Genetic dissection identifies Necdin as a driver gene in a mouse model of paternal 15q duplications.

Maternally inherited duplication of chromosome 15q11-q13 (Dup15q) is a pathogenic copy number variation (CNV) associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Recently, paternally derived duplication has also been shown to contribute to the development of ASD. The molecular mechanism underlying paternal Dup15q remains unclear. Here, we conduct genetic and overexpression-based screening and identify Necdin (Ndn) as a driver gene for paternal Dup15q resulting in the development of ASD-like phenotypes in mice. An excess amount of Ndn results in enhanced spine formation and density as well as hyperexcitability of cortical pyramidal neurons. We generate 15q dupΔNdn mice with a normalized copy number of Ndn by excising its one copy from Dup15q mice using a CRISPR-Cas9 system. 15q dupΔNdn mice do not show ASD-like phenotypes and show dendritic spine dynamics and cortical excitatory-inhibitory balance similar to wild type animals. Our study provides an insight into the role of Ndn in paternal 15q duplication and a mouse model of paternal Dup15q syndrome.

Cesarean section delivery is a risk factor of autism-related behaviors in mice.

Cesarean section (C/S) is one way of delivering babies, and is chosen when mothers or babies are facing problems or life-threatening conditions during pregnancy. Many meta-analyses have suggested an etiological relationship between C/S delivery and autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). However, as a risk factor for ASDs, C/S delivery has not yet been well studied. Because C/S deliveries have been increasing, it is very important to investigate the causal association between C/S and ASDs. Here, using three approaches, we showed experimentally that C/S delivery induced ASD-like traits in offspring mice, and that some of these changes were ameliorated by one-time oxytocin (OXT) treatment. Treatment with OXT receptor antagonists before natural delivery also induced ASD-related behaviors. Moreover, wild-type mice born to OXT-KO dams showed similar changes. Thus, insufficient OXT exposure from dams to offspring during delivery may be a trigger for ASD-related behaviors.

Upregulated 5-HT1A receptor-mediated currents in the prefrontal cortex layer 5 neurons in the 15q11-13 duplication mouse model of autism.

Serotonin (5-HT) is a well-known modulator of behavioral, physiological, and emotional functions of the forebrain region. We recently discovered alterations of serotonergic synaptic modulations in both, the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and the somatosensory cortex, in the 15q dup mouse model of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). To further understand the roles of the 5-HT system implicated in developmental disorders such as ASD, comparison with model animals exhibiting different phenotypes may be useful. In this study, we investigated the relationship between sociability and the magnitude of 5-HT1A receptor (5-HT1AR) activation-induced outward currents from layer 5 pyramidal neurons in the PFC, because a mouse model of Williams-Beuren syndrome (WBS; another developmental disorder exhibiting low innate anxiety and high sociability) reportedly showed larger 5-HT-induced currents. To investigate whether the 5-HT1AR activation-induced outward currents are involved in the endophenotype determination of social behavior, we examined 15q dup mice with a phenotype opposite to WBS. We found 5-HT elicited significantly larger outward currents in 15q dup mice than in WT controls, regardless of sociability. In contrast, baclofen-induced GABAB receptor-mediated outward currents were not significantly different between genotypes, although GABAB receptor was coupled to Gi/o as well as 5-HT1A. Further, we found the larger 5-HT1AR-mediated currents in 15q dup mice did not affect the magnitude of inhibitory action of NMDA receptor functions. Taken together, our results provide a potential physiological hallmark for developmental disorders that may involve the imbalance of the neuronal circuity in the PFC.

Change in serotonergic modulation contributes to the synaptic imbalance of neuronal circuit at the prefrontal cortex in the 15q11-13 duplication mouse model of autism.

