scholarly journals CIQ, a positive allosteric modulator of GluN2C/D-containingN-methyl-d-aspartate receptors, rescues striatal synaptic plasticity deficit in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease

2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 144-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mona Nouhi ◽  
Xiaoqun Zhang ◽  
Ning Yao ◽  
Karima Chergui
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Synaptic Plasticity ◽  
Mouse Model ◽  
Allosteric Modulator ◽  
Positive Allosteric Modulator

scholarly journals Loss of Non-Apoptotic Role of Caspase-3 in the PINK1 Mouse Model of Parkinson’s Disease

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (14) ◽  
pp. 3407 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paola Imbriani ◽  
Annalisa Tassone ◽  
Maria Meringolo ◽  
Giulia Ponterio ◽  
Graziella Madeo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Synaptic Plasticity ◽  
Mouse Model ◽  
Caspase 3 ◽  
Cysteine Proteases ◽  
Synaptic Function ◽  
Adult Brain ◽  
Striatal Slices

Caspases are a family of conserved cysteine proteases that play key roles in multiple cellular processes, including programmed cell death and inflammation. Recent evidence shows that caspases are also involved in crucial non-apoptotic functions, such as dendrite development, axon pruning, and synaptic plasticity mechanisms underlying learning and memory processes. The activated form of caspase-3, which is known to trigger widespread damage and degeneration, can also modulate synaptic function in the adult brain. Thus, in the present study, we tested the hypothesis that caspase-3 modulates synaptic plasticity at corticostriatal synapses in the phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) induced kinase 1 (PINK1) mouse model of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Loss of PINK1 has been previously associated with an impairment of corticostriatal long-term depression (LTD), rescued by amphetamine-induced dopamine release. Here, we show that caspase-3 activity, measured after LTD induction, is significantly decreased in the PINK1 knockout model compared with wild-type mice. Accordingly, pretreatment of striatal slices with the caspase-3 activator α-(Trichloromethyl)-4-pyridineethanol (PETCM) rescues a physiological LTD in PINK1 knockout mice. Furthermore, the inhibition of caspase-3 prevents the amphetamine-induced rescue of LTD in the same model. Our data support a hormesis-based double role of caspase-3; when massively activated, it induces apoptosis, while at lower level of activation, it modulates physiological phenomena, like the expression of corticostriatal LTD. Exploring the non-apoptotic activation of caspase-3 may contribute to clarify the mechanisms involved in synaptic failure in PD, as well as in view of new potential pharmacological targets.

scholarly journals The mGluR5 positive allosteric modulator VU0409551 improves synaptic plasticity and memory of a mouse model of Huntington's disease

2018 ◽  
Vol 147 (2) ◽  
pp. 222-239 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliana G. Doria ◽  
Jessica M. de Souza ◽  
Flavia R. Silva ◽  
Isabella G. Olmo ◽  
Toniana G. Carvalho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Synaptic Plasticity ◽  
Mouse Model ◽  
Huntington's Disease ◽  
Huntington’S Disease ◽  
Allosteric Modulator ◽  
Positive Allosteric Modulator
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