Article
Neurosciences
Sam McKenzie, Roman Huszar, Daniel F. English, Kanghwan Kim, Fletcher Christensen, Euisik Yoon, Gyorgy Buzsaki
Summary: The study focuses on how incorporating synthetic hippocampal signals is constrained by preexisting circuit dynamics through optogenetic stimulation of CA1 neurons in mice. Stimulation induced persistent place field remapping and reflected circuit modification through altered spike transmission. The findings suggest that plasticity in recurrent/lateral inhibition may drive learning by rapidly associating existing states.
Article
Neurosciences
Maithe Loisy, Guillaume Bouisset, Sebastien Lopez, Maud Muller, Alena Spitsyn, Jeanne Duval, Rebecca Ann Piskorowski, Laure Verret, Vivien Chevaleyre
Summary: This study reveals a novel inhibitory plasticity mediated by cannabinoid type 1 receptor activation (CB1R-iLTD) in the CA2 region of the hippocampus, which plays a crucial role in social memory formation. The study also demonstrates that the previous induction of Delta-opioid receptor-mediated long-term depression (DOR-iLTDs) is necessary for the CB1R-iLTD to occur. The findings provide insights into the interplay between inhibitory plasticities and a new mechanism for social memory formation.
Article
Neurosciences
Juan Chen, Tao Wang, Yuting Zhou, Yiming Hong, Shiyong Zhang, Zhongtao Zhou, Ao Jiang, Danyang Liu
Summary: The microglial response mediated by neuroinflammation is linked to neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases. While the impact of microglia on excitatory synaptic transmission has been extensively studied, the effects of innate immunity on the structural plasticity of GABAergic inhibitory synapses are not well understood. This study demonstrates that LPS-mediated microglial activation leads to an upregulation of GABAergic synapse formation, resulting in cognitive dysfunction. Blocking GABA receptor activity and depleting microglia can reverse the cognitive impairment induced by LPS.
EXPERIMENTAL NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Nishant Singh, Thomas Bartol, Herbert Levine, Terrence Sejnowski, Suhita Nadkarni
Summary: Research indicates that the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) plays a crucial role in short-term plasticity (STP), contributing to the normal function of synapses. Modelling approaches highlight the importance of ER's buffering capacities in this process.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Spencer Bowles, Jordan Hickman, Xiaoyu Peng, W. Ryan Williamson, Rongchen Huang, Kayden Washington, Dane Donegan, Cristin G. Welle
Summary: Vagus nerve stimulation is a neuromodulation therapy that influences specific neural circuits through widespread brain activation, enhancing behavioral learning. By investigating neuronal activity in mice during a reach task, researchers found that VNS modulates neurons in the motor cortex through cholinergic signaling, accelerating motor refinement.
Review
Neurosciences
Ryota Fukaya, Rinako Miyano, Himawari Hirai, Takeshi Sakaba
Summary: Presynaptic plasticity refers to the activity-dependent changes in neurotransmitter release, playing a crucial role in modulating synaptic strength. Among these changes, presynaptic potentiation mediated by cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) is widely observed and implicated in learning and memory. Researchers have used hippocampal mossy fiber-CA3 pyramidal cell synapses as a model to investigate presynaptic potentiation, as the mechanisms underlying it can be dissected through direct presynaptic recordings. Recent advancements in super-resolution microscopy and flash-and-freeze electron microscopy have provided insights into the nanoscale localization of release site molecules and synaptic vesicles during potentiation, shedding light on the molecular mechanisms involved. In light of these findings, this study aims to propose plausible mechanisms underlying cAMP-mediated presynaptic potentiation.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biology
Cosimo Prestigio, Daniele Ferrante, Antonella Marte, Alessandra Romei, Gabriele Lignani, Franco Onofri, Pierluigi Valente, Fabio Benfenati, Pietro Baldelli
Summary: The study demonstrates that REST/NRSF regulates neuronal homeostasis by downregulating glutamatergic transmission and increasing GABAergic inhibition in response to hyperactivity. This effect is specific to inhibitory-onto-excitatory neuron synapses and involves target- and area-selectivity.
Article
Cell Biology
Core Baimel, Emil Jang, Samantha L. Scudder, Kasra Manocheri, Adam G. Carter
Summary: Cholinergic interneurons in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) are modulated by ventral hippocampus and paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus, with the former causing an inhibitory pause in firing. This inhibition is mediated by local parvalbumin interneurons and reflects fundamental differences in connectivity compared to the dorsal striatum.
