A stable proportion of Purkinje cell inputs from parallel fibers are silent during cerebellar maturation.

Cerebellar Purkinje neurons integrate information transmitted at excitatory synapses formed by granule cells. Although these synapses are considered essential sites for learning, most of them appear not to transmit any detectable electrical information and have been defined as silent. It has been proposed that silent synapses are required to maximize information storage capacity and ensure its reliability, and hence to optimize cerebellar operation. Such optimization is expected to occur once the cerebellar circuitry is in place, during its maturation and the natural and steady improvement of animal agility. We therefore investigated whether the proportion of silent synapses varies over this period, from the third to the sixth postnatal week in mice. Selective expression of a calcium indicator in granule cells enabled quantitative mapping of presynaptic activity, while postsynaptic responses were recorded by patch clamp in acute slices. Through this approach and the assessment of two anatomical features (the distance that separates adjacent planar Purkinje dendritic trees and the synapse density), we determined the average excitatory postsynaptic potential per synapse. Its value was four to eight times smaller than responses from paired recorded detectable connections, consistent with over 70% of synapses being silent. These figures remained remarkably stable across maturation stages. According to the proposed role for silent synapses, our results suggest that information storage capacity and reliability are optimized early during cerebellar maturation. Alternatively, silent synapses may have roles other than adjusting the information storage capacity and reliability.

Glutamate transporter 1-expressing glia in the rat substantia nigra-Morphometric analysis and relationships to synapses.

Glial cells have a major role in protecting neurons against various forms of stress. Especially, astrocytes mediate the bulk of glutamate clearance in the brain via specific membrane transporters (GLAST and GLT1), thereby preventing the occurrence of excitotoxic events. Although glutamate-mediated mechanisms are thought to contribute to nigral dopaminergic neuron degeneration in Parkinson's disease, detailed information on the organization of glia in the substantia nigra is still lacking. The present study was performed to provide quantitative information on the organization of astroglia and on the relationships between astrocytes and excitatory synapses in the rat substantia nigra. Using immunolabeling of GLT1 and confocal imaging, we found that the substantia nigra was filled with a dense meshwork of immunoreactive astrocyte processes. Stereological analysis performed on electron microscope images revealed that the density of immunoreactive astrocyte plasma membranes was substantial, close to 1 µm2 /µm3 , in the substantia nigra neuropil, both in the pars compacta and the pars reticulata. Excitatory synapses had on average two thirds of their perimeters free from glia, a disposition that may favor transmitter spillover. The density of glutamatergic synapses, as quantified on confocal images by the simultaneous detection of bassoon and of vesicular glutamate transporter 1 or 2, was very low (0.01 and 0.025 per µm3 in the reticulata and compacta subdivisions, respectively). Thus the ratio of GLT1-expressing glial membrane surface to glutamatergic synapses was very high (40-100 µm2 ), suggesting an efficient regulation of extracellular glutamate concentrations.

The excitatory amino acid carrier 1 (EAAC1) in the rat nucleus of the solitary tract: subcellular localization suggests no major role in glutamate clearance.

The excitatory amino acid carrier 1 (EAAC1) is a sodium-dependent glutamate transporter widely found in the mammalian brain and mainly localized in the somatodendritic compartment of neurons. The present study was performed to determine whether EAAC1 is present in the rat nucleus of the solitary tract (NST, a sensory brainstem nucleus involved in visceroception) and to document its subcellular localization. Using fluorescent immunolabeling, peroxidase immunostaining and quantitative immunogold labeling, we showed that both intracellular and plasma membrane-associated pools of EAAC1 transporters existed in dendrites of NST neurons. Although plasma membrane-associated transporters were more concentrated in the vicinity of synapses, no labeling was found at the axon-dendrite interface, suggesting that EAAC1 was not (or barely) expressed in this portion of dendritic membrane. Using computer simulation, we next showed that the ability of EAAC1 to efficiently take up synaptically released glutamate was very low outside the axon-dendrite interface. These data suggest that EAAC1 transporters present on NST dendrites may play a minor role if any in glutamate clearance.

Remodeling of glial coverage of glutamatergic synapses in the rat nucleus tractus solitarii after ozone inhalation.

