• They showed that neuronal activity, which triggers the activation of post-synaptic cellular receptors, called NMDA receptors, is needed for the function of OPHN1 at the synapse, and that in turn, OPHN1 regulates the plasticity, or strength of the connection. (scienceblog.com)
  • When NMDA receptors are activated in the synapse, the team found that OPHN1 is recruited to dendritic spines, where it locally regulates the actin cytoskeleton - as it turns out, in proximity to another receptor type in the synapse called AMPA receptors. (scienceblog.com)
  • L-glutamate is the principal excitatory neurotransmitter at fast synapses in the mammalian central nervous system, and signals though a number of ionotropic and metabotropic receptors. (nih.gov)
  • Glutamatergic synaptic transmission is first purely NMDA-receptor based and lacks functional AMPA receptors. (nih.gov)
  • However, when GABA and glutamatergic synapses are coactivated during the physiological patterns of activity, GABAA receptors can facilitate the activation of NMDA receptors, playing the role conferred to AMPA receptors later on in development. (nih.gov)
  • CB1 receptors are located on both GABAergic and glutamatergic axon terminals synapsing onto principle neurons. (vumc.org)
  • The nuclear receptors subfamily 4 group A (Nr4a) have emerged as possible modulators of hippocampal synaptic plasticity and cognitive functions. (uab.cat)
  • Cold Spring Harbor, NY - A team of neuroscientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) has demonstrated the mechanism by which a signaling protein found throughout the brain controls the maturation and strength of excitatory synapses, the tiny gaps across which the majority of neurons communicate. (scienceblog.com)
  • Importantly, in this maintenance function, the OPHN1 protein was found to play a key role in both the maturation of excitatory synapses and in their plasticity, or ability to vary in strength. (scienceblog.com)
  • BDNF signaling in the formation, maturation and plasticity of glutamatergic and GABAergic synapses. (yale.edu)
  • In terms of the sequence of events, synaptogenesis happens right after the production of astrocytes and the time window of synapse formation overlaps that of the astrocyte maturation [ 14 ]. (degruyter.com)
  • Developmental control of cortical MET receptor tyrosine kinase, expressed early postnatally in subpopulations of excitatory neurons, has a pronounced impact on the timing of glutamatergic synapse maturation and critical period plasticity. (escholarship.org)
  • We found that in vitro and in vivo BDNF treatments potently inhibited the activity of a subset of CB 1 Rs controlling GABA synapses (CB 1 Rs (GABA) ) in the striatum. (jneurosci.org)
  • The single molecule sensitivity of dSTORM enables the measurement of endogenous BDNF and locates BDNF granules aligned with glutamatergic pre-synapses. (uni-wuerzburg.de)
  • This data proofs that hippocampal neurons are capable of enriching BDNF within the mature glutamatergic pre-synapse, possibly influencing synaptic plasticity. (uni-wuerzburg.de)
  • BDNF is a potential protective factor and enhancement of BDNF expression might have a significant impact on synapse and spine loss in neurodegenerative diseases. (circprot.eu)
  • In a parallel project, we will begin to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of BDNF on synapse structural plasticity. (circprot.eu)
  • Nr4a2 activation mediates Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) production and increases expression of iGluRs, thereby affecting long-term depression (LTD) at CA3-CA1 synapses in acute mouse hippocampal slices (both sexes). (uab.cat)
  • Altogether, our results indicate that the iGluR/Ca2+/CREB/CRTC1 pathway mediates activity-dependent expression of Nr4a2 which is involved in glutamatergic synaptic plasticity by increasing BDNF and synaptic GluA1-AMPARs. (uab.cat)
  • The drug was shown to increase BDNF which is responsible for the growth and differentiation of new neurons and synapses. (cosmicnootropic.com)
  • The molecular substrates of this integration are poorly understood, but likely modulate neural plasticity and gene regulation. (biomedcentral.com)
  • Most DMRs were inside genes supporting neural development, synapse function, and other processes relevant to neural plasticity, and DMRs could affect gene expression in multiple ways. (biomedcentral.com)
  • The molecular substrates underlying this integration are complex and not well understood [ 6 ], but rapid responses to changing circumstances depend on flexible brain function, i.e. neural plasticity, which in turn is supported by context-specific patterns of gene transcription [ 7 ]. (biomedcentral.com)
  • It has been implicated in multiple forms of neural plasticity, and active (de) methylation is an important regulator of gene expression in adult neurons involved in learning and memory [ 18 , 19 , 20 ]. (biomedcentral.com)
