Remodeling the Plasticity Debate: The Presynaptic Locus Revisited

Physiology ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 346-351 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Krueger ◽  
Reiko Maki Fitzsimonds

The cellular mechanisms contributing to long-term potentiation and activity-induced formation of glutamatergic synapses have been intensely debated. Recent studies have sparked renewed interest in the role of presynaptic components in these processes. Based on the present evidence, it appears likely that long-term plasticity utilizes both pre- and postsynaptic expression mechanisms.

2003 ◽  
Vol 358 (1432) ◽  
pp. 773-786 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. G. M. Morris ◽  
E. I. Moser ◽  
G. Riedel ◽  
S. J. Martin ◽  
J. Sandin ◽  
...  

The hypothesis that synaptic plasticity is a critical component of the neural mechanisms underlying learning and memory is now widely accepted. In this article, we begin by outlining four criteria for evaluating the ‘synaptic plasticity and memory (SPM)’ hypothesis. We then attempt to lay the foundations for a specific neurobiological theory of hippocampal (HPC) function in which activity-dependent synaptic plasticity, such as long-term potentiation (LTP), plays a key part in the forms of memory mediated by this brain structure. HPC memory can, like other forms of memory, be divided into four processes: encoding, storage, consolidation and retrieval. We argue that synaptic plasticity is critical for the encoding and intermediate storage of memory traces that are automatically recorded in the hippocampus. These traces decay, but are sometimes retained by a process of cellular consolidation. However, we also argue that HPC synaptic plasticity is not involved in memory retrieval, and is unlikely to be involved in systems-level consolidation that depends on HPC-neocortical interactions, although neocortical synaptic plasticity does play a part. The information that has emerged from the worldwide focus on the mechanisms of induction and expression of plasticity at individual synapses has been very valuable in functional studies. Progress towards a comprehensive understanding of memory processing will also depend on the analysis of these synaptic changes within the context of a wider range of systems-level and cellular mechanisms of neuronal transmission and plasticity.


Author(s):  
Sujeong Yang ◽  
Sylvain Gigout ◽  
Angelo Molinaro ◽  
Yuko Naito-Matsui ◽  
Sam Hilton ◽  
...  

AbstractPerineuronal nets (PNNs) are chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan-containing structures on the neuronal surface that have been implicated in the control of neuroplasticity and memory. Age-related reduction of chondroitin 6-sulphates (C6S) leads to PNNs becoming more inhibitory. Here, we investigated whether manipulation of the chondroitin sulphate (CS) composition of the PNNs could restore neuroplasticity and alleviate memory deficits in aged mice. We first confirmed that aged mice (20-months) showed memory and plasticity deficits. They were able to retain or regain their cognitive ability when CSs were digested or PNNs were attenuated. We then explored the role of C6S in memory and neuroplasticity. Transgenic deletion of chondroitin 6-sulfotransferase (chst3) led to a reduction of permissive C6S, simulating aged brains. These animals showed very early memory loss at 11 weeks old. Importantly, restoring C6S levels in aged animals rescued the memory deficits and restored cortical long-term potentiation, suggesting a strategy to improve age-related memory impairment.


2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 587-604 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julien Gibon ◽  
Philip A. Barker

Neurotrophins have been intensively studied and have multiple roles in the brain. Neurotrophins are first synthetized as proneurotrophins and then cleaved intracellularly and extracellularly. Increasing evidences demonstrate that proneurotrophins and mature neurotrophins exerts opposing role in the central nervous system. In the present review, we explore the role of nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin 3 (NT3), and neurotrophin 4 (NT4) and their respective proform in cellular processes related to learning and memory. We focused on their roles in synaptic activity and plasticity in the brain with an emphasis on long-term potentiation, long-term depression, and basal synaptic transmission in the hippocampus and the temporal lobe area. We also discuss new findings on the role of the Val66Met polymorphism on the BDNF propeptide on synaptic activity.


1996 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
D K Selig ◽  
M R Segal ◽  
D Liao ◽  
R C Malenka ◽  
R Malinow ◽  
...  

2000 ◽  
Vol 20 (24) ◽  
pp. 9272-9276 ◽  
Author(s):  
Albert M. Borroni ◽  
Harlan Fichtenholtz ◽  
Brian L. Woodside ◽  
Timothy J. Teyler

2002 ◽  
Vol 22 (13) ◽  
pp. 5432-5441 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kobi Rosenblum ◽  
Marie Futter ◽  
Karen Voss ◽  
Muriel Erent ◽  
Paul A. Skehel ◽  
...  

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