Besides the well-described inflammatory and dysfunction effects on the respiratory tract, accumulating evidence indicates that ozone (O3 ) exposure also affects central nervous system functions. However, the mechanisms through which O3 exerts toxic effects on the brain remain poorly understood. We previously showed that O3 exposure caused a neuronal activation in regions of the rat nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) overlapping terminal fields of vagal lung afferents. Knowing that O3 exposure can impact astrocytic protein expression, we decided to investigate whether it may induce astroglial cellular alterations in the NTS. Using electron microscopy and immunoblot techniques, we showed that in O3 -exposed animals, the astrocytic coverage of NTS glutamatergic synapses was 19% increased while the astrocyte volume fraction and membrane density were not modified. Moreover, the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein and S100ß, which are known to be increased in reactive astroglia, did not change. These results indicate that O3 inhalation induces a glial plasticity that is restricted to the peri-synaptic coverage without overall astroglial activation. Taken together, these findings, along with our previous observations, support the conclusion that O3 -induced pulmonary inflammation results in a specific activation of vagal lung afferents rather than non-specific overall brain alterations mediated by blood-borne agents. Exposure to ozone, a major atmospheric pollutant, induces an increase in the glial coverage of neurons that is restricted to peri-synaptic compartments. This observation does not support the view that the ozone-induced neuronal disorders are related to non-specific overall brain alterations. It rather argues for a specific activation of the vagus nerve in response to pulmonary inflammation.

Control of cleft glutamate concentration and glutamate spill-out by perisynaptic glia: uptake and diffusion barriers.

Most glutamatergic synapses in the mammalian central nervous system are covered by thin astroglial processes that exert a dual action on synaptically released glutamate: they form physical barriers that oppose diffusion and they carry specific transporters that remove glutamate from the extracellular space. The present study was undertaken to investigate the dual action of glia by means of computer simulation. A realistic synapse model based on electron microscope data and Monte Carlo algorithms were used for this purpose. Results show (1) that physical obstacles formed by glial processes delay glutamate exit from the cleft and (2) that this effect is efficiently counteracted by glutamate uptake. Thus, depending on transporter densities, the presence of perisynaptic glia may result in increased or decreased glutamate transient in the synaptic cleft. Changes in temporal profiles of cleft glutamate concentration induced by glia differentially impact the response of the various synaptic and perisynaptic receptor subtypes. In particular, GluN2B- and GluN2C-NMDA receptor responses are strongly modified while GluN2A-NMDA receptor responses are almost unaffected. Thus, variations in glial transporter expression may allow differential tuning of NMDA receptors according to their subunit composition. In addition, simulation data suggest that the sink effect generated by transporters accumulation in the vicinity of the release site is the main mechanism limiting glutamate spill-out. Physical obstacles formed by glial processes play a comparatively minor role.

The ultrastructure of perisynaptic glia in the nucleus tractus solitarii of the adult rat: Comparison between single synapses and multisynaptic arrangements.

Astrocytes are now considered as essential partners of neurons. In particular, they play important roles in glutamatergic transmission, including transmitter inactivation by uptake. Here, we investigated the organization of astroglia in the Nucleus Tractus Solitarii (NTS), a sensory nucleus located in the caudal medulla. Special attention was given to perisynaptic astroglial processes. Investigations were performed at the light and electron microscope levels, using immunodetection of glial glutamate transporters, stereological methods, and serial reconstruction. In the NTS, the main glutamate transporter expressed by astrocytes was GLT1. The volume fraction of astrocyte processes and the density of astrocyte membranes reached 15% and 2.8 µm(2) µm(-3) , respectively. In spite of the relative abundance of astrocyte processes, we found that NTS glutamatergic synapses were not entirely surrounded by glia. Measurements were performed on 43 reconstructed asymmetric junctions which were either single synapses (n = 22) or synapses involved in multisynaptic arrangements (n = 21). Single synapses had 58% of their perimeter contacted by astrocyte processes on average. In multisynaptic arrangement, glial coverage was restricted to the outer part of synaptic diameters and amounted to 50% of this outer part on average. Incomplete glial coverage of NTS synapses may allow glutamate to diffuse out of the synaptic cleft and to activate extrasynaptic receptors as well as receptors from neighboring synapses. Especially, in multisynaptic arrangements, the lack of intervening glia may favor functional coupling between individual contacts.

Mixed GABA-glycine synapses delineate a specific topography in the nucleus tractus solitarii of adult rat.