  • Methylation likely supports "metaplasticity" (plasticity of neural plasticity), since it is a relatively stable epigenetic mark that also retains the potential for change [ 21 , 22 ]. (biomedcentral.com)
  • Lourenço J, De Stasi AM, Deleuze C, Bigot M, Pazienti A, Aguirre A, Giugliano M , Ostojic S , Bacci A . Modulation of Coordinated Activity across Cortical Layers by Plasticity of Inhibitory Synapses. (neurotree.org)
  • However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying Nr4a2-mediated hippocampal synaptic plasticity are not completely known. (uab.cat)
  • These results indicated that Cdk5/p35 in excitatory neurons is important for the hippocampal synaptic plasticity and associative memory retention. (biomedcentral.com)
  • However, both the mean miniature excitatory postsynaptic current (mEPSC) amplitude and AMPA/NMDA ratio were decreased, suggesting that ECM attenuation increased the proportion of 'unpotentiated' synapses. (biorxiv.org)
  • His work carried out in the field of Neuroscience brings together such families of science as Glutamate receptor, AMPA receptor and Synaptic plasticity. (research.com)
  • The brain extracellular matrix (ECM) is a proteoglycan complex that occupies the extracellular space between brain cells and regulates brain development, brain wiring, and synaptic plasticity. (biorxiv.org)
  • These changes can be permanent but are also reversible, implying the involvement of a robust but flexible mechanism that regulates plasticity based on internal and external conditions. (biomedcentral.com)
  • eCBs are important retrograde modulators of synaptic signaling at central synapses. (vumc.org)
  • In our lab, we are interested in understanding the functional properties of central synapses, the specialized structures that convert the electrical activity of a neuron into a chemical signal for its target cells. (albany.edu)
  • How are individual molecules are distributed within presynaptic terminals and how does their distribution influences the properties of neurotransmitter release from small central synapses? (albany.edu)
  • Neuromuscular junction (NMJ) is the functional contact (synapse) between an axon of motor neuron and muscle fiber. (intechopen.com)
  • In addition, dysfunction of glutamatergic neurotransmission is increasingly considered to be a core feature of stress-related mental illnesses. (nature.com)
  • ipRGCs use vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (vGlut2) to package glutamate into synaptic vesicles and light-evoked resetting of the SCN circadian clock is widely attributed to ipRGC glutamatergic neurotransmission. (eneuro.org)
  • However, there is no direct evidence that all ipRGC glutamatergic neurotransmission is eliminated in vGlut2 cKOs. (eneuro.org)
  • Here, we examined two lines of ipRGC vGlut2 cKO mice for SCN-mediated behavioral responses under several lighting conditions and for ipRGC glutamatergic neurotransmission in the SCN. (eneuro.org)
  • The results indicate that significant glutamatergic neurotransmission remains in ipRGCs of Opn4 Cre/+ ;vGlut2 loxP/loxP mice and that the ipRGC vGlut2 conditional knock-out (cKO) model resulted in only subtle changes in the rate of vesicular glutamate replenishment even at high stimulation frequencies. (eneuro.org)
  • Richard J. Weinberg has included themes like Neurotransmission and Silent synapse in his Neuroscience study. (research.com)
  • As a part of the same scientific family, Richard J. Weinberg mostly works in the field of Excitatory postsynaptic potential, focusing on Neurotransmission and, on occasion, Glutamatergic. (research.com)
  • Indeed, problems at the synapse - in their formation and in the mechanisms through which the strength, or plasticity, of their connections are regulated - are thought to contribute to numerous mental and neurological disorders. (scienceblog.com)
  • Straightforward pharmacological intervention on different regulatory sites of the glutamate synapse is a possible strategy for bypassing the unmet therapeutic needs posed by traditional drugs based on monoaminergic mechanisms. (nature.com)
  • Notably, some of the proteins expressed from BD-associated genes function in neuronal synapses, suggesting that abnormalities in synaptic function could be one of the key pathogenic mechanisms of BD. (en-journal.org)
  • Determining the mechanisms underlying the development of this 'ménage à trois' will shed light not only on the wide range of trophic roles of glutamate and GABA in the developing brain, but also on the significance of the transition from neonatal to adult forms of plasticity. (nih.gov)
  • We utilize behavioral models and in vivo and ex vivo electrophysiological approaches to elucidate the mechanisms subserving experience-dependent neuronal plasticity within limbic circuits. (vumc.org)
