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Ralowicz AJ, Hokeness S, Hoppa MB. Frequency of Spontaneous Neurotransmission at Individual Boutons Corresponds to the Size of the Readily Releasable Pool of Vesicles. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e1253232024. [PMID: 38383495 PMCID: PMC11063817 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1253-23.2024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Synapses maintain two forms of neurotransmitter release to support communication in the brain. First, evoked neurotransmitter release is triggered by the invasion of an action potential (AP) across en passant boutons that form along axons. The probability of evoked release (Pr) varies substantially across boutons, even within a single axon. Such heterogeneity is the result of differences in the probability of a single synaptic vesicle (SV) fusing (Pv) and in the number of vesicles available for immediate release, known as the readily releasable pool (RRP). Spontaneous release (also known as a mini) is an important form of neurotransmission that occurs in the absence of APs. Because it cannot be triggered with electrical stimulation, much less is known about potential heterogeneity in the frequency of spontaneous release between boutons. We utilized a photostable and bright fluorescent indicator of glutamate release (iGluSnFR3) to quantify both spontaneous and evoked release at individual glutamatergic boutons. We found that the rate of spontaneous release is quite heterogenous at the level of individual boutons. Interestingly, when measuring both evoked and spontaneous release at single synapses, we found that boutons with the highest rates of spontaneous release also displayed the largest evoked responses. Using a new optical method to measure RRP at individual boutons, we found that this heterogeneity in spontaneous release was strongly correlated with the size of the RRP, but not related to Pv. We conclude that the RRP is a critical and dynamic aspect of synaptic strength that contributes to both evoked and spontaneous vesicle release.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amelia J Ralowicz
- Department of Biology, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755
| | - Sasipha Hokeness
- Department of Biology, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755
| | - Michael B Hoppa
- Department of Biology, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755
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2
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Wang H, Lu Y. High calcium concentrations reduce cellular excitability of mouse MNTB neurons. Brain Res 2023; 1820:148568. [PMID: 37689332 PMCID: PMC10591835 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2023.148568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/11/2023]
Abstract
Calcium, a universal intracellular signaling molecule, plays essential roles in neural functions. Historically, in most in vitro brain slice electrophysiology studies, the extracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]e) in artificial cerebrospinal fluid is of a wide range and typically higher than the physiological value. At high [Ca2+]e, synaptic transmission is generally enhanced. However, the effects and the underlying mechanisms of calcium on intrinsic neuronal properties are diverse. Using whole-cell patch clamp in acute brainstem slices obtained from mice of either sex, we investigated the effects and the underlying mechanisms of high [Ca2+]e on intrinsic neuronal properties of neurons in the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB), an auditory brainstem component in the sound localization circuitry. Compared to the physiological [Ca2+]e (1.2 mM), high [Ca2+]e at 1.8 and 2.4 mM significantly reduced the cellular excitability of MNTB neurons, resulting in decreased spike firing rate, depolarized spike threshold, and decreased the ability to follow high frequency inputs. High extracellular magnesium concentrations at 1.8 and 2.4 mM produced similar but less robust effects, due to surface charge screening. Upon high calcium application, voltage-gated sodium channel currents remained largely unchanged. Calcium-sensing receptors were detected in MNTB neurons, but blocking these receptors did not eliminate the effects of high calcium on spontaneous spiking. We attribute the lack of significant effects in these last two experiments to the moderate changes in calcium we tested. Our results call for the use of physiological [Ca2+]e in brain slice experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huimei Wang
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Hearing Research Group, College of Medicine, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH 44272, USA
| | - Yong Lu
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Hearing Research Group, College of Medicine, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH 44272, USA.
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3
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Kim MH, Strazza P, Puthussery T, Gross OP, Taylor WR, von Gersdorff H. Functional maturation of the rod bipolar to AII-amacrine cell ribbon synapse in the mouse retina. Cell Rep 2023; 42:113440. [PMID: 37976158 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2022] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinal ribbon synapses undergo functional changes after eye opening that remain uncharacterized. Using light-flash stimulation and paired patch-clamp recordings, we examined the maturation of the ribbon synapse between rod bipolar cells (RBCs) and AII-amacrine cells (AII-ACs) after eye opening (postnatal day 14) in the mouse retina at near physiological temperatures. We find that light-evoked excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) in AII-ACs exhibit a slow sustained component that increases in magnitude with advancing age, whereas a fast transient component remains unchanged. Similarly, paired recordings reveal a dual-component EPSC with a slower sustained component that increases during development, even though the miniature EPSC (mEPSC) amplitude and kinetics do not change significantly. We thus propose that the readily releasable pool of vesicles from RBCs increases after eye opening, and we estimate that a short light flash can evoke the release of ∼4,000 vesicles onto a single mature AII-AC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mean-Hwan Kim
- The Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA; Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA 98109, USA.
| | - Paulo Strazza
- The Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Teresa Puthussery
- Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA; Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry & Vision Science, Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Owen P Gross
- The Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA; Department of Physics, Reed College, Portland, OR 97202, USA
| | - W Rowland Taylor
- Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA; Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry & Vision Science, Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Henrique von Gersdorff
- The Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA; Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA.