The prefrontal cortex (PFC) has been extensively studied in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in an attempt to understand the deficits in executive and other higher brain functions related to sociability and emotion. Disruption of the excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) balance of cortical circuits is thought to underlie the pathophysiology of ASD. Recently, we showed that 15q dup mice (a model for ASD with human chromosome 15q11-13 paternal duplication) exhibit disruption of the E/I balance in layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons of the somatosensory cortex due to a decrease in the number of inhibitory synapses. However, whether there is a pathological abnormality in E/I balance in the PFC of 15q dup mice remains unknown. In this study, we found that 15q dup facilitates the activity-induced LTP of glutamate synapses onto layer 5 pyramidal neurons by shifting the E/I balance to an excitatory state, which this was associated with differences in synaptic glutamatergic and GABAergic inputs onto GABAergic fast-spiking interneurons (FSINs). Furthermore, we found that FSIN excitability was well-modulated and regulated by the constitutive activation of 5-HT2 receptors in PFC microcircuits. These results provide new insights into the cellular mechanisms underlying maintenance of optimal E/I balance in the PFC.

Downregulation of Dopamine D1-like Receptor Pathways of GABAergic Interneurons in the Anterior Cingulate Cortex of Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats.

Deficits in dopaminergic function are thought to underlie attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Dopaminergic neurons are the main source of dopamine (DA), a neurotransmitter that acts as a neuromodulator of cognitive function in the prefrontal cortex, including the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), which receives dopaminergic inputs from the ventral tegmental area. The spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) has been widely studied as an animal model of ADHD. The aim of the current study was to investigate the pathophysiological mechanisms of ADHD by examining DA modulation of γ-aminobutyric acid neural (GABAergic) transmission recorded from layer V pyramidal cells of the ACC in SHR compared to control Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). Our results showed that DA activity increased the frequency of both miniature and spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs) in control WKY, but not in SHRs. Furthermore, DA activity enhanced the amplitude of evoked and unitary IPSCs from fast-spiking interneurons; the amplitude was also larger in control WKY than in SHRs. Notably, the amplitude of evoked IPSCs was enhanced by the activation of D1-like receptor-mediated pathways. These results suggest that hypofunction of D1-like receptor-mediated regulation of GABAergic inhibitory synaptic transmission onto layer V pyramidal cells of the ACC may contribute to the pathophysiology of ADHD.

Ant1 mutant mice bridge the mitochondrial and serotonergic dysfunctions in bipolar disorder.

Although mitochondrial and serotonergic dysfunctions have been implicated in the etiology of bipolar disorder (BD), the relationship between these unrelated pathways has not been elucidated. A family of BD and chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia (CPEO) caused by a mutation of the mitochondrial adenine nucleotide translocator 1 (ANT1, SLC25A4) implicated that ANT1 mutations confer a risk of BD. Here, we sequenced ANT1 in 324 probands of NIMH bipolar disorder pedigrees and identified two BD patients carrying heterozygous loss-of-function mutations. Behavioral analysis of brain specific Ant1 heterozygous conditional knockout (cKO) mice using lntelliCage showed a selective diminution in delay discounting. Delay discounting is the choice of smaller but immediate reward than larger but delayed reward and an index of impulsivity. Diminution of delay discounting suggests an increase in serotonergic activity. This finding was replicated by a 5-choice serial reaction time test. An anatomical screen showed accumulation of COX (cytochrome c oxidase) negative cells in dorsal raphe. Dorsal raphe neurons in the heterozygous cKO showed hyperexcitability, along with enhanced serotonin turnover in the nucleus accumbens and upregulation of Maob in dorsal raphe. These findings altogether suggest that mitochondrial dysfunction as the genetic risk of BD may cause vulnerability to BD by altering serotonergic neurotransmission.

Developmental Changes in Serotonergic Modulation of GABAergic Synaptic Transmission and Postsynaptic GABAA Receptor Composition in the Cerebellar Nuclei.

