title: AMPA-silent synapses in brain development and pathology.
abstract: Synapses are constantly generated at a high rate in the developing, prepubescent brain. Newly generated glutamatergic synapses lack functional AMPA receptor-mediated transmission. Most of these 'AMPA-silent' synapses are eliminated during the developmental period, but some are specifically selected for AMPA unsilencing by correlated pre-and postsynaptic activity as the first step in a process that leads to stabilization of the synapse. Premature, or delayed, unsilencing of AMPA-silent synapses has been implicated in neurodevelopmental disorders, and abnormal generation of AMPA-silent synapses is associated with brain trauma, addiction and neurodegenerative disorders, further highlighting the importance of AMPA-silent synapses in brain pathology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg PO Box 100, SE-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hanse
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Seth
authors.forename: Ilse
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Riebe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D018091:Receptors, AMPA / Q000378:metabolism*; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D018091:Receptors, AMPA