  • The main interest of the laboratory is the study of the mechanisms involved in the formation and function of the synapse -the central element that allows the communication between neurons in brain- and in defining how these processes get wrong in brain diseases. (cnr.it)
  • The research activity of the Laboratory aims at understanding the molecular mechanisms at the basis of synapse dysfunctions in neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases and at defining whether key immune molecules impact this process, in order to identify new targets suitable for therapeutic interventions. (cnr.it)
  • To understand better the cellular mechanisms of NE's contributions to fear learning, we examined the anatomical organization of NE terminals and βARs in the LA. In this study, we employed immunoelectron microscopy to determine whether terminals immunoreactive for dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DβH), the synthetic enzyme for NE, form synaptic junctions in the LA and if so, examine these synapses and identify the post-synaptic targets on NE terminals. (frontiersin.org)
  • How do plasticity mechanisms interface with the core molecular machinery for synaptic vesicle trafficking and fusion to alter neuronal communication? (mit.edu)
  • How do these mechanisms differ across distinct neuronal subpopulations with unique synaptic structure, output strength and plasticity? (mit.edu)
  • Although the common genetic mechanisms underlying autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) may be varied and unknown, mounting evidence suggests that defects at the neuronal synapse may underlie the pathophysiology. (medscape.com)
  • Circadian modulation of neurons and astrocytes controls synaptic plasticity in hippocampal area CA1. (albany.edu)
  • So, according to numerous studies, not only ACh (which by the way does not always lead to a contraction of the muscle fiber) is released in the vertebrate neuromuscular synapse, but also a number of other synaptically active molecules. (intechopen.com)
  • The neuromuscular junction (NMJ) is a tripartite synapse comprised of an α-motor neuron (the presynapse), extrafusal muscle fiber (the postsynapse), and specialized synaptic glia called perisynaptic Schwann cells (PSCs) or terminal Schwann cells. (elifesciences.org)
  • In addition, octopamine neurons regulated the expansion of excitatory glutamatergic neuromuscular arbors through Octβ2Rs on glutamatergic motor neurons. (ox.ac.uk)
  • We investigated the role of octopamine, the invertebrate counterpart of adrenaline and noradrenaline, in synaptic and behavioral plasticity in Drosophila. (ox.ac.uk)
  • We leverage the power and versatility of the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster to study glutamatergic synapses at the level of single active zones in identifiable neuronal populations. (mit.edu)
  • Below-normal glutamatergic function, specifically observed in these experiments in the rat hippocampus, can in this way be associated with certain pathologies. (scienceblog.com)
  • Thus, ECM attenuation enables the appearance of new synapses in the hippocampus, which is compensated for by a reduction in the excitability of postsynaptic neurons, thereby preventing network overexcitation at the expense of synaptic plasticity. (biorxiv.org)
  • His Synaptic plasticity research is multidisciplinary, incorporating elements of Long-term potentiation, Perineuronal net, Hippocampus and Forebrain. (research.com)
  • Although several molecules involved in inflammatory processes have been found to regulate specific neuronal processes, the processes by which inflammation cascades impact synapse formation and function, contributing to the onset of a brain disease is not defined. (cnr.it)
  • We identify two transcriptionally distinct mitochondrial modules and demonstrate that one corresponds to mitochondria enriched in neuronal processes and synapses, whereas the other represents a population restricted to the soma. (escholarship.org)
  • The unravelling of the structural arrangement of investigated proteins supports the building of a synapse model and therefore helps to understand the relation between structure and function in neural transmission processes. (uni-wuerzburg.de)
  • Synaptic adhesion proteins that bridge the synaptic cleft by transsynaptic interactions have recently emerged as key players in molecularly organizing glutamatergic synapses. (circprot.eu)
  • Wnt proteins are emerging key regulators of the plasticity and functions of adult brains. (biomedcentral.com)
  • Together, our results provide new insights into the potential role of miR-1908-5p in the pathogenesis of BD and also propose a hypothesis that neuronal synapses could be a key converging pathway of some BD-associated protein-coding genes and miRNAs. (en-journal.org)
