Circadian control of excitatory synaptic transmission in the hippocampus » –

Suny Albany, USA

Salle de conférence, 11h

Abstract: One of the most fascinating questions in neuroscience is how the brain shapes our cognitive skills in response to changing internal and external stimuli. In vertebrates and invertebrates, different cell types in the brain display plastic behaviors, because they undergo structural and functional modifications over a wide range of time scales. Previous work in the hippocampus showed that the magnitude and incidence of long-term potentiation, a proposed cellular substrate for memory formation, shows circadian oscillations. Accordingly, this form of plasticity is enhanced between ZT0-12 compared to ZT12-24. What accounts for these changes? By using patch-clamp electrophysiology, fluorescence in situ hybridization, imaging and protein retention expansion microscopy, we show that neurons and astrocytes in the hippocampus are differently affected by circadian rhythmicity. These changes shape the ability of hippocampal pyramidal cells to integrate synaptic inputs and express long-term changes in synaptic strength. Together, these findings highlight previously unknown forms of cellular remodeling that can contribute to shape the cognitive skills of living organisms.

Invitée pour la Neuroschool