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4
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Wang CS, Monteggia LM, Kavalali ET. Spatially non-overlapping Ca 2+ signals drive distinct forms of neurotransmission. Cell Rep 2023; 42:113201. [PMID: 37777959 PMCID: PMC10842353 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Calcium (Ca2+) signaling is tightly regulated within a presynaptic bouton. Here, we visualize Ca2+ signals within hippocampal presynaptic boutons using GCaMP8s tagged to synaptobrevin, a synaptic vesicle protein. We identify evoked presynaptic Ca2+ transients (ePreCTs) that derive from synchronized voltage-gated Ca2+ channel openings, spontaneous presynaptic Ca2+ transients (sPreCTs) that originate from ryanodine sensitive Ca2+ stores, and a baseline Ca2+ signal that arises from stochastic voltage-gated Ca2+ channel openings. We find that baseline Ca2+, but not sPreCTs, contributes to spontaneous glutamate release. We employ photobleaching as a use-dependent tool to probe nano-organization of Ca2+ signals and observe that all three occur in non-overlapping domains within the synapse at near-resting conditions. However, increased depolarization induces intermixing of these Ca2+ domains via both local and non-local synaptic vesicle turnover. Our findings reveal nanosegregation of Ca2+ signals within a presynaptic terminal that derive from multiple sources and in turn drive specific modes of neurotransmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille S Wang
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 3729-7933, USA
| | - Lisa M Monteggia
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 3729-7933, USA; Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37240-7933, USA
| | - Ege T Kavalali
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 3729-7933, USA; Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37240-7933, USA.
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5
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Wender M, Bornschein G, Brachtendorf S, Hallermann S, Eilers J, Schmidt H. Ca v2.2 Channels Sustain Vesicle Recruitment at a Mature Glutamatergic Synapse. J Neurosci 2023; 43:4005-4018. [PMID: 37185239 PMCID: PMC10255130 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1279-22.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The composition of voltage-gated Ca2+ channel (Cav) subtypes that gate action potential (AP)-evoked release changes during the development of mammalian CNS synapses. Cav2.2 and Cav2.3 lose their function in gating-evoked release during postnatal synapse maturation. In mature boutons, Cav2.1 currents provide the almost exclusive trigger for evoked release, and Cav2.3 currents are required for the induction of presynaptic long-term potentiation. However, the functional significance of Cav2.2 remained elusive in mature boutons, although they remain present at active zones and continue contributing significantly to presynaptic Ca2+ influx. Here, we addressed the functional significance of Cav2.2 and Cav2.3 at mature parallel-fiber (PF) to Purkinje neuron synapses of mice of either sex. These synapses are known to exhibit the corresponding developmental Cav subtype changes in gating release. We addressed two hypotheses, namely that Cav2.2 and Cav2.3 are involved in triggering spontaneous glutamate release and that they are engaged in vesicle recruitment during repetitive evoked release. We found that spontaneous miniature release is Ca2+ dependent. However, experiments with Cav subtype-specific blockers excluded the spontaneous opening of Cavs as the Ca2+ source for spontaneous glutamate release. Thus, neither Cav2.2 nor Cav2.3 controls spontaneous release from PF boutons. Furthermore, vesicle recruitment during brief bursts of APs was also independent of Ca2+ influx through Cav2.2 and Cav2.3. However, Cav2.2, but not Cav2.3, currents significantly boosted vesicle recruitment during sustained high-frequency synaptic transmission. Thus, in mature PF boutons Cav2.2 channels are specifically required to sustain synaptic transmission during prolonged neuronal activity.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT At young CNS synapses, action potential-evoked release is gated via three subtypes of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels: Cav2.1, Cav2.2, and Cav2.3. During postnatal maturation, Cav2.2 and Cav2.3 lose their function in gating evoked release, such that at mature synapses Cav2.1 provides the almost exclusive source for triggering evoked release. Cav2.3 currents are required for the induction of presynaptic long-term potentiation. However, the function of the still abundant Cav2.2 in mature boutons remained largely elusive. Here, we studied mature cerebellar parallel-fiber synapses and found that Cav2.2 does not control spontaneous release. However, Ca2+ influx through Cav2.2 significantly boosted vesicle recruitment during trains of action potentials. Thus, Cav2.2 in mature parallel-fiber boutons participate in sustaining synaptic transmission during prolonged activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Wender
- Carl Ludwig Institute for Physiology, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Grit Bornschein
- Carl Ludwig Institute for Physiology, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Simone Brachtendorf
- Carl Ludwig Institute for Physiology, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Stefan Hallermann
- Carl Ludwig Institute for Physiology, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jens Eilers
- Carl Ludwig Institute for Physiology, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Hartmut Schmidt
- Carl Ludwig Institute for Physiology, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
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Feldthouse MG, Vyleta NP, Smith SM. PLC regulates spontaneous glutamate release triggered by extracellular calcium and readily releasable pool size in neocortical neurons. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1193485. [PMID: 37260580 PMCID: PMC10228687 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1193485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Dynamic physiological changes in brain extracellular calcium ([Ca2+]o) occur when high levels of neuronal activity lead to substantial Ca2+ entry via ion channels reducing local [Ca2+]o. Perturbations of the extracellular microenvironment that increase [Ca2+]o are commonly used to study how [Ca2+] regulates neuronal activity. At excitatory synapses, the Ca2+-sensing receptor (CaSR) and other G-protein coupled receptors link [Ca2+]o and spontaneous glutamate release. Phospholipase C (PLC) is activated by G-proteins and is hypothesized to mediate this process. Methods Patch-clamping cultured neocortical neurons, we tested how spontaneous glutamate release was affected by [Ca2+]o and inhibition of PLC activity. We used hypertonic sucrose (HS) to evaluate the readily releasable pool (RRP) and test if it was affected by inhibition of PLC activity. Results Spontaneous glutamate release substantially increased with [Ca2+]o, and inhibition of PLC activity, with U73122, abolished this effect. PLC-β1 is an abundant isoform in the neocortex, however, [Ca2+]o-dependent spontaneous release was unchanged in PLC-β1 null mutants (PLC-β1-/-). U73122 completely suppressed this response in PLC-β1-/- neurons, indicating that this residual [Ca2+]o-sensitivity may be mediated by other PLC isoforms. The RRP size was substantially reduced after incubation in U73122, but not U73343. Phorbol esters increased RRP size after PLC inhibition. Discussion Together these data point to a strong role for PLC in mediating changes in spontaneous release elicited by [Ca2+]o and other extracellular cues, possibly by modifying the size of the RRP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya G. Feldthouse
- Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine and Research and Development, VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Nicholas P. Vyleta
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Stephen M. Smith
- Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine and Research and Development, VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR, United States
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, United States
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7
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Wen L, Yang X, Wu Z, Fu S, Zhan Y, Chen Z, Bi D, Shen Y. The complement inhibitor CD59 is required for GABAergic synaptic transmission in the dentate gyrus. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112349. [PMID: 37027303 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Complement-dependent microglia pruning of excitatory synapses has been widely reported in physiological and pathological conditions, with few reports concerning pruning of inhibitory synapses or direct regulation of synaptic transmission by complement components. Here, we report that loss of CD59, an important endogenous inhibitor of the complement system, leads to compromised spatial memory performance. Furthermore, CD59 deficiency impairs GABAergic synaptic transmission in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG). This depends on regulation of GABA release triggered by Ca2+ influx through voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) rather than inhibitory synaptic pruning by microglia. Notably, CD59 colocalizes with inhibitory pre-synaptic terminals and regulates SNARE complex assembly. Together, these results demonstrate that the complement regulator CD59 plays an important role in normal hippocampal function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lang Wen
- Department of Neurology and Institute on Aging and Brain Disorders, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Neurodegenerative Disease Research Center, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Xiaoli Yang
- Department of Neurology and Institute on Aging and Brain Disorders, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Neurodegenerative Disease Research Center, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Zujun Wu
- Department of Neurology and Institute on Aging and Brain Disorders, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Neurodegenerative Disease Research Center, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Shumei Fu
- Department of Neurology and Institute on Aging and Brain Disorders, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Neurodegenerative Disease Research Center, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Yaxi Zhan
- Department of Neurology and Institute on Aging and Brain Disorders, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Neurodegenerative Disease Research Center, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Zuolong Chen
- Department of Neurology and Institute on Aging and Brain Disorders, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Neurodegenerative Disease Research Center, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China; Suzhou Institute for Advanced Research, University of Science and Technology of China, Suzhou 215000, China
| | - Danlei Bi
- Department of Neurology and Institute on Aging and Brain Disorders, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Neurodegenerative Disease Research Center, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Biomedical Aging Research, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China; Institute of Artificial Intelligence, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, Hefei 230026, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China; Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China.
| | - Yong Shen
- Department of Neurology and Institute on Aging and Brain Disorders, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Neurodegenerative Disease Research Center, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Biomedical Aging Research, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China; Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China.
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Lee BJ, Yang CH, Lee SY, Lee SH, Kim Y, Ho WK. Voltage-gated calcium channels contribute to spontaneous glutamate release directly via nanodomain coupling or indirectly via calmodulin. Prog Neurobiol 2021; 208:102182. [PMID: 34695543 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2021.102182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Neurotransmitter release occurs either synchronously with action potentials (evoked release) or spontaneously (spontaneous release). Whether the molecular mechanisms underlying evoked and spontaneous release are identical, especially whether voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) can trigger spontaneous events, is still a matter of debate in glutamatergic synapses. To elucidate this issue, we characterized the VGCC dependence of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs) in various synapses with different coupling distances between VGCCs and synaptic vesicles, known as a critical factor in evoked release. We found that most of the extracellular calcium-dependent mEPSCs were attributable to VGCCs in cultured autaptic hippocampal neurons and the mature calyx of Held where VGCCs and vesicles were tightly coupled. Among loosely coupled synapses, mEPSCs were not VGCC-dependent at immature calyx of Held and CA1 pyramidal neuron synapses, whereas VGCCs contribution was significant at CA3 pyramidal neuron synapses. Interestingly, the contribution of VGCCs to spontaneous glutamate release in CA3 pyramidal neurons was abolished by a calmodulin antagonist, calmidazolium. These data suggest that coupling distance between VGCCs and vesicles determines VGCC dependence of spontaneous release at tightly coupled synapses, yet VGCC contribution can be achieved indirectly at loosely coupled synapses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Byoung Ju Lee
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Natural Science, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Physiology, Seoul National University College of Natural Science, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Che Ho Yang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Natural Science, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Physiology, Seoul National University College of Natural Science, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Brain and Cognitive Science, Seoul National University College of Natural Science, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Yeon Lee
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Natural Science, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Physiology, Seoul National University College of Natural Science, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Suk-Ho Lee
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Natural Science, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Physiology, Seoul National University College of Natural Science, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Neuroscience Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Republic of Korea; Department of Brain and Cognitive Science, Seoul National University College of Natural Science, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yujin Kim
- Department of Physiology, Seoul National University College of Natural Science, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Neuroscience Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Republic of Korea; Department of Brain and Cognitive Science, Seoul National University College of Natural Science, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Won-Kyung Ho