Using combined morphological and electrophysiological approaches, we have determined the composition of inhibitory synapses of the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS), a brainstem structure that is a gateway for many visceral sensory afferent fibres. Immunohistochemical experiments demonstrate that, in adult rat, GABA axon terminals are present throughout the NTS while mixed GABA-glycine axon terminals are strictly located to the lateral part of the NTS within subnuclei surrounding the tractus solitarius. Purely glycine axon terminals are rare in the lateral part of the NTS and hardly detected in its medial part. Electrophysiological experiments confirm the predominance of GABA inhibition throughout the NTS and demonstrate the existence of a dual inhibition involving the co-release of GABA and glycine restricted to the lateral part of NTS. Since GABA(A) and glycine receptors are co-expressed postsynaptically in virtually all the inhibitory axon terminals throughout the NTS, it suggests that the inhibition phenotype relies on the characteristics of the axon terminals. Our results also demonstrate that glycine is mostly associated with GABA within axon terminals and raise the possibility of a dynamic regulation of GABA/glycine release at the presynaptic level. Our data provide new information for understanding the mechanisms involved in the processing of visceral information by the central nervous system in adult animals.

Glutamatergic neurotransmission in the nucleus tractus solitarii: structural and functional characteristics.

Glutamate is the main excitatory transmitter in the central nervous system. As such, it plays a major role in transmitting and processing visceral sensory information within the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS). Here, we review current knowledge on NTS glutamatergic transmission. We describe the main organizational features of NTS glutamatergic synapses as determined by work performed during the last decade using antibodies against glutamate receptors and transporters proteins. In light of these recent neuronatomical findings, we discuss some functional properties of developing and adult NTS glutamatergic synapses.

Distribution of zinedin in the rat brain.

Members of the striatin family are scaffolding proteins involved in numerous signaling pathways principally in neurons. Zinedin is the only member of this protein family for which the brain distribution has not been determined so far. Here, we have validated a specific antibody against zinedin and used this tool to study the localization of zinedin at cellular and sub-cellular levels in the rat brain. Zinedin is primarily expressed in neurons of the hippocampus, cerebral cortex, olfactory bulb and caudate putamen nucleus. Like other members of the striatin family, zinedin displays a polarized distribution in the somato-dendritic compartment of neurons and is enriched in dendritic spines. The rostral expression of zinedin as well as its compartmented distribution in dendritic spines may have important implications not only for zinedin function but also in the physiology of dendritic spines of a particular subset of neurons.

Silent synapses in developing rat nucleus tractus solitarii have AMPA receptors.

NMDA-only synapses, called silent synapses, are thought to be the initial step in synapse formation in several systems. However, the underlying mechanism and the role in circuit construction are still a matter of dispute. Using combined morphological and electrophysiological approaches, we searched for silent synapses at the level of the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS), a brainstem structure that is a gateway for many visceral sensory afferent fibers. Silent synapses were detected at birth by using electrophysiological recordings and minimal stimulation protocols. However, anatomical experiments indicated that nearly all, if not all, NTS synapses had AMPA receptors. Based on EPSC fluctuation measurements and differential blockade by low-affinity competitive and noncompetitive glutamate antagonists, we then demonstrated that NTS silent synapses were better explained by glutamate spillover from neighboring fibers and/or slow dynamic of fusion pore opening. Glutamate spillover at immature NTS synapses may favor crosstalk between active synapses during development when glutamate transporters are weakly expressed and contribute to synaptic processing as well as autonomic circuit formation.

Glutamatergic synapses in the rat nucleus tractus solitarii develop by direct insertion of calcium-impermeable AMPA receptors and without activation of NMDA receptors.

Calcium influxes through ionotropic glutamate receptors (AMPA and NMDA receptors, AMPARs and NMDARs) are considered to be critical for the shaping and refinement of neural circuits during synaptogenesis. Using a combined morphological and electrophysiological approach, we evaluated this hypothesis at the level of the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS), a brainstem structure that is a gateway for many visceral sensory afferent fibres. We confirmed that in the NTS, the first excitatory synapses appeared at embryonic day 18. We next characterized the biophysical properties of NTS AMPARs. Throughout perinatal development, both evoked and miniature EPSCs recorded in the presence of an NMDAR blocker were insensitive to polyamines and had linear current-voltage relationships. This demonstrated that AMPARs at NTS excitatory synapses were calcium-impermeable receptors composed of a majority of GluR2 subunits. We then investigated the influence of calcium influxes through NMDARs on the development of NTS synaptic transmission. We found that NMDAR expression at synaptic sites did not precede AMPAR expression. Moreover, NMDAR blockade in utero did not prevent the development of AMPAR synaptic currents and the synaptic clustering of GluR2 subunits. Thus, our data support an alternative model of synaptogenesis that does not depend on calcium influxes through either AMPARs or NMDARs. This model may be particularly relevant to the formation of neural networks devoted to basic behaviours required at birth for survival.

