Orexinergic system and pathophysiology of epilepsy.

Neuropeptids orexins, also known as the hypocretins, are expressed in the lateral hypothalamus. Orexin-containing cells project widely throughout the brains, are crucial for the regulation of wakefulness and dysfunction of this system is associated with pathophysiology of narcolepsy-cataplexy. Orexin neurons play an important role in motivation, feeding and adaptive behaviors. Distribution of orexinergic receptors in the hippocampus tended to the ideas that orexins might be involved in the functions relating to the hippocampus. Effects of neuropeptide orexin-A on epileptiform activity in hippocampal slices were investigated. 500 µm thick hippocampal slices from 8-10 week-old rodents were used. Field excitatory postsynaptic potential (pop-fEPSP) and population spike in CA1 of hippocamopus were registered using standard protocol of in vitro electrophysiological experiments. Initial slope of the fEPSP and amplitude of II pop-spike were measured. Bursting neurons in CA3 were recorded in modified saline. We have found that orexin-A decreases duration/amplitude of multiple discharges of pop-spikes and inhibits spontaneous epileptiform afterdischarges induced by bicuculline methiodide in CA1. Orexin-A also modulates the frequency of discharges of bursting neurons in CA3. Our results suggest possible involvement of orexinergic system in antiepileptic action. Supported by ISTC Grant G-1318.

Orexins/hypocretins control bistability of hippocampal long-term synaptic plasticity through co-activation of multiple kinases.

AIM: Orexins/hypocretins (OX/Hcrt) are hypothalamic neuropeptides linking sleep-wakefulness, appetite and neuroendocrine control. Their role and mechanisms of action on higher brain functions, such as learning and memory, are not clear. METHODS: We used field recordings of excitatory post-synaptic potentials (fEPSP) in acute mouse brain slice preparations to study the effects of orexins and pharmacological inhibitors of multiple kinases on long-term synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus. RESULTS: Orexin-A (OX-A) but not orexin-B (OX-B) induces a state-dependent long-term potentiation of synaptic transmission (LTP(OX)) at Schaffer collateral-CA1 synapses in hippocampal slices from adult (8- to 12-week-old) mice. In contrast, OX-A applied to slices from juvenile (3- to 4-week-old) animals causes a long-term depression (LTD(OX)) in the same pathway. LTP(OX) is blocked by pharmacological inhibition of orexin receptor-1 (OX1R) and plasticity-related kinases, including serine/threonine- (CaMKII, PKC, PKA, MAPK), lipid- (PI3K), and receptor tyrosine kinases (Trk). Inhibition of OX1R, CaMKII, PKC, PKA and Trk unmasks LTD(OX) in adult animals. CONCLUSION: Orexins control not only the bistability of arousal states and threshold for appetitive behaviours but, in an age- and kinase-dependent manner, also bidirectional long-term synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus, providing a possible link between behavioural state and memory functions.

Orexin-A induces long-term depression of nmda responses in CA-1 field of hippocampal slices.

We have studied the effects of orexin-A on NMDA component of registered field potentials in pyramidal (str. pyramidale) and radial layers (st. radiatum) of CA-1 field of the hippocampus. To facilitate generation of NMDA responses in vitro experiments were performed in Mg(2+)- free solution. From field excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP), which was induced by stimulation of Schaffer collaterals, NMDA component was isolated using modified physiological solution: bicuculline metiodide (20-40 microM) and CNQX (5 microM) were eddied for removing GABA-ergic inhibition and blocking AMPA-glutamatergic receptor-mediated responses, respectively. Application of orexin-A (100 nM, for 5 -15 min) evoked inhibition of NMDA component of population spike (84.4+/-5%, n=7) and long-term depression of isolated NMDA component of field EPSP, which was made up (77.7+/-2.8%, n=12) comparing with control after 45 min of orexin-A application. Orexin-A mediated depression starts after 7-10 min of application, which is sufficient for NE release from adrenergic terminals in the hippocampus. As the agonist of alpha-adrenoreceptors clonidine completely mimicked the effects of orexin-A possible involvement of adrenergic system of the brain in these effects are considered.

