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J Storm-Mathisen

Publications and source records attributed to J Storm-Mathisen.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Ultrastructural quantification of glutamate receptors at excitatory synapses in hippocampus of synapsin I+II double knock-out mice.

Previous findings, mainly in in vitro systems, have shown that the density of vesicles and the synaptic efficacy at excitatory synapses are reduced in the absence of synapsins, despite the fact that transgenic mice lacking synapsins develop an epileptic phenotype. Here we study glutamate receptors by quantitative immunoblotting and by quantitative electron microscopic postembedding immunocytochemistry in hippocampus of perfusion fixed control wild type and double knock-out mice lacking synapsins I and II. In wild type hippocampus the densities of alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor subunits were higher (indicated for glutamate receptor subunit 1, highly significant for glutamate receptor subunits 2/3) in mossy fiber-to-cornu ammonis 3 pyramidal cell synapses than in the Schaffer collateral/commissural-to-cornu ammonis 1 pyramidal cell synapses, the two synapse categories that carry the main excitatory throughput of the hippocampus. The opposite was true for N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors. The difference in localization of glutamate receptor subunit 1 receptor subunits was increased in the double knock-out mice while there was no change in the overall expression of the glutamate receptors in hippocampus as shown by quantitative Western blotting. The increased level of glutamate receptor subunit 1 at the mossy fiber-to-cornu ammonis 3 pyramidal cell synapse may result in alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptors with reduced proportions of glutamate receptor subunit 2, and hence increased Ca2+ influx, which could cause increased excitability despite of impaired synaptic function (cf. [Krestel HE, Shimshek DR, Jensen V, Nevian T, Kim J, Geng Y, Bast T, Depaulis A, Schonig K, Schwenk F, Bujard H, Hvalby O, Sprengel R, Seeburg PH (2004) A genetic switch for epilepsy in adult mice. J Neurosci 24:10568-10578]), possibly underlying the seizure proneness in the synapsin double knock-out mice. In addition, the tendency to increased predominance of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors at the main type of excitatory synapse onto cornu ammonis 1 pyramidal cells might contribute to the seizure susceptibility of the synapsin deficient mice. The results showed no significant changes in the proportion of 'silent' Schaffer collateral/commissural synapses lacking alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptors or in the synaptic membrane size, indicating that plasticity involving these parameters is not preferentially triggered due to lack of synapsins.

Analysis of Variance↗

Coupled and uncoupled proton movement by amino acid transport system N.

The system N transporter SN1 has been proposed to mediate the efflux of glutamine from cells required to sustain the urea cycle and the glutamine-glutamate cycle that regenerates glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) for synaptic release. We now show that SN1 also mediates an ionic conductance activated by glutamine, and this conductance is selective for H(+). Although SN1 couples amino acid uptake to H(+) exchange, the glutamine-gated H(+) conductance is not stoichiometrically coupled to transport. Protons thus permeate SN1 both coupled to and uncoupled from amino acid flux, providing novel mechanisms to regulate the transfer of glutamine between cells.

Amino Acid Transport Systems↗

The expression of vesicular glutamate transporters defines two classes of excitatory synapse.

The quantal release of glutamate depends on its transport into synaptic vesicles. Recent work has shown that a protein previously implicated in the uptake of inorganic phosphate across the plasma membrane catalyzes glutamate uptake by synaptic vesicles. However, only a subset of glutamate neurons expresses this vesicular glutamate transporter (VGLUT1). We now report that excitatory neurons lacking VGLUT1 express a closely related protein that has also been implicated in phosphate transport. Like VGLUT1, this protein localizes to synaptic vesicles and functions as a vesicular glutamate transporter (VGLUT2). The complementary expression of VGLUT1 and 2 defines two distinct classes of excitatory synapse.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A dendrodendritic reciprocal synapse provides a recurrent excitatory connection in the olfactory bulb.

