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Kainate receptor-mediated inhibition of presynaptic Ca2+ influx and EPSP in area CA1 of the rat hippocampus.

1. The effect of a low concentration (1 microM) of kainate (kainic acid; KA) on presynaptic calcium (Ca2+) influx at the Schaffer collateral-commissural (SCC) synapse was examined in rat hippocampal slices. 2. Following selective loading of the presynaptic terminals with the fluorescent Ca2+ indicator rhod-2 AM, transient increases in the presynaptic Ca2+ concentration (pre[Ca2+]t) and field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) evoked by electrical stimulation of the SCC pathway were recorded simultaneously. 3. Bath application of 1 microM KA reversibly suppressed field EPSPs and pre[Ca2+]t to 37.7 +/- 4.0 % and 72.9 +/- 2.4 % of control, respectively. Excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) recorded with the use of the whole-cell patch-clamp technique were also suppressed by 1 microM KA to 42.6 +/- 6.3 % of control. A quantitative analysis of the decreases in pre[Ca2+]t and the amplitude of field EPSP during KA application suggests that KA inhibits transmission primarily by reducing the pre[Ca2+]t. 4. Consistent with a presynaptic site for these effects, paired-pulse facilitation (PPF) was enhanced by 1 microM KA. 5. A substantial KA-induced suppression of NMDA receptor-mediated EPSPs was detected when AMPA receptors were blocked by the AMPA receptor-selective antagonist GYKI 52466 (100 microM). 6. The suppressive effect of KA on field EPSPs and pre[Ca2+]t was antagonized by the KA antagonist NS-102 (10 microM). 7. These results suggest that the presynaptic inhibitory action of KA at the hippocampal CA1 synapse is primarily due to the inhibition of Ca2+ influx into the presynaptic terminals.

Action Potentials↗

An ultrastructural study of the submucous plexus of guinea pig intestine after unilateral vagotomy.

This study describes the degenerative changes of the axon terminals making synaptic contacts with the neurons in the submucous ganglia of guinea pig small and large intestines following left or right cervical vagotomy. There were no noticeable ultrastructural changes 1 d after the operation. Beginning at the 3rd postoperative day for the small intestines and the 5th day for the large intestines, some of the axon terminals presynaptic to the submucous neurons displayed different stages of degeneration. The most obvious feature of the degenerating terminals was the swelling and vacuolation of mitochondria with disrupted cristae; another change was the clumping of synaptic vesicles. In the animals killed 7 d after vagotomy, besides the above changes, the degenerating axon terminals also showed an accumulation of a variable amount of glycogen-like particles. The changes were most severe in the guinea pigs killed on the 10th postoperative day. The synaptic vesicles in some degenerating terminals were depleted. There were occasional degenerating nerve cell bodies in the submucous ganglia in the period studied. A variable number of lamellated bodies were found in some of the submucous neurons of 10 and 15 d postoperative animals. By 30 d after vagotomy, all the terminals presynaptic to the submucous neurons appeared normal. There was no significant difference in the total number of axon terminals between 10 d and 30 d after operation (P > 0.05). This suggests that either there had been successful reinnervation or new synaptic contacts had been established by sprouting from the unoperated vagus or other intrinsic neurons. The present quantitative studies also showed that the number of degenerating axon terminals in the submucous ganglia of duodenum after left vagotomy was higher than right vagotomy (P < 0.05). This feature was particularly evident in animals killed 10 d after the operation. The larger number of degenerating terminals in the submucous ganglia of duodenum after left vagotomy suggests that the presynaptic axon terminals in the submucous ganglia of different gut regions are not evenly distributed. Finally, the present study showed that the degenerative changes in the small intestine preceded the large intestine.