Outputs from the cerebellar nuclei (CN) are important for generating and controlling movement. The activity of CN neurons is controlled not only by excitatory inputs from mossy and climbing fibers and by γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-based inhibitory transmission from Purkinje cells in the cerebellar cortex but is also modulated by inputs from other brain regions, including serotonergic fibers that originate in the dorsal raphe nuclei. We examined the modulatory effects of serotonin (5-HT) on GABAergic synapses during development, using rat cerebellar slices. As previously reported, 5-HT presynaptically decreased the amplitudes of stimulation-evoked inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs) in CN neurons, with this effect being stronger in slices from younger animals (postnatal days [P] 11-13) than in slices from older animals (P19-21). GABA release probabilities accordingly exhibited significant decreases from P11-13 to P19-21. Although there was a strong correlation between the GABA release probability and the magnitude of 5-HT-induced inhibition, manipulating the release probability by changing extracellular Ca2+ concentrations failed to control the extent of 5-HT-induced inhibition. We also found that the IPSCs exhibited slower kinetics at P11-13 than at P19-21. Pharmacological and molecular biological tests revealed that IPSC kinetics were largely determined by the prevalence of α1 subunits within GABAA receptors. In summary, pre- and postsynaptic developmental changes in serotonergic modulation and GABAergic synaptic transmission occur during the second to third postnatal weeks and may significantly contribute to the formation of normal adult cerebellar function.

Reversible differentiation of immortalized human bladder smooth muscle cells accompanied by actin bundle reorganization.

Previous studies have shown that phenotypic modulation of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) plays a pivotal role in human diseases. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the reversible differentiation of SMCs remain elusive particularly because cultured SMCs that reproducibly exhibit bidirectional phenotypic modulation have not been established. Here we established an immortalized human bladder SMC line designated as hBS11. Under differentiation-inducing conditions, hBS11 cells underwent smooth muscle differentiation accompanied by the robust expression of smooth muscle differentiation markers and isoform-dependent reorganization of actin bundles. The cholinergic receptor agonist carbachol increased intracellular calcium in differentiated hBS11 cells in an acetylcholine muscarinic receptor-dependent manner. Differentiated hBS11 cells displayed contractile properties depending on the elevation in the levels of intracellular calcium. Depolarization of membrane potential triggered inward sodium current in differentiated hBS11 cells. However, differentiated hBS11 cells lost the differentiated phenotype and resumed mitosis when re-fed with growth medium. Our study provides direct evidence pertaining to the human bladder SMCs being able to retain the capacity of reversible differentiation and that the reorganization of actin bundles is involved in the reinstatement of contractility. Moreover, we have established a human SMC line retaining high proliferating potential without compromising differentiation potential.

Serotonin rebalances cortical tuning and behavior linked to autism symptoms in 15q11-13 CNV mice.

Serotonin is a critical modulator of cortical function, and its metabolism is defective in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) brain. How serotonin metabolism regulates cortical physiology and contributes to the pathological and behavioral symptoms of ASD remains unknown. We show that normal serotonin levels are essential for the maintenance of neocortical excitation/inhibition balance, correct sensory stimulus tuning, and social behavior. Conversely, low serotonin levels in 15q dup mice (a model for ASD with the human 15q11-13 duplication) result in impairment of the same phenotypes. Restoration of normal serotonin levels in 15q dup mice revealed the reversibility of a subset of ASD-related symptoms in the adult. These findings suggest that serotonin may have therapeutic potential for discrete ASD symptoms.

MicroRNA cluster miR-17-92 regulates multiple functionally related voltage-gated potassium channels in chronic neuropathic pain.

miR-17-92 is a microRNA cluster with six distinct members. Here, we show that the miR-17-92 cluster and its individual members modulate chronic neuropathic pain. All cluster members are persistently upregulated in primary sensory neurons after nerve injury. Overexpression of miR-18a, miR-19a, miR-19b and miR-92a cluster members elicits mechanical allodynia in rats, while their blockade alleviates mechanical allodynia in a rat model of neuropathic pain. Plausible targets for the miR-17-92 cluster include genes encoding numerous voltage-gated potassium channels and their modulatory subunits. Single-cell analysis reveals extensive co-expression of miR-17-92 cluster and its predicted targets in primary sensory neurons. miR-17-92 downregulates the expression of potassium channels, and reduced outward potassium currents, in particular A-type currents. Combined application of potassium channel modulators synergistically alleviates mechanical allodynia induced by nerve injury or miR-17-92 overexpression. miR-17-92 cluster appears to cooperatively regulate the function of multiple voltage-gated potassium channel subunits, perpetuating mechanical allodynia.