The role of the mGluR allosteric modulation in the NMDA-hypofunction model of schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia is one of the most important forms of psychiatric illness and may be chronic and highly disabling. It has been suggested that specific neurochemical abnormality is due to dopaminergic overactivity in the brain. Schizophrenia is currently thought to be associated with a hypoglutamatergic state that is mimicked by acute Phencyclidine (PCP), an antagonist of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor subtype. Administration of PCP or ketamine in rodents has been used to model aspects of schizophrenia. Taken into consideration the role of glutamatergic system in development of schizophrenia and involvement of striatal dopaminergic receptors in generation of schizophrenia symptoms, it was planned to study functional interaction between NMDA and metabotropic glutamatergic receptors 5 (mGluR5) in schizophrenia-associated behavioral and memory disturbance and the role of mGluRs allosteric modulation in cortico-striatal synaptic plasticity. In our experiments investigation of dose-dependent effects of ketamine revealed that 0.3mg/kg ketamine induces statistical changes most of behavioral and cognitive parameters in rats. Changes in emotional state showed decrease of the number and total duration of groomings in open field experiments as wall as in passive avoidance task. Decrease of motor activity was also detected, while no significant changes were observed in number of defecations. In T-maze test it was shown that spatial memory was damaged. To determine whether mGlu5 and NMDA receptor interact to regulate complex behaviors that are relevant to cognitive disorders such as schizophrenia we focused on assessing whether the selective mGlu5 receptor antagonist 2-methyl-6-(phenylethynyl)-pyridine MPEP mimics or exacerbates the effects of the NMDA receptor antagonist. Ketamine-induced memory disturbance was significantly increased after injection of mGluR5 negative allosteric modulators MPEP. In In vitro experiments the agonist at group I metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRI) (RS)-3,5-dihydroxyphenyl-glycine (DHPG,100 microM) evoked a persistent depression of the second component (N2) of the cortico-striatal field potential in rat slices. DHPG-induced plasticity was not NMDA-dependent. mGlu5 negative allosteric modulator MPEP diminishes the inhibition of synaptic responses induced by DHPG and completely blocked the late phase of depression. Our behavioral and in vitro data suggested that between NMDA and mGlu5 receptors there are functional interaction. Thus in some neurological or psychiatric disorders with NMDA dysfunction pharmacological manipulation of mGlu5 receptors could have therapeutic use.

Long-term depression of cortico-striatal synaptic transmission by DHPG depends on endocannabinoid release and nitric oxide synthesis.

In models of early stage Parkinson's disease (PD), motor deficits are accompanied by excessive activation of striatal glutamate receptors. Metabotropic glutamate group I receptors (mGluR I) play an important but not well-understood role in PD progression. In mouse brain slices, bath application of the mGluR I agonist (RS)-DHPG (3,5-dihydroxyphenylglycine, 100 microm for 20 min) caused a long-term depression of corticostriatal transmission (LTD(DHPG)), which was reversed by three mGluR I antagonists: LY 367385, CPCCOEt and MPEP. LTD(DHPG) required nitric oxide (NO) synthesis as it was blocked by the broad-spectrum NO synthase (NOS) inhibitor Nomega-nitro-l-arginine (NL-Arg) and impaired under blockade of neuronal NOS and in endothelial NOS-deficient mice. Release of endocannabinoids (eCB) was critically involved in this form of striatal plasticity givem that the CB1 receptor antagonist AM251 prevented LTD(DHPG), while the CB1 agonist ACEA elicited LTD. The NO synthesis necessary for LTD(DHPG) induction occurred downstream of CB1 activation as ACEA-evoked LTD was also abolished by NL-Arg. These findings are relevant for the pathophysiology of PD, as they link the overactivation of group I mGluRs and striatal NO production.

Deficits in cortico-striatal synaptic plasticity and behavioral habituation in rats with portacaval anastomosis.

Hepatic encephalopathy is characterized by disturbances of motor and cognitive functions involving the basal ganglia. So far no standards for assessment of neuropsychiatric abnormalities (disorders of sleep, mood, anxiety and personality) in subclinical hepatic encephalopathy have been defined. Using an animal model of mild (subclinical) hepatic encephalopathy we investigated now striatum-related behaviors and cortico-striatal synaptic plasticity in rats 2 months after introduction of a portacaval shunt and sham-operated matched controls. In a novel open field portacaval shunt rats displayed less locomotor activity; unlike controls they also showed no habituation to the field and no recall of the field environment after 24 h, indicative of cognitive deficit. The elevated-plus maze test indicated no differences in fear/anxiety in the portacaval shunt animals. Tetanic stimulation of cortical afferents in magnesium-free solution evoked an N-methyl-D-aspartate-dependent long-term potentiation in sham-operated animals. In portacaval shunt animals long-term potentiation was significantly impaired. Histamine, a potent modulator of cortico-striatal transmission, induced a larger long-term depression of field potentials in control compared with portacaval shunt rats. In conclusion, a combination of electrophysiological and behavioral approaches has revealed functional changes in cortico-striatal transmission. These data are relevant for understanding the mechanisms of motor and cognitive dysfunctions in hepatic encephalopathy patients and for the development of precise psychometric tests, evaluating cognitive deficits in subclinical hepatic encephalopathy.

