scholarly journals LIM-Kinases in Synaptic Plasticity, Memory, and Brain Diseases

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 2079
Author(s):  
Youssif Ben Zablah ◽  
Haiwang Zhang ◽  
Radu Gugustea ◽  
Zhengping Jia
Keyword(s):  
Synaptic Plasticity ◽  
Learning And Memory ◽  
Binding Protein ◽  
Regulation Of Gene Expression ◽  
Long Term Potentiation ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Brain Diseases ◽  
Actin Binding ◽  
Structural Basis ◽  
Cellular Mechanisms

Learning and memory require structural and functional modifications of synaptic connections, and synaptic deficits are believed to underlie many brain disorders. The LIM-domain-containing protein kinases (LIMK1 and LIMK2) are key regulators of the actin cytoskeleton by affecting the actin-binding protein, cofilin. In addition, LIMK1 is implicated in the regulation of gene expression by interacting with the cAMP-response element-binding protein. Accumulating evidence indicates that LIMKs are critically involved in brain function and dysfunction. In this paper, we will review studies on the roles and underlying mechanisms of LIMKs in the regulation of long-term potentiation (LTP) and depression (LTD), the most extensively studied forms of long-lasting synaptic plasticity widely regarded as cellular mechanisms underlying learning and memory. We will also discuss the involvement of LIMKs in the regulation of the dendritic spine, the structural basis of synaptic plasticity, and memory formation. Finally, we will discuss recent progress on investigations of LIMKs in neurological and mental disorders, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Williams–Beuren syndrome, schizophrenia, and autism spectrum disorders.

scholarly journals Synaptic Plasticity and its Modulation by Alcohol

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yosef Avchalumov ◽  
Chitra D. Mandyam
Keyword(s):  
Synaptic Plasticity ◽  
Learning And Memory ◽  
Dorsal Striatum ◽  
Long Term Potentiation ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Cellular Mechanisms ◽  
Brain Disorder ◽  
The Brain

Alcohol is one of the oldest pharmacological agents used for its sedative/hypnotic effects, and alcohol abuse and alcohol use disorder (AUD) continues to be major public health issue. AUD is strongly indicated to be a brain disorder, and the molecular and cellular mechanism/s by which alcohol produces its effects in the brain are only now beginning to be understood. In the brain, synaptic plasticity or strengthening or weakening of synapses, can be enhanced or reduced by a variety of stimulation paradigms. Synaptic plasticity is thought to be responsible for important processes involved in the cellular mechanisms of learning and memory. Long-term potentiation (LTP) is a form of synaptic plasticity, and occurs via N-methyl-D-aspartate type glutamate receptor (NMDAR or GluN) dependent and independent mechanisms. In particular, NMDARs are a major target of alcohol, and are implicated in different types of learning and memory. Therefore, understanding the effect of alcohol on synaptic plasticity and transmission mediated by glutamatergic signaling is becoming important, and this will help us understand the significant contribution of the glutamatergic system in AUD. In the first part of this review, we will briefly discuss the mechanisms underlying long term synaptic plasticity in the dorsal striatum, neocortex and the hippocampus. In the second part we will discuss how alcohol (ethanol, EtOH) can modulate long term synaptic plasticity in these three brain regions, mainly from neurophysiological and electrophysiological studies. Taken together, understanding the mechanism(s) underlying alcohol induced changes in brain function may lead to the development of more effective therapeutic agents to reduce AUDs.

scholarly journals Forepaw Sensorimotor Deprivation in Early Life Leads to the Impairments on Spatial Memory and Synaptic Plasticity in Rats

2009 ◽  
Vol 2009 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuanyuan Zhang ◽  
Fei Li ◽  
Xiaohua Cao ◽  
Xingming Jin ◽  
Chonghuai Yan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Synaptic Plasticity ◽  
Spatial Memory ◽  
Learning And Memory ◽  
Early Life ◽  
Hippocampal Slices ◽  
Long Term Potentiation ◽  
Perforant Path ◽  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
Cellular Mechanisms ◽  
Spatial Reference

