scholarly journals Regulation of glutamate receptor trafficking by leptin

2009 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
pp. 1364-1368 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter R. Moult ◽  
Jenni Harvey

It is well established that leptin is a circulating hormone that enters the brain and regulates food intake and body weight via its hypothalamic actions. However, it is also known that leptin receptors are widely expressed in the CNS (central nervous system), and evidence is accumulating that leptin modulates many neuronal functions. In particular, recent studies have indicated that leptin plays an important role in the regulation of hippocampal synaptic plasticity. Indeed leptin-insensitive rodents display impairments in hippocampal synaptic plasticity and defects in spatial memory tasks. We have also shown that leptin facilitates the induction of hippocampal LTP (long-term potentiation) via enhancing NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptor function and that leptin has the ability to evoke a novel form of NMDA receptor-dependent LTD (long-term depression). In addition, leptin promotes rapid alterations in hippocampal dendritic morphology and synaptic density, which are likely to contribute to the effects of this hormone on excitatory synaptic strength. Recent studies have demonstrated that trafficking of AMPA (α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid) receptors is pivotal for activity-dependent hippocampal synaptic plasticity. However, little is known about how AMPA receptor trafficking processes are regulated by hormonal systems. In the present paper, we discuss evidence that leptin rapidly alters the trafficking of AMPA receptors to and away from hippocampal CA1 synapses. The impact of these leptin-driven changes on hippocampal excitatory synaptic function are discussed.

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 705-715 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chun-An Chen ◽  
Wei Wang ◽  
Steen E Pedersen ◽  
Ayush Raman ◽  
Michelle L Seymour ◽  
...  

Abstract Bosch-Boonstra-Schaaf optic atrophy syndrome (BBSOAS) has been identified as an autosomal-dominant disorder characterized by a complex neurological phenotype, with high prevalence of intellectual disability and optic nerve atrophy/hypoplasia. The syndrome is caused by loss-of-function mutations in NR2F1, which encodes a highly conserved nuclear receptor that serves as a transcriptional regulator. Previous investigations to understand the protein’s role in neurodevelopment have mostly used mouse models with constitutive and tissue-specific homozygous knockout of Nr2f1. In order to represent the human disease more accurately, which is caused by heterozygous NR2F1 mutations, we investigated a heterozygous knockout mouse model and found that this model recapitulates some of the neurological phenotypes of BBSOAS, including altered learning/memory, hearing defects, neonatal hypotonia and decreased hippocampal volume. The mice showed altered fear memory, and further electrophysiological investigation in hippocampal slices revealed significantly reduced long-term potentiation and long-term depression. These results suggest that a deficit or alteration in hippocampal synaptic plasticity may contribute to the intellectual disability frequently seen in BBSOAS. RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) analysis revealed significant differential gene expression in the adult Nr2f1+/− hippocampus, including the up-regulation of multiple matrix metalloproteases, which are known to be critical for the development and the plasticity of the nervous system. Taken together, our studies highlight the important role of Nr2f1 in neurodevelopment. The discovery of impaired hippocampal synaptic plasticity in the heterozygous mouse model sheds light on the pathophysiology of altered memory and cognitive function in BBSOAS.


2003 ◽  
Vol 358 (1432) ◽  
pp. 715-720 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabrice Duprat ◽  
Michael Daw ◽  
Wonil Lim ◽  
Graham Collingridge ◽  
John Isaac

AMPA-type glutamate receptors mediate most fast excitatory synaptic transmissions in the mammalian brain. They are critically involved in the expression of long-term potentiation and long-term depression, forms of synaptic plasticity that are thought to underlie learning and memory. A number of synaptic proteins have been identified that interact with the intracellular C-termini of AMPA receptor subunits. Here, we review recent studies and present new experimental data on the roles of these interacting proteins in regulating the AMPA receptor function during basal synaptic transmission and plasticity.


eLife ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leanne J M Schmitz ◽  
Remco V Klaassen ◽  
Marta Ruiperez-Alonso ◽  
Azra Elia Zamri ◽  
Jasper Stroeder ◽  
...  

