Long-term potentiation of prefrontal cortex in NR1 knockout mice

利用前脑特异性NR1基因敲除小鼠,采用离体脑片场电位技术,研究了NR1亚基在前额叶脑区突触可塑性中的作用.刺激强度—反应( input-output curve)和双脉冲抑制反应(paired pulse depression,PPD)的结果表明,与同窝对照组小鼠相比,NR1基因敲除小鼠前额叶脑区的基本突触传递无明显变化.采用高频刺激(100 Hz,1 000 ms×2,间隔30 s)在小鼠的前额叶脑区诱导长时程增强( long-term potentiation,LTP),与对照组小鼠相比,NR1基因敲除小鼠前额叶脑区的LTP明显受损.以上数据提示,NR1亚基在前额叶脑区LTP的诱导中起着重要的作用.     

PTPa基因敲除对小鼠海马CA1区突触可塑性的影响

通过PTPa基因敲除(knock out)小鼠来研究海马突触可塑性的变化,在海马schaffer collateral-CA1通路中采用场电位记录的方法研究发现,与Wild Type相比较,基因敲除小鼠的Long Term Potentiation(LTP)增强而Long Term Depression(LTD)受到抑制,去增强效应消失,θ频率诱导的LTP增强,但是其基本的突触传递性质并没有发生变化.     

PTPα基因敲除对小鼠海马CA1区突触可塑性的影响

通过PTPα基因敲除（knockout）小鼠来研究海马突触可塑性的变化，在海马schaffer collateral—CA1通路中采用场电位记录的方法研究发现，与Wild Type相比较，基因敲除小鼠的Long Term Potentiation（LTP）增强而Long Term Depression（LTD）受到抑制，去增强效应消失。θ频率诱导的LTP增强，但是其基本的突触传递性质并没有发生变化．     

βCaMKII蛋白修饰转基因小鼠工作记忆的研究

利用前额叶脑区过量表达β钙离子/钙调素依赖的蛋白激酶II(βCaMKII)的蛋白修饰转基因小鼠,研究βCaMKII对小鼠工作记忆的影响.Western Blot结果显示,转基因小鼠前额叶脑区的βCaMKII过量表达.在修饰的水迷宫实验中,与对照组相比,转基因小鼠的逃避潜伏期没有发生明显变化.此外,在T迷宫实验中,转基因小鼠的正确率与对照组的正确率也基本相同.由此推测,βCaMKII的过量表达对于前额叶皮层依赖的工作记忆没有明显的影响.     

姜黄素对IL-6损伤的大鼠海马神经元的功能性保护作用及机制

目的:探讨姜黄素对IL-6损伤的大鼠海马神经元的功能性保护作用及其机制.方法:应用离体脑片记录技术,记录大鼠海马CA1区的兴奋性突触后电位(EPSP),给予Schaffer侧支高频电刺激(HFS)诱发长时程增强(LTP),观察不同药物处理组EPSP起始斜率的变化情况.结果:与对照组相比,IL-6和N-甲基D-天冬氨酸(NMDA)对大鼠海马脑片的LTP产生明显的抑制作用(P<0.05);而姜黄素可部分拮抗IL-6和NMDA对海马脑片LTP的抑制作用,与模型组相比差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);IL-6、姜黄素和NMDA对大鼠海马神经元的基础突触传递无影响.结论:姜黄素对海马神经元具有功能性保护作用,其机制可能是作用于神经元细胞膜上的NMDA受体,拮抗IL-6引起神经元功能异常.     

慢性应激对小鼠空间学习记忆功能及海马和前额叶皮层BDNF表达的影响

采用多因素慢性应激动物模型,通过Morris水迷宫测试小鼠空间学习记忆能力;采用免疫组织化学方法检测脑源性神经营养因子（BDNF）在海马和前额叶皮层的表达．结果显示,与对照组相比,应激组小鼠的空间学习记忆能力明显下降（P〈0．01）;应激组小鼠海马CA1区、齿状回和前额叶皮层BDNF表达明显下降（P〈0．01）;停止应激后一周,应激组小鼠BDNF在各脑区的表达有一定恢复,但与对照组相比,仍有显著性差异（P〈0．05,P〈0．01）．结果表明,慢性应激导致小鼠空间学习记忆功能的损伤可能与BDNF表达的下调密切相关．     

组胺H1受体缺乏改变小鼠脑内组胺含量及昼夜节律

在乙谜麻醉下,分别于明时(8:00 a.m.)及暗时(8:00 p.m.)断头处死野生型及组胺H1R基因敲除型小鼠,迅速取出脑组织并分离出皮层、纹状体、海马、下丘脑、丘脑、中脑及脑干等脑区.这些脑组织被制成匀浆并用HPLC荧光检测法测量其组胺含量.结果显示暗时处死时,H1R基因敲除型小鼠海马、丘脑、中脑及脑干中的组胺含量明显低于野生型小鼠.明时处死时,野生型小鼠各脑区组胺含量均较暗时处死显著降低,但这一变化在H1R基因敲除型小鼠中并未观察到.这些表明作为组胺的功能靶,H1R不仅介导组胺的功能,而且调节大脑中组胺含量与释放的昼夜节律.     