Differential Modulation of GABAA Receptors Underlies Postsynaptic Depolarization- and Purinoceptor-Mediated Enhancement of Cerebellar Inhibitory Transmission: A Non-Stationary Fluctuation Analysis Study.

Cerebellar GABAergic inhibitory transmission between interneurons and Purkinje cells (PCs) undergoes a long-lasting enhancement following different stimulations, such as brief depolarization or activation of purinergic receptors of postsynaptic PCs. The underlying mechanisms, however, are not completely understood. Using a peak-scaled non-stationary fluctuation analysis, we therefore aimed at characterizing changes in the electrophysiological properties of GABAA receptors in PCs of rat cerebellar cortex during depolarization-induced "rebound potentiation (RP)" and purinoceptor-mediated long-term potentiation (PM-LTP), because both RP and PM-LTP likely depend on postsynaptic mechanisms. Stimulation-evoked inhibitory postsynaptic currents (eIPSCs) were recorded from PCs in neonatal rat cerebellar slices. Our analysis showed that postsynaptic membrane depolarization induced RP of eIPSCs in association with significant increase in the number of synaptic GABAA receptors without changing the channel conductance. By contrast, bath application of ATP induced PM-LTP of eIPSCs with a significant increase of the channel conductance of GABAA receptors without affecting the receptor number. Pretreatment with protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitors, H-89 and cAMPS-Rp, completely abolished the PM-LTP. The CaMKII inhibitor KN-62 reported to abolish RP did not alter PM-LTP. These results suggest that the signaling mechanism underlying PM-LTP could involve ATP-induced phosphorylation of synaptic GABAA receptors, thereby resulting in upregulation of the channel conductance by stimulating adenylyl cyclase-PKA signaling cascade, possibly via activation of P2Y11 purinoceptor. Thus, our findings reveal that postsynaptic GABAA receptors at the interneuron-PC inhibitory synapses are under the control of two distinct forms of long-term potentiation linked with different second messenger cascades.

Disease-specific monoclonal antibodies targeting glutamate decarboxylase impair GABAergic neurotransmission and affect motor learning and behavioral functions.

Autoantibodies to the smaller isoform of glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) can be found in patients with type 1 diabetes and a number of neurological disorders, including stiff-person syndrome, cerebellar ataxia and limbic encephalitis. The detection of disease-specific autoantibody epitopes led to the hypothesis that distinct GAD autoantibodies may elicit specific neurological phenotypes. We explored the in vitro/in vivo effects of well-characterized monoclonal GAD antibodies. We found that GAD autoantibodies present in patients with stiff person syndrome (n = 7) and cerebellar ataxia (n = 15) recognized an epitope distinct from that recognized by GAD autoantibodies present in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (n = 10) or limbic encephalitis (n = 4). We demonstrated that the administration of a monoclonal GAD antibody representing this epitope specificity; (1) disrupted in vitro the association of GAD with γ-Aminobutyric acid containing synaptic vesicles; (2) depressed the inhibitory synaptic transmission in cerebellar slices with a gradual time course and a lasting suppressive effect; (3) significantly decreased conditioned eyelid responses evoked in mice, with no modification of learning curves in the classical eyeblink-conditioning task; (4) markedly impaired the facilitatory effect exerted by the premotor cortex over the motor cortex in a paired-pulse stimulation paradigm; and (5) induced decreased exploratory behavior and impaired locomotor function in rats. These findings support the specific targeting of GAD by its autoantibodies in the pathogenesis of stiff-person syndrome and cerebellar ataxia. Therapies of these disorders based on selective removal of such GAD antibodies could be envisioned.