Glutamatergic synapses rely on AMPA receptors (AMPARs) for fast synaptic transmission and plasticity. AMPAR auxiliary proteins regulate receptor trafficking, and modulate receptor mobility and its biophysical properties. The AMPAR auxiliary protein Shisa7 (CKAMP59) has been shown to interact with AMPARs in artificial expression systems, but it is unknown whether Shisa7 has a functional role in glutamatergic synapses. We show that Shisa7 physically interacts with synaptic AMPARs in mouse hippocampus. Shisa7 gene deletion resulted in faster AMPAR currents in CA1 synapses, without affecting its synaptic expression. Shisa7 KO mice showed reduced initiation and maintenance of long-term potentiation of glutamatergic synapses. In line with this, Shisa7 KO mice showed a specific deficit in contextual fear memory, both short-term and long-term after conditioning, whereas auditory fear memory and anxiety-related behavior were normal. Thus, Shisa7 is a bona-fide AMPAR modulatory protein affecting channel kinetics of AMPARs, necessary for synaptic hippocampal plasticity, and memory recall.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karl F Foley ◽  
Daniel Barnett ◽  
Deborah A Cory-Slechta ◽  
Houhui Xia

Background: Arsenic is a well-established carcinogen known to increase all-cause mortality, but its effects on the central nervous system are less well understood. Recent epidemiological studies suggest that early life exposure to arsenic is associated with learning deficits and behavioral changes, and increased arsenic exposure continues to affect an estimated 200 million individuals worldwide. Previous studies on arsenic exposure and synaptic function have demonstrated a decrease in synaptic transmission and long-term potentiation in adult rodents, but have relied on in vitro or extended exposure in adulthood. Therefore, little is known about the effect of arsenic exposure in development. Objective: Here, we studied the effects of gestational and early developmental arsenic exposure in juvenile mice. Specifically, our objective was to investigate the impact of arsenic exposure on synaptic transmission and plasticity in the hippocampus. Methods: C57BL/6 females were exposed to arsenic (0, 50ppb, 36ppm) in their drinking water two weeks prior to mating and continued to be exposed to arsenic throughout gestation and after parturition. We then performed field recordings in acute hippocampal slices from the juvenile offspring prior to weaning (P17-P23). In this paradigm, the juvenile mice are only exposed to arsenic in utero and via the mothers milk. Results: High (36ppm) and relatively low (50ppb) arsenic exposure both lead to decreased basal synaptic transmission in the hippocampus of juvenile mice. There was a mild decrease in paired-pulse facilitation in juvenile mice exposed to high, but not low, arsenic, suggesting the alterations in synaptic transmission are primarily post-synaptic. Finally, high developmental arsenic exposure led to a significant increase in long-term potentiation. Discussion: These results suggest that indirect, ecologically-relevant arsenic exposure in early development impacts hippocampal synaptic transmission and plasticity that could underlie learning deficits reported in epidemiological studies.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mason L. Yeh ◽  
Jessica R Yasko ◽  
Eric S. Levine ◽  
Betty A. Eipper ◽  
Richard Mains

Abstract Background: Kalirin-7 (Kal7) is a multidomain scaffold and guanine nucleotide exchange factor localized to the postsynaptic density, where Kal7 is crucial for synaptic plasticity. Kal7 knockout mice exhibit marked suppression of long-term potentiation and long-term depression in hippocampus, cerebral cortex and spinal cord, with depressed surface expression of GluN2B receptor subunits and dramatically blunted perception of pain. Kal7 knockout animals show exaggerated locomotor responses to psychostimulants and self-administer cocaine more enthusiastically than wildtype mice. Results: To address the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms which are deranged by loss of Kal7, we infused candidate intracellular interfering peptides to acutely challenge the synaptic function(s) of Kal7 with potential protein binding partners, to determine if plasticity deficits in Kal7-/- mice are the product of developmental processes since conception, or could be produced on a much shorter time scale. We demonstrated that these small intracellular peptides disrupted normal long-term potentiation and long-term depression, strongly suggesting that maintenance of established interactions of Kal7 with PSD-95 and/or GluN2B is crucial to synaptic plasticity. Conclusions: Blockade of the Kal7-GluN2B interaction was most effective at blocking long-term potentiation, but had no effect on long-term depression. Biochemical approaches indicated that Kal7 interacted with PSD-95 at multiple sites within Kal7.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yujun Guo ◽  
Guichang Zou ◽  
Keke Qi ◽  
Jin Jin ◽  
Lei Yao ◽  
...  

Abstract Lipophilic statins which are blood brain barrier (BBB) permeable are speculated to affect the cholesterol synthesis and neural functions in the central nervous system. However, whether these statins can affect cholesterol levels and synaptic plasticity in hippocampus and the in vivo consequence remain unclear. Here, we report that long-term subcutaneous treatments of simvastatin significantly impair mouse hippocampal synaptic plasticity, reflected by the attenuated long-term potentiation of field excitatory postsynaptic potentials. The simvastatin administration causes a deficiency in recognition and spatial memory but fails to affect motor ability and anxiety behaviors in the mice. Mass spectrometry imaging indicates a significant decrease in cholesterol intensity in hippocampus of the mice receiving chronic simvastatin treatments. Such effects of simvastatin are transient because drug discontinuation can restore the hippocampal cholesterol level and synaptic plasticity and the memory function. These findings may provide further clues to elucidate the mechanisms of neurological side effects, especially the brain cognitive


2021 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Seyed Asaad Karimi ◽  
Somayeh Komaki ◽  
Masoumeh Taheri ◽  
Ghazaleh Omidi ◽  
Masoumeh Kourosh-Arami ◽  
...  