Neuronal synchronization in the olfactory bulb has been proposed to arise from a diffuse action of glutamate released from mitral cells (MC, olfactory bulb relay neurons). According to this hypothesis, glutamate spills over from dendrodendritic synapses formed between MC and granule cells (GC, olfactory bulb interneurons) to activate neighboring MC. The excitation of MC is balanced by a strong inhibition from GC. Here we show that MC excitation is caused by glutamate released from bulbar interneurons located in the GC layer. These reciprocal synapses depend on an unusual, 2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid-resistant, N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor. This type of feedback excitation onto relay neurons may strengthen the original sensory input signal and further extend the function of the dendritic microcircuit within the main olfactory bulb.

2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate↗

Redistribution of neuroactive amino acids in hippocampus and striatum during hypoglycemia: a quantitative immunogold study.

Postembedding immunocytochemistry was used to localize aspartate, glutamate, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and glutamine in hippocampus and striatum during normo- and hypoglycemia in rat. In both brain regions, hypoglycemia caused aspartatelike immunoreactivity to increase. In hippocampus, this increase was evident particularly in the terminals of known excitatory afferents-in GABA-ergic neurons and myelinated axons. Aspartate was enriched along with glutamate in nerve terminals forming asymmetric synapses on spines and with GABA in terminals forming symmetric synapses on granule and pyramidal cell bodies. In both types of terminal, aspartate was associated with clusters of synaptic vesicles. Glutamate and glutamine immunolabeling were markedly reduced in all tissue elements in both brain regions, but less in the terminals than in the dendrosomatic compartments of excitatory neurons. In glial cells, glutamine labeling showed only slight attenuation. The level of GABA immunolabeling did not change significantly during hypoglycemia. The results support the view that glutamate and glutamine are used as energy substrates in hypoglycemia. Under these conditions both excitatory and inhibitory terminals are enriched with aspartate, which may be released from these nerve endings and thus contribute to the pattern of neuronal death characteristic of hypoglycemia.

Amino Acids↗

Ultrastructural evidence for a preferential elimination of glutamate-immunoreactive synaptic terminals from spinal motoneurons after intramedullary axotomy.

After axotomy in the ventral funiculus of the cat spinal cord, about half of the population of lesioned motoneurons die at 1-3 weeks postoperatively, whereas the other half survives and generates new axons through the lesion area. To identify conditions that may promote survival and regeneration of motoneurons subjected to this kind of injury, the authors examined ultrastructurally lesion-induced changes in the number and distribution of nerve terminals on the somata and proximal dendrites of alpha-motoneurons in the 7th lumbar spinal segment (L7) of the cat spinal cord. Intramedullary axotomy resulted in a profound reduction in the number of nerve terminals impinging on the somata and proximal dendrites, with the maximal effect seen at 3 weeks postlesion. At that time, only 12-25% of the normal number of terminals remained on the cell somata, and 22-33% remained on proximal dendrites. Thereafter, a gradual increase in terminal numbers occurred, reaching normal levels at 34 weeks after the lesion. Already at 2 days postoperatively and, most obviously, at 3 weeks postoperatively, type S nerve terminals were eliminated to a larger degree than type F terminals. Postembedding immunohistochemistry confirmed that the largest reduction at 3 weeks was seen for excitatory glutamate-immunopositive type S nerve terminals (90%), whereas inhibitory glycine-immunoreactive and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-immunoreactive type F terminals were affected less (70% reduction). This led to a distinct shift in the ratio between the numbers of terminals that were immunopositive for glycine and GABA and the numbers of terminals that were labeled for glutamate. For the cell body, this ratio increased from 3.7 in normal material to 14.5 in lesioned motoneurons, whereas the corresponding values for proximal dendrites were 3.8 and 7.5. The preferential elimination of glutamatergic inputs to lesioned motoneurons may reflect an active reorganization of the synaptic input to diminish the excitotoxic influence on these neurons, thereby promoting the survival of motoneurons after intramedullary axotomy.

Animals↗

Protein phosphatase-1 regulation in the induction of long-term potentiation: heterogeneous molecular mechanisms.