Animals↗

Immunoelectron microscopic study of synaptic pathology in Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by an extensive loss of neurons and synapses in the neocortex which correlates strongly with psychometric tests of dementia. To characterize the ultrastructural changes in presynaptic terminals in AD, we studied biopsy material from the frontal cortex. We also examined, at the ultrastructural level, abnormal neurites scattered in the AD neuropil and in the plaque region using sections from autopsy material immunolabeled with anti-synaptophysin. We found that, regardless of amyloid deposits, some presynaptic terminals were distended and contained swollen vesicles and dense bodies. These altered synaptic organelles were similar to those found in dystrophic neurites. The latter structures displayed synaptophysin immunoreactivity, mostly localized to outer membranes of synaptic vesicles and dense bodies. The present study supports the hypothesis of progressive synaptic pathology in AD neocortex and favors the notion that the dystrophic process originates from presynaptic terminals.

Aged↗

Technique to study three-dimensional spatial arrangement of synaptic vesicles using data from single sections.

Synaptic vesicles are membrane-bound organelles storing neurotransmitters in presynaptic terminals and releasing them into the synaptic cleft. Coordinated movements of synaptic vesicles relate to synaptic function and their spatial arrangement can provide useful information about the activity of a synapse. This article presents a technique to extract quantitative information about three-dimensional (3D) spatial arrangement of synaptic vesicles from measurements performed on single ultrathin random sections of a presynaptic terminal. The technique presumes quantification of a 2D density as well as 2D spatial pattern formed by vesicle profiles using a minimum spanning tree (MST) algorithm, in digitized micrographs of a presynaptic terminal. Further, original software was used to simulate a 3D spatial arrangement of synaptic vesicles and their random sectioning. A 3D density and pattern of synaptic vesicles were used as basic input parameters of the model, while a 2D density and MST quantities for vesicle profiles served as output, model-derived parameters allowing one to compare and fit simulated distributions to experimental ones. Pilot simulations performed to check the validity of the technique have shown that a 2D density and MST quantities of vesicle profiles closely relate to a 3D density and spatial pattern of vesicles. The technique was demonstrated in the analysis of spatial distribution of synaptic vesicles in axonal terminals forming asymmetric synaptic densities in the stratum radiatum of the CA1 subfield of the murine hippocampus.

Animals↗

Amyloid precursor proteins protect neurons of transgenic mice against acute and chronic excitotoxic injuries in vivo.

The beta-amyloid protein precursor (APP) is well conserved across different species and may fulfill important physiological functions within the CNS. While high-level neuronal expression of amyloidogenic forms of human APP results in beta-amyloid production and neurodegeneration, lower levels of neuronal human APP expression in neurons of transgenic mice may primarily accentuate physiological functions of this molecule. To assess the neuroprotective potential of human APP in vivo, mice from seven distinct transgenic lines expressing different human APP isoforms from the neuron-specific enolase promoter were challenged with systemic kainate injections (n=30) or transgene-mediated glial expression of gp120 (n=32), an HIV-1 protein capable of inducing excitotoxic neuronal damage. To quantitate human APP-mediated neuroprotection. the area of neuropil occupied by presynaptic terminals and neuronal dendrites in the neocortex and hippocampus of each mouse was determined using laser scanning confocal microscopy of double-immunolabelled brain sections and computer-aided image analysis. Compared with gp120 singly transgenic controls, mice from three of three human APP751gp120 bigenic lines expressing the 751 amino acid form of human APP at low levels showed significant protection against degeneration of presynaptic terminals; two of these lines also showed significantly less damage to neuronal dendrites. Two of three human APP695/gp120 bigenic lines expressing human APP695 at low levels were protected against presynaptic and dendritic damage, whereas one low expressor line and a human APP695/gp120 bigenic line expressing human APP695 at higher levels showed no significant protection. In the corresponding human APP singly transgenic lines, overexpressing only specific human APP isoforms, significant protection against kainate-induced degeneration of presynaptic terminals and neuronal dendrites was found in two of three human APP751 lines and not in any of the four human APP695 lines tested. These results indicate that human APP can protect neurons against chronic and acute excitotoxic insults in vivo and that human APP isoforms differ in their neuroprotective potential, at least with respect to specific forms of neural injury. It is therefore possible that impairments of neuroprotective human APP functions or aberrant shifts in human APP isoform ratios could contribute to neurodegeneration.

Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor↗

Immunology of the neuromuscular junction and presynaptic nerve terminal.

