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Related Concept Videos

Action Potential01:14

Action Potential

Neurons communicate by firing action potentials—the electrochemical signal that is propagated along the axon. The signal results in the release of neurotransmitters at axon terminals, thereby transmitting information to the nervous system. An action potential is a specific "all-or-none" change in membrane potential that results in a rapid spike in voltage.
Membrane potential in neurons
Neurons typically have a resting membrane potential of about -70 millivolts (mV). When they receive...
Action Potential01:14

Action Potential

Neurons communicate by firing action potentials—the electrochemical signal that is propagated along the axon. The signal results in the release of neurotransmitters at axon terminals, thereby transmitting information to the nervous system. An action potential is a specific "all-or-none" change in membrane potential that results in a rapid spike in voltage.
Membrane potential in neurons
Neurons typically have a resting membrane potential of about -70 millivolts (mV). When they receive...
Propagation of Action Potentials01:23

Propagation of Action Potentials

The propagation of an action potential refers to the process by which a nerve impulse, or "action potential," travels along a neuron.
Neurons (nerve cells) have a resting membrane potential, with a slightly negative charge inside compared to outside. This is maintained by ion channels, such as sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+) channels, which control the flow of ions. When a stimulus, like a touch or a signal from another neuron, triggers the neuron, sodium channels open, allowing sodium ions to...
Action Potentials01:41

Action Potentials

Overview
Action Potential: Phases of Stimulation01:28

Action Potential: Phases of Stimulation

The action potential is a complex electrical event that occurs in excitable cells, such as neurons and muscle cells. It consists of several distinct phases, each with specific characteristics.
Resting Phase:
In this phase, the cell's membrane is at its resting potential, typically around -70 millivolts (mV) for neurons. Inside the cell, there is a higher concentration of potassium ions (K+) and a lower concentration of sodium ions (Na+). Voltage-gated sodium channels are closed, and...
Neuroplasticity01:01

Neuroplasticity

Neuroplasticity reflects the brain's remarkable capacity to adapt and evolve, responding dynamically to learning, experiences, or injury by reorganizing its neural circuitry. This reorganization involves creating new neural connections and refining old ones through a series of biological processes that contribute to the brain's lifelong development and adaptability.

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Related Experiment Video

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3D Modeling of Dendritic Spines with Synaptic Plasticity
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Backpropagating action potentials trigger dendritic release of BDNF during spontaneous network activity.

Nicola Kuczewski1, Christophe Porcher, Nadine Ferrand

  • 1Institut de Neurobiologie de la Méditerranée, Inserm Unité 901 and Université de La Méditerranée, 13273 Marseille Cedex 09, France.

The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience
|July 4, 2008
PubMed
Summary

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) release from neurons is activity-dependent. Spontaneous action potentials, not just synaptic activity, trigger this release, impacting neighboring neurons and synaptic plasticity.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is crucial for synapse development and plasticity.
  • BDNF is a secreted protein, suggesting activity-dependent release from neurons.
  • Direct evidence for postsynaptic BDNF release due to network activity has been limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the activity-dependent release of BDNF from postsynaptic neurons.
  • To determine the specific triggers for BDNF release in hippocampal neurons.
  • To explore the downstream effects of neuronally released BDNF on neighboring cells.

Main Methods:

  • Transfection of hippocampal neurons with GFP-tagged BDNF.
  • Whole-cell recording and time-lapse fluorescent imaging.
  • Immunostaining to monitor BDNF release and CREB phosphorylation.

Main Results:

  • Spontaneous backpropagating action potentials, not synaptic activity alone, induced Ca2+-dependent dendritic release of BDNF-GFP.
  • Endogenous BDNF released from one neuron phosphorylated CREB in adjacent neurons.
  • This supports BDNF's role as a target-derived messenger.

Conclusions:

  • Neuron activity, specifically action potentials, directly triggers BDNF release.
  • Released BDNF influences plasticity and gene activation in neighboring neurons.
  • BDNF acts as a key signaling molecule in activity-dependent synaptic plasticity.