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106 results on '"Synaptic development"'

101. Developmental Expression of Calcium Buffering Proteins in Central Auditory Pathways of Normal Hearing and Congenitally Deaf Mice

Author

Deardorff, Adam S.

Subjects
Biomedical Research, Neurology, Auditory Pathways, Calcium Buffering Proteins, Calretinin, Calbindin, Parvalbumin, Congenital Deafness, Synaptic Development, dn/dn mice
Abstract

These experiments analyze differences in synaptic development in central auditory pathways between normal hearing (CBA/J) and congenitally deaf (dn/dn) mice, which provide valuable insight into central synaptic plasticity corresponding to human congenital deafness. Immunofluorescent analysis of the developmental expression of the calcium buffering proteins calretinin, calbindin d-28k, and parvalbumin at various postnatal time points was performed to assess the effects of altered neural activity on the level and/or pattern of protein expression within these nuclei. Results indicate that the pattern of calbindin and parvalbumin is unaffected by congenital deafness in dn/dn mice. However, the pattern of calretinin expression in the MNTB during development of dn/dn mice differed significantly from that of CBA/J mice, indicating that calcium buffering may be impaired in these synapses without appropriate afferent stimulation.

Published
2010

102. Mechanism underlying the maturation of AMPA receptors in zebrafish

Author

Aroonassala Patten, Shunmoogum

Subjects
Synaptic development, Protein-kinase-c, Zebrafish, Mauthner neuron, AMPA receptor
Abstract

Abstract: Glutamate AMPA receptors (AMPARs) are major excitatory receptors in the vertebrate CNS. In many biological systems there are changes in the properties of AMPARs during development that are essential for providing an increase in efficiency of information transfer between neurons and a refinement of motor co-ordination and sensory perception and cognition. It is not surprising that improper development or loss of function of AMPARs can lead to many neurological disorders such as epilepsy and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Thus, determining the mechanisms by which AMPARs mature is of particular importance. The objectives of my thesis were to characterize the developmental changes in AMPAR-mediated currents in zebrafish Mauthner cells and to determine the mechanisms underlying any changes. The major findings reported in this thesis are that (1) there are developmental changes in the properties of AMPAR-currents as the Mauthner cell matures; (2) the mechanism underlying these changes is a switch in the composition of AMPA receptor subtypes; and (3) PKC is necessary for the developmental switch in AMPAR subtypes from slow receptors to fast receptors. These findings provide valuable insights into the mechanism underlying the development of AMPARs. In addition, they provide the first instance of a signalling link (PKC) required for the developmental subunit switch and the developmental speeding of AMPAR kinetics.

Published
2009

103. In vivo spike-timing-dependent plasticity in the optic tectum of Xenopus laevis.

Author

Richards BA, Aizenman CD, and Akerman CJ

Abstract

Spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP) is found in vivo in a variety of systems and species, but the first demonstrations of in vivo STDP were carried out in the optic tectum of Xenopus laevis embryos. Since then, the optic tectum has served as an excellent experimental model for studying STDP in sensory systems, allowing researchers to probe the developmental consequences of this form of synaptic plasticity during early development. In this review, we will describe what is known about the role of STDP in shaping feed-forward and recurrent circuits in the optic tectum with a focus on the functional implications for vision. We will discuss both the similarities and differences between the optic tectum and mammalian sensory systems that are relevant to STDP. Finally, we will highlight the unique properties of the embryonic tectum that make it an important system for researchers who are interested in how STDP contributes to activity-dependent development of sensory computations.

Published
2010
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104. Errant gardeners: glial-cell-dependent synaptic pruning and neurodevelopmental disorders

Author

Cornelius Gross and Urte Neniskyte

Subjects
0301 basic medicine, Nervous system, Period (gene), Synaptic pruning, autism spectrum disorders, development of the nervous system, epilepsy, schizophrenia, synaptic development, Biology, Synapse, 03 medical and health sciences, Epilepsy, 0302 clinical medicine, Neuroimaging, Neural Pathways, medicine, Animals, Humans, Neuronal Plasticity, General Neuroscience, Brain, medicine.disease, 030104 developmental biology, medicine.anatomical_structure, nervous system, Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Schizophrenia, Synapses, Autism, Neuroglia, Neuroscience, 030217 neurology & neurosurgery
Abstract

The final stage of brain development is associated with the generation and maturation of neuronal synapses. However, the same period is also associated with a peak in synapse elimination - a process known as synaptic pruning - that has been proposed to be crucial for the maturation of remaining synaptic connections. Recent studies have pointed to a key role for glial cells in synaptic pruning in various parts of the nervous system and have identified a set of critical signalling pathways between glia and neurons. At the same time, brain imaging and post-mortem anatomical studies suggest that insufficient or excessive synaptic pruning may underlie several neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism, schizophrenia and epilepsy. Here, we review current data on the cellular, physiological and molecular mechanisms of glial-cell-dependent synaptic pruning and outline their potential contribution to neurodevelopmental disorders.

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105. Neurexins and Neuroligins: Recent Insights from Invertebrates

Author

Gabrielle L. Boulianne, Wei Xie, and David Knight

Subjects
Neuroligin, Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal, Neuroscience (miscellaneous), Neurexin, Neuromuscular Junction, Nerve Tissue Proteins, Biology, Tourette syndrome, Article, Synapse, 03 medical and health sciences, Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience, 0302 clinical medicine, Postsynaptic potential, Cell adhesion molecule, medicine, Animals, Humans, Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules, Phylogeny, 030304 developmental biology, Neurons, 0303 health sciences, Calcium-Binding Proteins, medicine.disease, Synaptic development, Invertebrates, medicine.anatomical_structure, Neurology, Mutation, Synapses, Autism, Neural cell adhesion molecule, Drosophila, Neuron, Neuroscience, 030217 neurology & neurosurgery
Abstract

During brain development, each neuron must find and synapse with the correct pre- and postsynaptic partners. The complexity of these connections and the relatively large distances some neurons must send their axons to find the correct partners makes studying brain development one of the most challenging, and yet fascinating disciplines in biology. Furthermore, once the initial connections have been made, the neurons constantly remodel their dendritic and axonal arbours in response to changing demands. Neurexin and neuroligin are two cell adhesion molecules identified as important regulators of this process. The importance of these genes in the development and modulation of synaptic connectivity is emphasised by the observation that mutations in these genes in humans have been associated with cognitive disorders such as Autism spectrum disorders, Tourette syndrome and Schizophrenia. The present review will discuss recent advances in our understanding of the role of these genes in synaptic development and modulation, and in particular, we will focus on recent work in invertebrate models, and how these results relate to studies in mammals.

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