Two functionally distinct forms of synaptic plasticity, Hebbian long-term potentiation (LTP) and homeostatic synaptic scaling, are thought to cooperate to promote information storage and circuit refinement. Both arise through changes in the synaptic accumulation of AMPA receptors (AMPARs), but whether they use similar or distinct receptor-trafficking pathways is unknown. Here, we show that TTX-...

The rod photoreceptor's synaptic terminal (or spherule) uses an elaborate synaptic structure to signal absorption of one or more photons to its postsynaptic targets. This structure includes one or two synaptic ribbons inside the terminal and a pouch-like "invagination" outside the terminal, into which enter a widely variable number of incoming fibers and postsynaptic targets-central elements su...

We simulated the diffusion of glutamate, following the release of a single vesicle from a pre-synaptic terminal, in the synaptic cleft by using a Brownian diffusion model based on Langevin equations. The synaptic concentration time course and the time course of quantal excitatory post-synaptic current have been analyzed. The results showed that they depend on the number of receptors located at ...

The vast majority of illicit stimulants act at monoaminergic systems, causing both psychostimulant and adverse effects. Stimulants can interact as substrates or antagonists the nerve terminal monoamine transporter that mediates reuptake monoamines across synaptic membrane vesicular (VMAT‐2) storage in vesicles. directly presynaptic postsynaptic receptors for have indirect monoamine‐mimetic acti...

introduction: the magnocellular neurons (mcns) of the supraoptic nucleus (son) play a crucial role in control of physiological and pathophysiologiccal condition due to two peptides that they synthesize, i.e. oxytocin (oxt) and vasopressin (avp). the activity of mcns is regulated by a variety of excitatory and inhibitory inputs. opioid receptors are one of the important receptors in son synapses...

objective(s): there are few reports have demonstrated the effect of a change-in-light experience on the structure and function of hippocampus. a change-in-light experience also affects the circadian pattern of melatonin secretion. this study aimed to investigate developmental effect of exogenous melatonin on synaptic plasticity of hippocampus of light deprived rats. materials and methods: the e...

Background: The growth of new synapses shapes the initial formation and subsequent rearrangement of neural circuitry. Genetic studies have demonstrated that the ubiquitin ligase Highwire restrains synaptic terminal growth by down-regulating the MAP kinase kinase kinase Wallenda/dual leucine zipper kinase (DLK). To investigate the mechanism of Highwire action, we have identified DFsn as a bindin...

Giant synaptic terminals of goldfish bipolar neurons allow direct studies of presynaptic mechanisms underlying neurotransmitter release and its modulation. Calcium influx via L-type calcium channels of the terminal triggers synaptic vesicle exocytosis, which can be monitored in isolated terminals by means of the associated changes in membrane capacitance. Information about the kinetics and calc...