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Natural Science, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Physiology, Seoul National University College of Natural Science, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Neuroscience Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Republic of Korea; Department of Brain and Cognitive Science, Seoul National University College of Natural Science, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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9
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Babai N, Wittgenstein J, Gierke K, Brandstätter JH, Feigenspan A. The absence of functional bassoon at cone photoreceptor ribbon synapses affects signal transmission at Off cone bipolar cell contacts in mouse retina. Acta Physiol (Oxf) 2021; 231:e13584. [PMID: 33222426 DOI: 10.1111/apha.13584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Revised: 10/21/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
AIM Off cone bipolar cells of the mammalian retina connect to cone photoreceptor synaptic terminals via non-invaginating flat contacts at a considerable distance from the only established neurotransmitter release site so far, the synaptic ribbon. Diffusion from the ribbon synaptic active zone is considered the most likely mechanism for the neurotransmitter glutamate to reach postsynaptic receptors on the dendritic tips of Off cone bipolar cells. We used a mutant mouse with functionally impaired photoreceptor ribbon synapses to investigate the importance of intact ribbon synaptic active zones for signal transmission at Off cone bipolar cell contacts. METHODS Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings from Off cone bipolar cells in a horizontal slice preparation of wildtype (Bsnwt ) and mutant (BsnΔEx4/5 ) mouse retina were applied to investigate signal transmission between cone photoreceptors and Off cone bipolar cells. The distribution of postsynaptic glutamate receptors in Off cone bipolar cell dendrites was studied using multiplex immunocytochemistry. RESULTS Tonic synaptic activity and evoked release were significantly reduced in mutant animals. Vesicle replenishment rates and the size of the readily releasable pool were likewise decreased. The precisely timed transient current response to light offset changed to a sustained response in the mutant, exemplified by random release events only loosely time-locked to the stimulus. The kainate receptor distribution in postsynaptic Off cone bipolar cell dendritic contacts in BsnΔEx4/5 mice was largely disturbed. CONCLUSION Our results suggest a major role of functional ribbon synaptic active zones for signal transmission and postsynaptic glutamate receptor organization at flat Off cone bipolar cell contacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norbert Babai
- Department of Biology, Animal Physiology FAU Erlangen‐Nürnberg Erlangen Germany
| | - Julia Wittgenstein
- Department of Biology, Animal Physiology FAU Erlangen‐Nürnberg Erlangen Germany
| | - Kaspar Gierke
- Department of Biology, Animal Physiology FAU Erlangen‐Nürnberg Erlangen Germany
| | | | - Andreas Feigenspan
- Department of Biology, Animal Physiology FAU Erlangen‐Nürnberg Erlangen Germany
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10
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Orexin-A differentially modulates inhibitory and excitatory synaptic transmission in rat inner retina. Neuropharmacology 2021; 187:108492. [PMID: 33582153 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2021.108492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Revised: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
In this work, modulation by orexin-A of the release of glutamate and GABA from bipolar and amacrine cells respectively was studied by examining the effects of the neuropeptide on miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs) and miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents (mIPSCs) of rat retinal ganglion cells (GCs). Using RNAscope in situ hybridization in combination with immunohistochemistry, we showed positive signals for orexin receptor-1 (OX1R) mRNA in the bipolar cell terminals and those for orexin receptor-2 (OX2R) mRNA in the amacrine cell terminals. With whole-cell patch-clamp recordings in rat retinal slices, we demonstrated that application of orexin-A reduced the interevent interval of mEPSCs of GCs through OX1R. However, it increased the interevent interval of mIPSCs, mediated by GABAA receptors, through OX2R. Furthermore, orexin-A-induced reduction of mEPSC interevent interval was abolished by the application of PI-PLC inhibitors or PKC inhibitors. In contrast, orexin-A-induced increase of GABAergic mIPSC interevent interval was mimicked by 8-Br-cAMP or an adenylyl cyclase activator, but was eliminated by PKA antagonists. Finally, application of nimodipine, an L-type Ca2+ channel blocker, increased both mEPSC and mIPSC interevent interval, and co-application of orexin-A no longer changed the mEPSCs and mIPSCs. We conclude that orexin-A increases presynaptic glutamate release onto GCs by activating L-type Ca2+ channels in bipolar cells, a process that is mediated by an OX1R/PI-PLC/PKC signaling pathway. However, orexin-A decreases presynaptic GABA release onto GCs by inhibiting L-type Ca2+ channels in amacrine cells, a process that is mediated by an OX2R/cAMP-PKA signaling pathway.
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11
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Ritzau-Jost A, Tsintsadze T, Krueger M, Ader J, Bechmann I, Eilers J, Barbour B, Smith SM, Hallermann S. Large, Stable Spikes Exhibit Differential Broadening in Excitatory and Inhibitory Neocortical Boutons. Cell Rep 2021; 34:108612. [PMID: 33440142 PMCID: PMC7809622 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2019] [Revised: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Presynaptic action potential spikes control neurotransmitter release and thus interneuronal communication. However, the properties and the dynamics of presynaptic spikes in the neocortex remain enigmatic because boutons in the neocortex are small and direct patch-clamp recordings have not been performed. Here, we report direct recordings from boutons of neocortical pyramidal neurons and interneurons. Our data reveal rapid and large presynaptic action potentials in layer 5 neurons and fast-spiking interneurons reliably propagating into axon collaterals. For in-depth analyses, we establish boutons of mature cultured neurons as models for excitatory neocortical boutons, demonstrating that the presynaptic spike amplitude is unaffected by potassium channels, homeostatic long-term plasticity, and high-frequency firing. In contrast to the stable amplitude, presynaptic spikes profoundly broaden during high-frequency firing in layer 5 pyramidal neurons, but not in fast-spiking interneurons. Thus, our data demonstrate large presynaptic spikes and fundamental differences between excitatory and inhibitory boutons in the neocortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Ritzau-Jost
- Carl-Ludwig-Institute for Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Timur Tsintsadze
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA; Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Martin Krueger
- Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jonas Ader
- Carl-Ludwig-Institute for Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ingo Bechmann
- Institute of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jens Eilers
- Carl-Ludwig-Institute for Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Boris Barbour
- Institut de Biologie de l'Ecole Normale Supérieure (IBENS), Ecole Normale Supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, PSL Université Paris, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Stephen M Smith
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA; Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR 97239, USA.
