scholarly journals Excitatory synaptic transmission and network activity are depressed following mechanical injury in cortical neurons

2011 ◽  
Vol 105 (5) ◽  
pp. 2350-2363 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paulette B. Goforth ◽  
Jianhua Ren ◽  
Benjamin S. Schwartz ◽  
Leslie S. Satin
Keyword(s):  
Synaptic Transmission ◽  
Cortical Neurons ◽  
Mechanical Injury ◽  
Synaptic Function ◽  
Transient Increase ◽  
Excitatory Synaptic Transmission ◽  
Network Activity ◽  
Free Calcium ◽  
Post Injury

In vitro and in vivo traumatic brain injury (TBI) alter the function and expression of glutamate receptors, yet the combined effect of these alterations on cortical excitatory synaptic transmission is unclear. We examined the effect of in vitro mechanical injury on excitatory synaptic function in cultured cortical neurons by assaying synaptically driven intracellular free calcium ([Ca2+]i) oscillations in small neuronal networks as well as spontaneous and miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs). We show that injury decreased the incidence and frequency of spontaneous neuronal [Ca2+]i oscillations for at least 2 days post-injury. The amplitude of the oscillations was reduced immediately and 2 days post-injury, although a transient rebound at 4 h post-injury was observed due to increased activity of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDARs) and calcium-permeable α-amino-3-hydroxyl-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-propionate receptors (CP-AMPARs). Increased CP-AMPAR function was abolished by the inhibition of protein synthesis. In parallel, mEPSC amplitude decreased immediately, 4 h, and 2 days post-injury, with a transient increase in the contribution of synaptic CP-AMPARs observed at 4 h post-injury. Decreased mEPSC amplitude was evident after injury, even if NMDARs and CP-AMPARs were blocked pharmacologically, suggesting the decrease reflected alterations in synaptic Glur2-containing, calcium-impermeable AMPARs. Despite the transient increase in CP-AMPAR activity that we observed, the overriding effect of mechanical injury was long-term depression of excitatory neurotransmission that would be expected to contribute to the cognitive deficits of TBI.

scholarly journals Altered network properties in C9ORF72 repeat expansion cortical neurons are due to synaptic dysfunction

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma M. Perkins ◽  
Karen Burr ◽  
Poulomi Banerjee ◽  
Arpan R. Mehta ◽  
Owen Dando ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Synaptic Plasticity ◽  
Synaptic Vesicle ◽  
Cortical Neurons ◽  
Electrode Array ◽  
Repeat Expansion ◽  
Cortical Network ◽  
Synaptic Function ◽  
Network Activity ◽  
Cortical Function ◽  
Network Function

Abstract Background Physiological disturbances in cortical network excitability and plasticity are established and widespread in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) patients, including those harbouring the C9ORF72 repeat expansion (C9ORF72RE) mutation – the most common genetic impairment causal to ALS and FTD. Noting that perturbations in cortical function are evidenced pre-symptomatically, and that the cortex is associated with widespread pathology, cortical dysfunction is thought to be an early driver of neurodegenerative disease progression. However, our understanding of how altered network function manifests at the cellular and molecular level is not clear. Methods To address this we have generated cortical neurons from patient-derived iPSCs harbouring C9ORF72RE mutations, as well as from their isogenic expansion-corrected controls. We have established a model of network activity in these neurons using multi-electrode array electrophysiology. We have then mechanistically examined the physiological processes underpinning network dysfunction using a combination of patch-clamp electrophysiology, immunocytochemistry, pharmacology and transcriptomic profiling. Results We find that C9ORF72RE causes elevated network burst activity, associated with enhanced synaptic input, yet lower burst duration, attributable to impaired pre-synaptic vesicle dynamics. We also show that the C9ORF72RE is associated with impaired synaptic plasticity. Moreover, RNA-seq analysis revealed dysregulated molecular pathways impacting on synaptic function. All molecular, cellular and network deficits are rescued by CRISPR/Cas9 correction of C9ORF72RE. Our study provides a mechanistic view of the early dysregulated processes that underpin cortical network dysfunction in ALS-FTD. Conclusion These findings suggest synaptic pathophysiology is widespread in ALS-FTD and has an early and fundamental role in driving altered network function that is thought to contribute to neurodegenerative processes in these patients. The overall importance is the identification of previously unidentified defects in pre and postsynaptic compartments affecting synaptic plasticity, synaptic vesicle stores, and network propagation, which directly impact upon cortical function.

