scholarly journals Asynchronous release sites align with NMDA receptors in mouse hippocampal synapses

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuo Li ◽  
Sumana Raychaudhuri ◽  
Stephen Alexander Lee ◽  
Marisa M. Brockmann ◽  
Jing Wang ◽  
...  

AbstractNeurotransmitter is released synchronously and asynchronously following an action potential. Our recent study indicates that the release sites of these two phases are segregated within an active zone, with asynchronous release sites enriched near the center in mouse hippocampal synapses. Here we demonstrate that synchronous and asynchronous release sites are aligned with AMPA receptor and NMDA receptor clusters, respectively. Computational simulations indicate that this spatial and temporal arrangement of release can lead to maximal membrane depolarization through AMPA receptors, alleviating the pore-blocking magnesium leading to greater activation of NMDA receptors. Together, these results suggest that release sites are likely organized to activate NMDA receptors efficiently.

Author(s):  
Shuo Li ◽  
Sumana Raychaudhuri ◽  
Stephen Alexander Lee ◽  
Jing Wang ◽  
Grant Kusick ◽  
...  

AbstractNeurotransmitter is released synchronously and asynchronously following an action potential. The release sites of these two phases are segregated within an active zone, with asynchronous release sites enriched near the center. Here we demonstrate that synchronous and asynchronous release sites are aligned with AMPA receptor and NMDA receptor clusters, respectively. Computational simulations indicate that this spatial and temporal arrangement of release ensures maximal membrane depolarization through AMPA receptors, alleviating the pore-blocking magnesium leading to greater activation of NMDA receptors. Together, these results suggest that release sites are organized to efficiently activate NMDA receptors.


2002 ◽  
Vol 87 (5) ◽  
pp. 2324-2336 ◽  
Author(s):  
Long Chen ◽  
Charles R. Yang

The atypical antipsychotic drug clozapine effectively alleviates both negative and positive symptoms of schizophrenia via unclear cellular mechanisms. Clozapine may modulate both glutamatergic and dopaminergic transmission in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) to achieve part of its therapeutic actions. Using whole cell patch-clamp techniques, current-clamp recordings in layers V–VI pyramidal neurons from rat PFC slices showed that stimulation of local afferents (in 2 μM bicuculline) evoked mixed [AMPA/kainate and N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors] glutamate receptor-mediated excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs). Clozapine (1 μM) potentiated polysynaptically mediated evoked EPSPs ( V Hold = −65 mV), or reversed EPSPs (rEPSP, V Hold = +20 mV) for >30 min. The potentiated EPSPs or rEPSPs were attenuated by elevating [Ca2+]O(7 mM), by application of NMDA receptor antagonist 2-amino5-phosphonovaleric acid (50 μM), or by pretreatment with dopamine D1/D5 receptor antagonist SCH23390 (1 μM) but could be further enhanced by a dopamine reuptake inhibitor bupropion (1 μM). Clozapine had no significant effect on pharmacologically isolated evoked NMDA-rEPSP or AMPA-rEPSPs but increased spontaneous EPSPs without changing the steady-state resting membrane potential. Under voltage clamp, clozapine (1 μM) enhanced the frequency, and the number of low-amplitude (5–10 pA) AMPA receptor-mediated spontaneous EPSCs, while there was no such changes with the mini-EPSCs (in 1 μM TTX). Taken together these data suggest that acute clozapine can increase spike-dependent presynaptic release of glutamate and dopamine. The glutamate stimulates distal dendritic AMPA receptors to increase spontaneous EPSCs and enabled a voltage-dependent activation of neuronal NMDA receptors. The dopamine released stimulates postsynaptic D1 receptor to modulate a lasting potentiation of the NMDA receptor component of the glutamatergic synaptic responses in the PFC neuronal network. This sequence of early synaptic events induced by acute clozapine may comprise part of the activity that leads to later cognitive improvement in schizophrenia.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (12) ◽  
pp. 3038 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nina S. Levy ◽  
George K. E. Umanah ◽  
Eli J. Rogers ◽  
Reem Jada ◽  
Orit Lache ◽  
...  