| | - Stefan Hallermann
- Carl-Ludwig-Institute for Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
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12
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Horvath PM, Piazza MK, Monteggia LM, Kavalali ET. Spontaneous and evoked neurotransmission are partially segregated at inhibitory synapses. eLife 2020; 9:52852. [PMID: 32401197 PMCID: PMC7250572 DOI: 10.7554/elife.52852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2019] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Synaptic transmission is initiated via spontaneous or action-potential evoked fusion of synaptic vesicles. At excitatory synapses, glutamatergic receptors activated by spontaneous and evoked neurotransmission are segregated. Although inhibitory synapses also transmit signals spontaneously or in response to action potentials, they differ from excitatory synapses in both structure and function. Therefore, we hypothesized that inhibitory synapses may have different organizing principles. We report picrotoxin, a GABAAR antagonist, blocks neurotransmission in a use-dependent manner at rat hippocampal synapses and therefore can be used to interrogate synaptic properties. Using this tool, we uncovered partial segregation of inhibitory spontaneous and evoked neurotransmission. We found up to 40% of the evoked response is mediated through GABAARs which are only activated by evoked neurotransmission. These data indicate GABAergic spontaneous and evoked neurotransmission processes are partially non-overlapping, suggesting they may serve divergent roles in neuronal signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia M Horvath
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, United States.,Department of Neuroscience, the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
| | - Michelle K Piazza
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, United States.,Neuroscience Program, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, United States
| | - Lisa M Monteggia
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, United States.,Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, United States
| | - Ege T Kavalali
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, United States.,Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, United States
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13
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Tesic V, Joksimovic SM, Quillinan N, Krishnan K, Covey DF, Todorovic SM, Jevtovic-Todorovic V. Neuroactive steroids alphaxalone and CDNC24 are effective hypnotics and potentiators of GABA A currents, but are not neurotoxic to the developing rat brain. Br J Anaesth 2020; 124:603-613. [PMID: 32151384 DOI: 10.1016/j.bja.2020.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2019] [Revised: 01/01/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The most currently used general anaesthetics are potent potentiators of γ-aminobutyric acid A (GABAA) receptors and are invariably neurotoxic during the early stages of brain development in preclinical animal models. As causality between GABAA potentiation and anaesthetic-induced developmental neurotoxicity has not been established, the question remains whether GABAergic activity is crucial for promoting/enhancing neurotoxicity. Using the neurosteroid analogue, (3α,5α)-3-hydroxy-13,24-cyclo-18,21-dinorchol-22-en-24-ol (CDNC24), which potentiates recombinant GABAA receptors, we examined whether this potentiation is the driving force in inducing neurotoxicity during development. METHODS The neurotoxic potential of CDNC24 was examined vis-à-vis propofol (2,6-diisopropylphenol) and alphaxalone (5α-pregnan-3α-ol-11,20-dione) at the peak of rat synaptogenesis. In addition to the morphological neurotoxicity studies of the subiculum and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), we assessed the extra-, pre-, and postsynaptic effects of these agents on GABAergic neurotransmission in acute subicular slices from rat pups. RESULTS CDNC24, like alphaxalone and propofol, caused dose-dependent hypnosis in vivo, with a higher therapeutic index. CDNC24 and alphaxalone, unlike propofol, did not cause developmental neuroapoptosis in the subiculum and mPFC. Propofol potentiated post- and extrasynaptic GABAA currents as evidenced by increased spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic current (sIPSC) decay time and prominent tonic currents, respectively. CDNC24 and alphaxalone had a similar postsynaptic effect, but also displayed a strong presynaptic effect as evidenced by decreased frequency of sIPSCs and induced moderate tonic currents. CONCLUSIONS The lack of neurotoxicity of CDNC24 and alphaxalone may be at least partly related to suppression of presynaptic GABA release in the developing brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vesna Tesic
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Srdjan M Joksimovic
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Nidia Quillinan
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Kathiresan Krishnan
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Douglas F Covey
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA; Taylor Family Institute for Innovative Psychiatric Research, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Slobodan M Todorovic
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
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14
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Hays CL, Grassmeyer JJ, Wen X, Janz R, Heidelberger R, Thoreson WB. Simultaneous Release of Multiple Vesicles from Rods Involves Synaptic Ribbons and Syntaxin 3B. Biophys J 2019; 118:967-979. [PMID: 31653448 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2019.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2019] [Revised: 09/25/2019] [Accepted: 10/03/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
First proposed as a specialized mode of release at sensory neurons possessing ribbon synapses, multivesicular release has since been described throughout the central nervous system. Many aspects of multivesicular release remain poorly understood. We explored mechanisms underlying simultaneous multivesicular release at ribbon synapses in salamander retinal rod photoreceptors. We assessed spontaneous release presynaptically by recording glutamate transporter anion currents (IA(glu)) in rods. Spontaneous IA(glu) events were correlated in amplitude and kinetics with simultaneously measured miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents in horizontal cells. Both measures indicated that a significant fraction of events is multiquantal, with an analysis of IA(glu) revealing that multivesicular release constitutes ∼30% of spontaneous release events. IA(glu) charge transfer increased linearly with event amplitude showing that larger events involve greater glutamate release. The kinetics of large and small IA(glu) events were identical as were rise times of large and small miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents, indicating that the release of multiple vesicles during large events is highly synchronized. Effects of exogenous Ca2+ buffers suggested that multiquantal, but not uniquantal, release occurs preferentially near Ca2+ channels clustered beneath synaptic ribbons. Photoinactivation of ribbons reduced the frequency of spontaneous multiquantal events without affecting uniquantal release frequency, showing that spontaneous multiquantal release requires functional ribbons. Although both occur at ribbon-style active zones, the absence of cross-depletion indicates that evoked and spontaneous multiquantal release from ribbons involve different vesicle pools. Introducing an inhibitory peptide into rods to interfere with the SNARE protein, syntaxin 3B, selectively reduced multiquantal event frequency. These results support the hypothesis that simultaneous multiquantal release from rods arises from homotypic fusion among neighboring vesicles on ribbons and involves syntaxin 3B.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassandra L Hays
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Truhlsen Eye Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Justin J Grassmeyer
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Truhlsen Eye Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska; Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Xiangyi Wen
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Truhlsen Eye Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska; West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, P.R. China
| | - Roger Janz
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas; The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center University of Texas Health Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, Texas
| | - Ruth Heidelberger
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas; The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center University of Texas Health Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, Texas
| | - Wallace B Thoreson
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Truhlsen Eye Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska; Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska.