Shp2 in forebrain neurons regulates synaptic plasticity, locomotion, and memory formation in mice.

Shp2 (Src homology 2 domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase 2) regulates neural cell differentiation. It is also expressed in postmitotic neurons, however, and mutations of Shp2 are associated with clinical syndromes characterized by mental retardation. Here we show that conditional-knockout (cKO) mice lacking Shp2 specifically in postmitotic forebrain neurons manifest abnormal behavior, including hyperactivity. Novelty-induced expression of immediate-early genes and activation of extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (Erk) were attenuated in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of Shp2 cKO mice, suggestive of reduced neuronal activity. In contrast, ablation of Shp2 enhanced high-K(+)-induced Erk activation in both cultured cortical neurons and synaptosomes, whereas it inhibited that induced by brain-derived growth factor in cultured neurons. Posttetanic potentiation and paired-pulse facilitation were attenuated and enhanced, respectively, in hippocampal slices from Shp2 cKO mice. The mutant mice also manifested transient impairment of memory formation in the Morris water maze. Our data suggest that Shp2 contributes to regulation of Erk activation and synaptic plasticity in postmitotic forebrain neurons and thereby controls locomotor activity and memory formation.

Depolarization-induced depression of inhibitory transmission in cerebellar Purkinje cells.

Several forms of depolarization-induced plasticity in inhibitory transmission have been reported to occur in cerebellar Purkinje cells (PCs), namely depolarization-induced suppression of inhibition (DSI), depolarization-induced potentiation of inhibition (DPI), and rebound potentiation (RP). Here, we describe another form of synaptic plasticity for gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA)ergic transmission in PCs. Immediately following depolarization trains in a PC, evoked inhibitory postsynaptic currents (eIPSCs) changed their direction from outward to inward currents under a recording condition in which eIPSCs were elicited as an outward current. Subsequently, the eIPSC amplitude remained depressed (depolarization-induced depression of inhibition [DDI]) for more than 20 min under the blockade of cannabinoid and N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor-mediated DSI and DPI, respectively. This DDI was completely abolished by intracellular infusion of the fast Ca(2+)-chelating agent BAPTA and by inhibition of Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII). Furthermore, DDI was strongly suppressed by calcium-activated chloride channel (CaCC) blockers, while an inhibitor of cation-chloride cotransporters (CCCs) partially blocked DDI during the early phase. Exogenous GABA-induced inhibition of spontaneous spike activity was attenuated in ∼50% of the PCs by climbing fiber stimulation-induced depolarization. These results suggest that activation of both CaCCs and CCCs was necessary for alteration of [Cl(-)]i after activation of CaMKII following elevation of [Ca(2+)]i in PCs. DDI may provide another mechanism for regulation of inhibitory inputs to PCs within the neuronal networks of the cerebellar cortex.

miR-7a alleviates the maintenance of neuropathic pain through regulation of neuronal excitability.

Neuronal damage in the somatosensory system causes intractable chronic neuropathic pain. Plastic changes in sensory neuron excitability are considered the cellular basis of persistent pain. Non-coding microRNAs modulate specific gene translation to impact on diverse cellular functions and their dysregulation causes various diseases. However, their significance in adult neuronal functions and disorders is still poorly understood. Here, we show that miR-7a is a key functional RNA sustaining the late phase of neuropathic pain through regulation of neuronal excitability in rats. In the late phase of neuropathic pain, microarray analysis identified miR-7a as the most robustly decreased microRNA in the injured dorsal root ganglion. Moreover, local induction of miR-7a, using an adeno-associated virus vector, in sensory neurons of injured dorsal root ganglion, suppressed established neuropathic pain. In contrast, miR-7a overexpression had no effect on acute physiological or inflammatory pain. Furthermore, miR-7a downregulation was sufficient to cause pain-related behaviours in intact rats. miR-7a targeted the ß2 subunit of the voltage-gated sodium channel, and decreased miR-7a associated with neuropathic pain caused increased ß2 subunit protein expression, independent of messenger RNA levels. Consistently, miR-7a overexpression in primary sensory neurons of injured dorsal root ganglion suppressed increased ß2 subunit expression and normalized long-lasting hyperexcitability of nociceptive neurons. These findings demonstrate miR-7a downregulation is causally involved in maintenance of neuropathic pain through regulation of neuronal excitability, and miR-7a replenishment offers a novel therapeutic strategy specific for chronic neuropathic pain.

