scholarly journals Mice lacking the cAMP effector protein POPDC1 show enhanced hippocampal synaptic plasticity

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahesh Shivarama Shetty ◽  
Laurence Ris ◽  
Roland F. R Schindler ◽  
Keiko Mizuno ◽  
Laura Fedele ◽  
...  

Extensive research has uncovered diverse forms of synaptic plasticity and a wide array of molecular signaling mechanisms that act as positive or negative regulators. Specifically, cAMP-dependent signaling pathways have been crucially implicated in long-lasting synaptic plasticity. In this study, we examine the role of POPDC1 (or BVES), a cAMP effector protein expressed in brain, in modulating hippocampal synaptic plasticity. Unlike other cAMP effectors, such as PKA and EPAC, POPDC1 is membrane-bound and the sequence of the cAMP-binding cassette differs from canonical cAMP-binding domains. These properties suggest that POPDC1 may have a unique role in cAMP-mediated signaling underlying synaptic plasticity. Our results show that POPDC1 is enriched in hippocampal synaptoneurosomes. Acute hippocampal slices from Popdc1 knockout (KO) mice exhibit enhanced long-term potentiation (LTP) induced by a variety of stimulation paradigms, particularly in response to weak stimulation paradigms that in slices from wildtype mice induce only transient LTP. Furthermore, Popdc1 KO mice did not display any further enhancement in forskolin-induced LTP observed following inhibition of phosphodiesterases (PDEs), suggesting a possible modulation of cAMP-PDE signaling by POPDC1. Taken together, these data reveal POPDC1 as a novel player in the regulation of hippocampal synaptic plasticity and as a potential target for cognitive enhancement strategies.

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiandong Sun ◽  
Yan Liu ◽  
Guoqi Zhu ◽  
Caleb Cato ◽  
Xiaoning Hao ◽  
...  

Abstract The ubiquitin ligase, Ube3a, plays important roles in brain development and functions, since its deficiency results in Angelman Syndrome (AS) while its over-expression increases the risk for autism. We previously showed that the lack of Ube3a-mediated ubiquitination of the Ca2+-activated small conductance potassium channel, SK2, contributes to impairment of synaptic plasticity and learning in AS mice. Synaptic SK2 levels are also regulated by protein kinase A (PKA), which phosphorylates SK2 in its C-terminal domain, facilitating its endocytosis. Here, we report that PKA activation restores theta burst stimulation (TBS)-induced long-term potentiation (LTP) in hippocampal slices from AS mice by enhancing SK2 internalization. While TBS-induced SK2 endocytosis is facilitated by PKA activation, SK2 recycling to synaptic membranes after TBS is inhibited by Ube3a. Molecular and cellular studies confirmed that phosphorylation of SK2 in the C-terminal domain increases its ubiquitination and endocytosis. Finally, PKA activation increases SK2 phosphorylation and ubiquitination in Ube3a-overexpressing mice. Our results indicate that, although both Ube3a-mediated ubiquitination and PKA-induced phosphorylation reduce synaptic SK2 levels, phosphorylation is mainly involved in TBS-induced endocytosis, while ubiquitination predominantly inhibits SK2 recycling. Understanding the complex interactions between PKA and Ube3a in the regulation of SK2 synaptic levels might provide new platforms for developing treatments for AS and various forms of autism.


1999 ◽  
Vol 82 (4) ◽  
pp. 2024-2028 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongyan Wang ◽  
John J. Wagner

The activity history of a given neuron has been suggested to influence its future responses to synaptic input in one prominent model of experience-dependent synaptic plasticity proposed by Bienenstock, Cooper, and Munro (BCM theory). Because plasticity of synaptic plasticity (i.e., metaplasticity) is similar in concept to aspects of the BCM proposal, we have tested the possibility that a form of metaplasticity induced by a priming stimulation protocol might exhibit BCM-like characteristics. CA1 field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) obtained from rat hippocampal slices were used to monitor synaptic responses before and after conditioning stimuli (3–100 Hz) of the Schaffer collateral inputs. A substantial rightward shift (>5-fold) in the frequency threshold between long-term depression (LTD) and long-term potentiation (LTP) was observed <1 h after priming. This change in the LTD/P crossover point occurred at both primed and unprimed synaptic pathways. These results provide new support for the existence of a rapid, heterosynaptic, experience-dependent mechanism that is capable of modifying the synaptic plasticity phenomena that are commonly proposed to be important for developmental and learning/memory processes in the brain.