Protein phosphatase inhibitor-1 (I-1) has been proposed as a regulatory element in the signal transduction cascade that couples postsynaptic calcium influx to long-term changes in synaptic strength. We have evaluated this model using mice lacking I-1. Recordings made in slices prepared from mutant animals and also in anesthetized mutant animals indicated that long-term potentiation (LTP) is deficient at perforant path-dentate granule cell synapses. In vitro, this deficit was restricted to synapses of the lateral perforant path. LTP at Schaffer collateral-CA1 pyramidal cell synapses remained normal. Thus, protein phosphatase-1-mediated regulation of NMDA receptor-dependent synaptic plasticity involves heterogeneous molecular mechanisms, in both different dendritic subregions and different neuronal subtypes. Examination of the performance of I-1 mutants in spatial learning tests indicated that intact LTP at lateral perforant path-granule cell synapses is either redundant or is not involved in this form of learning.

Animals↗

Development, neurochemical properties, and axonal projections of a population of last-order premotor interneurons in the white matter of the chick lumbosacral spinal cord.

There is general agreement that last-order premotor interneurons-a set of neurons that integrate activities generated by the spinal motor apparatus, sensory information and volleys arising from higher motor centres, and transmit the integrated signals to motoneurons through monosynaptic contacts-play crucial roles in the initiation and maintenance of spinal motor activities. Here, we demonstrate the development, neurochemical properties, and axonal projections of a unique group of last-order premotor interneurons within the ventrolateral aspect of the lateral funiculus of the chick lumbosacral spinal cord. Neurons expressing immunoreactivity for neuron-specific enolase were first detected in the ventrolateral white matter at embryonic day 9 (E9). The numbers of immunoreactive neurons were significantly increased at E10-E12, while most of them were gradually concentrated in small segmentally arranged nuclei (referred to as major nuclei of Hofmann) protruding from the white matter in a necklace like fashion dorsal to the ventral roots. The major nuclei of Hofmann became more prominent at E12-E16, but substantial numbers of cells were still located within the ventrolateral white matter (referred to as minor nucleus of Hofmann). The distribution of immunoreactive neurons achieved by E16 was maintained during later developmental stages and was also characteristic of adult animals. After injection of Phaseolus vulgaris-leucoagglutinin unilaterally into the minor nucleus of Hofmann, labeled fibres were detected in the ventrolateral white matter ipsilateral to the injection site. Ascending and descending fibres were revealed throughout the entire rostro-caudal length of the lumbosacral spinal cord. Axon terminals were predominantly found within the lateral motor column and the ventral regions of lamina VII ipsilateral to the injection site. Several axon varicosities made close appositions with somata and dendrites of motoneurons, which were identified as synaptic contacts in a consecutive electron microscopic study. With the postembedding immunogold method, 21 of 97 labeled terminals investigated were immunoreactive for glycine and 2 of them showed immunoreactivity for gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). The axon trajectories of neurons within the minor nucleus of Hofmann suggest that some of these cells might represent a population of last-order premotor interneurons. J. Exp. Zool. 286:157-172, 2000.

Animals↗

Molecular analysis of system N suggests novel physiological roles in nitrogen metabolism and synaptic transmission.

The amino acid glutamine has a central role in nitrogen metabolism. Although the molecular mechanisms responsible for its transport across cell membranes remain poorly understood, classical amino acid transport system N appears particularly important. Using intracellular pH measurements, we have now identified an orphan protein related to a vesicular neurotransmitter transporter as system N. Functional analysis shows that this protein (SN1) involves H+ exchange as well as Na+ cotransport and, under physiological conditions, mediates glutamine efflux as well as uptake. Together with the pattern of SN1 expression, these unusual properties suggest novel physiological roles for system N in nitrogen metabolism and synaptic transmission.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Interindividual differences in the levels of the glutamate transporters GLAST and GLT, but no clear correlation with Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease is a common progressive neurodegenerative disease of unknown etiology. Several different pathological processes have been identified in the brains of Alzheimer patients. To determine if reduced glutamate uptake is a contributing factor, we have measured the levels of the glutamate transporter proteins GLAST (EAAT1) and GLT (EAAT2) in human autopsy samples. The postmortem proteolysis of these proteins turned out to be fairly rapid. Brains from 10 Alzheimer and 10 control patients were therefore obtained with a relatively short postmortem delay (5 hr on average). GLT (N-terminal and central parts), GLAST (C-terminal), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and inositol (1,4,5)-triphosphate (IP3)-receptor immunoreactivities were determined in the cingulate and inferior temporal gyri by immunoblotting. The Na+-dependent "binding" of D-[3H]aspartate and the glutamate uptake after solubilization and reconstitution in liposomes were determined for comparison. An individual variation in GLAST and GLT levels was found, but no significant correlation with Alzheimer's disease, except for a 14% lower ratio of N-terminal to central GLT immunoreactivity (P < 0.04). The levels of GLAST and GLT showed negative correlation in agreement with the idea that these proteins are differentially regulated. In conclusion, Alzheimer's disease brains can have both normal and reduced levels of GLAST and GLT.