AbstractHigh-fat diets (HFDs) and obesity can cause serious health problems, such as neurodegenerative diseases and cognitive impairments. Consumption of HFD is associated with reduction in hippocampal synaptic plasticity. Rosa damascena (R. damascena) is traditionally used as a dietary supplement for many disorders. This study was carried out to determine the beneficial effect of hydroalcoholic extract of R. damascena on in vivo hippocampal synaptic plasticity (long-term potentiation, LTP) in the perforant pathway (PP)—dentate gyrus (DG) pathway in rats fed with an HFD. Male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to four groups: Control, R. damascena extract (1 g/kg bw daily for 30 days), HFD (for 90 days) and HFD + extract. The population spike (PS) amplitude and slope of excitatory post-synaptic potentials (EPSP) were measured in DG area in response to stimulation applied to the PP. Serum oxidative stress biomarkers [total thiol group (TTG) and superoxide dismutase (SOD)] were measured. The results showed the HFD impaired LTP induction in the PP-DG synapses. This conclusion is supported by decreased EPSP slope and PS amplitude of LTP. R. damascena supplementation in HFD animals enhanced EPSP slope and PS amplitude of LTP in the granular cell of DG. Consumption of HFD decreased TTG and SOD. R. damascena extract consumption in the HFD animals enhanced TTG and SOD. These data indicate that R. damascena dietary supplementation can ameliorate HFD-induced alteration of synaptic plasticity, probably through its significant antioxidant effects and activate signalling pathways, which are critical in controlling synaptic plasticity.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongyu Zhang ◽  
Chunlei Zhang ◽  
Jean Vincent ◽  
Diana Zala ◽  
Caroline Benstaali ◽  
...  

AbstractImpaired hippocampal synaptic plasticity is increasingly considered to play an important role in cognitive impairment in Huntington’s disease (HD). However, the molecular basis of synaptic plasticity defects is not fully understood. Combining live-cell nanoparticle tracking and super-resolution imaging, we show that dysregulation of AMPA receptors (AMPARs) surface diffusion represents a molecular basis underlying the aberrant hippocampal synaptic plasticity during HD. AMPARs surface diffusion is increased in various HD neuronal models, which results in the failure of AMPARs surface stabilization after long-term potentiation (LTP) stimuli. This appears to result from a defective brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) - tyrosine receptor kinase B (TrkB) - Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) signaling pathway that impacts the interaction between the AMPAR auxiliary subunit stargazin and postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD-95). Notably, the disturbed AMPAR surface diffusion is rescued, via BDNF signaling pathway and by the antidepressant tianeptine. Tianeptine also restores the impaired LTP and hippocampus-dependent memory as well as anxiety/depression-like behavior in different HD mouse models. We thus unveil a mechanistic framework underlying hippocampal synaptic and memory dysfunction and propose a new perspective in HD treatment by targeting AMPAR surface diffusion.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Pass ◽  
Niels Haan ◽  
Trevor Humby ◽  
Lawrence S Wilkinson ◽  
Jeremy Hall ◽  
...  

Mutations affecting DLG2 are emerging as a genetic risk factor associated with neurodevelopmental psychiatric disorders including schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder and bipolar disorder. Discs large homolog 2 (DLG2) is a member of the membrane-associated guanylate kinase protein superfamily of scaffold proteins, a component of the post-synaptic density in excitatory neurons and regulator of synaptic function and plasticity. It remains an important question whether and how haploinsuffiency of DLG2 contributes to impairments in basic behavioural and cognitive functions that may underlie symptomatic domains in patients that cross diagnostic boundaries. Using a heterozygous Dlg2 mouse model we examined the impact of reduced Dlg2 expression on functions commonly impaired in neurodevelopmental psychiatric disorders including motor co-ordination and learning, pre-pulse inhibition and habituation to novel stimuli. The heterozygous Dlg2 mice exhibited behavioural impairments in long-term motor learning and long-term habituation to a novel context, but not motor co-ordination, initial responses to a novel context, PPI of acoustic startle or anxiety. We additionally showed evidence for the reduced regulation of the synaptic plasticity-associated protein cFos in the motor cortex during motor learning. The sensitivity of selective behavioural and cognitive functions, particularly those dependent on synaptic plasticity, to reduced expression of DLG2 give further credence for DLG2 playing a critical role in specific brain functions but also a mechanistic understanding of symptom expression shared across psychiatric disorders.


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