Miro1‐dependent mitochondrial positioning drives the rescaling of presynaptic Ca2+ signals during homeostatic plasticity

Mitochondrial trafficking is influenced by neuronal activity, but it remains unclear how mitochondrial positioning influences neuronal transmission and plasticity. Here, we use live cell imaging with the genetically encoded presynaptically targeted Ca²⁺ indicator, SyGCaMP5, to address whether presynaptic Ca²⁺ responses are altered by mitochondria in synaptic terminals. We find that presynaptic Ca²⁺ signals, as well as neurotransmitter release, are significantly decreased in terminals containing mitochondria. Moreover, the localisation of mitochondria at presynaptic sites can be altered during long‐term activity changes, dependent on the Ca²⁺‐sensing function of the mitochondrial trafficking protein, Miro1. In addition, we find that Miro1‐mediated activity‐dependent synaptic repositioning of mitochondria allows neurons to homeostatically alter the strength of presynaptic Ca²⁺ signals in response to prolonged changes in neuronal activity. Our results support a model in which mitochondria are recruited to presynaptic terminals during periods of raised neuronal activity and are involved in rescaling synaptic signals during homeostatic plasticity.     

Exposure to hypoxia rapidly induces mitochondrial channel activity within a living synapse

One of the earliest effects of hypoxia on neuronal function is to produce a run-down of synaptic transmission, and more prolonged hypoxia results in neuronal death. An increase in the permeability of the outer mitochondrial membrane, controlled by BCL-2 family proteins, occurs in response to stimuli that trigger cell death. By patch clamping mitochondrial membranes inside the presynaptic terminal of a squid giant synapse, we have now found that several minutes of hypoxia trigger the opening of large multiconductance channels. The channel activity is induced concurrently with the attenuation of synaptic responses that occurs under hypoxic conditions. Hypoxia-induced channels are inhibited by NADH, an agent that inhibits large conductance channels produced by a pro-apoptotic fragment of BCL-xL in these synaptic mitochondria. The appearance of hypoxia-induced channels was also prevented by the caspase/cysteine protease inhibitor benzyloxycarbonyl-VAD-fluoromethyl ketone (Z-VAD-fmk), which inhibits proteolysis of BCL-xL during hypoxia. Both NADH and Z-VAD-fmk reduced significantly the rate of decline of synaptic responses during hypoxia. Our results indicate that an increase in outer mitochondrial channel activity is a very early event in the response of neurons to hypoxia and suggest that this increase in activity may contribute to the decline in synaptic function during hypoxia.     

Do specific NMDA receptor subunits act as gateways for addictive behaviors?

Addiction to alcohol and drugs is a major social and economic problem, and there is considerable interest in understanding the molecular mechanisms that promote addictive drives. A number of proteins have been identified that contribute to expression of addictive behaviors. NMDA receptors (NMDARs), a subclass of ionotropic glutamate receptors, have been of particular interest because their physiological properties make them an attractive candidate for gating induction of synaptic plasticity, a molecular change thought to mediate learning and memory. NMDARs are generally inactive at the hyperpolarized resting potentials of many neurons. However, given sufficient depolarization, NMDARs are activated and exhibit long‐lasting currents with significant calcium permeability. Also, in addition to stimulating neurons by direct depolarization, NMDARs and their calcium signaling can allow strong and/or synchronized inputs to produce long‐term changes in other molecules (such as AMPA‐type glutamate receptors) which can last from days to years, binding internal and external stimuli in a long‐term memory trace. Such memories could allow salient drug‐related stimuli to exert strong control over future behaviors and thus promote addictive drives. Finally, NMDARs may themselves undergo plasticity, which can alter subsequent neuronal stimulation and/or the ability to induce plasticity. This review will address recent and past findings suggesting that NMDAR activity promotes drug‐ and alcohol‐related behaviors, with a particular focus on GluN2B subunits as possible central regulators of many addictive behaviors, as well as newer studies examining the importance of non‐canonical NMDAR subunits and endogenous NMDAR cofactors.     

Regulation of Synaptic Transmission by Mitochondrial Ion Channels

Mitochondria are abundant within neuronal presynaptic terminals, where they provide energy for sustained neurotransmitter secretion. Injection of Bcl-xL protein into squid giant presynaptic terminal potentiates neurotransmitter release, while a naturally occurring, proteolytic fragment of BCL-xL causes rundown of synaptic function. The cleaved form of BCL-xL generates large, multiconductance ion channel activity in synaptic mitochondrial outer membranes. A rapid onset of synaptic rundown can also be produced by depriving the synapse of oxygen, and hypoxia also induces large channel activity in mitochondrial outer membranes. Channel activity induced by cleaved BCL-xL or by hypoxia is attenuated by NADH, an inhibitor of the voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC) of mitochondrial outer membranes. Finally, the large conductances elicited by hypoxia are prevented by the addition of a protease inhibitor that prevents cleavage of BCL-xL. The opposing activities of BCL-xL and its proteolytic fragment may regulate the release of ATP from mitochondria during synaptic transmission.     

