长时程抑制在学习记忆中的作用及其分子机制的研究进展

长时程抑制(long term depression,LTD)是突触可塑性的重要形式之一,并且与学习记忆存在着密切的关系。近10年有关LTD的研究表明：LTD诱导和维持过程所必需的许多分子在进化上具有高度的保守性,多种细胞膜受体、细胞信号转导通路级联成分、基因表达的转录调节因子与学习记忆的调控有关,这些研究结果为我们阐明脑的正常功能,治疗中枢系统神经疾病,提供了新的线索。     

海马神经元参与空间定位的长时程记忆

众所周知 ,海马参与长时记忆的贮存和巩固。有报道表明 ,在研究记忆和神经可塑性的实验中 ,海马神经元放电发生短期的改变 ,但一直没有实验证据表明有持久性的神经元活动的变化。最近 ,Ｌｅｖｅｒ等人的研究表明 ,将大鼠置于两种不同几何形状的封闭环境中 ,海马的空间定位神经元对同一位置的反应会逐渐发生偏差 ,这种偏差对环境形状是特异的 ,不依赖于任何确定的奖赏 ,能够持续存在达一个月以上 ,并且当动物转移至同样形状的新环境中时保持不变。作者在大鼠脑内植入微电极以进行细胞外记录。将动物置于相同材料制成的圆形或正方形盒子中 ,监…     

突触长时程增强形成与学习记忆的相关研究

突触长时程增强(LTP)的形成与学习记忆有相似特征,将其作为记忆的一种模式加以研究,并深入探索LTP机制产生与静止突触的关系,长时程突触修饰与突触后神经细胞内Ca^2 的作用机制,学习行为后海马内出现的突触效能变化与行为学习之间的关系,以及BDNF对海马突触的LTP调节与长时记忆所涉及关于LTP的相关基因表达。     

果蝇学习记忆行为的分子机制

分子遗传学技术的应用一方面发展了新的神经组织学方法,使果蝇脑中的细微结构得以展示;另一方面,对记忆从形成到提取过程中信息处理的研究,表明蘑菇体可能在形成长时程记忆方面起重要作用,而一对背内侧核团（dorsal paired medial cells）与蘑菇体之间的信息传递对于记忆的“提取(retrieval)”是至关重要的.行为功能检测为视觉信号整和的研究提供了新的实验依据,从而使果蝇蘑菇体的高级脑中枢功能逐渐被揭示出来.     

果蝇记忆相关蛋白的合成受RNA诱导沉默复合物通路的调节

蛋白质的合成是脊椎动物和无脊椎动物长时程记忆形成的普遍特征,同时伴随着细胞水平的一系列变化,包括突触和神经环路功能的可塑性改变。在突触部位合成的蛋白可能是突触和神经环路可塑性的基础,但在长时程记忆建立过程中突触蛋白的合成模式及其调节因子尚不清楚。钙一钙调蛋白依赖激酶Ⅱ（calcium／calmodulin-dependent kinaseⅡ,CaMKⅡ）在突触部位合成,是记忆形成所必需的蛋白。     

长时程增强翻转的研究进展

长时程增强(LTP)是突触传递功能可塑性的重要表现形式,是大脑内信息储存和记忆形成的细胞机制。近年来的研究资料表明,LTP诱导后,神经元的某些活动可使其翻转(LTP reversal),或称为去强化(depotentiation)。LTP翻转在一些生理功能的完成中具有重要作用,早时相LTP翻转参与了神经环路的细化过程,而晚时相LTP翻转可能是消除有害的或病理性记忆(如痛觉记忆、成瘾记忆)的重要机制之一。因而近年来LTP翻转研究成为神经科学领域的研究热点。本文对引起LTP翻转的条件与机制方面的研究资料予以综述。     

东莨菪碱,印防己毒素对习得性长时程突触增强的影响

在大鼠条件性饮水反应的建立、消退和再建立过程中,于海马 CA_3区记录电极部位微量注射 M-胆碱受体阻断剂东莨菪碱和 GABA 受体阻断剂印防已毒素,观察其对习得性长时程突触增强的影响。结果表明,东莨菪碱有明显的抑制作用,印防已毒素则有明显的易化作用,同时相应地影响条件性行为;并发现习得性长时程突触增强的发展与变化是超前于条件性行为的发展和改变的。上述结果为进一步论证习得性长时程突触增强可能是学习和记忆的神经基础之一提供了证据,并提示海马 CA_3区习得性长时程增强的产生与保持有胆碱受体与 GABA 受体参与。     