  • Acute stress enhances glutamatergic synaptic transmission in the prefrontal cortex and other limbic regions, thereby facilitating certain cognitive functions. (nature.com)
  • Recent contributions of the lab to the field of synaptopathies and neuroinflammation include the identification of the role of the SNARE protein SNAP-25 (involved in ADHD and schizophrenia) in the modulation of calcium channels and network excitability and the demonstration that reduced protein levels impact cognitive processes, altering short term plasticity and spine morphology. (cnr.it)
  • Because spine and synapse loss are tightly linked to cognitive defects and memory impairment, it is crucial to analyse spines, their dynamics, and their disease-related changes in search for a protective therapeutic strategy. (circprot.eu)
  • Other co-expression modules relate to fundamental cellular functions, such as energy production, firing rate, trafficking, and synapses, suggesting that fundamental aspects of neuronal diversity are produced by quantitative variation in basic metabolic processes. (escholarship.org)
  • These astrocytic processes were frequently interposed between unlabeled terminals or ensheathed asymmetric synapses. (frontiersin.org)
  • Figure 1: The tripartite glutamate synapse. (nature.com)
  • Using a newly generated transgenic mouse in which PSCs are specifically labeled, we show that PSCs have a unique molecular signature that includes genes known to play critical roles in PSCs and synapses. (elifesciences.org)
  • We identified and validated its novel target genes including DLGAP4 , GRIN1 , STX1A , CLSTN1 and GRM4 , which all function in neuronal glutamatergic synapses. (en-journal.org)
  • We also measured netrin-G1 and netrin-G2 messenger RNAs because these genes are involved in the formation and plasticity of glutamatergic connections. (ox.ac.uk)
  • For example, methylation altered by learning could flag genes for regulation only in certain conditions, priming the future activation of specific transcriptional states without disrupting baseline neural function by permanently altering synapses or cell homeostasis [ 22 ]. (biomedcentral.com)
  • Excitatory synapses in the brain, which use glutamate as the primary neurotransmitter, represent a crucial target for the action of stress and its mediators. (nature.com)
  • These findings suggest that a new line of drug development aimed at minimizing the effects of chronic stress exposure on the function of the glutamatergic neurotransmitter system may prove beneficial in clinical settings. (nature.com)
  • We want to understand how individual molecules are distributed within the synapse and how their spatial arrangement influences the properties of neurotransmitter release. (albany.edu)
  • Research at the molecular level has demonstrated that synapses and their plasticity are far more complex than anticipated from their basic neurotransmitter release and postsynaptic response functions. (circprot.eu)
  • They have been able to show, for the first time, how OPHN1 performs these roles at excitatory synapses. (scienceblog.com)
  • Among most sensitive to PCBD are pathways with key roles in synaptic plasticity. (nature.com)
  • Adrenergic signaling has important roles in synaptic plasticity and metaplasticity. (ox.ac.uk)
  • These behavioral adaptions are mediated via long-term changes in synaptic plasticity and organization. (vumc.org)
  • Autoregulatory and paracrine control of synaptic and behavioral plasticity by octopaminergic signaling. (ox.ac.uk)
  • Our results provide a mechanism for global regulation of excitatory synapses, presumably to maintain synaptic and behavioral plasticity in a dynamic range. (ox.ac.uk)
  • They also suggest many novel hypotheses to address in mechanistic follow-up studies, and will be a rich resource for identifying the relationships between behavioral, neural, and transcriptional plasticity in the context of social status. (biomedcentral.com)
  • Synapses are the essential structural and functional units for information processing and storage in the brain. (circprot.eu)
  • By electron microscopy, most DβH terminals did not make synapses, but when they did, they formed both asymmetric and symmetric synapses. (frontiersin.org)
  • Since several years it has been recognized that many psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders are synaptopathies, i.e. pathological conditions where the molecular and cellular pathways operating at the synapse are dysregulated. (cnr.it)
  • Last not least, we are beginning to establish ectopic synapse organization in non-synaptic cellular systems to learn which of the molecular components are crucial for synapse structural plasticity. (circprot.eu)
  • Mild, acute stress often enhances hippocampal function by augmenting synaptic plasticity, reflecting the adaptive importance of remembering threatening or dangerous circumstances 2 . (nature.com)
