title: Presynaptic contributions of chordin to hippocampal plasticity and spatial learning.
abstract: Recently, several evolutionary conserved signaling pathways that play prominent roles in regulating early neurodevelopment have been found to regulate synaptic remodeling in the adult. To test whether adult neuronal expression of bone morphogenic protein (BMP) signaling components also plays a postnatal role in regulating neuronal plasticity, we modulated BMP signaling in mice both in vivo and in vitro by genetic removal of the BMP inhibitor chordin or by perfusing recombinant BMP signaling pathway components onto acute hippocampal slices. Chordin null mice exhibited a significant increase in presynaptic transmitter release from hippocampal neurons, resulting in enhanced paired-pulse facilitation and long-term potentiation. These mice also showed a decreased acquisition time in a water maze test along with less exploratory activity during Y-maze and open-field tests. Perfusion of BMP ligands onto hippocampal slices replicated the presynaptic phenotype of chordin null slices, but bath application of Noggin, another antagonist of BMP signaling pathway, significantly decrease the frequency of miniature EPSCs. These results demonstrate that the BMP signaling pathway contributes to synaptic plasticity and learning likely through a presynaptic mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA.
authors.forename: Mu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Herder
authors.forename: M Lisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Bofenkamp
authors.forename: Scott B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Selleck
authors.forename: Michael B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: O'Connor
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D019706:Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism*; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / Q000379:methods; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D017729:Presynaptic Terminals / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013037:Spatial Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C054234:chordin