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters↗

Expression of the glutamate transporters in human temporal lobe epilepsy.

Glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system and is implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. Five human glutamate transporters have been cloned and are responsible for the removal of potentially excitotoxic excess glutamate from the extracellular space. In this study we consider whether there are selective changes in the expression of the glutamate transporters in the medial temporal cortex and hippocampus from temporal lobe epilepsy patients, which might contribute to the development or maintenance of seizures. Since disruption of the glial transporter excitatory amino acid transporter 2 in mice results in lethal spontaneous seizures, we were interested primarily in studying changes in this transporter. Using in situ hybridization we show that there was no reduction in the level of excitatory amino acid transporter 2 encoding messenger RNA in the temporal lobe epilepsy cases compared to post mortem controls and indeed there was a relative increase in content of excitatory amino acid transporter 2 messenger RNA per cell in temporal lobe epilepsy cases. Western blotting showed that there was no change in the excitatory amino acid transporter 2 protein content in temporal lobe epilepsy cases as compared to post mortem controls. A small reduction in the level of the second astroglial transporter protein, excitatory amino acid transporter 1, was observed in temporal lobe epilepsy cases. Surprisingly, immunohistochemical experiments using a polyclonal antiexcitatory amino acid transporter 2 antibody, showed a different localization of this protein in epilepsy derived tissue as compared to post mortem controls although glial markers such as glial fibrillary acidic protein and glutamine synthase showed similar patterns of staining. However, repeating this experiment using control tissue from non-temporal lobe epilepsy biopsies demonstrated that this change in the excitatory amino acid transporter 2 transporter localization occurred post mortem. These data suggest that major changes in the level of expression of the glutamate transporters do not play an important role in the development of human temporal lobe epilepsy but may be implicated the aetiology of other types of epilepsy.

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters↗

Unexpected localization of the Na+/Cl--dependent-like orphan transporter, Rxt1, on synaptic vesicles in the rat central nervous system.

Numerous features of its primary structure demonstrate that the orphan transporter Rxt1 belongs to the Na+/Cl--dependent neurotransmitter plasma membrane transporter superfamily, which includes the dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) transporters. Initial immunocytochemical investigations with affinity-purified antibodies have established that Rxt1 is localized, almost exclusively, in axon terminals of glutamatergic neurons and subsets of GABAergic neurons in the CNS. Further studies were carried out to determine its subcellular distribution. In a first series of experiments, PC-12 cells were transfected with plasmids encoding either the dopamine transporter or Rxt1. Immunofluorescence experiments showed that the dopamine transporter was expressed in these cells, and, as expected, addressed to their plasma membrane. Surprisingly, this was never the case with Rxt1, which was targeted to the same subcellular compartment as synaptophysin, a vesicular protein. In a second set of experiments, subcellular fractionation of rat striatum showed that Rxt1, but not the dopamine transporter, was relatively abundant in the purified synaptic vesicle fraction. Finally, electron microscopic immunocytochemistry with anti-Rxt1 antibodies showed peroxidase as well as pre- and post-embedding immunogold labelling confined to the intracellular compartment in various brain regions. Moreover, quantitative analysis of post-embedding experiments demonstrated that the immunogold particles corresponding to Rxt1 immunoreactivity were mostly localized to small synaptic vesicles. These data indicate that, in contrast with the other members of the Na+/Cl--dependent neurotransmitter transporter superfamily, which are targeted to the plasma membrane, Rxt1 is distributed as a vesicular protein in the CNS.