scholarly journals L-type voltage-gated calcium channel regulation of in vitro human cortical neuronal networks

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
William Plumbly ◽  
Nick Brandon ◽  
Tarek Z. Deeb ◽  
Jeremy Hall ◽  
Adrian J. Harwood
Keyword(s):  
Calcium Channel ◽  
Neuronal Networks ◽  
Gene Mutations ◽  
Synaptic Function ◽  
Neuronal Firing ◽  
Network Activity ◽  
Electrode Arrays ◽  
Voltage Gated ◽  
Voltage Gated Calcium Channel

Abstract The combination of in vitro multi-electrode arrays (MEAs) and the neuronal differentiation of stem cells offers the capability to study human neuronal networks from patient or engineered human cell lines. Here, we use MEA-based assays to probe synaptic function and network interactions of hiPSC-derived neurons. Neuronal network behaviour first emerges at approximately 30 days of culture and is driven by glutamate neurotransmission. Over a further 30 days, inhibitory GABAergic signalling shapes network behaviour into a synchronous regular pattern of burst firing activity and low activity periods. Gene mutations in L-type voltage gated calcium channel subunit genes are strongly implicated as genetic risk factors for the development of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. We find that, although basal neuronal firing rate is unaffected, there is a dose-dependent effect of L-type voltage gated calcium channel inhibitors on synchronous firing patterns of our hiPSC-derived neural networks. This demonstrates that MEA assays have sufficient sensitivity to detect changes in patterns of neuronal interaction that may arise from hypo-function of psychiatric risk genes. Our study highlights the utility of in vitro MEA based platforms for the study of hiPSC neural network activity and their potential use in novel compound screening.

scholarly journals GluN2B-containing NMDA receptors regulate depression-like behavior and are critical for the rapid antidepressant actions of ketamine

eLife ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oliver H Miller ◽  
Lingling Yang ◽  
Chih-Chieh Wang ◽  
Elizabeth A Hargroder ◽  
Yihui Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Synaptic Transmission ◽  
Cortical Neurons ◽  
Low Dose ◽  
Nmda Receptor Antagonist ◽  
Excitatory Synaptic Transmission ◽  
Glutamatergic Neurotransmission ◽  
Treatment Resistant ◽  
Cellular Mechanisms ◽  
Ambient Glutamate

A single, low dose of the NMDA receptor antagonist ketamine produces rapid antidepressant actions in treatment-resistant depressed patients. Understanding the cellular mechanisms underlying this will lead to new therapies for treating major depression. NMDARs are heteromultimeric complexes formed through association of two GluN1 and two GluN2 subunits. We show that in vivo deletion of GluN2B, only from principal cortical neurons, mimics and occludes ketamine's actions on depression-like behavior and excitatory synaptic transmission. Furthermore, ketamine-induced increases in mTOR activation and synaptic protein synthesis were mimicked and occluded in 2BΔCtx mice. We show here that cortical GluN2B-containing NMDARs are uniquely activated by ambient glutamate to regulate levels of excitatory synaptic transmission. Together these data predict a novel cellular mechanism that explains ketamine's rapid antidepressant actions. In this model, basal glutamatergic neurotransmission sensed by cortical GluN2B-containing NMDARs regulates excitatory synaptic strength in PFC determining basal levels of depression-like behavior.

scholarly journals BACE1 Is Necessary for Experience-Dependent Homeostatic Synaptic Plasticity in Visual Cortex

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Petrus ◽  
Hey-Kyoung Lee
Keyword(s):  
Synaptic Plasticity ◽  
Visual Cortex ◽  
Synaptic Transmission ◽  
Sensory Experience ◽  
Synaptic Function ◽  
Excitatory Synaptic Transmission ◽  
Early Gene ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Homeostatic Synaptic Plasticity ◽  
Activity Dependent

