated seizures result in persistent alteration of endocannabinoid (eCB) signaling, particularly a deficiency in anandamide signaling in the basolateral amygdala (BLA), leading to abnormal synaptic function and emotional behavior. This study found that repeated seizures reduced tonic and phasic eCB-mediated retrograde signaling in GABA transmission. These effects were not due to changes in CB1 receptor sensitivity or altered baseline 2-AG signaling, but rather impaired stimulus-dependent 2-AG synthesis/release.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Neurosciences
Marco Capogna, Pablo E. Castillo, Arianna Maffei
Summary: GABAergic interneurons are highly diverse and play a crucial role in regulating neural circuits for learning and memory. Inhibitory synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus and neocortex is essential for circuit dynamics, with different interneuron types supporting unique roles.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Zohreh Tavassoli, Mohadeseh Giahi, Mahyar Janahmadi, Narges Hosseinmardi
Summary: In this study, the role of astrocytes in seizures induced by PTZ was assessed, and it was found that inhibiting astrocytes can alleviate seizure behavior. Inhibition of astrocytes reduced the severity and duration of seizures and decreased the changes in synaptic plasticity.
EPILEPSY & BEHAVIOR
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Andrew C. Toader, Josue M. Regalado, Yan Ran Li, Andrea Terceros, Nakul Yadav, Suraj Kumar, Sloane Satow, Florian Hollunder, Alessandra Bonito-Oliva, Priya Rajasethupathy
Summary: Memories formed initially in the hippocampus are gradually stabilized to the cortex for long-term storage. The mechanisms of this brain re-organization are poorly understood. By recording neural activity in the circuits connecting the hippocampus and cortex in mice performing a memory-guided virtual reality task over weeks, researchers identified a strong correlation between memory and activity in the anterior thalamus, with inhibition of this activity disrupting memory consolidation. Additionally, gain amplification enhanced consolidation of memories that were otherwise not consolidated. The researchers also found that the anteromedial thalamus preferentially encodes salient memories and gradually increases correlations with the cortex to facilitate tuning and synchronization of cortical ensembles, suggesting a mechanism for the selection and stabilization of hippocampal memories into longer-term cortical storage.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ragunathan Padmashri, Kevin Tyner, Anna Dunaevsky
Summary: This paper introduces a method for implanting a chronic cranial window to allow for longitudinal imaging of brain cells in awake, head-restrained mice. By using genetic strategies and viral injections, specific cells and regions of interest can be labeled with structural or physiological markers. This approach enables researchers to observe cellular dynamics in real time and address various questions in neuroscience.
JOVE-JOURNAL OF VISUALIZED EXPERIMENTS
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Synphane Gibbs-Shelton, Jordan Benderoth, Ronald P. Gaykema, Justyna Straub, Kenneth A. Okojie, Joseph O. Uweru, Dennis H. Lentferink, Binita Rajbanshi, Maureen N. Cowan, Brij Patel, Anthony Brayan Campos-Salazar, Edward Perez-Reyes, Ukpong B. Eyo
Summary: Seizure disorders are common and current antiseizure drugs are ineffective for a third of patients. Neuroinflammation, the activation of immune cells and molecules in the central nervous system, is proposed to facilitate seizure generation. The role of microglia in this process is debated, but using a selective approach, it has been shown that microglia have a beneficial role in limiting seizures and further understanding is needed.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Siu Hin Lau, Ching Han Young, Yilin Zheng, Xi Chen
Summary: This review examines the potential role of the cholecystokinin (CCK) system in declarative memory. The findings suggest that CCK is involved in fear memory and spatial memory, and plays diverse roles in neocortical and hippocampal synaptic plasticity. However, further research is needed to understand the association between CCK-mediated synaptic plasticity and declarative memory consolidation and retrieval.
NEUROCHEMISTRY INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Biology
Daniel Fonseca-Barriendos, Jose Luis Castaneda-Cabral, Frida Martinez-Cuevas, Walter Besio, Alejandro Valdes-Cruz, Luisa Rocha
Summary: Recent evidence shows that P-glycoprotein (P-gp) overexpression is associated with hyperexcitability and epileptogenesis. Transcranial focal electrical stimulation (TFS) delays epileptogenesis and inhibits P-gp overexpression. In this study, P-gp expression was measured during epileptogenesis, and the antiepileptogenic effect of TFS was assessed. The results revealed that P-gp expression increased during epileptogenesis, and TFS prevented this increase. These findings suggest that P-gp could be a potential therapeutic target to prevent epileptogenesis.