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15
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Presynaptic Diversity Revealed by Ca 2+-Permeable AMPA Receptors at the Calyx of Held Synapse. J Neurosci 2019; 39:2981-2994. [PMID: 30679394 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2565-18.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2018] [Revised: 12/14/2018] [Accepted: 01/03/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
GluA2-lacking Ca2+-permeable AMPARs (CP-AMPARs) play integral roles in synaptic plasticity and can mediate excitotoxic cellular signaling at glutamatergic synapses. However, the developmental profile of functional CP-AMPARs at the auditory brainstem remains poorly understood. Through a combination of electrophysiological and live-cell Ca2+ imaging from mice of either sex, we show that the synaptic release of glutamate from the calyx of Held nerve terminal activates CP-AMPARs in the principal cells of the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body in the brainstem. This leads to significant Ca2+ influx through these receptors before the onset of hearing at postnatal day 12 (P12). Using a selective open channel blocker of CP-AMPARs, IEM-1460, we estimate that ∼80% of the AMPAR population are permeable to Ca2+ at immature P4-P5 synapses. However, after the onset of hearing, Ca2+ influx through these receptors was greatly reduced. We estimate that CP-AMPARs comprise approximately 40% and 33% of the AMPAR population at P18-P22 and P30-P34, respectively. By quantifying the rate of EPSC block by IEM-1460, we found an increased heterogeneity in glutamate release probability for adult-like calyces (P30-P34). Using tetraethylammonium (TEA), a presynaptic potassium channel blocker, we show that the apparent reduction of CP-AMPARs in more mature synapses is not a consequence of presynaptic action potential (AP) speeding. Finally, through postsynaptic AP recordings, we show that inhibition of CP-AMPARs reduces spike fidelity in juvenile synapses, but not in more mature synapses. We conclude that the expression of functional CP-AMPARs declines over early postnatal development in the calyx of Held synapse.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The calyx of Held synapse is pivotal to the circuitry that computes sound localization. Postsynaptic Ca2+ influx via AMPARs may be critical for signaling the maturation of this brainstem synapse. The GluA4 subunit may dominate the AMPAR complex at mature synapses because of its fast gating kinetics and large unitary conductance. The expectation is that AMPARs dominated by GluA4 subunits should be highly Ca2+ permeable. However, we find that Ca2+-permeable AMPAR expression declines during postnatal development. Using the rate of EPSC block by IEM-1460, an open channel blocker of Ca2+-permeable AMPARs, we propose a novel method to determine glutamate release probability and uncover an increased heterogeneity in release probability for more mature calyces of Held nerve terminals.
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16
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Yaeger DB, Coddington EJ. Calcium-induced calcium release activates spontaneous miniature outward currents in newt medullary reticular formation neurons. J Neurophysiol 2018; 120:3140-3154. [PMID: 29897864 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00616.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurons in the medullary reticular formation are involved in the control of postural and locomotor behaviors in all vertebrates. Reticulospinal neurons in this brain region provide one of the major descending projections to the spinal cord. Although neurons in the newt medullary reticular formation have been extensively studied using in vivo extracellular recordings, little is known of their intrinsic biophysical properties or of the underlying circuitry of this region. Using whole cell patch-clamp recordings in brain slices containing the rostromedial reticular formation from adult male newts, we observed spontaneous miniature outward currents (SMOCs) in ~2/3 of neurons. Although SMOCs superficially resembled inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs), they had slower risetimes and decay times than spontaneous IPSCs. SMOCs required intracellular Ca2+ release from ryanodine receptors and were also dependent on the influx of extracellular Ca2+. SMOCs were unaffected by apamin but were partially blocked by iberiotoxin and charybdotoxin, indicating that SMOCs were mediated by big-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels. Application of the sarco/endoplasmic Ca2+ ATPase inhibitor cyclopiazonic acid blocked the generation of SMOCs and also increased neural excitability. Neurons with SMOCs had significantly broader action potentials, slower membrane time constants, and higher input resistance than neurons without SMOCs. Thus, SMOCs may serve as a mechanism to regulate action potential threshold in a majority of neurons within the newt medullary reticular formation. NEW & NOTEWORTHY The medullary reticular formation exerts a powerful influence on sensorimotor integration and subsequent motor behavior, yet little is known about the neurons involved. In this study, we identify a transient potassium current that regulates action potential threshold in a majority of medullary reticular neurons.