Animals↗

The vesicular GABA transporter, VGAT, localizes to synaptic vesicles in sets of glycinergic as well as GABAergic neurons.

A transporter thought to mediate accumulation of GABA into synaptic vesicles has recently been cloned (McIntire et al., 1997). This vesicular GABA transporter (VGAT), the first vesicular amino acid transporter to be molecularly identified, differs in structure from previously cloned vesicular neurotransmitter transporters and defines a novel gene family. Here we use antibodies specific for N- and C-terminal epitopes of VGAT to localize the protein in the rat CNS. VGAT is highly concentrated in the nerve endings of GABAergic neurons in the brain and spinal cord but also in glycinergic nerve endings. In contrast, hippocampal mossy fiber boutons, which although glutamatergic are known to contain GABA, lack VGAT immunoreactivity. Post-embedding immunogold quantification shows that the protein specifically associates with synaptic vesicles. Triple labeling for VGAT, GABA, and glycine in the lateral oliva superior revealed a higher expression of VGAT in nerve endings rich in GABA, with or without glycine, than in others rich in glycine only. Although the great majority of nerve terminals containing GABA or glycine are immunopositive for VGAT, subpopulations of nerve endings rich in GABA or glycine appear to lack the protein. Additional vesicular transporters or alternative modes of release may therefore contribute to the inhibitory neurotransmission mediated by these two amino acids.

Animals↗

Synaptic vesicular localization and exocytosis of L-aspartate in excitatory nerve terminals: a quantitative immunogold analysis in rat hippocampus.

To elucidate the role of aspartate as a signal molecule in the brain, its localization and those of related amino acids were examined by light and electron microscopic quantitative immunocytochemistry using antibodies specifically recognizing the aldehyde-fixed amino acids. Rat hippocampal slices were incubated at physiological and depolarizing [K+] before glutaraldehyde fixation. At normal [K+], aspartate-like and glutamate-like immunoreactivities were colocalized in nerve terminals forming asymmetrical synapses on spines in stratum radiatum of CA1 and the inner molecular layer of fascia dentata (i.e., excitatory afferents from CA3 and hilus, respectively). During K+ depolarization there was a loss of aspartate and glutamate from these terminals. Simultaneously the immunoreactivities strongly increased in glial cells. These changes were Ca2+-dependent and tetanus toxin-sensitive and did not comprise taurine-like immunoreactivity. Adding glutamine at CSF concentration prevented the loss of aspartate and glutamate and revealed an enhancement of aspartate in the terminals at moderate depolarization. In hippocampi from animals perfused with glutaraldehyde during insulin-induced hypoglycemia (to combine a strong aspartate signal with good ultrastructure) aspartate was colocalized with glutamate in excitatory terminals in stratum radiatum of CA1. The synaptic vesicle-to-cytoplasmic matrix ratios of immunogold particle density were similar for aspartate and glutamate, significantly higher than those observed for glutamine or taurine. Similar results were obtained in normoglycemic animals, although the nerve terminal contents of aspartate were lower. The results indicate that aspartate can be concentrated in synaptic vesicles and subject to sustained exocytotic release from the same nerve endings that contain and release glutamate.

Aminooxyacetic Acid↗

The glutamate transporter EAAT4 in rat cerebellar Purkinje cells: a glutamate-gated chloride channel concentrated near the synapse in parts of the dendritic membrane facing astroglia.