Article
Cell Biology
Andrea Csemer, Adrienn Kovacs, Baneen Maamrah, Krisztina Pocsai, Kristof Korpas, Almos Klekner, Peter Szucs, Peter P. Nanasi, Balazs Pal
Summary: This study used slice electrophysiology to provide evidence that slow inward currents (SICs) can elicit synaptic plasticity by activating extrasynaptic NMDA receptors. The age dependence of SICs and their impact on synaptic plasticity were investigated in both murine and human cortical slices. The findings showed that SICs can induce moderate synaptic plasticity similar to spike timing-dependent plasticity, with a clear decline in SIC activity with aging and complete disappearance above a certain age cutoff. In conclusion, SICs likely play an important role in age-dependent physiological and pathological alterations of synaptic plasticity.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Sebastian Goldt, Florent Krzakala, Lenka Zdeborova, Nicolas Brunel
Summary: The advent of comprehensive synaptic wiring diagrams of large neural circuits has created the field of connectomics. This study addresses the question of whether it is possible to reconstruct the information stored in a recurrent network of neurons given its synaptic connectivity matrix. It provides a practical algorithm based on statistical physics for approximate Bayesian inference to solve this inference problem.
PLOS COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ya-Nan Gao, Yong-Qian Zhang, Hao Wang, Yu-Lin Deng, Nuo-Min Li
Summary: This article reviews the role of miRNA in depression, focusing on its regulation of neuroplasticity and its effects on synaptic structure, synaptic function, and neurogenesis. It has been found that miRNAs regulate neuroplasticity through multiple signaling pathways, impacting cognitive function. In the future, dual-function miRNAs could potentially serve as biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment targets for depression.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Piotr Sobaniec, Joanna Maria Lotowska, Maria Elzbieta Sobaniec-Lotowska, Milena Zochowska-Sobaniec
Summary: This pioneering study aimed to evaluate the neuroprotective properties of the antiepileptic drug topiramate in experimental hyperthermia-induced seizures. The findings suggest that pre-administration of topiramate can protect some neocortical synapses from damage caused by hyperthermic stress, particularly in perivascular zones. However, direct use of topiramate after seizures was not effective in preventing synaptic injury.
Article
Biology
Vera Valakh, Derek Wise, Xiaoyue Aelita Zhu, Mingqi Sha, Jaidyn Fok, Stephen D. Van Hooser, Robin Schectman, Isabel Cepeda, Ryan Kirk, Sean M. O'Toole, Sacha B. Nelson
Summary: Healthy neuronal networks require homeostatic plasticity to maintain stable firing rates. However, inappropriate or excessive activation of these mechanisms can lead to destabilization and rebound hyperactivity. In this study, the negative regulation of cortical network homeostasis by the PARbZIP family of transcription factors was uncovered. Knockout mice lacking these factors showed a stronger network response to activity withdrawal, indicating their critical role in constraining plasticity and preventing seizures.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
David Nagy, Katelin A. Ennis, Ru Wei, Susan C. Su, Christopher A. Hinckley, Rong-Fang Gu, Benbo Gao, Ramiro H. Massol, Chris Ehrenfels, Luke Jandreski, Ankur M. Thomas, Ashley Nelson, Stefka Gyoneva, Mihaly Hajos, Linda C. Burkly
Summary: The TWEAK/Fn14 signaling pathway has been found to acutely dampen synaptic transmission and plasticity in the adult mouse hippocampal slices. Blocking this pathway can improve synaptic function in certain models, indicating its potential therapeutic value in modifying synaptic physiology in the mature brain.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Haiyu Liu, Liang Zhang
Summary: Seizure clusters are common in epileptic patients and are associated with an increased risk of developing status epilepticus and higher morbidity and mortality rates. Through an experiment involving hippocampal kindling in mice, it was found that seizure clustering represents a prominent feature of spontaneous recurrent seizures, showing variable patterns between individual mice. Despite limitations, systemic homeostatic mechanisms may play a crucial role in governing the occurrence and termination of seizure clusters.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY
(2021)