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

Glycosaminoglycans01:23

Glycosaminoglycans

6.3K
Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), also known as mucopolysaccharides, are long and linear polymers comprising of specific repeating disaccharides - the amino sugar that can be N-acetylglucosamine or N-acetylgalactosamine, and a uronic acid that is usually glucuronic acid or iduronic acid.
GAGS are found in the extracellular matrix of vertebrates, invertebrates, and bacteria. Due to their polar nature they attract water, and serve as excellent lubricants or shock absorbers in an animal body.
Hyaluronic...
6.3K
Integration of Synaptic Events01:28

Integration of Synaptic Events

3.2K
Synaptic integration mainly includes the summation of graded potentials. Graded potentials, regardless of their type, cause subtle alterations in membrane voltage, resulting in either depolarization or hyperpolarization. These incremental changes, when combined or summed, can propel the neuron toward its threshold. Consider, for example, a membrane experiencing a +15 mV shift, causing it to depolarize from -70 mV to -55 mV. In this scenario, graded potentials govern the membrane's ability to...
3.2K
Overview of Synapses01:25

Overview of Synapses

4.3K
A synapse is a specialized structure where two neurons connect, allowing them to pass an electrical or chemical signal to another neuron. It is the point of communication between neurons. The term "synapse" is derived from the Greek word "synapsis," which means "conjunction." The entire process of neural communication revolves around the synapse. When activated, a neuron releases chemicals known as neurotransmitters into the synapse. These neurotransmitters cross the synapse and bind to...
4.3K
Assembly of Complex Microtubule Structures01:32

Assembly of Complex Microtubule Structures

2.3K
Complex microtubule structures are present in resting cells and in dividing cells. In resting cells, they are responsible for maintaining the cellular architecture, tracks for intracellular transport, positioning of organelles, assembly of cilia and flagella. They mediate the bipolar spindle assembly for chromosomal segregation and positioning of the cell division plate in dividing cells. The formation of microtubule complex structures depends on the cell type, cell stage, and cell function.
2.3K
Neuroplasticity01:01

Neuroplasticity

1.3K
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.
1.3K
Neurotransmitters01:31

Neurotransmitters

2.2K
Neurotransmitters are essential chemical messengers within the nervous system, facilitating the communication between neurons. These chemical messengers, varying in function and effect, are critical for sustaining various aspects of neurological health and emotional well-being.
2.2K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Primary cilia promote cardiac fibrosis and limit heart function after myocardial infarction.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Impact of United Kingdom guidelines for stratification of risk in adult hospital inpatients identified with sepsis - an observational cohort study.

BMC infectious diseases·2026
Same author

Model checks for Bayesian estimation and forecasting of health coverage indicators in low- and middle-income countries.

Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences·2026
Same author

Nightly sleep as a predictor of next-day arrhythmias in ambulatory adults.

Journal of electrocardiology·2026
Same author

Acute effects of caffeine withdrawal on headache among regular caffeinated coffee drinkers.

Scientific reports·2026
Same author

RNA-triggered cell killing with CRISPR-Cas12a2.

Nature·2026
Same journal

Therapeutic potential of crude protein extracts from two Egyptian freshwater snails Lanistes carinatus and Bellamya unicolor.

Scientific reports·2026
Same journal

Microbial contamination of donor corneas and post-keratoplasty endophthalmitis: a comparison between Japanese and U.S. eye banks using cold storage.

Scientific reports·2026
Same journal

Prevalence and contributing factors of virological non-suppression among adult patients on first-line antiretroviral therapy in tertiary hospitals in Ethiopia.

Scientific reports·2026
Same journal

An in vitro comparison of color stability between alkasite and different restorative materials in various staining solutions.

Scientific reports·2026
Same journal

Toward accessible mRNA LNP formulation: systematic evaluation of mixing strategies and key parameters.

Scientific reports·2026
Same journal

A network analysis of personality traits, mentalizing, and psychological health in Chinese college students.

Scientific reports·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 6, 2025

In Vitro Investigation of the Effects of the Hyaluronan-Rich Extracellular Matrix on Neural Crest Cell Migration
11:16

In Vitro Investigation of the Effects of the Hyaluronan-Rich Extracellular Matrix on Neural Crest Cell Migration

Published on: February 10, 2023

1.4K

Hyaluronan regulates synapse formation and function in developing neural networks.

Emily Wilson1, Warren Knudson1, Karen Newell-Litwa2

  • 1Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA.

Scientific Reports
|October 6, 2020
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Hyaluronan, a key component of the brain extracellular matrix, regulates the balance of excitatory and inhibitory synapses during neurodevelopment. Its removal boosts excitatory synapse formation, increasing neural network activity.

More Related Videos

Quantifying Synapses: an Immunocytochemistry-based Assay to Quantify Synapse Number
18:11

Quantifying Synapses: an Immunocytochemistry-based Assay to Quantify Synapse Number

Published on: November 16, 2010

36.4K
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

17.8K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Dec 6, 2025

In Vitro Investigation of the Effects of the Hyaluronan-Rich Extracellular Matrix on Neural Crest Cell Migration
11:16

In Vitro Investigation of the Effects of the Hyaluronan-Rich Extracellular Matrix on Neural Crest Cell Migration

Published on: February 10, 2023

1.4K
Quantifying Synapses: an Immunocytochemistry-based Assay to Quantify Synapse Number
18:11

Quantifying Synapses: an Immunocytochemistry-based Assay to Quantify Synapse Number

Published on: November 16, 2010

36.4K
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

17.8K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Synaptic alterations disrupt excitatory-inhibitory balance in neurodevelopmental disorders like epilepsy and autism.
  • Mechanisms establishing this balance during early brain development remain unclear.
  • The brain extracellular matrix, primarily hyaluronan, plays a structural role from early development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate how hyaluronan influences synapse formation and function in human cortical development.
  • Determine hyaluronan's role in regulating the ratio of excitatory to inhibitory synapses.
  • Assess the impact of hyaluronan on neural activity during synaptogenesis.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized 3-D cortical spheroids from human induced pluripotent stem cells to model neurodevelopment.
  • Experimentally altered hyaluronan levels during the critical synaptogenesis period.
  • Employed microelectrode array analysis to measure network activity.

Main Results:

  • Hyaluronan was observed to preferentially associate with developing excitatory synapses.
  • Removing hyaluronan increased excitatory synapse markers and formation, while decreasing inhibitory synapse formation.
  • Elevated excitatory synapse formation led to increased overall network activity.

Conclusions:

  • Hyaluronan in the extracellular matrix is crucial for regulating excitatory synapse development.
  • This regulation by hyaluronan is key to establishing the excitatory-inhibitory signaling balance in the developing brain.
  • Findings offer insights into neurodevelopmental disorders linked to synaptic imbalances.