The prevalence and incidence of myasthenia gravis is higher than previously thought. A potentially immunodominant T cell has been defined. The specific voltage-gated calcium channel subtype that is targeted by antibodies in the Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome has been identified, and there is further evidence for the pathogenic role of autoantibodies in some cases of fetal arthrogryposis and in acquired neuromyotonia, Morvan's syndrome and Miller-Fisher syndrome.

Animals↗

Cortical and subcortical patterns of synaptophysinlike immunoreactivity in Alzheimer's disease.

Quantification of synaptophysinlike immunoreactivity is a valuable method for studying the presynaptic terminals in the normal and damaged nervous system. The present report shows that in the control brain, the predominant pattern of synaptic immunostaining in the neocortex was that of an evenly distributed densely granular immunolabeling of the neuropil, while in the paleocortex and in subcortical areas of the brain most of the presynaptic terminals were distributed along the dendritic arborizations or around the neuronal somata. The immunochemical and the immunohistochemical analysis of the Alzheimer's disease tissue showed that the frontal and parietal cortex presented the most severe and widespread loss, with a 45% loss in synaptophysin immunoreactivity. These areas showed an average 35% loss of large neurons. The visual cortex, hippocampus, entorhinal cortex, nucleus basalis of Meynert, and locus ceruleus displayed some degree of loss, but to a lesser extent. In addition to this loss, the basic patterns of organization of the presynaptic terminals were altered, with the presence of abundant, enlarged synaptophysin-labeled terminals. This study further supports the role of synaptic pathology in Alzheimer's disease.

Aged↗

FM1-43 imaging reveals cGMP-dependent long-term depression of presynaptic transmitter release.

A persistent question concerning mechanisms underlying long-term, activity-dependent synaptic plasticity is whether the sites of alterations are presynaptic, postsynaptic, or both. Recently, we discovered a chemical method of inducing long-term depression (LTD) of synaptic strength at Schaffer collateral-CA1 synapses by simultaneously elevating [cGMP] and inhibiting cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA). Chemical LTD (CLTD) is activity-independent, occluded by stimulus-evoked LTD, and requires access of pharmacologic agents to presynaptic terminals. In the present study, we used fluorescence and two-photon imaging of presynaptic terminals with the fluorescent dye N-(3-triethylammoniumpropyl)-4-(4-(dibutylamino)styryl) pyridinium dibromide (FM1-43) to determine directly if inducing CLTD is associated with a long-term reduction in transmitter release. In presynaptic Schaffer collateral-CA1 terminals of control hippocampal slices loaded with FM1-43, electrical stimulation (10 Hz/2 min) elicited a frequency-dependent destaining that peaked at 20% reduction in fluorescence. In contrast, when we first induced CLTD by a 30 min treatment of slices with the type V phosphodiesterase inhibitor zaprinast (20 microm) plus the PKA inhibitor N-[2-(p-bromocinnamylamino)ethyl]-5-isoquinolinesulfonamide (H-89; 10 microm), then washed for 60 min, the destaining of FM1-43 fluorescence evoked by the same stimulation was reduced to 4%. Treatment and washout of slices with either drug singly had a significantly smaller effect on stimulus-evoked FM1-43 destaining. Only CLTD was associated with virtually complete suppression of stimulus-evoked FM1-43 release, the first direct evidence for at least one form of LTD being mediated by persistent reduction of presynaptic transmitter release.

3',5'-Cyclic-GMP Phosphodiesterases↗

Streptozocin-diabetes modifies acetylcholine release from mouse phrenic nerve terminal and presynaptic sensitivity to succinylcholine.