受体缺乏改变小鼠脑内组胺含量及昼夜节律

在乙谜麻醉下,分别于明时(8:00 a.m.)及暗时(8:00 p.m.)断头处死野生型及组胺H1R基因敲除型小鼠,迅速取出脑组织并分离出皮层、纹状体、海马、下丘脑、丘脑、中脑及脑干等脑区.这些脑组织被制成匀浆并用HPLC荧光检测法测量其组胺含量.结果显示暗时处死时,H1R基因敲除型小鼠海马、丘脑、中脑及脑干中的组胺含量明显低于野生型小鼠.明时处死时,野生型小鼠各脑区组胺含量均较暗时处死显著降低,但这一变化在H1R基因敲除型小鼠中并未观察到.这些表明作为组胺的功能靶,H1R不仅介导组胺的功能,而且调节大脑中组胺含量与释放的昼夜节律.     

RM6240型系统在记录诱发场突触后电位中的应用

为了探讨RM6240型生物信号记录系统在记录诱发场突触后电位的应用,以成年雄性Wistar大鼠为模式动物,利用自制的镍铬合金丝电极装置来电刺激其内侧前额叶脑区,记录在伏隔核脑区诱发的场突触后电位;同时,用MATLAB软件和p Clamp10信号分析软件来分析场电位信号数据。结果表明:RM6240系统可记录可靠的内侧前额叶-伏隔核通路诱发场突触后电位,且信号至少能够稳定地维持1 h; MATLAB、p Clamp10软件可提高数据分析的效率。     

酒精对大鼠外侧穿通纤维-CA3区LTP诱导的影响

目的:研究酒精对大鼠外侧穿通纤维(lateral perforant path,LPP)-CA3区(LPP-CA3)长时程增强(long-term potentiation,LTP)诱导阶段的影响及可能的机制.方法:用细胞外电生理记录方法,通过向海马CA3区分别微量注射酒精(Alcohol)、阿片受体拮抗剂纳洛酮(naloxone)和GABAA受体拮抗剂荷包牡丹碱(bicucul-line,BIC),以海马CA3区群体兴奋性突触后电位(field excitory postsynaptic potentials,fEPSP)斜率改变为指标,观察高频刺激引起的LTP诱导的变化.结果:①酒精剂量依赖性地抑制LTP的诱导;②纳洛酮和BIC均可以部分减轻酒精对LTP诱导的抑制作用.结论:内源性阿片系统和GABA能系统参与了酒精对LPP-CA3通路LTP诱导的调制.     

RIM1alpha is required for presynaptic long-term potentiation.

Two main forms of long-term potentiation (LTP)-a prominent model for the cellular mechanism of learning and memory-have been distinguished in the mammalian brain. One requires activation of postsynaptic NMDA (N-methyl d-aspartate) receptors, whereas the other, called mossy fibre LTP, has a principal presynaptic component. Mossy fibre LTP is expressed in hippocampal mossy fibre synapses, cerebellar parallel fibre synapses and corticothalamic synapses, where it apparently operates by a mechanism that requires activation of protein kinase A. Thus, presynaptic substrates of protein kinase A are probably essential in mediating this form of long-term synaptic plasticity. Studies of knockout mice have shown that the synaptic vesicle protein Rab3A is required for mossy fibre LTP, but the protein kinase A substrates rabphilin, synapsin I and synapsin II are dispensable. Here we report that mossy fibre LTP in the hippocampus and the cerebellum is abolished in mice lacking RIM1alpha, an active zone protein that binds to Rab3A and that is also a protein kinase A substrate. Our results indicate that the long-term increase in neurotransmitter release during mossy fibre LTP may be mediated by a unitary mechanism that involves the GTP-dependent interaction of Rab3A with RIM1alpha at the interface of synaptic vesicles and the active zone.     

Genetic enhancement of learning and memory in mice.

