Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Long-term Depression01:05

Long-term Depression

33.4K
Long-term depression, or LTD, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTD is the process of synaptic weakening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic weakening of LTD works in opposition to synaptic strengthening by long-term potentiation (LTP) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
33.4K
Long-term Depression01:03

Long-term Depression

3.5K
Long-term depression, or LTD, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTD is the process of synaptic weakening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic weakening of LTD works in opposition to synaptic strengthening by long-term potentiation (LTP) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
Calcium Ion Concentration Mechanism
If over...
3.5K
Alzheimer's Disease: Overview01:26

Alzheimer's Disease: Overview

1.8K
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a continually advancing neurodegenerative disorder, distinguished by escalating memory loss, cognitive dysfunction, and dementia. The disease unfolds in three stages: preclinical, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and dementia. Its onset is insidious, and the progression gradual, with the cause not well explained by other disorders.
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ...
1.8K
Sexually Transmitted Infections01:26

Sexually Transmitted Infections

1.3K
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are diseases transmitted primarily through unsafe sexual interactions. Bacteria, viruses, or parasites cause them and can result in severe health complications if untreated.ChlamydiaThe bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis is responsible for the disease Chlamydia, the most common STI in the United States. This peculiar pathogen requires human cells to reproduce, residing intracellularly. The initial infection often goes unnoticed because it typically does not...
1.3K
Retrovirus Life Cycles01:10

Retrovirus Life Cycles

49.9K
Retroviruses have a single-stranded RNA genome that undergoes a special form of replication. Once the retrovirus has entered the host cell, an enzyme called reverse transcriptase synthesizes double-stranded DNA from the retroviral RNA genome. This DNA copy of the genome is then integrated into the host’s genome inside the nucleus via an enzyme called integrase. Consequently, the retroviral genome is transcribed into RNA whenever the host’s genome is transcribed, allowing the...
49.9K
Drugs Affecting Neurotransmitter Synthesis01:29

Drugs Affecting Neurotransmitter Synthesis

2.3K
Drugs affecting neurotransmitter synthesis can impact the adrenergic neuron and the synthesis of neurotransmitters. For example, α-methyltyrosine and carbidopa target specific enzymes involved in catecholamine synthesis. α-methyltyrosine inhibits the enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase, which converts tyrosine into dopamine. By blocking this enzyme, α-methyltyrosine reduces dopamine production and other catecholamines. Carbidopa, on the other hand, inhibits the enzyme dopa decarboxylase,...
2.3K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Illuminating ongoing pain in mice with novel bioluminescent imaging.

The journal of pain·2026
Same author

The Wnt5a-PKCδ-GluA1 axis controls synapse-specific plasticity in HIV-1 gp120-induced pain pathogenesis.

Brain : a journal of neurology·2026
Same author

Identification of a reactive astrocyte subpopulation during HIV-associated pain pathogenesis in mouse models.

Nature communications·2025
Same author

Differential selectivity of microglia and astrocytes in HIV-1 gp120-induced synaptic pruning.

Brain : a journal of neurology·2025
Same author

New Spatial Phenotypes from Imaging Uncover Survival Differences for Breast Cancer Patients.

ACM-BCB ... ... : the ... ACM Conference on Bioinformatics, Computational Biology and Biomedicine. ACM Conference on Bioinformatics, Computational Biology and Biomedicine·2025
Same author

Development of noninvasive imaging to measure spontaneous pain in mice.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2025
Same journal

Genetically predicted CXCL16 expression is associated with Parkinson's disease risk and peripheral immune cell dysregulation: a two-sample mendelian randomization study.

Molecular brain·2026
Same journal

Endovascular stem cell therapy reconfigures post-stroke ER dynamics via GRP78/Atlastin/CHOP axis.

Molecular brain·2026
Same journal

OptoH<sub>3</sub>R fusion protein mimics β-arrestin-mediated membrane endocytosis of histamine H<sub>3</sub> receptor in vitro.

Molecular brain·2026
Same journal

Generating models for isoform-specific PKM-KIBRA interactions with BIFC, stabilization and AlphaFold 3.

Molecular brain·2026
Same journal

Therapeutic potential of AdipoRon in cognitive, depressive, and anxiety disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Molecular brain·2026
Same journal

PAK1 expression protects cellular and behavioral defects in animal models of Parkinson' s disease.

Molecular brain·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 23, 2026

Imaging of HIV-1 Envelope-induced Virological Synapse and Signaling on Synthetic Lipid Bilayers
11:45

Imaging of HIV-1 Envelope-induced Virological Synapse and Signaling on Synthetic Lipid Bilayers

Published on: March 8, 2012

12.7K

HIV-associated synaptic degeneration.

Wenjuan Ru1, Shao-Jun Tang2

  • 1Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA.

Molecular Brain
|August 31, 2017
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection causes brain damage, leading to HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). Understanding synaptic degeneration mechanisms is key to developing new treatments for HAND.

More Related Videos

Evaluation of Synapse Density in Hippocampal Rodent Brain Slices
07:44

Evaluation of Synapse Density in Hippocampal Rodent Brain Slices

Published on: October 6, 2017

18.2K
Visualizing Synaptic Degeneration in Adult Drosophila in Association with Neurodegeneration
06:10

Visualizing Synaptic Degeneration in Adult Drosophila in Association with Neurodegeneration

Published on: May 13, 2020

6.8K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Feb 23, 2026

Imaging of HIV-1 Envelope-induced Virological Synapse and Signaling on Synthetic Lipid Bilayers
11:45

Imaging of HIV-1 Envelope-induced Virological Synapse and Signaling on Synthetic Lipid Bilayers

Published on: March 8, 2012

12.7K
Evaluation of Synapse Density in Hippocampal Rodent Brain Slices
07:44

Evaluation of Synapse Density in Hippocampal Rodent Brain Slices

Published on: October 6, 2017

18.2K
Visualizing Synaptic Degeneration in Adult Drosophila in Association with Neurodegeneration
06:10

Visualizing Synaptic Degeneration in Adult Drosophila in Association with Neurodegeneration

Published on: May 13, 2020

6.8K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Virology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection frequently leads to neuronal injury.
  • Despite effective antiretroviral therapy, HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) remain prevalent.
  • Synaptic degeneration is a key neuropathology in HAND.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the mechanisms underlying synaptic degeneration in HIV infection.
  • To identify specific pathways contributing to HAND pathogenesis.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of viral protein effects on neuronal cells.
  • Investigation of inflammatory responses in the central nervous system.
  • Assessment of calcium influx and oxidative stress in neurons.

Main Results:

  • Viral proteins and neurotoxins from infected cells contribute to neuronal damage.
  • Excessive calcium influx, free radical overproduction, and neurotransmitter imbalance are observed.
  • Dysregulation of neural circuits results in synaptic damage and loss.

Conclusions:

  • Synaptic degeneration is a critical factor in HAND development.
  • Targeting viral proteins and inflammatory pathways may offer therapeutic benefits.
  • Further research into specific mechanisms can guide the development of effective HAND treatments.