scholarly journals Dendritic spine morphology and memory formation depend on postsynaptic Caskin proteins

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Norbert Bencsik ◽  
Szilvia Pusztai ◽  
Sándor Borbély ◽  
Anna Fekete ◽  
Metta Dülk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dendritic Spine ◽  
Knockout Mice ◽  
Hippocampal Neurons ◽  
Pain Perception ◽  
Hippocampal Slices ◽  
Scaffold Proteins ◽  
Double Knockout ◽  
Learning Abilities ◽  
Spine Morphology

AbstractCASK-interactive proteins, Caskin1 and Caskin2, are multidomain neuronal scaffold proteins. Recent data from Caskin1 knockout animals indicated only a mild role of Caskin1 in anxiety and pain perception. In this work, we show that deletion of both Caskins leads to severe deficits in novelty recognition and spatial memory. Ultrastructural analyses revealed a reduction in synaptic profiles and dendritic spine areas of CA1 hippocampal pyramidal neurons of double knockout mice. Loss of Caskin proteins impaired LTP induction in hippocampal slices, while miniature EPSCs in dissociated hippocampal cultures appeared to be unaffected. In cultured Caskin knockout hippocampal neurons, overexpressed Caskin1 was enriched in dendritic spine heads and increased the amount of mushroom-shaped dendritic spines. Chemically induced LTP (cLTP) mediated enlargement of spine heads was augmented in the knockout mice and was not influenced by Caskin1. Immunocytochemistry and immunoprecipitation confirmed that Shank2, a master scaffold of the postsynaptic density, and Caskin1 co-localized within the same complex. Phosphorylation of AMPA receptors was specifically altered by Caskin deficiency and was not elevated by cLTP treatment further. Taken together, our results prove a previously unnoticed postsynaptic role of Caskin scaffold proteins and indicate that Caskins influence learning abilities via regulating spine morphology and AMPA receptor localisation.

The role of dendritic spine morphology in the compartmentalization and delivery of surface receptors

2013 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 483-497 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cory M. Simon ◽  
Iain Hepburn ◽  
Weiliang Chen ◽  
Erik De Schutter
Keyword(s):  
Dendritic Spine ◽  
Spine Morphology ◽  
Surface Receptors ◽  
Dendritic Spine Morphology

scholarly journals Acid-sensing ion channels regulate spontaneous inhibitory activity in the hippocampus: possible implications for epilepsy

2016 ◽  
Vol 371 (1700) ◽  
pp. 20150431 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. Ievglevskyi ◽  
D. Isaev ◽  
O. Netsyk ◽  
A. Romanov ◽  
M. Fedoriuk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ion Channels ◽  
Hippocampal Neurons ◽  
Hippocampal Slices ◽  
Synaptic Activity ◽  
Mammalian Brain ◽  
Strong Increase ◽  
Life And Death ◽  
Acid Sensing Ion Channels

Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) play an important role in numerous functions in the central and peripheral nervous systems ranging from memory and emotions to pain. The data correspond to a recent notion that each neuron and many glial cells of the mammalian brain express at least one member of the ASIC family. However, the mechanisms underlying the involvement of ASICs in neuronal activity are poorly understood. However, there are two exceptions, namely, the straightforward role of ASICs in proton-based synaptic transmission in certain brain areas and the role of the Ca 2+ -permeable ASIC1a subtype in ischaemic cell death. Using a novel orthosteric ASIC antagonist, we have found that ASICs specifically control the frequency of spontaneous inhibitory synaptic activity in the hippocampus. Inhibition of ASICs leads to a strong increase in the frequency of spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents. This effect is presynaptic because it is fully reproducible in single synaptic boutons attached to isolated hippocampal neurons. In concert with this observation, inhibition of the ASIC current diminishes epileptic discharges in a low Mg 2+ model of epilepsy in hippocampal slices and significantly reduces kainate-induced discharges in the hippocampus in vivo . Our results reveal a significant novel role for ASICs. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Evolution brings Ca 2+ and ATP together to control life and death’.

scholarly journals TheGαoActivator Mastoparan-7 Promotes Dendritic Spine Formation in Hippocampal Neurons

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valerie T. Ramírez ◽  
Eva Ramos-Fernández ◽  
Nibaldo C. Inestrosa
Keyword(s):  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Dendritic Spine ◽  
Hippocampal Neurons ◽  
Biological Effects ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Head Width ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Spine Density ◽  
Dendritic Spine Density

Mastoparan-7 (Mas-7), an analogue of the peptide mastoparan, which is derived from wasp venom, is a direct activator ofPertussis toxin-(PTX-) sensitive G proteins. Mas-7 produces several biological effects in different cell types; however, little is known about how Mas-7 influences mature hippocampal neurons. We examined the specific role of Mas-7 in the development of dendritic spines, the sites of excitatory synaptic contact that are crucial for synaptic plasticity. We report here that exposure of hippocampal neurons to a low dose of Mas-7 increases dendritic spine density and spine head width in a time-dependent manner. Additionally, Mas-7 enhances postsynaptic density protein-95 (PSD-95) clustering in neurites and activatesGαosignaling, increasing the intracellular Ca2+concentration. To define the role of signaling intermediates, we measured the levels of phosphorylated protein kinase C (PKC), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and calcium-calmodulin dependent protein kinase IIα(CaMKIIα) after Mas-7 treatment and determined that CaMKII activation is necessary for the Mas-7-dependent increase in dendritic spine density. Our results demonstrate a critical role forGαosubunit signaling in the regulation of synapse formation.