Mitochondrial potassium channels and uncoupling proteins in synaptic plasticity and neuronal cell death

The function of the nervous system relies upon synaptic transmission, a process in which a neurotransmitter released from pre-synaptic terminals of one neuron (in response to membrane depolarization and calcium influx) activates post-synaptic receptors on dendrites of another neuron. Synapses are subjected to repeated bouts of oxidative and metabolic stress as the result of changing ion gradients and ATP usage. Mitochondria play central roles in meeting the demands of synapses for ATP and in regulating calcium homeostasis, and mitochondrial dysfunction can cause dysfunction and degeneration of synapses, and can trigger cell death. We have identified two types of mitochondrial proteins that serve the function of protecting synapses and neurons against dysfunction and death. Mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium (MitoKATP) channels modulate inner membrane potential and oxyradical production; mitochondrial potassium fluxes can affect cytochrome c release and caspase activation and may determine whether neurons live or die in experimental models of stroke and Alzheimer's disease. Uncoupling proteins (UCPs) are a family of mitochondrial membrane proteins that uncouple electron transport from ATP production by transporting protons across the inner membrane. Neurons express at least three UCPs including the widely expressed UCP-2 and the neuron-specific UCP-4 and UCP-5 (BMCP-1). We have found that UCP-4 protects neurons against apoptosis by a mechanism involving suppression of oxyradical production and stabilization of cellular calcium homeostasis. The expression of UCP-4 is itself regulated by changes in energy metabolism. In addition to their roles in neuronal cell survival and death, MitoKATP channels and UCPs may play roles in regulating neuronal differentiation during development and synaptic plasticity in the adult.     

Activity-Dependent Bidirectional Regulation of GAD Expression in a Homeostatic Fashion Is Mediated by BDNF-Dependent and Independent Pathways

Homeostatic synaptic plasticity, or synaptic scaling, is a mechanism that tunes neuronal transmission to compensate for prolonged, excessive changes in neuronal activity. Both excitatory and inhibitory neurons undergo homeostatic changes based on synaptic transmission strength, which could effectively contribute to a fine-tuning of circuit activity. However, gene regulation that underlies homeostatic synaptic plasticity in GABAergic (GABA, gamma aminobutyric) neurons is still poorly understood. The present study demonstrated activity-dependent dynamic scaling in which NMDA-R (N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor) activity regulated the expression of GABA synthetic enzymes: glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 and 67 (GAD65 and GAD67). Results revealed that activity-regulated BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) release is necessary, but not sufficient, for activity-dependent up-scaling of these GAD isoforms. Bidirectional forms of activity-dependent GAD expression require both BDNF-dependent and BDNF-independent pathways, both triggered by NMDA-R activity. Additional results indicated that these two GAD genes differ in their responsiveness to chronic changes in neuronal activity, which could be partially caused by differential dependence on BDNF. In parallel to activity-dependent bidirectional scaling in GAD expression, the present study further observed that a chronic change in neuronal activity leads to an alteration in neurotransmitter release from GABAergic neurons in a homeostatic, bidirectional fashion. Therefore, the differential expression of GAD65 and 67 during prolonged changes in neuronal activity may be implicated in some aspects of bidirectional homeostatic plasticity within mature GABAergic presynapses.     

Homeostatic changes of short-term plasticity of gabaergic synaptic transmission in rat hippocampal cell cultures

It is well documented that prolonged alteration of activity in neuronal networks initiates a number of homeostatic mechanisms including compensatory changes of excitatory and inhibitory synaptic strength. We studied whether this also evokes compensatory changes of short-term synaptic transmission. Using patch-clamp technique in hippocampal cell cultures we examined the effects: of prolonged decrease of neuronal firing evoked by sodium channel blocker: tetrodotoxin (TTX) and ionotropic glutamate receptor antagonist - kynurenate; prolonged enhancement ofneuronal firing evoked by antagonist GABAA receptors - bicuculline on short-term depression of GABAergic synaptic transmission evoked by train of stimuli (5 Hz). We found that both TTX and kynurenate treatments enhance depression of GABAergic transmission, while bicuculline treatment does not. We conclude that alteration of depression of GABAergic transmission evoked by the prolonged decrease of neuronal activity may contribute to homeostatic plasticity in hippocampal neuronal networks.     

