Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
8842084 | Neuroscience Research | 2018 | 36 Pages |
Abstract
Developmental refinement of neuronal connectivity is crucial for proper brain function. In the early phase of development, input fibers arrive at their target areas guided by specific molecular cues and form abundant immature synapses. Then, functionally important synapses are preserved and strengthened by neural activity while unnecessary synapses are eliminated. Afferent synapses in the sensory thalamus, such as from retina to lateral geniculate nucleus, and climbing fiber (CF)âPurkinje cell (PC) synapses in the cerebellum are valuable models for studying this developmental refinement of synaptic connectivity because only a limited number of input fibers innervate a given postsynaptic thalamocortical (TC) neuron or PC. The metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 1 (mGluR1) is required for the refinement of both afferentâTC neuron and CFâPC synapses. However, mGluR1 functions differently at these synapses. While mGluR1 is critical for elimination of surplus CFâPC synapses in the cerebellum, retinogeniculate synapses require mGluR1 for maintenance of mature connectivity.
Keywords
ventral posteromedial nucleusmetabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 1PRVthalamocorticalRGCVPMmGluR1dLGNEPSCRefinementThalamusexcitatory postsynaptic currentEliminationDevelopmentPurkinje cellretinal ganglion cellclimbing fiberMaintenanceparallel fiberCerebellumknock-outdorsal lateral geniculate nucleusSynapseMetabotropic glutamate receptor
Related Topics
Life Sciences
Neuroscience
Neuroscience (General)
Authors
Madoka Narushima,