Antibodies to an excitatory amino acid transporter (EAAT4) label a glycoprotein of approximately 65 kDa strongly in the cerebellum and weakly in the forebrain. Cross-linking of cerebellar proteins with bis(sulfosuccinimidyl) suberate before solubilization causes dimer bands of EAAT4 and both dimer and trimer bands of the other glutamate transporters GLAST (EAAT1) and GLT (EAAT2) to appear on immunoblots. In contrast to GLAST, GLT, and EAAC (EAAT3), EAAT4 is unevenly distributed in the cerebellar molecular layer, being strongly expressed in parasagittal zones. It is located in cerebellar Purkinje cells, and the highest concentrations are seen in ones expressing high levels of zebrin II (aldolase C). The labeling of Purkinje cell spines and thin dendrites is stronger than that of large diameter dendrites and cell bodies. EAAT4 is present at low concentrations in the synaptic membrane, but is highly enriched in the parts of the dendritic and spine membranes facing astrocytes (which express GLAST and GLT) compared with parts facing neuronal membranes, suggesting a functional relationship with glial glutamate transporters. The presence of EAAT4 in intracellular cisterns and multivesicular organelles may reflect turnover of transporter in the plasma membrane. The total Purkinje cell spine surface and the EAAT4 concentration were found to be 1.1 m2/cm3 and 0.2 mg/cm3, respectively, in the molecular layer, corresponding to 1800 molecules/microm2. The juxtasynaptic location of EAAT4 may explain electrophysiological observations predicting the presence of a neuronal glutamate transporter near the release site at a Purkinje cell spine synapse. EAAT4 may function as a combined transporter and inhibitory glutamate receptor.

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters↗

Differential distribution of the glutamate transporters GLT1 and rEAAC1 in rat cerebral cortex and thalamus: an in situ hybridization analysis.

The distributions in rat cerebral cortex and thalamus of the mRNAs encoding the glutamate transporters GLT1 and rEAAC1 (a rat homologue of rabbit EAAC1) were investigated by nonautoradiographic in situ hybridization using digoxigenin-labelled riboprobes. The probe recognizing rEAAC1 mRNA labelled exclusively neurons while GLT1 mRNA was found in glia as well as in select neuronal populations. The neurons containing the GLT1 transcript exhibited a distribution that was different from, and at some sites complementary to, the distribution of neurons containing rEAAC1 mRNA. In the subiculum, neurons positive for GLT1 and rEAAC1 were found in the deep and superficial part of the cell layer, respectively, while in the parietal neocortex GLT1 predominated in layer VI and rEAAC1 in layer V. Very few neuronal populations, most notably cells in hippocampal subfields CA3 and CA4, and in layer II in the entorhinal cortex, appeared to be equipped with both transcripts. In the thalamus the GLT1 labelling predominated in the midline and intralaminar nuclei while rEAAC1 labelling was found throughout this structure. It was concluded that the cerebral cortex and thalamus show cellular, laminar, as well as regional heterogeneities in the expression of the two glutamate transporters.

Amino Acid Transport System X-AG↗

Molecular organization of cerebellar glutamate synapses.

The organization of key molecules at glutamatergic synapses in the rat cerebellar cortex as analyzed by high resolution immunocytochemical techniques using gold particles as markers. The distinct compartmentation of glutamate and glutamine was consistent with biochemical data indicating an active role of glia in the removal of released glutamate and in the supply of glutamine for de novo synthesis of transmitter glutamate. The presence in glial cells of two different glutamate transporters, GLT1 and GLAST, provided further support of this concept. Both transporters were selectively expressed in glial membranes and occurred at higher densities in glial processes surrounding parallel fiber synapses with spines than in glial processes associated with parallel fiber synapses with dendritic shafts. At the former type of synapse, gold particles signalling GLT1 and GLAST could be found within a few nanometers of the postsynaptic density. The rat cerebellum also contains a homologue (rEAAC1) of the glutamate transporter EAAC1, originally cloned from rabbit, mRNA encoding this transporter was restricted to neurons. The exact localization of the rEAAC1 transporter molecules at cerebellar synapses remains to be determined but immunocytochemical and physiological data from other laboratories suggest that they may be preferentially expressed in postsynaptic membranes. Gold particles representing immunoreactivity for the AMPA receptor subunits GluR2/3 were found along the entire mediolateral extent of the postsynaptic specialization of parallel fiber synapses and were rarely encountered at non-synaptic membranes. The present data show that molecules engaged in signalling at cerebellar glutamatergic synapses are precisely organized, consistent with the requirements for rapid signal transmission and efficient removal and recycling of transmitter.

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters↗