Orexins/hypocretins cause sharp wave- and theta-related synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus via glutamatergic, gabaergic, noradrenergic, and cholinergic signaling.

Orexins (OX), also called hypocretins, are bioactive peptides secreted from glucose-sensitive neurons in the lateral hypothalamus linking appetite, arousal and neuroendocrine-autonomic control. Here, OX-A was found to cause a slow-onset long-term potentiation of synaptic transmission (LTPOX) in the hippocampus of young adult mice. LTPOX was induced at Schaffer collateral-CA1 but not mossy fiber-CA3 synapses, and required transient sharp wave-concurrent population field-burst activity generated by the autoassociative CA3 network. Exogenous long theta-frequency stimulation of Schaffer collateral axons erased LTPOX in intact hippocampal slices but not mini slices devoid of the CA3 region. Pharmacological analysis revealed that LTPOX requires co-activation of ionotropic and metabotropic glutamatergic, GABAergic, as well as noradrenergic and cholinergic receptors. Together these data indicate that OX-A induces a state-dependent metaplasticity in the CA1 region associated with sharp-wave and theta rhythm activity as well as glutamatergic, GABAergic, aminergic, and cholinergic transmission. Thus, orexins not only regulate arousal threshold and body weight but also threshold and weight of synaptic connectivity, providing a molecular prerequisite for homeostatic and behavioral state-dependent control of neuronal plasticity and presumably memory functions.

Taurine-induced long-lasting enhancement of synaptic transmission in mice: role of transporters.

Taurine, a major osmolyte in the brain evokes a long-lasting enhancement (LLETAU) of synaptic transmission in hippocampal and cortico-striatal slices. Hippocampal LLETAU was abolished by the GABA uptake blocker nipecotic acid (NPA) but not by the taurine-uptake inhibitor guanidinoethyl sulphonate (GES). Striatal LLETAU was sensitive to GES but not to NPA. Semiquantitative PCR analysis and immunohistochemistry revealed that taurine transporter expression is significantly higher in the striatum than in the hippocampus. Taurine transporter-deficient mice displayed very low taurine levels in both structures and a low ability to develop LLETAU in the striatum, but not in the hippocampus. The different mechanisms of taurine-induced synaptic plasticity may reflect the different vulnerabilities of these brain regions under pathological conditions that are accompanied by osmotic changes such as hepatic encephalopathy.

Long-lasting enhancement of corticostriatal neurotransmission by taurine.

Taurine occurs at high concentrations in the forebrain and its distribution varies with (patho)physiological conditions; however, its role in neural function is poorly understood. We have now characterized its effects on corticostriatal synaptic transmission. Bath application of taurine (10 mm) to slices obtained from mice and rats exerted a biphasic action on corticostriatal field potentials. The fast and reversible inhibition by taurine was accompanied by a depolarization and conductance increase in medium spiny neurons and was sensitive to gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)A and glycine receptor (GlyR) antagonists. A long-lasting enhancement (LLETAU) of field potentials was recorded after taurine withdrawal. The LLETAU was not prevented by N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA)- or by GABAA receptor-antagonists, but was sensitive to the GlyR-antagonist strychnine and blocked by the competitive taurine uptake inhibitor guanidinoethylsulphonate (GES, 1 mm). GES at 10 mm evoked an enhancement of field potentials similar to LLETAU. LLETAU depended on protein kinase C activation as it was blocked by chelerythrine, but was unaffected by trifluoperazine, and thus independent of calmodulin. LLETAU was significantly smaller in juvenile than in mature rodents. Activation of GlyRs and the specific taurine transporter by taurine evoke a long-lasting enhancement of corticostriatal transmission.

Defective hippocampal mossy fiber long-term potentiation in endothelial nitric oxide synthase knockout mice.