To investigate the influence of forepaw sensorimotor deprivation on memory and synaptic plasticity, Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two groups: a sham-operated group and a group deprived of forepaw sensorimotor function by microsurgical operation at postnatal day 13 (PN13). Behavioral and electrophysiological studies were performed at PN25, PN35, PN45, and PN60. Open field test was used to assess the spontaneous locomotor activity. Morris water maze was used to evaluate spatial reference learning and memory. The long-term potentiation (LTP) in the medial perforant path—dentate gyrus (MPP-DG) pathway was examined with hippocampal slices. We found that forepaw sensorimotor deprivation did not affect spontaneous activity of the rats. However, spatial reference learning and memory were significantly impaired in their early life (PN25, PN35, and PN45). In accordance with the behavior results, LTP in MPP-DG pathway was significantly suppressed in their early life. These data demonstrated that forepaw sensorimotor deprivation led to the impairments on spatial memory via inducing pronounced deficits in the MPP-DG pathway to exhibit LTP, one of the major cellular mechanisms underlying learning and memory.

scholarly journals Rho Signaling in Synaptic Plasticity, Memory, and Brain Disorders

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haorui Zhang ◽  
Youssif Ben Zablah ◽  
Haiwang Zhang ◽  
Zhengping Jia
Keyword(s):  
Synaptic Plasticity ◽  
Long Term Potentiation ◽  
Small Gtpases ◽  
Structural Basis ◽  
Brain Disorders ◽  
Rho Proteins ◽  
Cellular Mechanisms ◽  
Spine Morphology ◽  
Memory Impairments

Memory impairments are associated with many brain disorders such as autism, Alzheimer’s disease, and depression. Forming memories involves modifications of synaptic transmission and spine morphology. The Rho family small GTPases are key regulators of synaptic plasticity by affecting various downstream molecules to remodel the actin cytoskeleton. In this paper, we will review recent studies on the roles of Rho proteins in the regulation of hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD), the most extensively studied forms of synaptic plasticity widely regarded as cellular mechanisms for learning and memory. We will also discuss the involvement of Rho signaling in spine morphology, the structural basis of synaptic plasticity and memory formation. Finally, we will review the association between brain disorders and abnormalities of Rho function. It is expected that studying Rho signaling at the synapse will contribute to the understanding of how memory is formed and disrupted in diseases.

2.45 GHz microwave radiation impairs learning, memory, and hippocampal synaptic plasticity in the rat

2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (12) ◽  
pp. 873-883 ◽  
Author(s):  
Narges Karimi ◽  
Mahnaz Bayat ◽  
Masoud Haghani ◽  
Hamed Fahandezh Saadi ◽  
Gholam Reza Ghazipour
Keyword(s):  
Synaptic Plasticity ◽  
Learning And Memory ◽  
Continuous Wave ◽  
Glutamate Release ◽  
Average Power ◽  
Field Potential ◽  
Long Term Potentiation ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Spatial Learning And Memory ◽  
Hippocampal Synaptic Plasticity

Microwave (MW) radiation has a close relationship with neurobehavioral disorders. Due to the widespread usage of MW radiation, especially in our homes, it is essential to investigate the direct effect of MW radiation on the central nervous system. Therefore, this study was carried out to determine the effect of MW radiation on memory and hippocampal synaptic plasticity. The rats were exposed to 2.45 GHz MW radiation (continuous wave with overall average power density of 0.016 mW/cm2 and overall average whole-body specific absorption rate value of 0.017 W/kg) for 2 h/day over a period of 40 days. Spatial learning and memory were tested by radial maze and passive avoidance tests. We evaluated the synaptic plasticity and hippocampal neuronal cells number by field potential recording and Giemsa staining, respectively. Our results showed that MW radiation exposure decreased the learning and memory performance that was associated with decrement of long-term potentiation induction and excitability of CA1 neurons. However, MW radiation did not have any effects on short-term plasticity and paired-pulse ratio as a good indirect index for measurement of glutamate release probability. The evaluation of hippocampal morphology indicated that the neuronal density in the hippocampal CA1 area was significantly decreased by MW.