  • In addition to experimental work, we will contribute structural data on spines for computational modeling of synaptic plasticity in neuronal networks and its dysfunction in neurodegenerative diseases. (circprot.eu)
  • 2009). Transmission efficacy and plasticity in glutamatergic synapses formed by excitatory interneurons of the substantia gelatinosa in the rat spinal cord . (up.pt)
  • The role of glutamatergic transmission in both the development of addiction and the phenomenon of relapse that may occur after prolonged abstinence, has come under intense scrutiny in recent times. (nih.gov)
  • Unfortunately, the residual ipRGC glutamatergic transmission in the Opn4 Cre/+ ;vGlut2 loxP/loxP mouse model limits the usefulness of this model to examine the role of retinal peptidergic afferents to the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) and also suggest caution when using Opn4 Cre/+ mice in other Cre recombination models. (eneuro.org)
  • Signal transmission and information processing at synapses control all body functions and all aspects of cognition, including attention, perception, learning, decision making, as well as mood and affect. (cnr.it)
  • Calcium signalling is crucial for several aspects of plasticity at glutamatergic synapses. (wikipedia.org)
  • Tools like coordinated based correlation analysis and nearest neighbour analysis of clusters centroids are used complementary to map protein connections of the synapse. (uni-wuerzburg.de)
  • As an example, synapses in the cerebellum that are affiliated to the parallel fibres and the dendrites of the Purkinje cells are identified by SIM and the protein bassoon of those pre-synapses is visualised threedimensionally with nanoscopic precision by dSTORM. (uni-wuerzburg.de)
  • This naturally raised the question of what the protein's normal function is at excitatory synapses, and what goes wrong when the gene that encodes it develops a mutation. (scienceblog.com)
  • We are studying the formation, function, and long-term plasticity of central mammalian synapses with a focus on glutamatergic synapses. (circprot.eu)
  • We investigate the molecular machines that drive synapse formation, function and plasticity by combining genetic toolkits with electrophysiology and live imaging of neuronal activity. (mit.edu)
  • Transcription factors have a pivotal role in synaptic plasticity and the associated modification of neuronal networks required for memory formation and consolidation. (uab.cat)
  • Current evidence suggests many loci that predispose to autism are likely to control synapse formation and synaptic plasticity during development. (mit.edu)
  • Therefore, initially glutamatergic synapses are 'silent' at resting membrane potential, NMDA channels being blocked by Mg2+. (nih.gov)
  • Richard J. Weinberg focuses on Neuroscience, Cell biology, Postsynaptic density, Dendritic spine and Synapse. (research.com)
  • Neuroscience, Synapse, Dendritic spine, Cell biology and Synaptic plasticity are his primary areas of study. (research.com)
  • We want to know how neurotransmitters diffuse outside of the synapse and generate long-distance signals to different cells. (albany.edu)
  • In dendrites, Wnt5a is detected in regions adjacent to synapsin I signals, indicating a localization of Wnt5a nearby synapses. (biomedcentral.com)
  • The appearance of new synapses increased the ratio of the field excitatory postsynaptic potential (fEPSP) to presynaptic fiber volley (PrV), suggesting that these new synapses are formed on existing axonal fibers. (biorxiv.org)
  • Previous in vitro studies, together with computational studies, have suggested the involvement of short-term synaptic plasticity (STP) during the stimulation. (biu.ac.il)
  • These data suggest that changes in ephrinA5/EphA5 interactions and synaptic plasticity within the VMH, a key glucose-sensing region in the brain, may contribute to the impairment in glucagon secretion and counterregulatory responses caused by recurrent hypoglycemia. (diabetesjournals.org)
  • Synapses are fundamental brain structures that mediate information transfer between nerve cells. (cnr.it)
  • Our results revealed genome-wide effects of A. burtoni social status on DNA methylation in the brain and strongly suggest a role for methylation in modulating plasticity across multiple biological levels. (biomedcentral.com)
  • His research on Neuroscience frequently connects to adjacent areas such as Glutamatergic. (research.com)
  • Richard J. Weinberg mostly deals with Neuroscience, Cell biology, Inhibitory postsynaptic potential, Nerve net and Synaptic plasticity. (research.com)
  • The netrin-G1 and netrin-G2 findings suggest there may be an underlying difference in the plasticity of the affected circuitry. (ox.ac.uk)