Spontaneous Activity Drives Local Synaptic Plasticity In Vivo
Johan Winnubst1, Juliette E Cheyne1, Dragos Niculescu1
1Department of Synapse and Network Development, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, 1105 BA Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Neuron
|July 17, 2015
Summary
Synapses that are out of sync with their neighbors in the developing brain become weaker. This "out-of-sync, lose-your-link" plasticity, mediated by proBDNF/p75(NTR) signaling, refines neuronal connections.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Synaptic Plasticity
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Spontaneous neuronal activity is crucial for refining connections in the developing brain.
- Understanding the synaptic plasticity mechanisms governing this process is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how spontaneous activity influences synaptic plasticity at individual synapses.
- To elucidate the local rules governing synaptic refinement in the mouse visual cortex.
Main Methods:
- Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings and calcium imaging in vivo in the mouse visual cortex.
- In vitro electrophysiological recordings in hippocampal slices.
- Manipulation of synaptic synchronicity and blockade of proBDNF/p75(NTR) signaling.
Main Results:
- Synapses with low local synchronicity (<12 μm) showed decreased transmission frequency.
- This depression is due to reduced synaptic transmission efficiency.
- Increasing local synchronicity stabilized synaptic transmission, while p75(NTR) blockade prevented depression.
Conclusions:
- Spontaneous activity employs a local plasticity rule: "out-of-sync, lose-your-link".
- Pro-nerve growth factor (proBDNF) signaling via its receptor p75(NTR) mediates this depression.
- This mechanism refines neuronal connectivity during brain development.
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