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of age-related dementia, which is thought to result from overproduction and/or reduced clearance of amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptides. Studies over the past few decades suggest that Aβis produced in an activity-dependent manner and has physiological relevance to normal brain functions. Similarly, physiological functions forβ- andγ-secretases, the two key enzymes that produce Aβby sequentially processing the amyloid precursor protein (APP), have been discovered over recent years. In particular, activity-dependent production of Aβhas been suggested to play a role in homeostatic regulation of excitatory synaptic function. There is accumulating evidence that activity-dependent immediate early gene Arc is an activity “sensor,” which acts upstream of Aβproduction and triggers AMPA receptor endocytosis to homeostatically downregulate the strength of excitatory synaptic transmission. We previously reported that Arc is critical for sensory experience-dependent homeostatic reduction of excitatory synaptic transmission in the superficial layers of visual cortex. Here we demonstrate that mice lacking the major neuronalβ-secretase, BACE1, exhibit a similar phenotype: stronger basal excitatory synaptic transmission and failure to adapt to changes in visual experience. Our results indicate that BACE1 plays an essential role in sensory experience-dependent homeostatic synaptic plasticity in the neocortex.

scholarly journals Coordinated regulation of CB1 cannabinoid receptors and anandamide metabolism stabilize network activity during homeostatic scaling down

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Ye ◽  
Sarah K Monroe ◽  
Sean M Gay ◽  
Michael L Armstrong ◽  
Diane E Youngstrom ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Surface ◽  
Cortical Neurons ◽  
Cannabinoid Receptors ◽  
Acid Amide ◽  
Synaptic Function ◽  
Synaptic Activity ◽  
Network Activity ◽  
Bioactive Lipids ◽  
Network Properties ◽  
Scaling Down

Neurons express overlapping homeostatic mechanisms to regulate synaptic function and network properties in response to perturbations of neuronal activity. Endocannabinoids (eCBs) are bioactive lipids synthesized in the post-synaptic compartments that regulate synaptic transmission, plasticity, and neuronal excitability throughout much of the brain, by activating pre-synaptic cannabinoid receptor CB1. The eCB system is well situated to regulate neuronal network properties and coordinate pre- and post-synaptic activity. However, the role of the eCB system in homeostatic adaptations to neuronal hyperactivity is unknown. We show that in mature cultured rat cortical neurons, chronic bicuculline treatment, known to induce homeostatic scaling-down, induces a coordinated adaptation to enhance tonic eCB signaling. Hyper-excitation triggers down regulation of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), the lipase that degrades the eCB anandamide. Subsequently, we measured an accumulation of anandamide and related metabolites, and an upregulation of total and cell surface CB1. We show that bicuculline induced downregulation of surface AMPA-type glutamate receptors and upregulation of CB1 occur through independent mechanisms. Finally, using live-cell microscopy of neurons expressing an extracellular fluorescent glutamate reporter (iGluSnFR), we confirm that cortical neurons in vitro exhibit highly synchronized network activity, reminiscent of cortical up-states in vivo. Up-state like activity in mature cortical cultures requires CB1 signaling under both control conditions and following chronic bicuculline treatment. We propose that during the adaptation to chronic neuronal hyperexcitation, tonic eCB signaling is enhanced through coordinated changes in anandamide metabolism and cell-surface CB1 expression to maintain synchronous network activity.

scholarly journals L-type voltage-gated calcium channel regulation of in vitro human cortical neuronal networks

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Plumbly ◽  
Nicholas J. Brandon ◽  
Tarek Z. Deeb ◽  
Jeremy Hall ◽  
Adrian J. Harwood
Keyword(s):  
Calcium Channel ◽  
Neuronal Networks ◽  
Gene Mutations ◽  
Synaptic Function ◽  
Neuronal Firing ◽  
Network Activity ◽  
Electrode Arrays ◽  
Voltage Gated ◽  
Voltage Gated Calcium Channel

The combination of in vitro multi-electrode arrays (MEAs) and the neuronal differentiation of stem cells offers the capability to study human neuronal networks from patient or engineered human cell lines. Here, we use MEA-based assays to probe synaptic function and network interactions of hiPSC-derived neurons. Neuronal network behaviour first emerges at approximately 30 days of culture and is driven by glutamate neurotransmission. Over a further 30 days, inhibitory GABergic signalling shapes network behaviour into a synchronous regular pattern of burst firing activity and low activity periods. Gene mutations in L-type voltage gated calcium channel subunit genes are strongly implicated as genetic risk factors for the development of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. We find that, although basal neuronal firing rate is unaffected, there is a dose-dependent effect of L-type voltage gated calcium channel inhibitors on synchronous firing patterns of our hiPSC-derived neural networks. This demonstrates that MEA assays have sufficient sensitivity to detect changes in patterns of neuronal interaction that may arise from hypo-function of psychiatric risk genes. Our study highlights the utility of in vitro MEA based platforms for the study of hiPSC neural network activity and their potential use in novel compound screening.

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