θ波与突触传递的长时程改变

长时程增强效应 (long -termpotentiation ,LTP)是一种突触强度的持续性增强 ,它通常由持续高频刺激引起 ,在海马和其他许多脑区均能产生。一般认为LTP与学习和记忆有密切关系。θ波是一种高幅、低频的脑电波 ,它通常在机体进行一些学习相关的行为时出现 ,而且在这种θ波存在的     

长时程突触可塑性中的突触标识

神经元长时程突触可塑性是学习和记忆的基础,神经元长时程突触可塑性的维持依赖于基因的转录和蛋白质合成.然而,这些转录产物和新合成的蛋白质是如何从胞体运输到突触点,还不甚清楚.近年来的研究显示,当长时程突触可塑性发生时,被激活的突触能通过建立突触标记(synaptic tag)来识别、捕捉和利用其所需要的基因产物,以维持突触可塑性的长时程变化.这一过程或现象被称为突触标识(synaptic tagging).本文就近年来突触标识的研究进展作一概述.     

A Novel Paradigm for Nonassociative Long-Term Memory in Drosophila: Predator-Induced Changes in Oviposition Behavior

Learning processes in Drosophila have been studied through the use of Pavlovian associative memory tests, and these paradigms have been extremely useful in identifying both genetic factors and neuroanatomical structures that are essential to memory formation. Whether these same genes and brain compartments also contribute to memory formed from nonassociative experiences is not well understood. Exposures to environmental stressors such as predators are known to induce innate behavioral responses and can lead to new memory formation that allows a predator response to persist for days after the predator threat has been removed. Here, we utilize a unique form of nonassociative behavior in Drosophila where female flies detect the presence of endoparasitoid predatory wasps and alter their oviposition behavior to lay eggs in food containing high levels of alcohol. The predator-induced change in fly oviposition preference is maintained for days after wasps are removed, and this persistence in behavior requires a minimum continuous exposure time of 14 hr. Maintenance of this behavior is dependent on multiple long-term memory genes, including orb2, dunce, rutabaga, amnesiac, and Fmr1. Maintenance of the behavior also requires intact synaptic transmission of the mushroom body. Surprisingly, synaptic output from the mushroom body (MB) or the functions of any of these learning and memory genes are not required for the change in behavior when female flies are in constant contact with wasps. This suggests that perception of this predator that leads to an acute change in oviposition behavior is not dependent on the MB or dependent on learning and memory gene functions. Because wasp-induced oviposition behavior can last for days and its maintenance requires a functional MB and the wild-type products of several known learning and memory genes, we suggest that this constitutes a paradigm for a bona fide form of nonassociative long-term memory that is not dependent on associated experiences.     

Multiple Defects in the Activity of Adenylate Cyclase from the Drosophila Memory Mutant Rutabaga

Adenylate cyclase in homogenates of Drosophila melanogaster is heterogeneous with respect to its affinity toward MgATP and its subcellular distribution. Km values for MgATP range, under similar assay conditions, from approximately 10(-5) M to approximately 10(-3) M, depending on the body region and on the subcellular localization of the enzyme. The majority of the enzyme in whole-body preparations is particulate, but various body regions differ in the relative proportion of the soluble enzyme. The memory mutant rutabaga lacks up to 35% of the total particulate activity. Even ligands that stimulate directly the catalytic subunit are incapable of bringing the activity of the mutant's enzyme to normal levels. The defect is differentially pronounced in various body parts and is associated with an altered responsiveness of the enzyme to Mg2+, to Ca2+, and to forskolin. It is suggested that rutabaga is lesioned in a subpopulation, or a functional state, of adenylate cyclase, which may play a role in memory formation.     

Drosophila Acquires a Long-Lasting Body-Size Memory from Visual Feedback

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Long-term changes in the chromosomal inversion polymorphism of Drosophila subobscura. I. Mediterranean populations from southwestern Europe

The chromosomal polymorphism of seven Mediterranean populations of Drosophila subobscura has been compared with that of the same populations collected 26 to 35 years ago. Significant latitudinal clines for the frequencies of A(ST), E(ST), O(ST). and U(ST) chromosomal arrangements have been detected in the old and new samples. Standard gene arrangements are frequent in the north and decrease in frequency towards the south. Significant negative regression coefficients between latitude and transformed frequency have also been observed for the more frequent nonstandard gene arrangements. The pattern of the clines is practically the same in the old and new collections. Furthermore, the frequencies of gene arrangements of all chromosomes have changed significantly during this period in a systematic way: an increase in the frequency of those arrangements typical of southern latitudes and a decrease for those more common in northern latitudes is observed in all populations. These changes could be due to climatic factors that are correlated with latitude, making the chromosomal composition of this species more "southern.'     