scholarly journals Tripchlorolide May Improve Spatial Cognition Dysfunction and Synaptic Plasticity after Chronic Cerebral Hypoperfusion

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhao-Hui Yao ◽  
Xiao-li Yao ◽  
Shao-feng Zhang ◽  
Ji-chang Hu ◽  
Yong Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Synaptic Plasticity ◽  
Learning And Memory ◽  
Spatial Learning ◽  
Long Term Potentiation ◽  
Chronic Cerebral Hypoperfusion ◽  
Synaptic Proteins ◽  
Cerebral Hypoperfusion ◽  
Spatial Learning And Memory ◽  
Pathophysiological Mechanism

Chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) is a common pathophysiological mechanism that underlies cognitive decline and degenerative processes in dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases. Low cerebral blood flow (CBF) during CCH leads to disturbances in the homeostasis of hemodynamics and energy metabolism, which in turn results in oxidative stress, astroglia overactivation, and synaptic protein downregulation. These events contribute to synaptic plasticity and cognitive dysfunction after CCH. Tripchlorolide (TRC) is an herbal compound with potent neuroprotective effects. The potential of TRC to improve CCH-induced cognitive impairment has not yet been determined. In the current study, we employed behavioral techniques, electrophysiology, Western blotting, immunofluorescence, and Golgi staining to investigate the effect of TRC on spatial learning and memory impairment and on synaptic plasticity changes in rats after CCH. Our findings showed that TRC could rescue CCH-induced spatial learning and memory dysfunction and improve long-term potentiation (LTP) disorders. We also found that TRC could prevent CCH-induced reductions in N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor 2B, synapsin I, and postsynaptic density protein 95 levels. Moreover, TRC upregulated cAMP-response element binding protein, which is an important transcription factor for synaptic proteins. TRC also prevented the reduction in dendritic spine density that is caused by CCH. However, sham rats treated with TRC did not show any improvement in cognition. Because CCH causes disturbances in brain energy homeostasis, TRC therapy may resolve this instability by correcting a variety of cognitive-related signaling pathways. However, for the normal brain, TRC treatment led to neither disturbance nor improvement in neural plasticity. Additionally, this treatment neither impaired nor further improved cognition. In conclusion, we found that TRC can improve spatial learning and memory, enhance synaptic plasticity, upregulate the expression of some synaptic proteins, and increase the density of dendritic spines. Our findings suggest that TRC may be beneficial in the treatment of cognitive impairment induced by CCH.

scholarly journals Age-Related Cognitive Impairment: Role of Reduced Synaptobrevin-2 Levels in Deficits of Memory and Synaptic Plasticity

2019 ◽  
Vol 75 (9) ◽  
pp. 1624-1632 ◽  
Author(s):  
Albert Orock ◽  
Sreemathi Logan ◽  
Ferenc Deak
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Synaptic Plasticity ◽  
Learning And Memory ◽  
Hippocampal Neurons ◽  
Long Term Potentiation ◽  
Receptor Protein ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
Ca1 Region ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Term Potentiation