Hebb's rule (1949) states that learning and memory are based on modifications of synaptic strength among neurons that are simultaneously active. This implies that enhanced synaptic coincidence detection would lead to better learning and memory. If the NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptor, a synaptic coincidence detector, acts as a graded switch for memory formation, enhanced signal detection by NMDA receptors should enhance learning and memory. Here we show that overexpression of NMDA receptor 2B (NR2B) in the forebrains of transgenic mice leads to enhanced activation of NMDA receptors, facilitating synaptic potentiation in response to stimulation at 10-100 Hz. These mice exhibit superior ability in learning and memory in various behavioural tasks, showing that NR2B is critical in gating the age-dependent threshold for plasticity and memory formation. NMDA-receptor-dependent modifications of synaptic efficacy, therefore, represent a unifying mechanism for associative learning and memory. Our results suggest that genetic enhancement of mental and cognitive attributes such as intelligence and memory in mammals is feasible.     

Synaptic excitation produces a long-lasting rebound potentiation of inhibitory synaptic signals in cerebellar Purkinje cells.

Persistent changes in synaptic efficacy are thought to underlie the formation of learning and memory in the brain. High-frequency activation of an afferent excitatory fibre system can induce long-term potentiation, and conjunctive activation of two distinct excitatory synaptic inputs to the cerebellar Purkinje cells can lead to long-term depression of the synaptic activity of one of the inputs. Here we report a new form of neural plasticity in which activation of an excitatory synaptic input can induce a potentiation of inhibitory synaptic signals to the same cell. In cerebellar Purkinje cells stimulation of the excitatory climbing fibre synapses is followed by a long-lasting (up to 75 min) potentiation of gamma-aminobutyric acid A (GABAA) receptor-mediated inhibitory postsynaptic currents (i.p.s.cs), a phenomenon that we term rebound potentiation. Using whole-cell patch-clamp recordings in combination with fluorometric video imaging of intracellular calcium ion concentration, we find that a climbing fibre-induced transient increase in postsynaptic calcium concentration triggers the induction of rebound potentiation. Because the response of Purkinje cells to bath-applied exogenous GABA is also potentiated after climbing fibre-stimulation with a time course similar to that of the rebound potentiation of i.p.s.cs, we conclude that the potentiation is caused by a calcium-dependent upregulation of postsynaptic GABAA receptor function. We propose that rebound potentiation is a mechanism by which in vivo block of climbing fibre activity induces an increase in excitability in Purkinje cells. Moreover, rebound potentiation of i.p.s.cs is a cellular mechanism which, in addition to the long-term depression of parallel fibre synaptic activity, may have an important role for motor learning in the cerebellum.     

Direct cortical input modulates plasticity and spiking in CA1 pyramidal neurons

The hippocampus is necessary for the acquisition and retrieval of declarative memories. The best-characterized sensory input to the hippocampus is the perforant path projection from layer II of entorhinal cortex (EC) to the dentate gyrus. Signals are then processed sequentially in the hippocampal CA fields before returning to the cortex via CA1 pyramidal neuron spikes. There is another EC input-the temporoammonic (TA) pathway-consisting of axons from layer III EC neurons that make synaptic contacts on the distal dendrites of CA1 neurons. Here we show that this pathway modulates both the plasticity and the output of the rat hippocampal formation. Bursts of TA activity can, depending on their timing, either increase or decrease the probability of Schaffer-collateral (SC)-evoked CA1 spikes. TA bursts can also significantly reduce the magnitude of synaptic potentiation at SC-CA1 synapses. The TA-CA1 synapse itself exhibits both long-term depression (LTD) and long-term potentiation (LTP). This capacity for bi-directional plasticity can, in turn, regulate the TA modulation of CA1 activity: LTP or LTD of the TA pathway either enhances or diminishes the gating of CA1 spikes and plasticity inhibition, respectively.     

Interaction with the NMDA receptor locks CaMKII in an active conformation.

Calcium- and calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) and glutamate receptors are integrally involved in forms of synaptic plasticity that may underlie learning and memory. In the simplest model for long-term potentiation, CaMKII is activated by Ca2+ influx through NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptors and then potentiates synaptic efficacy by inducing synaptic insertion and increased single-channel conductance of AMPA (alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid) receptors. Here we show that regulated CaMKII interaction with two sites on the NMDA receptor subunit NR2B provides a mechanism for the glutamate-induced translocation of the kinase to the synapse in hippocampal neurons. This interaction can lead to additional forms of potentiation by: facilitated CaMKII response to synaptic Ca2+; suppression of inhibitory autophosphorylation of CaMKII; and, most notably, direct generation of sustained Ca2+/calmodulin (CaM)-independent (autonomous) kinase activity by a mechanism that is independent of the phosphorylation state. Furthermore, the interaction leads to trapping of CaM that may reduce down-regulation of NMDA receptor activity. CaMKII-NR2B interaction may be prototypical for direct activation of a kinase by its targeting protein.     