Identifying genes that interact with Drosophila presenilin and amyloid precursor protein

The γ‐secretase complex is involved in cleaving transmembrane proteins such as Notch and one of the genes targeted in Alzheimer's disease known as amyloid precursor protein (APP). Presenilins function within the catalytic core of γ‐secretase, and mutated forms of presenilins were identified as causative factors in familial Alzheimer's disease. Recent studies show that in addition to Notch and APP, numerous signal transduction pathways are modulated by presenilins, including intracellular calcium signaling. Thus, presenilins appear to have diverse roles. To further understand presenilin function, we searched for Presenilin‐interacting genes in Drosophila by performing a genetic modifier screen for enhancers and suppressors of Presenilin‐dependent Notch‐related phenotypes. We identified 177 modifiers, including known members of the Notch pathway and genes involved in intracellular calcium homeostasis. We further demonstrate that 53 of these modifiers genetically interacted with APP. Characterization of these genes may provide valuable insights into Presenilin function in development and disease. genesis 47:246–260, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Differential Role of Hippocampal cAMP-Dependent Protein Kinase in Short- and Long-Term Memory

One-trial step-down inhibitory (passive) avoidance training is followed by two peaks of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) activity in rat CA1: one immediately after training and the other 3 h later. The second peak relies on the first: Immediate posttraining infusion into CA1 of the inhibitor of the regulatory subunit of PKA, Rp-cAMPS, at a dose that reduces PKA activity during less than 90 min, cancelled both peaks. Long-term memory (LTM) of this task measured at 24 h depends on the two peaks: Rp-cAMPS given into CA1 0 or 175 min posttraining, but not between those times, blocked LTM. However, the effect of immediate posttraining Rp-cAMPS on LTM could not be reversed by the activator of the regulatory subunit of PKA, Sp-cAMPS, given at 180 min, which suggests that, for LTM, the first peak may be more important than the second. When given at 0, 22, 45, or 90, but not at 175 min from training, Rp-cAMPS blocked short-term memory (STM) measured at 90 or 180 min. This effect of immediate posttraining Rp-cAMPS infusion on STM but not that on LTM was readily reversed by Sp-cAMPS infused 22 min later. On its own, Sp-cAMPS had effects exactly opposite to those of the inhibitor. It enhanced LTM when given at 0 or 175 min from training, and it enhanced STM when given at 0, 22, 45, or 90 min from training. These findings show that STM and LTM formation require separate PKA-dependent processes in CA1. STM relies on the continued activity of the enzyme during the first 90 min. LTM relies on the two peaks of PKA activity that occur immediately and 180 min posttraining.     

Dual Role of an mps-2/KCNE-Dependent Pathway in Long-Term Memory and Age-Dependent Memory Decline

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Long-term memory of individual identity in ant queens

Remembering individual identities is part of our own everyday social life. Surprisingly, this ability has recently been shown in two social insects. While paper wasps recognize each other individually through their facial markings, the ant, Pachycondyla villosa, uses chemical cues. In both species, individual recognition is adaptive since it facilitates the maintenance of stable dominance hierarchies among individuals, and thus reduces the cost of conflict within these small societies. Here, we investigated individual recognition in Pachycondyla ants by quantifying the level of aggression between pairs of familiar or unfamiliar queens over time. We show that unrelated founding queens of P. villosa and Pachycondyla inversa store information on the individual identity of other queens and can retrieve it from memory after 24h of separation. Thus, we have documented for the first time that long-term memory of individual identity is present and functional in ants. This novel finding represents an advance in our understanding of the mechanism determining the evolution of cooperation among unrelated individuals.     

Drp1的调控对PINK1突变转基因果蝇的保护作用

帕金森病（PD）是以黑质致密部多巴胺神经元选择性减少和胞浆内路易小体的形成为特征的神经退行性疾病。研究发现,PTEN诱导激酶1(PINK1)基因突变导致家族性早发型帕金森病的发生。在转基因果蝇中,PINK1功能丢失导致间接飞行肌缺陷,线粒体结构、功能障碍,多巴胺神经元丢失。本研究在PINK1突变PD转基因果蝇中,进行发动蛋白相关蛋白1（Drp1）过表达和敲低,探索Drp1对PD转基因果蝇的保护作用及其可能机制。本研究选用MHC-Gal4/UAS系统的PD转基因果蝇模型,特异性启动PINK1B9基因于果蝇肌肉组织中表达;运用Drp1基因过表达和RNA干扰干预PINK1B9转基因果蝇,研究其对PD转基因果蝇的作用。结果显示,不论过表达Drp1还是Drp1敲低均可挽救PINK1突变转基因果蝇,降低翅膀异常率,改善飞行能力,恢复间接飞行肌排列,调节线粒体形态,提高ATP生成量,上调NDUFS3蛋白表达水平。本文结果提示,Drp1的调控挽救PINK1突变转基因果蝇与线粒体呼吸链有关。