Acetylcholine (ACh) release from the motor nerve terminal in the streptozocin-induced diabetic state was studied in mouse phrenic nerve-diaphragm muscle preparations. Electrically evoked release of 3H-ACh from the preparation preloaded with 3H-choline was measured during two consecutive periods of stimulation (S1 and S2). In diabetic mice, the amount of 3H-ACh release during S2 was decreased, and the evoked ACh release declined more steeply with successive stimulation periods than in normal ddY mice. The decrease in release was restored when the presynaptic autoreceptors were stimulated by accumulating ACh under the irreversible inhibition of junctional cholinesterase by methanesulfonyl fluoride. This effect was abolished by the administration of (+)-tubocurarine (5 microM). In diabetic mice, the biphasic (acceleration and suppression) effect by succinylcholine on evoked ACh release was caused at 3- to 10-fold lower concentrations than in normal mice. The degree of enhancement of resting 3H-overflow by succinylcholine (10 and 30 microM) was greater in the diabetic state. These results indicated that in the diabetic state, the decrease in evoked ACh release interferes with its presynaptic action on inducing further release (positive feedback modulation) via the presynaptic nicotinic ACh receptor (n-AChR). The presynaptic hypersensitivity to succinylcholine may be due to the augmentation of presynaptic n-AChR sensitivity caused by the reduction of evoked ACh release in the diabetic state.

Acetylcholine↗

Stimulation of Ca2+-dependent neurotransmitter release and presynaptic nerve terminal protein phosphorylation by calmodulin and a calmodulin-like protein isolated from synaptic vesicles.

Synaptic vesicles have a Ca(2+)-dependent protein kinase system that may play a role in mediating Ca(2+)-stimulated neurotransmitter release and vesicle function. Calcium's ability to initiate norepinephrine release and protein phosphorylation in synaptic vesicle preparations was shown to be stimulated by the presence of an endogenous heat-stable vesicle protein fraction. The heat stability and characteristics of this endogenous vesicle fraction were similar to those of calmodulin (Ca(2+)-dependent regular protein) isolated from rat and bovine brain. Calmodulin, like endogenous heat-stable vesicle factor, restored calcium's ability to stimulate vesicle neurotransmitter release and protein kinase activity. Calmodulin-like vesicle protein and purified calmodulin were also equally effective in stimulating cyclic nucleotide-dependent phosphodiesterase, further indicating that these two proteins are functionally equivalent. Depolarization-dependent Ca(2+) uptake in intact synaptosomes simultaneously stimulated release of neurotransmitter and phosphorylation of particular synaptic vesicle proteins that were shown in the isolated vesicle preparation to be dependent on Ca(2+) and calmodulin. The results suggest that calcium's effects on neurotransmitter release and presynaptic nerve terminal protein phosphorylation may be mediated by endogenous calmodulin-like proteins.

Animals↗

Excitation of rat striatal large neurons by dopamine and/or glutamate released from nerve terminals via presynaptic nicotinic receptor (A4beta2 type) stimulation.

Previous in vivo experiments using rats anesthetized with chloral hydrate have revealed that nicotine applied iontophoretically increased firing of striatal neurons receiving excitatory dopaminergic input from the substantia nigra, and nicotine-induced firing was inhibited by domperidone, a dopamine D2 antagonist. The results suggest that nicotine increases release of dopamine from the terminals of dopaminergic neurons. Therefore, we performed the present patch clamp study using slice and acutely dissociated preparations of the rat striatum to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the nicotine-induced excitation of striatal neurons. Application of nicotine (100 microM) to large striatal neurons in slice preparations did not produce any effect on the resting membrane potential, but did increase the frequency of miniature postsynaptic potentials (mpps) and action potentials in all 15 neurons tested. The nicotine-induced increase in mpps and action potentials were inhibited during simultaneous application of domperidone; L-glutamic acid diethyl ester hydrochloride, a non-selective glutamate receptor antagonist; and/or dihydro-beta-erythroidine, a central nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (alpha4beta2 type) antagonist. Postsynaptic current was not induced by nicotine applied by U-tube in 96% of acutely dissociated striatal neurons. The present findings suggest that nicotine mainly acts on the presynaptic nicotinic receptors in the nerve terminals to release neurotransmitters such as dopamine and/or glutamate, thereby activating the striatal large neurons.

Action Potentials↗

Oscillations in the activity of a potassium channel at the presynaptic nerve terminal.