scholarly journals Decreased dendritic spine density and abnormal spine morphology in Fyn knockout mice

2011 ◽  
Vol 1415 ◽  
pp. 96-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lenard W. Babus ◽  
Elizabeth M. Little ◽  
Kathleen E. Keenoy ◽  
S. Sakura Minami ◽  
Eric Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dendritic Spine ◽  
Knockout Mice ◽  
Spine Density ◽  
Spine Morphology ◽  
Dendritic Spine Density

scholarly journals Polyamine homeostasis in arginase knockout mice

2007 ◽  
Vol 293 (4) ◽  
pp. C1296-C1301 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua L. Deignan ◽  
Justin C. Livesay ◽  
Lisa M. Shantz ◽  
Anthony E. Pegg ◽  
William E. O'Brien ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Knockout Mice ◽  
Polyamine Metabolism ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Ornithine Aminotransferase ◽  
Double Knockout ◽  
Mammalian Tissues ◽  
Knockout Animals ◽  
Regulatory Functions ◽  
Arginase I

The role of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) in polyamine metabolism has long been established, but the exact source of ornithine has always been unclear. The arginase enzymes are capable of producing ornithine for the production of polyamines and may hold important regulatory functions in the maintenance of this pathway. Utilizing our unique set of arginase single and double knockout mice, we analyzed polyamine levels in the livers, brains, kidneys, and small intestines of the mice at 2 wk of age, the latest timepoint at which all of them are still alive, to determine whether tissue polyamine levels were altered in response to a disruption of arginase I (AI) and II (AII) enzymatic activity. Whereas putrescine was minimally increased in the liver and kidneys from the AII knockout mice, spermidine and spermine were maintained. ODC activity was not greatly altered in the knockout animals and did not correlate with the fluctuations in putrescine. mRNA levels of ornithine aminotransferase (OAT), antizyme 1 (AZ1), and spermidine/spermine- N1-acetyltransferase (SSAT) were also measured and only minor alterations were seen, most notably an increase in OAT expression seen in the liver of AI knockout and double knockout mice. It appears that putrescine catabolism may be affected in the liver when AI is disrupted and ornithine levels are highly reduced. These results suggest that endogenous arginase-derived ornithine may not directly contribute to polyamine homeostasis in mice. Alternate sources such as diet may provide sufficient polyamines for maintenance in mammalian tissues.

scholarly journals Biophysical model of the role of actin remodeling on dendritic spine morphology

PLoS ONE ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. e0170113 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. A. Miermans ◽  
R. P. T. Kusters ◽  
C. C. Hoogenraad ◽  
C. Storm
Keyword(s):  
Dendritic Spine ◽  
Biophysical Model ◽  
Actin Remodeling ◽  
Spine Morphology ◽  
Dendritic Spine Morphology

Role of EPSPs in initiation of spontaneous synchronized burst firing in rat hippocampal neurons bathed in high potassium

1990 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. 1000-1008 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. L. Chamberlin ◽  
R. D. Traub ◽  
R. Dingledine
Keyword(s):  
Hippocampal Neurons ◽  
Pyramidal Neurons ◽  
Hippocampal Slices ◽  
Pyramidal Cells ◽  
Burst Firing ◽  
Interictal Spikes ◽  
High Potassium ◽  
Synaptic Excitation ◽  
Ca3 Neurons

1. Spontaneous discharges that resemble interictal spikes arise in area CA3 b/c of rat hippocampal slices bathed in 8.5 mM [K+]o. Excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) also appear at irregular intervals in these cells. The role of local synaptic excitation in burst initiation was examined with intracellular and extracellular recordings from CA3 pyramidal neurons. 2. Most (70%) EPSPs were small (less than 2 mV in amplitude), suggesting that they were the product of quantal release or were evoked by a single presynaptic action potential in another cell. It is unlikely that most EPSPs were evoked by a presynaptic burst of action potentials. Indeed, intrinsic burst firing was not prominent in CA3 b/c pyramidal cells perfused in 8.5 mM [K+]o. 3. The likelihood of occurrence and the amplitude of EPSPs were higher in the 50-ms interval just before the onset of each burst than during a similar interval 250 ms before the burst. This likely reflects increased firing probability of CA3 neurons as they emerge from the afterhyperpolarization (AHP) and conductance shunt associated with the previous burst. 4. Perfusion with 2 microM 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX), a potent quisqualate receptor antagonist, decreased the frequency of EPSPs in CA3 b/c neurons from 3.6 +/- 0.9 to 0.9 +/- 0.3 (SE) Hz. Likewise, CNQX reversibly reduced the amplitude of evoked EPSPs in CA3 b/c cells. 5. Spontaneous burst firing in 8.5 mM [K+]o was abolished in 11 of 31 slices perfused with 2 microM CNQX.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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