Mutations in IQSEC2 cause intellectual disability (ID), which is often accompanied by seizures and autism. A number of studies have shown that IQSEC2 is an abundant protein in excitatory synapses and plays an important role in neuronal development as well as synaptic plasticity. Here, we review neuronal IQSEC2 signaling with emphasis on those aspects likely to be involved in autism. IQSEC2 is normally bound to N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-type glutamate receptors via post synaptic density protein 95 (PSD-95). Activation of NMDA receptors results in calcium ion influx and binding to calmodulin present on the IQSEC2 IQ domain. Calcium/calmodulin induces a conformational change in IQSEC2 leading to activation of the SEC7 catalytic domain. GTP is exchanged for GDP on ADP ribosylation factor 6 (ARF6). Activated ARF6 promotes downregulation of surface α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA)-type glutamate receptors through a c-jun N terminal kinase (JNK)-mediated pathway. NMDA receptors, AMPA receptors, and PSD-95 are all known to be adversely affected in autism. An IQSEC2 transgenic mouse carrying a constitutively active mutation (A350V) shows autistic features and reduced levels of surface AMPA receptor subunit GluA2. Sec7 activity and AMPA receptor recycling are presented as two targets, which may respond to drug treatment in IQSEC2-associated ID and autism.


2009 ◽  
Vol 101 (5) ◽  
pp. 2290-2296 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felipe Espinosa ◽  
Ege T. Kavalali

Under physiological conditions N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor activation requires coincidence of presynaptic glutamate release and postsynaptic depolarization due to the voltage-dependent block of these receptors by extracellular Mg2+. Therefore spontaneous neurotransmission in the absence of action potential firing is not expected to lead to significant NMDA receptor activation. Here we tested this assumption in layer IV neurons in neocortex at their resting membrane potential (approximately −67 mV). In long-duration stable recordings, we averaged a large number of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs, >100) before or after application of dl-2 amino 5-phosphonovaleric acid, a specific blocker of NMDA receptors. The difference between the two mEPSC waveforms showed that the NMDA current component comprises ∼20% of the charge transfer during an average mEPSC detected at rest. Importantly, the contribution of the NMDA component was markedly enhanced at membrane potentials expected for the depolarized up states (approximately −50 mV) that cortical neurons show during slow oscillations in vivo. In addition, partial block of the α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid (AMPA) receptor component of the mEPSCs did not cause a significant reduction in the NMDA component, indicating that potential AMPA receptor-driven local depolarizations did not drive NMDA receptor activity at rest. Collectively these results indicate that NMDA receptors significantly contribute to signaling at rest in the absence of dendritic depolarizations or concomitant AMPA receptor activity.


2000 ◽  
Vol 84 (3) ◽  
pp. 1573-1587 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey R. Cottrell ◽  
Gilles R. Dubé ◽  
Christophe Egles ◽  
Guosong Liu

Postsynaptic differentiation during glutamatergic synapse formation is poorly understood. Using a novel biophysical approach, we have investigated the distribution and density of functional glutamate receptors and characterized their clustering during synaptogenesis in cultured hippocampal neurons. We found that functional α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolpropionate (AMPA) and N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are evenly distributed in the dendritic membrane before synaptogenesis with an estimated density of 3 receptors/μm2. Following synaptogenesis, functional AMPA and NMDA receptors are clustered at synapses with a density estimated to be on the order of 104 receptors/μm2, which corresponds to ∼400 receptors/synapse. Meanwhile there is no reduction in the extrasynaptic receptor density, which indicates that the aggregation of the existing pool of receptors is not the primary mechanism of glutamate receptor clustering. Furthermore our data suggest that the ratio of AMPA to NMDA receptor density may be regulated to be close to one in all dendritic locations. We also demonstrate that synaptic AMPA and NMDA receptor clusters form with a similar time course during synaptogenesis and that functional AMPA receptors cluster independently of activity and glutamate receptor activation, including following the deletion of the NMDA receptor NR1 subunit. Thus glutamate receptor activation is not necessary for the insertion, clustering, and activation of functional AMPA receptors during synapse formation, and this process is likely controlled by an activity-independent signal.


2002 ◽  
Vol 88 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabrina Wang ◽  
Zhengping Jia ◽  
John Roder ◽  
Timothy H. Murphy

AMPA-type glutamate receptors are normally Ca2+ impermeable due to the expression of the GluR2 receptor subunit. By using GluR2 null mice we were able to detect miniature synaptic Ca2+ transients (MSCTs) associated with AMPA-type receptor-mediated miniature synaptic currents at single synapses in primary cortical cultures. MSCTs and associated Ca2+ transients were monitored under conditions that isolated responses mediated by AMPA or N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. As expected, addition of the antagonist 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxalene-2,3-dione (CNQX, 3 μM) blocked the AMPA receptor-mediated MSCTs. Voltage-gated Ca2+channels did not contribute to AMPA MSCTs because CdCl2 (0.1–0.2 mM) did not significantly alter the frequency or the amplitude of the MSCTs. The amplitude of AMPA MSCTs appeared to be regulated independently from event frequency since the two measures were not correlated ( R = 0.023). Synapses were identified that only expressed MSCTs attributed to either NMDA or AMPA receptors. At synapses with only NMDA responses, MSCT amplitude was significantly lower (by 40%) than synapses expressing both NMDA and AMPA responses. At synapses that showed MSCTs mediated by both AMPA and NMDA receptors, the amplitude of the transients in each condition was positively correlated ( R = 0.94). Our results suggest that when AMPA and NMDA receptors are co-expressed at synapses, mechanisms exist to ensure proportional scaling of each receptor type that are distinct from the presynaptic factors controlling the frequency of miniature release.