AbstractCognitive impairment in the aging population is quickly becoming a health care priority, for which currently no disease-modifying treatment is available. Multiple domains of cognition decline with age even in the absence of neurodegenerative diseases. The cellular and molecular changes leading to cognitive decline with age remain elusive. Synaptobrevin-2 (Syb2), the major vesicular SNAP receptor protein, highly expressed in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus, is essential for synaptic transmission. We have analyzed Syb2 protein levels in mice and found a decrease with age. To investigate the functional consequences of lower Syb2 expression, we have used adult Syb2 heterozygous mice (Syb2+/−) with reduced Syb2 levels. This allowed us to mimic the age-related decrease of Syb2 in the brain in order to selectively test its effects on learning and memory. Our results show that Syb2+/− animals have impaired learning and memory skills and they perform worse with age in the radial arm water maze assay. Syb2+/− hippocampal neurons have reduced synaptic plasticity with reduced release probability and impaired long-term potentiation in the CA1 region. Syb2+/− neurons also have lower vesicular release rates when compared to WT controls. These results indicate that reduced Syb2 expression with age is sufficient to cause cognitive impairment.

scholarly journals Dopamine D2R is Required for Hippocampal-dependent Memory and Plasticity at the CA3-CA1 Synapse

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabel Espadas ◽  
Oscar Ortiz ◽  
Patricia García-Sanz ◽  
Adrián Sanz-Magro ◽  
Samuel Alberquilla ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Synaptic Plasticity ◽  
Associative Learning ◽  
Dopamine Receptors ◽  
Learning And Memory ◽  
Dopamine D2 Receptor ◽  
D2 Receptor ◽  
Long Term Potentiation ◽  
D1 Receptor ◽  
Term Potentiation

Abstract Dopamine receptors play an important role in motivational, emotional, and motor responses. In addition, growing evidence suggests a key role of hippocampal dopamine receptors in learning and memory. It is well known that associative learning and synaptic plasticity of CA3-CA1 requires the dopamine D1 receptor (D1R). However, the specific role of the dopamine D2 receptor (D2R) on memory-related neuroplasticity processes is still undefined. Here, by using two models of D2R loss, D2R knockout mice (Drd2−/−) and mice with intrahippocampal injections of Drd2-small interfering RNA (Drd2-siRNA), we aimed to investigate how D2R is involved in learning and memory as well as in long-term potentiation of the hippocampus. Our studies revealed that the genetic inactivation of D2R impaired the spatial memory, associative learning, and the classical conditioning of eyelid responses. Similarly, deletion of D2R reduced the activity-dependent synaptic plasticity in the hippocampal CA1-CA3 synapse. Our results demonstrate the first direct evidence that D2R is essential in behaving mice for trace eye blink conditioning and associated changes in hippocampal synaptic strength. Taken together, these results indicate a key role of D2R in regulating hippocampal plasticity changes and, in consequence, acquisition and consolidation of spatial and associative forms of memory.

Potential role of arteether on N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor expression in experimental cerebral malaria mice and extension of their survival

Parasitology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 146 (12) ◽  
pp. 1571-1577 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sunil Kumar Singh ◽  
Hemlata Dwivedi ◽  
Sarika Gunjan ◽  
Bhavana Singh Chauhan ◽  
Swaroop Kumar Pandey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Synaptic Plasticity ◽  
Cerebral Malaria ◽  
Learning And Memory ◽  
Neurological Complication ◽  
Receptor Expression ◽  
Extreme Condition ◽  
Mammalian Brain ◽  
Cellular Mechanisms ◽  
Experimental Cerebral Malaria ◽  
Excitatory Neurotransmitter

AbstractCerebral malaria (CM) is the severe neurological complication causing acute non-traumatic encephalopathy in tropical countries. The mechanisms underlying the fatal cerebral complications are still not fully understood. Glutamate, a major excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system of the mammalian brain, plays a key role in the development of neuronal cells, motor function, synaptic plasticity, learning and memory processes under normal physiological conditions. The subtypes of ionotropic glutamate receptor are N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) which are involved in cellular mechanisms of learning and memory, synaptic plasticity and also mediate excitotoxic neuronal injury. In the present study, we found that glutamate level in synaptosomes, as well as expression of NMDAR, was elevated during the extreme condition of CM in C57BL6 mice. Arteether at 50 mg kg−1× 1, 25 mg kg−1× 2, days decreased the NMDAR expression and increased the overall survival of the experimental CM mice.