Targeting of proteins of the striatin family to dendritic spines: role of the coiled-coil domain.

Striatin, SG2NA and zinedin, the three mammalian members of the striatin family are multimodular WD-repeat, calmodulin and calveolin-binding proteins. These scaffolding proteins, involved in both signaling and trafficking, are highly expressed in neurons. Using ultrastructural immunolabeling, we showed that, in Purkinje cells and hippocampal neurons, SG2NA is confined to the somatodendritic compartment with the highest density in dendritic spines. In cultured hippocampal neurons, SG2NA is also highly concentrated in dendritic spines. By expressing truncated forms of HA-tagged SG2NAbeta, we demonstrated that the coiled-coil domain plays an essential role in the targeting of SG2NA within spines. Furthermore, co-immunoprecipitation experiments indicate that this coiled-coil domain is also crucial for the homo- and hetero-oligomerization of these proteins. Thus, oligomerization of the striatin family proteins is probably an obligatory step for their routing to the dendritic spines, and hetero-oligomerization explains why all these proteins are often co-expressed in the neurons of the rat brain and spinal cord.

Early expression of AMPA receptors and lack of NMDA receptors in developing rat climbing fibre synapses.

Whether nascent glutamatergic synapses acquire their AMPA receptors constitutively or via a regulated pathway triggered by pre-existing NMDA receptor activation is still an open issue. Here, we provide evidence that some glutamatergic synapses develop without expressing NMDA receptors. Using immunocytochemistry, we showed that synapses between developing rat climbing fibres and Purkinje cells expressed GluR2-containing AMPA receptors as soon as they were formed (i.e. on embryonic day 19) but never carried detectable NMDA receptors. This was confirmed by electrophysiological recordings. Excitatory synaptic currents were recorded in Purkinje cells as early as P0. However, no NMDA receptor-mediated component was found in either spontaneous or evoked synaptic responses. In addition, we ruled out a possible role of extrasynaptic NMDA receptors by showing that AMPA receptor clustering at nascent climbing fibre synapses was not modified by chronic in utero NMDA receptor blockade.

Synaptic localization of the glutamate receptor subunit GluR2 in the rat nucleus tractus solitarii.

The GluR2 subunit controls several key features of the alpha amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionate (AMPA)-type glutamate receptor including calcium permeability, rectification and gating. In the present study, electrophysiological recordings and immunocytochemistry were used to document the synaptic localization of GluR2 in the rat nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS). Synaptic responses recorded in NTS neurons exhibited linear current-voltage relationships suggestive of GluR2-containing AMPA receptor responses. Furthermore, after antigen retrieval GluR2 immunolabelling in the NTS mainly consisted of small puncta. Double-labelling experiments showed that these GluR2 puncta were apposed to glutamatergic synaptic terminals identified by type II vesicular glutamate transporter immunoreactivity. These results indicate that NTS glutamatergic synapses are endowed with AMPA receptors which contain the GluR2 subunit and are therefore likely to be both calcium-impermeable and slowly desensitizing.

Successive episodes of synapses production in the developing rat nucleus tractus solitarii.

In the rat nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS), synaptogenesis is thought to occur both pre- and postnatally. The present study was performed to precisely define the timetable of synapse formation in the NTS after birth. Changes in synapse morphology and densities were analyzed between postnatal day 3 (P3) and P28 using electron microscopy and ethanol phosphotungstic acid (E-PTA) staining. The proportion of morphologically immature synapses was high at P3 (38%) and P14 (30%) and low (8-14%) at the other ages investigated (P7, P21, and P28). Synaptic density significantly increased between P7 and P14 (60%) and between P21 and P28 (54%), but did not significantly change between P3 and P7 and between P14 and P21. Mean synaptic diameter also increased over the first postnatal month. Significant increases in synaptic size occurred between P3 and P7 (28%) and between P14 and P21 (15%). The present data indicate that, in the NTS, synaptogenesis occurs over a protracted period of time and involves distinct successive episodes of synapse production.