2002 ◽  
Vol 87 (1) ◽  
pp. 157-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Garnik Akopian ◽  
John P. Walsh

AMPA and N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-mediated synaptic responses expressed differential paired-pulse plasticity when examined in the same cell using intracellular or whole cell voltage-clamp recordings. Electrical stimulation of corticostriatal afferents in brain slices bathed in artificial cerebrospinal fluid containing bicuculline produces excitatory postsynaptic potentials and excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) mediated primarily by AMPA receptors. Cell-to-cell variation existed in AMPA receptor paired-pulse plasticity, but within-cell plasticity was stable over a range of stimulation intensities. Addition of 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxalene-2,3-dione blocked most of the synaptic response leaving behind a small AP-5-sensitive component. Increasing the stimulation intensity produced large, long-lasting NMDA receptor-mediated responses. In contrast to AMPA receptor-mediated responses, NMDA receptor responses consistently showed an increase in paired-pulse potentiation with increasing stimulation intensity. This relationship was restricted to interstimulus intervals shorter than 100 ms. Paired-pulse potentiation of NMDA receptor responses was voltage-dependent and reduced by removal of extracellular Mg2+. Block of postsynaptic L-type Ca2+ channels with nifedipine produced a voltage-dependent reduction of NMDA receptor excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) and a voltage-dependent reduction of NMDA receptor paired-pulse potentiation. These data indicate depolarization during the first NMDA receptor response causes facilitation of the second by removing voltage-dependent block of NMDA receptors by Mg2+ and by activating voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels.


2005 ◽  
Vol 94 (6) ◽  
pp. 3951-3960 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nataliya A. Tsvyetlynska ◽  
Russell H. Hill ◽  
Sten Grillner

Activation of the vertebrate locomotor network is mediated by glutamatergic synaptic drive, normally initiated by the brain stem. Previous investigations have studied the role of glutamate receptors, especially NMDA receptors, in generating and regulating locomotor pattern generation. Few studies, however, have focused on the role of AMPA receptors in shaping network activity, especially with regard to their rapid desensitization. It is important to determine whether AMPA receptor desensitization plays a role in regulating neuronal network activity. We examined this question on both the network and synaptic levels in the lamprey ( Lampetra fluviatilis) spinal cord using a selective and potent inhibitor of AMPA receptor desensitization, cyclothiazide (CTZ). The solvent dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is commonly used to dissolve this drug, as well as many others. Unexpectedly, the vehicle alone already at 0.02%, but not at 0.01%, caused significant increases in excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) amplitudes and NMDA-induced locomotor frequency. The results indicate that DMSO may have a profound influence when used ≥0.02%, a concentration 10–50 times less than that most commonly used. Subsequently we applied CTZ concentrations ≤10 μM (DMSO ≤0.01%). CTZ (1.25–5 μM) caused an appreciable and significant increase in EPSPs mediated by non-NMDA receptors and in both AMPA- and NMDA-induced locomotor frequency, but no effects on EPSPs mediated by NMDA receptors. From the effects of CTZ it is apparent that AMPA receptor desensitization plays an important role in determining locomotor frequency and that this is likely a result of its limiting function on AMPA receptor–mediated EPSPs.


2000 ◽  
Vol 20 (10) ◽  
pp. 1409-1413 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stuart M. Allan ◽  
Nancy J. Rothwell

Striatal coadministration of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) with α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionate (S-AMPA) in rats results in widespread cortical cell death not caused by either treatment alone. This cortical damage was unaffected by cortical infusion of the AMPA-receptor antagonist NBQX. Cortical infusion of an NMDA-receptor antagonist D-AP5 significantly inhibited (57%; P < 0.05) cortical death, but had no effect on the local striatal death. Thus, cortical neuronal death induced by striatal S-AMPA and human recombinant interleukin-1β (hrIL-1β) is mediated by activation of NMDA receptors in the cortex. The authors propose that IL-1β actions on AMPA-receptor mediated cell death may involve the activation of polysynaptic pathways from the striatum to the cortex.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document