Autism-Associated Insertion Mutation (InsG) of Shank3 Exon 21 Causes Impaired Synaptic Transmission and Behavioral Deficits.
AuthorsSpeed HE, Kouser M, Xuan Z, Reimers JM, Ochoa CF, Gupta N, Liu S, Powell CM
Journal
PubMed ID26134648
'SHANK3 (also known as PROSAP2) is a postsynaptic scaffolding protein at excitatory synapses in which mutations and deletions have been implicated in patients with idiopathic autism, Phelan-McDermid (aka 22q13 microdeletion) syndrome, and other neuropsychiatric disorders. In this study, we have created a novel mouse model of human autism caused by ... More
Presynaptic alpha-synuclein aggregation in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease.
AuthorsSpinelli KJ, Taylor JK, Osterberg VR, Churchill MJ, Pollock E, Moore C, Meshul CK, Unni VK
Journal
PubMed ID24501346
'Parkinson''s disease and dementia with Lewy bodies are associated with abnormal neuronal aggregation of a-synuclein. However, the mechanisms of aggregation and their relationship to disease are poorly understood. We developed an in vivo multiphoton imaging paradigm to study a-synuclein aggregation in mouse cortex with subcellular resolution. We used a green ... More
Motor Training Promotes Both Synaptic and Intrinsic Plasticity of Layer II/III Pyramidal Neurons in the Primary Motor Cortex.
AuthorsKida H, Tsuda Y, Ito N, Yamamoto Y, Owada Y, Kamiya Y, Mitsushima D
JournalCereb Cortex
PubMed ID27193420
Motor skill training induces structural plasticity at dendritic spines in the primary motor cortex (M1). To further analyze both synaptic and intrinsic plasticity in the layer II/III area of M1, we subjected rats to a rotor rod test and then prepared acute brain slices. Motor skill consistently improved within 2 ... More