Electrophysiological and pharmacological properties of GABAergic cells in the dorsal raphe nucleus.

The dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) is the origin of the central serotonin [5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)] system and plays an important role in the regulation of many physiological functions such as sleep/arousal, food intake and mood. In order to understand the regulatory mechanisms of 5-HT system, characterization of the types of neurons is necessary. We performed electrophysiological recordings in acute slices of glutamate decarboxylase 67-green fluorescent protein knock-in mice. We utilized this mouse to identify visually GABAergic cells. Especially, we examined postsynaptic responses mediated by 5-HT receptors between GABAergic and serotonergic cells in the DRN. Various current responses were elicited by 5-HT and 5-HT(1A) or 5-HT(2A/2C) receptor agonists in GABAergic cells. These results suggested that multiple 5-HT receptor subtypes overlap on GABAergic cells, and their combination might control 5-HT cells. Understanding the postsynaptic 5-HT feedback mechanisms may help to elucidate the 5-HT neurotransmitter system and develop novel therapeutic approaches.

Cerebellar globular cells receive monoaminergic excitation and monosynaptic inhibition from Purkinje cells.

Inhibitory interneurons in the cerebellar granular layer are more heterogeneous than traditionally depicted. In contrast to Golgi cells, which are ubiquitously distributed in the granular layer, small fusiform Lugaro cells and globular cells are located underneath the Purkinje cell layer and small in number. Globular cells have not been characterized physiologically. Here, using cerebellar slices obtained from a strain of gene-manipulated mice expressing GFP specifically in GABAergic neurons, we morphologically identified globular cells, and compared their synaptic activity and monoaminergic influence of their electrical activity with those of small Golgi cells and small fusiform Lugaro cells. Globular cells were characterized by prominent IPSCs together with monosynaptic inputs from the axon collaterals of Purkinje cells, whereas small Golgi cells or small fusiform Lugaro cells displayed fewer and smaller spontaneous IPSCs. Globular cells were silent at rest and fired spike discharges in response to application of either serotonin (5-HT) or noradrenaline. The two monoamines also facilitated small Golgi cell firing, but only 5-HT elicited firing in small fusiform Lugaro cells. Furthermore, globular cells likely received excitatory monosynaptic inputs through mossy fibers. Because globular cells project their axons long in the transversal direction, the neuronal circuit that includes interplay between Purkinje cells and globular cells could regulate Purkinje cell activity in different microzones under the influence of monoamines and mossy fiber inputs, suggesting that globular cells likely play a unique modulatory role in cerebellar motor control.

Modulatory effects of serotonin on GABAergic synaptic transmission and membrane properties in the deep cerebellar nuclei.

Cerebellar outputs from the deep cerebellar nuclei (DCN) are critical for generating and controlling movement. DCN neuronal activity is primarily controlled by GABAergic inhibitory transmission by Purkinje cells in the cerebellar cortex and is also modulated by nerve inputs originating from other brain regions within and outside the cerebellum. In this study, we examined the modulatory effects of 5-HT on GABAergic synapses in the DCN. 5-HT decreased the amplitude of stimulation-evoked inhibitory postsynaptic currents (eIPSCs) in DCN neurons, and this effect was abolished by a 5-HT(1B) antagonist, SB 224289. The decrease in IPSC amplitude was associated with an increased paired-pulse ratio of the IPSC. 5-HT also decreased the frequency of miniature IPSCs without altering the amplitude. These data suggest that 5-HT presynaptically inhibited GABA release. Furthermore, 5-HT elicited a slow inward current in DCN neurons. Pharmacological studies showed that 5-HT activated the 5-HT(5) receptor, which is positively coupled to G protein and elicited the slow inward current through enhancement of hyperpolarization-activated cation channel activation. Finally, we examined the effects of 5-HT on the spike generation that accompanies repetitive stimulation of inhibitory synapses. 5-HT increased the spontaneous firing rate in DCN neurons caused by depolarization. Increase in the 5-HT-induced tonic firing relatively decreased the contrast difference from the rebound depolarization-induced firing. However, the inhibitory transmission-induced silencing of DCN firing remained during the conditioning stimulus. These results suggest that 5-HT plays a regulatory role in spike generation and contributes to the gain control of inhibitory GABAergic synapses in DCN neurons.

