Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) is a pivotal cofactor for enzymes responsible for the synthesis and release of monoamine neurotransmitters including dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT) as well as the release of glutamate (Glu). Deficiencies in BH4 levels and reduced activities of BH(4)-associated enzymes have been recently reported in patients with schizophrenia. Accordingly, it is possible that abnor...

PURPOSE Impaired GABAergic inhibition has been implicated in the pathophysiology of epilepsy. The possibility of a paradoxical excitatory effect of GABA in epilepsy has been suggested, but has not been investigated in vivo. We investigated pre- and post-synaptic GABAergic mechanisms in patients with idiopathic generalised epilepsy (IGE). METHOD In 10 patients and 12 control subjects we explor...

The dynamics, computational power, and strength of neural circuits are essential for encoding and processing information in the CNS and rely on short and long forms of synaptic plasticity. In a model system, residual calcium (Ca(2+)) in presynaptic terminals can act through neuronal Ca(2+) sensor proteins to cause Ca(2+)-dependent facilitation (CDF) of P/Q-type channels and induce short-term sy...

33 Purpose: Impaired GABAergic inhibition has been implicated in the pathophysiology of 34 epilepsy. The possibility of a paradoxical excitatory effect of GABA in epilepsy has been 35 suggested, but has not been investigated in vivo. We investigated preand post-synaptic 36 GABAergic mechanisms in patients with idiopathic generalised epilepsy (IGE). 37 Methods: In 10 patients and 12 control subj...

Modulation of P/Q-type Ca(2+) currents through presynaptic voltage-gated calcium channels (Ca(V)2.1) by binding of Ca(2+)/calmodulin contributes to short-term synaptic plasticity. Ca(2+)-binding protein-1 (CaBP1) and Visinin-like protein-2 (VILIP-2) are neurospecific calmodulin-like Ca(2+) sensor proteins that differentially modulate Ca(V)2.1 channels, but how they contribute to short-term syna...

Electrical stimulation of neuromuscular system has been used in a variety of research and therapeutic applications. Although tri-polar transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TENS) is commonly used to change motoneuron excitabi1ity, but the effect of TENS on synaptic activities through dorsal column stimulation or cutaneous pathways is unknown. So, the aim of this research study was to determine...

Lead (Pb) is found to impair cognitive function. Synaptic structural plasticity is considered to be the physiological basis of synaptic functional plasticity and has been recently found to play important roles in learning and memory. To study the effect of Pb on spatial learning and memory at different developmental stages, and its relationship with alterations of synaptic structural plasticity...

Synaptic ribbons are proteinaceous specialized electron-dense presynaptic structures found in nonspiking sensory cells of the vertebrate nervous system. Understanding the function of these structures is an active area of research (reviewed in Matthews G, Fuchs P. Nat Rev Neurosci 11: 812-822, 2010). Previous work had shown that ribbons could be effectively labeled and visualized using peptides ...

Nanowires Optoelectronic Synaptic In article number 2208807, Ye Zhou and co-workers summarize the current progress of nanowires-based optoelectronic synaptic devices in UV-visible-IR spectral range, including functionalities neuromorphic applications. This review may promote applications nanowires for future multifunctional systems.

We have found opiate receptors enriched in two distinct subcellular fractions obtained from rat brain cellfree homogenates. By several criteria, one fraction contains synaptic plasma membranes, while the other represents predominantly smooth microsomes. Using marker enzyme analysis, we determined that the occurrence of opiate receptors in the smooth microsomal fraction cannot be attributed to ...