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.


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


1998 ◽  
Vol 79 (4) ◽  
pp. 1790-1796 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gowri K. Pyapali ◽  
Dennis A. Turner ◽  
Christina L. Williams ◽  
Warren H. Meck ◽  
H. Scott Swartzwelder

Pyapali, Gowri K., Dennis A. Turner, Christina L. Williams, Warren H. Meck, and H. Scott Swartzwelder. Prenatal dietary choline supplementation decreases the threshold for induction of long-term potentiation in young adult rats. J. Neurophysiol. 79: 1790–1796, 1998. Choline supplementation during gestation in rats leads to augmentation of spatial memory in adulthood. We hypothesized that prenatal (E12–E17) choline supplementation in the rat would lead to an enhancement of hippocampal synaptic plasticity as assessed by long-term potentiation (LTP) at 3–4 mo of age. LTP was assessed blindly in area CA1 of hippocampal slices with first suprathreshold (above threshold for LTP generation in control slices) theta-burst stimulus trains. The magnitude of potentiation after these stimuli was not different between slices from control and prenatally choline supplemented animals. Next, threshold (reliably leading to LTP generation in control slices) or subthreshold theta-burst stimulus trains were applied to slices from control, prenatally choline-supplemented, and prenatally choline-deprived rats. Threshold level stimulus trains induced LTP in slices from both the control and choline-supplemented rats but not in those from the choline-deficient rats. Subthreshold stimulus trains led to LTP induction in slices from prenatally choline-supplemented rats only. These observations indicate that prenatal dietary manipulation of the amino acid, choline, leads to subsequent significant alterations of LTP induction threshold in adult animals.


2003 ◽  
Vol 90 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
David J. Froc ◽  
Brennan Eadie ◽  
Amanda M. Li ◽  
Karl Wodtke ◽  
Maric Tse ◽  
...  

Hippocampal slices obtained from C57BL/6 mice (3–25 mo) were used to investigate the effects of aging on excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) elicited in dentate gyrus with lateral perforant path stimulation. The maximal amplitude of the EPSP, as well as the degree of paired-pulse facilitation, was significantly reduced in animals aged 12 mo or more compared with younger animals (<12 mo). Although all animals showed equivalent short-term potentiation (STP) in response to high-frequency stimulation, this did not translate into a long-lasting increase in synaptic efficacy in the older animals. A significant degree of long-term potentiation (LTP) of synaptic efficacy was only observed in animals <12 mo of age when measured 30 min after induction. Blocking GABAA-mediated inhibition significantly enhanced STP in younger and older animals; however, a significant degree of LTP was again only observed in slices taken from younger animals. These data indicate that the lateral perforant path input to the dentate gyrus is altered by the aging process, and that this results in a reduction in the capacity of this input to exhibit long-lasting synaptic plasticity.


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.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly H. Forest ◽  
Ruth Taketa ◽  
Komal Arora ◽  
Cedomir Todorovic ◽  
Robert A. Nichols

AbstractAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia in the aging population. Evidence implicates elevated soluble oligomeric Aβ as one of the primary triggers during the prodromic phase leading to AD, effected largely via hyperphosphorylation of the microtubule-associated protein tau. At low, physiological levels (pM-nM), however, oligomeric Aβ has been found to regulate synaptic plasticity as a neuromodulator. Through mutational analysis, we found a core hexapeptide sequence within the N-terminal domain of Aβ (N-Aβcore) accounting for its physiological activity, and subsequently found that the N-Aβcore peptide is neuroprotective. Here, we characterized the neuroprotective potential of the N-Aβcore against dysfunction of synaptic plasticity assessed in ex vivo hippocampal slices from 5×FAD APP/PS1 mice, specifically hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD). The N-Aβcore was shown to reverse impairment in synaptic plasticity in hippocampal slices from 5×FAD APP/PS1 model mice, both for LTP and LTD. The reversal by the N-Aβcore correlated with alleviation of downregulation of hippocampal AMPA-type glutamate receptors in preparations from 5×FAD mice. The action of the N-Aβcore depended upon a critical di-histidine sequence and involved the PI3 kinase pathway via mTOR. Together, the present findings indicate that the non-toxic N-Aβcore hexapeptide is not only neuroprotective at the cellular level but is able to reverse synaptic dysfunction in AD-like models, specifically alterations in synaptic plasticity.


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