Distribution and pharmacological characterization of primate NK-1 and NK-3 tachykinin receptors in the central nervous system of the rhesus monkey.

Much attention has focused on tachykinin receptors as therapeutic targets for neuropsychiatric disorders, although their expressional distributions in the primate central nervous system (CNS) remain unclear. We cloned the genes encoding the NK-1 and NK-3 tachykinin receptors (referred to as rmNK-1 and rmNK-3) from the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) brain and examined their pharmacological profiles and regional distributions in the CNS. The deduced rmNK-1 amino-acid sequence differed by only two amino acids from the human NK-1 (hNK-1). The deduced rmNK-3 amino-acid sequence was two amino acids shorter than human NK-3 (hNK-3), with a seven-amino-acid difference in sequence. Ligand binding studies revealed that the affinity of rmNK-1 to substance P (SP) was comparable to that of hNK-1 in cell lines that expressed individual receptors stably. Nonpeptide antagonists had similar effects on the binding of rmNK-1 and hNK-1. Affinity of rmNK-3 for NKB was stronger than for SP and the IC50 value was comparable with that of hNK-3. Ca2+ imaging showed that activations of both rmNK-1 and rmNK-3 by specific ligands, SP and senktide, induced increased intracellular Ca2+ in cell lines that stably expressed individual primate tachykinin receptors. The amounts of rmNK-1 and rmNK-3 mRNAs were quantitatively determined in the monkey CNS. The expression of rmNK-1 was observed in all of the cortical and subcortical regions, including the hippocampus and the amygdala. The putamen contained the most NK-1 mRNA in the brain, with less rmNK-3 mRNA found in the cortex compared to rmNK-1 mRNA. In the monkey hippocampus and amygdala, rmNK-1 mRNA was present at markedly higher concentrations than rmNK-3 mRNA. The present results provide an insight into the distinct physiological nature and significance of the NK-1 and NK-3 tachykinin systems in the primate CNS. These findings are indispensable for establishing model systems in the search for a subtype-specific tachykinin receptor agonist and antagonist for the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders.

Modulation of presynaptic Ca2+ entry by AMPA receptors at individual GABAergic synapses in the cerebellum.

Cerebellar Purkinje cells (PCs) receive GABAergic input that undergoes powerful retrograde modulation by presynaptic cannabinoid and glutamate receptors. Here we examine a distinct modulatory mechanism at these synapses, which does not require postsynaptic depolarization and acts via presynaptic AMPA receptors. We find that this mechanism operates mainly in the somatic vicinity of PCs in which large boutons of basket cell axons form synapses on the PC soma. We use fast confocal microscopy and detailed kinetic modeling to estimate that, in these boutons, an action potential opens 100-200 Ca2+ channels, eliciting a brief 3-5 microM transient, followed by a longer-term, 15-30 nM rise of free Ca2+ (above the resting level of approximately 100 nM). Brief activation of local AMPA receptors suppresses Ca2+ entry (probably by silencing 20-40 P/Q-type channels) in a subgroup of terminals that tend to show a higher dynamic range of Ca2+ signaling. The results provide the first quantitative description of presynaptic Ca2+ kinetics and its modulation by AMPA receptor activation (most likely via a glutamate spillover-mediated mechanism) at identified GABAergic synapses.