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17
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Neurotransmitter- and Release-Mode-Specific Modulation of Inhibitory Transmission by Group I Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors in Central Auditory Neurons of the Mouse. J Neurosci 2018; 38:8187-8199. [PMID: 30093538 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0603-18.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2018] [Revised: 06/27/2018] [Accepted: 07/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuromodulation mediated by metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) regulates many brain functions. However, the functions of mGluRs in the auditory system under normal and diseased states are not well understood. The medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB) is a critical nucleus in the auditory brainstem nuclei involved in sound localization. In addition to the classical calyx excitatory inputs, MNTB neurons also receive synaptic inhibition and it remains entirely unknown how this inhibition is regulated. Here, using whole-cell voltage clamp in brain slices, we investigated group I mGluR (mGluR I)-mediated modulation of the glycinergic and GABAergic inputs to MNTB neurons in both WT mice and a fragile X syndrome (FXS) mouse model (both sexes) in which the fragile X mental retardation gene 1 is knocked out (Fmr1 KO), causing exaggerated activity of mGluR I and behavioral phenotypes. Activation of mGluR I by (RS)-3,5-dihydroxyphenylglycine (3,5-DHPG) increased the frequency and amplitude of glycinergic spontaneous IPSCs (sIPSCs) in both WT and Fmr1 KO neurons in a voltage-gated sodium channel-dependent fashion, but did not modulate glycinergic evoked IPSCs (eIPSCs). In contrast, 3,5-DHPG did not affect GABAergic sIPSCs, but did suppress eIPSCs in WT neurons via endocannabinoid signaling. In the KO, the effect of 3,5-DHPG on GABAergic eIPSCs was highly variable, which supports the notion of impaired GABAergic signaling in the FXS model. The differential modulation of sIPSC and eIPSC and differential modulation of glycinergic and GABAergic transmission suggest distinct mechanisms responsible for spontaneous and evoked release of inhibitory transmitters and their modulation through the mGluR I signaling pathway.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Neurons communicate with each other through the release of neurotransmitters, which assumes two basic modes, spontaneous and evoked release. These two release modes are believed to function using the same vesicle pool and machinery. Recent works have challenged this dogma, pointing to distinct vesicle release mechanisms underlying the two release modes. Here, we provide the first evidence in the central auditory system supporting this novel concept. We discovered neural-transmitter- and release-mode-specific neuromodulation of inhibitory transmission by metabotropic glutamate receptors and revealed part of the signaling pathways underlying this differential modulation. The results establish the foundation for a multitude of directions to study physiological significance of different release modes in auditory processing.
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18
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Courtney NA, Briguglio JS, Bradberry MM, Greer C, Chapman ER. Excitatory and Inhibitory Neurons Utilize Different Ca 2+ Sensors and Sources to Regulate Spontaneous Release. Neuron 2018; 98:977-991.e5. [PMID: 29754754 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2018.04.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2017] [Revised: 03/19/2018] [Accepted: 04/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Spontaneous neurotransmitter release (mini) is an important form of Ca2+-dependent synaptic transmission that occurs in the absence of action potentials. A molecular understanding of this process requires an identification of the underlying Ca2+ sensors. Here, we address the roles of the relatively low- and high-affinity Ca2+ sensors, synapotagmin-1 (syt1) and Doc2α/β, respectively. We found that both syt1 and Doc2 regulate minis, but, surprisingly, their relative contributions depend on whether release was from excitatory or inhibitory neurons. Doc2α promoted glutamatergic minis, while Doc2β and syt1 both regulated GABAergic minis. We identified Ca2+ ligand mutations in Doc2 that either disrupted or constitutively activated the regulation of minis. Finally, Ca2+ entry via voltage-gated Ca2+ channels triggered miniature GABA release by activating syt1, but had no effect on Doc2-driven minis. This work reveals an unexpected divergence in the regulation of spontaneous excitatory and inhibitory transmission in terms of both Ca2+ sensors and sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas A Courtney
- Department of Neuroscience and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1111 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Joseph S Briguglio
- Department of Neuroscience and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1111 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Mazdak M Bradberry
- Department of Neuroscience and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1111 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Christina Greer
- Department of Neuroscience and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1111 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Edwin R Chapman
- Department of Neuroscience and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1111 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705, USA.