Brain plasticity and ion channels

It is generally believed that spatio-temporal configurations of distributed activity in the brain contribute to the coding of neuronal information and that synaptic contacts between nerve cells could play a central role in the formation of privileged pathways of activity. Synaptic plasticity is not the only mode of regulation of information processing in the brain and persistent regulations of ionic conductances in some specialized neuronal areas such as the dendrites, the cell body and the axon could also modulate, in the short- and the long-term, the propagation of information in the brain. Persistent changes in intrinsic excitability have been reported in several brain areas in which activity is modified during a classical conditioning. The role of synaptic activity seems to be determinant in the induction but the learning rules and the underlying mechanisms remain to be defined. This review discusses the role of neuronal activity in the induction of intrinsic plasticity in cortical, hippocampal and cerebellar neurons. Activation and inactivation properties of ionic channels in the axon determine the short-term dynamics of axonal propagation and synaptic transmission. Activation of glutamate receptors initiates a long-term modification in neuronal excitability that may represent the substrate for the mnesic engram and for the stabilization of the epileptic state. Similarly to synaptic plasticity, long-lasting intrinsic plasticity appears to be reversible and to express a certain level of input or cellular specificity. These non-synaptic forms of plasticity affect the signal propagation in the axon, the dendrites and the soma. They not only share common learning rules and induction pathways with the better known synaptic plasticity such as NMDA receptor-dependent LTP and LTD but also contribute in synergy with these synaptic changes to the formation of a coherent mnesic engram.     

Inhibiting the mitochondrial fission machinery does not prevent Bax/Bak-dependent apoptosis

Apoptosis, induced by a number of death stimuli, is associated with a fragmentation of the mitochondrial network. These morphological changes in mitochondria have been shown to require proteins, such as Drp1 or hFis1, which are involved in regulating the fission of mitochondria. However, the precise role of mitochondrial fission during apoptosis remains elusive. Here we report that inhibiting the fission machinery in Bax/Bak-mediated apoptosis, by down-regulating of Drp1 or hFis1, prevents the fragmentation of the mitochondrial network and partially inhibits the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria but fails to block the efflux of Smac/DIABLO. In addition, preventing mitochondrial fragmentation does not inhibit cell death induced by Bax/Bak-dependent death stimuli, in contrast to the effects of Bcl-xL or caspase inhibition. Therefore, the fission of mitochondria is a dispensable event in Bax/Bak-dependent apoptosis.     

BCL-xL regulates synaptic plasticity

Mitochondria are the predominant organelle within many presynaptic terminals. During times of high synaptic activity, they affect intracellular calcium homeostasis and provide the energy needed for synaptic vesicle recycling and for the continued operation of membrane ion pumps. Recent discoveries have altered our ideas about the role of mitochondria in the synapse. Mitochondrial localization, morphology, and docking at synaptic sites may indeed alter the kinetics of transmitter release and calcium homeostasis in the presynaptic terminal. In addition, the mitochondrial ion channel BCL-xL, known as a protector against programmed cell death, regulates mitochondrial membrane conductance and bioenergetics in the synapse and can thereby alter synaptic transmitter release and the recycling of pools of synaptic vesicles. BCL-xL, therefore, not only affects the life and death of the cell soma, but its actions in the synapse may underlie the regulation of basic synaptic processes that subtend learning, memory and synaptic development.     

Theoretical aspects of neuroplasticity.

The authors propose an integrative theory of the organization of neuroplastic processes. Neuroplasticity is assumed to be one of the essential characteristics of the nervous tissue which may be manifested comparatively rapidly and result in reversible changes (functional plasticity). It may also modulate the expression of genotype into phenotype (adaptation) and thus bring about long-lasting effects. Neuroplastic mechanisms are triggered by various natural or artificial stimuli, which may arise in the internal or external environment, and they may differ quantitatively or qualitatively. The effects of plasticity can lead to either positive or negative changes during development (evolutionary plasticity), after short-term exposition (reactive plasticity), after long-term or continuous stimuli (adaptational plasticity), and during functional or structural recovery of damaged neuronal circuits (reparation plasticity). Manifestations of plasticity have probably the same basis, irrespective of the cause which triggered them or the brain region where they were accomplished. Neuroplastic mechanisms are based on the modulation of signal transmission across synapses. They can be related to interneuronal relations. The resulting changes may occur in the communication between neurons (synaptic level), in the activity of local neuronal circuits (at the level of local circuits) or in the relations between individual functional brain systems (multimodular level).     