Structural basis of long-term potentiation in single dendritic spines

Dendritic spines of pyramidal neurons in the cerebral cortex undergo activity-dependent structural remodelling that has been proposed to be a cellular basis of learning and memory. How structural remodelling supports synaptic plasticity, such as long-term potentiation, and whether such plasticity is input-specific at the level of the individual spine has remained unknown. We investigated the structural basis of long-term potentiation using two-photon photolysis of caged glutamate at single spines of hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons. Here we show that repetitive quantum-like photorelease (uncaging) of glutamate induces a rapid and selective enlargement of stimulated spines that is transient in large mushroom spines but persistent in small spines. Spine enlargement is associated with an increase in AMPA-receptor-mediated currents at the stimulated synapse and is dependent on NMDA receptors, calmodulin and actin polymerization. Long-lasting spine enlargement also requires Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II. Our results thus indicate that spines individually follow Hebb's postulate for learning. They further suggest that small spines are preferential sites for long-term potentiation induction, whereas large spines might represent physical traces of long-term memory.     

学习后额叶皮层突触传递效能的探讨

应用电生理学技术结合行为学方法,探查了大鼠在明暗分辨学习后额叶皮层的突触效能变化,结果表明：多数动物（64．7％）出现突触传递效能的增强变化,少数（11．8％）出现降低变化或不明显变化（23．5％）;并且,学习后检测到的突触效能增强变化还可随行为作业的迅速变更而相应改变,即随行为的消退而恢复,又随行为的再学习而再次出现增强变化,本文并就结果予以讨论。     

Dendritic spikes as a mechanism for cooperative long-term potentiation

Strengthening of synaptic connections following coincident pre- and postsynaptic activity was proposed by Hebb as a cellular mechanism for learning. Contemporary models assume that multiple synapses must act cooperatively to induce the postsynaptic activity required for hebbian synaptic plasticity. One mechanism for the implementation of this cooperation is action potential firing, which begins in the axon, but which can influence synaptic potentiation following active backpropagation into dendrites. Backpropagation is limited, however, and action potentials often fail to invade the most distal dendrites. Here we show that long-term potentiation of synapses on the distal dendrites of hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons does require cooperative synaptic inputs, but does not require axonal action potential firing and backpropagation. Rather, locally generated and spatially restricted regenerative potentials (dendritic spikes) contribute to the postsynaptic depolarization and calcium entry necessary to trigger potentiation of distal synapses. We find that this mechanism can also function at proximal synapses, suggesting that dendritic spikes participate generally in a form of synaptic potentiation that does not require postsynaptic action potential firing in the axon.     

Neurotrophic regulation of synapse development and plasticity

Neurotrophic factors are traditionally thought to be secretory proteins that regulate long-tern survival and differe, ntiation of neurons. Recent studies have revealed a previously unexpected role for these factors in synaptie de velopment ami plasticity in diverse neuronal populations. Here we review experimeuts carried oul in our own laboratory in the last few years.. We have made two important discoveries.First,we were among the first to report that brain-derived. neurotrophie faclor (BDNF) facilitates hippocampal hmg-term potentiation (LTP), a form of synaptic plaslicity believed to be involved in learning and memory. BDNF modulates LTP al CAI synapses by enhaneing synaptic responses to high frequency, tetanic slimulalion. This is achieved primafily by facilitating synaptie vesicle doeking, possibly due to an in crease in the levels of the vesicle prolein synaptobrevin and synaptoplysin in the nerve terminals. Gene knockout study demonstrates thai the effects of BDNF are primarily mediated through presynaptic mechanisms. Second, we demonstrated a form of long-term, neurotrophin-mediated synaptic regulation. We showed that long-term treatment of the neuromuscu lar synapses with neurotrophin-3 (NT3) resulted in an enhancement of both spontaneous and evoked synaptic currcuts, as well as profound changes in thc number of synaptic varicosities and syuaptic vesicle proteins in motoneurons, all of which are indicative of more mature synapses. Our current work addresses the following issues:(i) activity-dependent trafficking of neurotrophin receptors, and its role in synapse-specific modulation; (ii) signal transduction mechanisms medialing the acute enhancement of synaplic transmission by neurotrophins; (iii) acute and long-tenn synaptie actions of the GDNF family; (iv) role of BDNF in late-phase LTP and in the development of hippocampal circuit.     

Postsynaptic contribution to long-term potentiation revealed by the analysis of miniature synaptic currents.

Miniature excitatory synaptic currents were recorded from CA1 pyramidal cells in hippocampal slices to study the site of the persistent change in synaptic efficacy during long-term potentiation. Induction of long-term potentiation produced a large increase in the amplitude of these currents. Such a change in amplitude suggests an increase in postsynaptic transmitter sensitivity.