Review
Neurosciences
Luca Pancotti, Lisa Topolnik
Summary: This article reviews the evidence regarding the modulatory effects of acetylcholine (ACh) on dendritic computations in three subtypes of hippocampal interneurons: fast-spiking parvalbumin-positive (PV+) cells, somatostatin-expressing (SOM+) oriens lacunosum moleculare cells, and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-expressing (VIP+) interneuron-selective interneurons. The distribution and actions of cholinergic receptors on these interneurons are discussed, along with the potential modulation of dendritic Ca2+ signaling and neuronal activity. The article suggests that cholinergic modulation can shape dendritic integration and plasticity in interneurons in a cell type-specific manner, which is important for understanding their contribution to large-scale network activity.
Article
Cell Biology
Veronika Kondev, Mustafa Najeed, Farhana Yasmin, Amanda Morgan, Niharika Loomba, Keenan Johnson, Danielle N. Adank, Ao Dong, Eric Delpire, Yulong Li, Danny Winder, Brad A. Grueter, Sachin Patel
Summary: The endocannabinoid system plays a crucial role in modulating stress responsivity and adaptation within the limbic neurocircuitry. This study investigates the release of eCB at vHPC-BLA synapses and demonstrates that eCB signaling within this circuitry counteracts the adverse behavioral consequences of stress.
Article
Physics, Applied
Xinxiu Wu, Zeyang Li, Xiao Yi, Caihong Jia, Weifeng Zhang
Summary: This study simulates electronic synapses based on the SIO epitaxial film with introducing a ferroelectric PZT layer, and demonstrates multiple important synaptic plasticity functions under electrical stimulation. The PZT/SIO/NSTO device exhibits larger synaptic weight and dynamic range of conductance compared to the SIO/NSTO device, and requires fewer training pulses, which is attributed to the enhanced modulation of the SIO/NSTO interface barrier by the polarization field. This research contributes significantly to efficient and fast information transmission in neuromorphic computing.
APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jonathan E. Draffin, Carla Sanchez-Castillo, Alba Fernandez-Rodrigo, Xavier Sanchez-Saez, Jesus Avila, Florence F. Wagner, Jose A. Esteban
Summary: GSK3 alpha, but not GSK3 beta, is crucial for NMDA receptor-dependent long-term depression (LTD) in the hippocampus, where it interacts with the microtubule-binding protein tau to anchor in dendritic spines during LTD induction. These findings suggest a specific role for GSK3 alpha in synaptic depression and rule out a significant role for GSK3 beta in this process.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marta Orlando, Anton Dvorzhak, Felicitas Bruentgens, Marta Maglione, Benjamin R. Rost, Stephan J. Sigrist, Joerg Breustedt, Dietmar Schmitz
Summary: This study investigated the functional and structural changes associated with presynaptic potentiation induced by the adenylyl cyclase activator forskolin. Multi-modal imaging techniques revealed an increase in the surface area used for glutamate release, no change in the coupling distance between calcium channels and release sites, and rapid remodeling of synaptic ultrastructure at potentiated boutons. These findings suggest that early structural rearrangements enable long-term increase in synaptic strength.
Article
Neurosciences
Ines Guerreiro, Zhenglin Gu, Jerrel L. Yakel, Boris S. Gutkin
Summary: The CA1 pyramidal neurons in the hippocampus interact with various interneurons in complex local circuits. Recent studies have shown that activating a7 nACh receptors expressed in OLMa2 interneurons can induce long-term potentiation (LTP) in SC-CA1 synapses. According to a biophysically based model, activation of a7 nAChRs increases OLM GABAergic activity, leading to the inhibition of fast-spiking interneurons that provide feedforward inhibition to CA1 pyramidal neurons. This disinhibition, coupled with synchronized SC stimulation, can result in potentiation of excitatory synapses in CA1 pyramidal neurons.
Article
Immunology
Shunqin Fan, Xijun Wang, Ning Gao, Songli Wei
Summary: In a rat model, electroacupuncture pretreatment was found to improve learning and memory deficits induced by recurrent propofol exposure. It also enhanced hippocampal synaptic plasticity, activated the pCREB/BDNF pathway, and inhibited neuronal apoptosis.
JOURNAL OF INFLAMMATION RESEARCH
(2023)