Calpains: Master Regulators of Synaptic Plasticity

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 221-231 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victor Briz ◽  
Michel Baudry
Keyword(s):  
Synaptic Plasticity ◽  
Learning And Memory ◽  
Long Term Potentiation ◽  
Cytoskeletal Proteins ◽  
Local Protein Synthesis ◽  
Term Potentiation ◽  
Calpain 2 ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Local Protein

Although calpain was proposed to participate in synaptic plasticity and learning and memory more than 30 years ago, the mechanisms underlying its activation and the roles of different substrates have remained elusive. Recent findings have provided evidence that the two major calpain isoforms in the brain, calpain-1 and calpain-2, play opposite functions in synaptic plasticity. In particular, while calpain-1 activation is the initial trigger for certain forms of synaptic plasticity, that is, long-term potentiation, calpain-2 activation restricts the extent of plasticity. Moreover, while calpain-1 rapidly cleaves regulatory and cytoskeletal proteins, calpain-2-mediated stimulation of local protein synthesis reestablishes protein homeostasis. These findings have important implications for our understanding of learning and memory and disorders associated with impairment in these processes.

scholarly journals Amyloid-β dimers in the absence of plaque pathology impair learning and synaptic plasticity

Brain ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 139 (2) ◽  
pp. 509-525 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Müller-Schiffmann ◽  
Arne Herring ◽  
Laila Abdel-Hafiz ◽  
Aisa N. Chepkova ◽  
Sandra Schäble ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Synaptic Plasticity ◽  
Learning And Memory ◽  
Biological Effects ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Long Term Potentiation ◽  
Amyloid Β Peptide ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Plaque Pathology

Abstract Despite amyloid plaques, consisting of insoluble, aggregated amyloid-β peptides, being a defining feature of Alzheimer’s disease, their significance has been challenged due to controversial findings regarding the correlation of cognitive impairment in Alzheimer’s disease with plaque load. The amyloid cascade hypothesis defines soluble amyloid-β oligomers, consisting of multiple amyloid-β monomers, as precursors of insoluble amyloid-β plaques. Dissecting the biological effects of single amyloid-β oligomers, for example of amyloid-β dimers, an abundant amyloid-β oligomer associated with clinical progression of Alzheimer’s disease, has been difficult due to the inability to control the kinetics of amyloid-β multimerization. For investigating the biological effects of amyloid-β dimers, we stabilized amyloid-β dimers by an intermolecular disulphide bridge via a cysteine mutation in the amyloid-β peptide (Aβ-S8C) of the amyloid precursor protein. This construct was expressed as a recombinant protein in cells and in a novel transgenic mouse, termed tgDimer mouse. This mouse formed constant levels of highly synaptotoxic soluble amyloid-β dimers, but not monomers, amyloid-β plaques or insoluble amyloid-β during its lifespan. Accordingly, neither signs of neuroinflammation, tau hyperphosphorylation or cell death were observed. Nevertheless, these tgDimer mice did exhibit deficits in hippocampal long-term potentiation and age-related impairments in learning and memory, similar to what was observed in classical Alzheimer’s disease mouse models. Although the amyloid-β dimers were unable to initiate the formation of insoluble amyloid-β aggregates in tgDimer mice, after crossbreeding tgDimer mice with the CRND8 mouse, an amyloid-β plaque generating mouse model, Aβ-S8C dimers were sequestered into amyloid-β plaques, suggesting that amyloid-β plaques incorporate neurotoxic amyloid-β dimers that by themselves are unable to self-assemble. Our results suggest that within the fine interplay between different amyloid-β species, amyloid-β dimer neurotoxic signalling, in the absence of amyloid-β plaque pathology, may be involved in causing early deficits in synaptic plasticity, learning and memory that accompany Alzheimer’s disease. 10.1093/brain/awv355_video_abstract awv355_video_abstract

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