1. Periodic oscillations were detected in the activity of single macromolecules: potassium channels. 2. When potassium channels are repeatedly activated in isolated patches from fused synaptosomes of Torpedo electric organ, their behavior exhibits a departure from random activation. 3. The departure from random behavior is demonstrated by the runs test and by the lack of fit to Poisson distribution. 4. Under appropriate experimental conditions, the channels display periodic oscillations with a periodicity of approximately 20 s when activated at a rate of 1.25 Hz. 5. The oscillations do not arise from sampling, recording, or computational artifacts. 6. It is conceivable that single-channel oscillations play a role in the generation of membrane oscillations and thus may contribute to the oscillatory behavior of the nervous system.

Animals↗

Presynaptic mechanism for phorbol ester-induced synaptic potentiation.

Phorbol ester facilitates transmitter release at a variety of synapses, and the phorbol ester-induced synaptic potentiation (PESP) is a model for presynaptic facilitation. To address the mechanism underlying PESP, we have made paired whole-cell recordings from the giant presynaptic terminal, the calyx of Held, and its postsynaptic target in the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body in rat brainstem slices. Phorbol ester potentiated EPSCs without affecting either presynaptic calcium currents or potassium currents. Protein kinase C inhibitors applied from outside or injected directly into the presynaptic terminal attenuated the PESP. Furthermore, presynaptic loading of a synthetic peptide with the sequence of the N-terminal domain of Doc2alpha interacting with Munc13-1 (Mid peptide) significantly attenuated PESP, whereas mutated Mid peptide had no effect. We conclude that the target of the presynaptic facilitatory effect of phorbol ester resides downstream of calcium influx and may involve both protein kinase C and Doc2alpha - Munc13-1 interaction.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A calcium channel from the presynaptic nerve terminal of the Narke japonica electric organ contains a non-N-type alpha 2 delta subunit.

A monoclonal antibody (MCC-1) that recognizes the alpha 2 delta subunit complex of L-type calcium channels from rabbit skeletal muscle membranes partially inhibited the evoked release of acetylcholine from synaptosomes isolated from the electric organ of the marine electric ray, Narke japonica. Digitonin extracts of synaptosomal plasma membranes were subjected to immunoaffinity column chromatography on MCC-1-Sepharose. The purified fraction contained a 170-kDa protein that reacts with MCC-1 and dissociates into smaller polypeptides under reducing conditions. In addition, immunoblotting analysis revealed the existence of syntaxin in the purified fraction, suggesting that the calcium channel forms a complex with syntaxin. However, MCC-1 did not immunoprecipitate an omega-conotoxin GVIA-binding protein. These findings indicate that the 170-kDa protein may be the alpha 2 delta subunit of a calcium channel that is distinct from the omega-conotoxin GVIA-sensitive N-type calcium channel and partially responsible for the calcium influx that triggers the evoked release of acetylcholine.

Acetylcholine↗

[Morphometric study of motor cortex in acute focal epilepsy rat induced by coriaria lactone].

Twenty adult male Wistar rats were divided randomly into two groups (10 rats for LM, 10 rats for EM). The experimental rats were injected with convulsive dosage 3.8 microliters (19 micrograms) of coriaria lactone (CL) in the left cerebral motor cortex of the fore limb to induce acute focal epilepsy. The control rats were injected with normal saline of the same volume and at the same location. Motor cortex was cut coronally 2 hours after seizure and the layer V was studied morphometrically. Under x400 and x7000, take photos of focus, parafocus areas respectively for morphometric study. The number of neurons and neuroglias of layer V was counted in the LM photos. The number of presynaptic terminals of the neuropil was counted in the x7000 EM photos and the area fraction of each constitute in the neuropil was measured. The positive results demonstrated that the number of neurons and neuroglias in the focus and parafocus areas of the experimental animals was significantly lower than that in the control group, the side injected was lower than the other side and it was the lowest in the focus. The number and area fraction of the presynaptic terminals of the experimental rats at the focus neuropil decreased significantly, but the area fraction of neuroglial components increased significantly. The authors suggest that the convulsive dosage of CL may have toxic effect on some neurons and neuroglias and therefore to decrease the number of both types of cells and the number and area fraction of presynaptic terminals in the neuropil.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acute Disease↗