Mossy fiber long-term potentiation (mfLTP) was compared in hippocampal slices prepared from wild-type mice and mice lacking functional endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS(-/-) mice) using field potential recording. In the presence of D-2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (AP5, 50 microM), the mfLTP induced by tetanic stimulation (100 Hz, 1 sec) was significantly reduced in knockouts (n = 8) in comparison with wild-type (n = 8). Similarly, potentiation induced by forskolin (30 microM) or 8-bromo-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (8-Br-cAMP, 100 microM) was less pronounced in knockouts. However, in wild-types the mfLTP-induced in the presence of the nonselective pharmacological inhibitor of NOS (N-nitro-L-Arginine, 100 microM, n = 6) was not significantly different from control (n = 8). Thus, eNOS is not directly involved in mfLTP, but lack of eNOS during development leads to a deficit downstream of adenylyl cyclase.

Histamine H(3) receptors depress synaptic transmission in the corticostriatal pathway.

The effect of histamine on the main input to the striatum - the corticostriatal pathway - was studied using electrophysiological techniques in brain slices from rats and mice. Field potentials (FPs) were recorded in the striatum following stimulation at the border of the striatum and the cortex. Bath application of histamine caused a pronounced and long-lasting depression of FPs in rat slices with an IC(50) of 1.6 microM and a maximal depression of around 40%. In mouse slices histamine also depressed FPs, but to a lesser extent and more transiently. Further experiments in rat slices showed that histamine H(3) receptors were responsible for this depression since the selective H(3) receptor agonist R-alpha-methylhistamine (1 microM) mimicked the action of histamine whilst the selective H(3) receptor antagonist, thioperamide (10 microM) blocked the depression caused by histamine application. The histaminergic depression was probably not mediated indirectly through interneurons since blockade of GABA(A), GABA(B), nicotinic and muscarinic receptors or nitric oxide synthase did not prevent the histamine effect. Intracellular recordings from medium spiny neurons in the striatum revealed that histamine did not affect postsynaptic membrane properties but increased paired-pulse facilitation of excitatory synaptic responses indicating a presynaptic locus of action.

Suppression of long-term potentiation in hippocampal slices by copper.

Cu(2+)-ions are known to interfere with gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)- and glutamate-operated ion channels from experiments with isolated neurons. Such actions are likely involved in the pathophysiology of Wilson's disease. We have now studied the effects of Cu2+ in the CA1 region of hippocampal slices. Field excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) slopes in the CA1 region were unaffected by 1 microM Cu2+ but were depressed by 10 microM (to 85%) and 100 microM (to 50%). A paired-pulse test revealed no difference in facilitation in the presence or absence of Cu2+, indicating a postsynaptic action. A late component of intracellularly registered EPSPs in Mg(2+)-free solution was also reduced by Cu2+. The N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) component of the field EPSP, isolated by adding CNQX and bicuculline in Mg(2+)-free solution, was reduced to 69% of control by 1 microM and to 50% of control by 10 microM Cu2+. Long-term potentiation, evoked by 3 x 50 pulses at 100 Hz, 20 s interval amounted to 132 +/- 11% 90 min after tetanization under control conditions but was absent in the presence of 1 microM Cu2+ in the bath. Thus low concentrations of copper can selectively reduce NMDA-mediated potentials and synaptic plasticity.

Nootropic compound L-pyroglutamyl-D-alanine-amide restores hippocampal long-term potentiation impaired by exposure to ethanol in rats.

The characteristics of long-term potentiation (LTP) in the hippocampus of rats prenatally exposed to ethanol and treated postnatally with nootropic compounds L-pyroglutamyl-D-alanine-amide (L-pGlu-D-AlaNH2, PGA) or piracetam were studied using in vitro slice preparations. LTP was induced in the CA1 region by the orthodromic stimulation of the stratum radiatum with one train of 100 pulses (100 Hz, 1 s). The probability of LTP development in the hippocampus of young rats was significantly reduced by prenatal exposure to alcohol. This plasticity deficit was completely reversed by daily injections of PGA, 1 mg/kg for 12 days (8-19 days of postnatal development) but not of piracetam, 100 mg/kg. PGA (0.5 microM) also prevented the inhibition of LTP development in hippocampal slices perfused with ethanol, 20 or 50 mM. The data indicate that PGA effectively restores synaptic plasticity after both prenatal and acute exposure to ethanol and suggest that impaired LTP may be a useful model for studying the mechanisms of action of nootropic compounds.