Topic: hippocampal pyramidal neurons

Altered neuronal excitability in neurodevelopmental disorders can have profound implications for adult brain function. Understanding the critical time windows determining the clinical outcomes and lasting changes induced during these periods is therefore crucial. In our mouse model of developmental and epileptic encephalopathy (DEE) harboring a patient-derived Scn2a (p.A263V) mutation that results in a gain-of-function of Nav1.2 channels, Scn2a mutants exhibit a transient increase in excitability of hippocampal pyramidal neurons in vitro during the neonatal period. In vivo, homozygous Scn2a mu

Although essential for protein structure, stability and function, polyamination is still poorly explored posttranslational modification. In the brain, polyamines (putrescine, spermidine and spermine), are involved in a variety of neuronal processes, including neuronal development, neurotransmission, neuroprotection and synaptic plasticity, but it remains to be identified what is the role of polyamination in these mechanisms.Hippocampal pyramidal neurons exhibit specific properties, depending on the subregion. Those found in the subregion CA1 possess plastic synapses and are very sensitive to e

Dravet Syndrome (DS) is a severe epileptic encephalopathy associated with a high risk of premature death caused by sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). The disease is caused by haploinsufficiency of SCN1A gene, encoding the alpha subunit of the voltage-gated sodium channel Nav1.1. While DS onset is triggered by interneuron (IN) hypoexcitability, alterations in glutamatergic neurons contribute to its progression. Current gene therapy strategies aim to boost SCN1A gene expression in INs, prompting this study to investigate whether targeting them alone at various disease stages is suffici

The hippocampus plays an important role in memory formation. Hippocampal sharp wave ripples (SWRs) are critical for memory consolidation, during which a large number of hippocampal pyramidal neurons fire synchronously. Recent studies indicate that the participation of hippocampal pyramidal neurons in SWRs is variable. The variability may be explained by gene expression pattterns. However, there are no adequate methods to comprehensively analyze these molecular properties of a single neuron in the context of its electrophysiological spike patterns. Here, we developed an experimental technique t

Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays a crucial role in regulating synaptic plasticity and neuronal architecture through complex downstream signalling cascades mediated via receptor Tyrosine Kinase B (TrkB). Impaired BDNF/TrkB signalling has been associated with several neurological disorders. A treatment with Fingolimod has been shown in vitro and in vivo to promote BDNF synthesis and release and exert BDNF-dependent neuroprotection. Estrogens are a group of steroid sex hormones synthesised by neurons and astrocytes predominantly in females. In the hippocampus, estradiol plays a cruc