Evidence that brain-derived neurotrophic factor from presynaptic nerve terminals regulates the phenotype of calbindin-containing neurons in the lateral septum.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is transported anterogradely in neurons of the CNS and can be released by activity-dependent mechanisms to regulate synaptic plasticity. However, few neural networks have been identified in which the production, transport, and effects of BDNF on postsynaptic neurons can be analyzed in detail. In this study, we have identified such a network. BDNF has been colocalized by immunocytochemistry with tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in nerve fibers and nerve terminals within the lateral septum of rats. BDNF-containing nerve fibers terminate on a population of calbindin-containing neurons in lateral septum that contain TrkB, the high-affinity receptor for BDNF. Overexpression of BDNF in noradrenergic neurons increased levels of calbindin in septum, as well as in whole-brain lysates. Septal levels of calbindin and BDNF partially decreased after unilateral lesions of the medial forebrain bundle (MFB), induced with 6-hydroxydopamine, a treatment that abolished TH staining. These data suggest that BDNF is anterogradely transported within the MFB in catecholaminergic neurons arising from brainstem nuclei. To determine whether BDNF affects the production of calbindin in lateral septal neurons directly, we tested the effects of BDNF on cultures of septal neurons from embryonic day 16-17 rats. BDNF promoted the expression of calbindin, as well as the arborization of calbindin-containing neurons, but BDNF had no effect on cell division or survival. Together, these results suggest that BDNF, anterogradely transported in catecholaminergic neurons, regulates calbindin expression within the lateral septum.

Age Factors↗

Calcium channels in the GABAergic presynaptic nerve terminals projecting to meynert neurons of the rat.

Effects of selective Ca2+ channel blockers on GABAergic inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs) were studied in the acutely dissociated rat nucleus basalis of Meynert (nBM) neurons attached with nerve endings, namely, the "synaptic bouton" preparation, and in the thin slices of nBM, using nystatin perforated and conventional whole-cell patch recording modes, respectively. In the synaptic bouton preparation, nicardipine (3 x 10(-6) M) and omega-conotoxin-MVIIC (3 x 10(-6) M) reduced the frequency of spontaneous postsynaptic currents by 37 and 22%, respectively, whereas omega-conotoxin-GVIA had no effect. After blockade of L- and P/Q-type Ca2+ channels, successive removal of Ca2+ from external solution had no significant effect on the residual spontaneous activities, indicating that N-, R-, and T-type Ca2+ channels are not involved in the spontaneous GABA release. Thapsigargin, but not ryanodine, increased the frequency of spontaneous IPSCs in both the synaptic bouton and slice preparations, suggesting the partial contribution of the intracellular Ca2+ storage site to the spontaneous GABA release. In contrast, omega-conotoxin-GVIA (3 x 10(-6) M) and omega-conotoxin-MVIIC (3 x 10(-6) M) suppressed the evoked IPSCs by 31 and 37%, respectively, but nicardipine produced no significant effect. The residual evoked currents were abolished in Ca2+-free external solution but not in the external solution containing 10(-5) M Ni2+, suggesting the involvement of N-, P/Q-, and R-type Ca2+ channels but not L- and T-type ones in the evoked IPSCs. Neither thapsigargin nor ryanodine had any significant effects on the evoked IPSCs. It was concluded that Ca2+ channel subtypes responsible for spontaneous transmitter release are different from those mediating the transmitter release evoked by nerve stimulation.

3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethy↗

Cyclic AMP induces functional presynaptic boutons in hippocampal CA3-CA1 neuronal cultures.

Long-term forms of synaptic plasticity that may underlie learning and memory have been suggested to depend on changes in the number of synapses between presynaptic and postsynaptic neurons. Here we have investigated a form of synaptic plasticity in cultures of hippocampal CA3 and CA1 neurons related to the late phase of long-term potentiation, which depends on cAMP and protein synthesis. Using the fluorescent dye FM 1-43 to label active presynaptic terminals, we find that a membrane permeable analog of cAMP enhances the number of active presynaptic terminals and that this effect requires protein synthesis.

Animals↗