Abstracts » Zoology and wildlife conservation

Rab3A is essential for mossy fibre long-term potentiation in the hippocampus

Article Abstract:

Long-term potentiation (LTP) at hippocampal mossy fibre synapses is eliminated in mice without the synaptic vesicle protein Rab3A. It was not expected that short-term synaptic plasticity and forskolin-induced enhancement would be intact in the Rab3A-knockout mouse, as induction of mossy fibre LTP partly occludes paired-pulse facilitation, frequency facilitation and forskolin enhancement. This research presents the first connection between a protein of the secretory machinery at the synapse and a type of long-term synaptic plasticity.

Hippocampus (Brain)

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Is bigger better?

Article Abstract:

The synapse is a fundamental element of communication between neurons. Many molecular components involved in neurotransmitter exocytosis have been identified, but there have been difficulties defining postsynapitc molecular architecture. Researchers have reported a targeted mouse mutation, with a prominent PDZ-domain protein, post-synaptic density of 95. This confirms that PSD-95 is an important component of excitatory synapses, and indicates extended functions.

Synapses

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Synaptic scaling mediated by glial TNF-alpha

Article Abstract:

Synaptical scaling in response to prolonged blockade of activity is mediated by the pro-inflammatory cytokine tumour-necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). It is also shown that glia are the source of the TNF-alpha that is required for this form of synaptic scaling.

United States, Science & research, Necrosis

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