Amyloid beta-peptide effects on synaptosomes from apolipoprotein E-deficient mice

Apolipoprotein E (apoE) is present in the brain and may contribute to neurophysiologic or neuropathologic events, depending on environmental and genetic influences. Recent studies indicate a role for apoE in synaptic plasticity and maintenance of synaptic membrane symmetry, suggesting that apoE may be involved in regulating synaptic homeostasis. In the present study, cerebrocortical synaptosomes were prepared from transgenic mice lacking apoE (apoE KO) to analyze the possible contribution of apoE toward maintaining homeostasis in synaptosomes. Synaptosomal preparations from apoE KO and wild-type mice exhibited similar basal levels of reactive oxygen species, mitochondrial function, and caspase activity; however, following application of amyloid beta-peptide [Abeta(1-40)], apoE KO synaptosomes displayed increased levels of oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and caspase activation compared with synaptosomes from wild-type mice. Synaptosomal membranes from apoE KO mice were more fluid than wild-type synaptosomes and contained higher levels of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, consistent with elevated levels of lipid peroxidation occurring in the synapses of apoE KO mice. Together, these data are consistent with a role for apoE in maintaining homeostasis by attenuating oxidative stress, caspase activation, and mitochondrial homeostasis in synapses.     

Disruption of mitochondrial function during apoptosis is mediated by caspase cleavage of the p75 subunit of complex I of the electron transport chain

Mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization and cytochrome c release promote caspase activation and execution of apoptosis through cleavage of specific caspase substrates in the cell. Among the first targets of activated caspases are the permeabilized mitochondria themselves, leading to disruption of electron transport, loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential (DeltaPsim), decline in ATP levels, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and loss of mitochondrial structural integrity. Here, we identify NDUFS1, the 75 kDa subunit of respiratory complex I, as a critical caspase substrate in the mitochondria. Cells expressing a noncleavable mutant of p75 sustain DeltaPsim and ATP levels during apoptosis, and ROS production in response to apoptotic stimuli is dampened. While cytochrome c release and DNA fragmentation are unaffected by the noncleavable p75 mutant, mitochondrial morphology of dying cells is maintained, and loss of plasma membrane integrity is delayed. Therefore, caspase cleavage of NDUFS1 is required for several mitochondrial changes associated with apoptosis.     

Synaptic gain control and homeostasis

Chronic changes in activity can induce neurons to alter the strength of all their synapses in unison. Although the specific changes that occur appear to vary depending on the experimental preparation, their net effect is to counter the experimentally induced modification of activity. Such adaptive, cell-wide changes in synaptic strength serve to stabilize neuronal activity and are collectively referred to as homeostatic synaptic plasticity. Recent studies have shed light on what triggers homeostatic synaptic plasticity, whether or not it is distinct from other forms of synaptic plasticity and whether or not it occurs in the intact brain.     

Presynaptic plasticity and associative learning are impaired in a Drosophila presenilin null mutant

Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive memory and cognitive decline that is associated with changes in synaptic plasticity and neuronal cell loss. Recent evidence suggests that some of these defects may be due to a loss of normal presenilin activity. Here, we have examined the effect of loss of Drosophila presenilin (psn) function on synaptic plasticity and learning. Basal transmitter release was elevated in psn mutants while both paired pulse synaptic plasticity and post-tetanic potentiation were impaired. These defects in synaptic strength and plasticity were not due to developmental defects in NMJ morphology. We also found that psn null terminals take up significantly less FM 4-64 than control terminals when loaded with high frequency stimulation, suggesting a defect in synaptic vesicle availability or mobilization. To determine whether these reductions in synaptic plasticity had any impact on learning, we tested the larvae for defects in associative learning. Using both olfactory and visual learning assays, we found that associative learning is impaired in psn mutants compared with controls. Both the learning and synaptic defects could be rescued by expression of a full length psn transgene suggesting the defects are specifically due to a loss of psn function. Taken together, these results provide the first evidence of learning and synaptic defects in a Drosophila psn mutant and strongly suggest a presynaptic role for presenilin in normal neuronal function.     

MicroRNA132 modulates short-term synaptic plasticity but not basal release probability in hippocampal neurons

MicroRNAs play important regulatory roles in a broad range of cellular processes including neuronal morphology and long-term synaptic plasticity. MicroRNA-132 (miR132) is a CREB-regulated miRNA that is induced by neuronal activity and neurotrophins, and plays a role in regulating neuronal morphology and cellular excitability. Little is known about the effects of miR132 expression on synaptic function. Here we show that overexpression of miR132 increases the paired-pulse ratio and decreases synaptic depression in cultured mouse hippocampal neurons without affecting the initial probability of neurotransmitter release, the calcium sensitivity of release, the amplitude of excitatory postsynaptic currents or the size of the readily releasable pool of synaptic vesicles. These findings are the first to demonstrate that microRNAs can regulate short-term plasticity in neurons.