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19
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Williams CL, Smith SM. Calcium dependence of spontaneous neurotransmitter release. J Neurosci Res 2018; 96:335-347. [PMID: 28699241 PMCID: PMC5766384 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2017] [Revised: 06/16/2017] [Accepted: 06/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Spontaneous release of neurotransmitters is regulated by extracellular [Ca2+ ] and intracellular [Ca2+ ]. Curiously, some of the mechanisms of Ca2+ signaling at central synapses are different at excitatory and inhibitory synapses. While the stochastic activity of voltage-activated Ca2+ channels triggers a majority of spontaneous release at inhibitory synapses, this is not the case at excitatory nerve terminals. Ca2+ release from intracellular stores regulates spontaneous release at excitatory and inhibitory terminals, as do agonists of the Ca2+ -sensing receptor. Molecular machinery triggering spontaneous vesicle fusion may differ from that underlying evoked release and may be one of the sources of heterogeneity in release mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney L. Williams
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, 97239, USA
- Section of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Stephen M. Smith
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, 97239, USA
- Section of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, Oregon, USA
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20
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Kavalali ET. Spontaneous neurotransmission: A form of neural communication comes of age. J Neurosci Res 2017; 96:331-334. [PMID: 29219198 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2017] [Revised: 11/25/2017] [Accepted: 11/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ege T Kavalali
- Department of Neuroscience, the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390-9111, USA
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21
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Robles Gómez AA, Vega AV, Gónzalez-Sandoval C, Barral J. The role of Ca 2+ -dependent K + - channels at the rat corticostriatal synapses revealed by paired pulse stimulation. Synapse 2017; 72. [PMID: 29136290 DOI: 10.1002/syn.22017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2017] [Revised: 11/09/2017] [Accepted: 11/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Potassium channels play an important role in modulating synaptic activity both at presynaptic and postsynaptic levels. We have shown before that presynaptically located KV and KIR channels modulate the strength of corticostriatal synapses in rat brain, but the role of other types of potassium channels at these synapses remains largely unknown. Here, we show that calcium-dependent potassium channels BK-type but not SK-type channels are located presynaptically in corticostriatal synapses. We stimulated cortical neurons in rat brain slices and recorded postsynaptic excitatory potentials (EPSP) in medium spiny neurons (MSN) in dorsal neostriatum. By using a paired pulse protocol, we induced synaptic facilitation before applying either BK- or SK-specific toxins. Thus, we found that blockage of BKCa with iberiotoxin (10 nM) reduces synaptic facilitation and increases the amplitude of the EPSP, while exposure to SK-blocker apamin (100 nM) has no effect. Additionally, we induced train action potentials on striatal MSN by current injection before and after the exposure to KCa toxins. We found that the action potential becomes broader when the MSN is exposed to iberiotoxin, although it has no impact on frequency. In contrast, exposure to apamin results in loss of afterhyperpolarization phase and an increase of spike frequency. Therefore, we concluded that postsynaptic SK channels are involved in afterhyperpolarization and modulation of spike frequency while the BK channels are involved on the late repolarization phase of the action potential. Altogether, our results show that calcium-dependent potassium channels modulate both input towards and output from the striatum.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ana V Vega
- Carrera de Médico Cirujano, UBIMED, FES Iztacala UNAM, México
| | | | - Jaime Barral
- Neurociencias, UIICSE, FES Iztacala, UNAM, México
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22
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Babiec WE, O'Dell TJ. Novel Ca 2+-dependent mechanisms regulate spontaneous release at excitatory synapses onto CA1 pyramidal cells. J Neurophysiol 2017; 119:597-607. [PMID: 29142096 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00628.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Although long thought to simply be a source of synaptic noise, spontaneous, action potential-independent release of neurotransmitter from presynaptic terminals has multiple roles in synaptic function. We explored whether and to what extent the two predominantly proposed mechanisms for explaining spontaneous release, stochastic activation of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels (VGCCs) or activation of Ca2+-sensing receptors (CaSRs) by extracellular Ca2+, played a role in the sensitivity of spontaneous release to the level of extracellular Ca2+ concentration at excitatory synapses at CA1 pyramidal cells of the adult male mouse hippocampus. Blocking VGCCs with Cd2+ had no effect on spontaneous release, ruling out stochastic activation of VGCCs. Although divalent cation agonists of CaSRs, Co2+ and Mg2+, dramatically enhanced miniature excitatory postsynaptic current (mEPSC) frequency, potent positive and negative allosteric modulators of CaSRs had no effect. Moreover, immunoblot analysis of hippocampal lysates failed to detect CaSR expression, ruling out the CaSR. Instead, the increase in mEPSC frequency induced by Co2+ and Mg2+ was mimicked by lowering postsynaptic Ca2+ levels with BAPTA. Together, our results suggest that a reduction in intracellular Ca2+ may trigger a homeostatic-like compensatory response that upregulates spontaneous transmission at excitatory synapses onto CA1 pyramidal cells in the adult hippocampus. NEW & NOTEWORTHY We show that the predominant theories for explaining the regulation of spontaneous, action potential-independent synaptic release do not explain the sensitivity of this type of synaptic transmission to external Ca2+ concentration at excitatory synapses onto hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells. In addition, our data indicate that intracellular Ca2+ levels in CA1 pyramidal cells regulate spontaneous release, suggesting that excitatory synapses onto CA1 pyramidal cells may express a novel, rapid form of homeostatic plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walter E Babiec
- Department of Physiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA , Los Angeles, California
| | - Thomas J O'Dell
- Department of Physiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA , Los Angeles, California.,UCLA Integrative Center for Learning and Memory, Brain Research Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles, California
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23
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Zhang S, Wang X, Wang X, Shen X, Sun J, Hu X, Chen P. Sr2+has low efficiency in regulating spontaneous release at the Calyx of Held synapses. Synapse 2017; 71. [DOI: 10.1002/syn.21983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2017] [Revised: 04/24/2017] [Accepted: 04/25/2017] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shuli Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences & Yunnan Province; Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Kunming Yunnan 650223 China
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences; CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Beijing 100101 China
- Kunming College of Life Science; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences; Kunming 650204 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences; Beijing 100049 China
| | - Xuefeng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences; CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Beijing 100101 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences; Beijing 100049 China
| | - Xiaohui Wang
- Department of General Surgery; Xuan Wu Hospital, Capital Medical University; Beijing 100053 China
| | - Xuefeng Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences; CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Beijing 100101 China
| | - Jianyuan Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences; CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Beijing 100101 China
- Center of Parkinson?s Disease; Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders; Beijing 100053 China
| | - Xintian Hu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences & Yunnan Province; Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Kunming Yunnan 650223 China
- Kunming College of Life Science; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences; Kunming 650204 China
| | - Peihua Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences; CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Beijing 100101 China
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