title: Gelidium amansii promotes dendritic spine morphology and synaptogenesis, and modulates NMDA receptor-mediated postsynaptic current.
abstract: Neurotrophic factors are essential for the differentiation and maturation of developing neurons as well as providing survival support to the mature neurons. Moreover, therapeutically neurotrophic factors are promising to reconstruct partially damaged neuronal networks in neurodegenerative diseases. In the previous study, we reported that the ethanol extract of an edible marine alga, Gelidium amansii (GAE) had shown promising effects in the development and maturation of both axon and dendrites of hippocampal neurons. Here, we demonstrate that in primary culture of hippocampal neurons (1) GAE promotes a significant increase in the number of filopodia and dendritic spines; (2) promotes synaptogenesis; (3) enhances N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor recruitment; and (4) modulates NMDA-receptor-mediated postsynaptic current. Taken together these findings that GAE might be involved in both morphological and functional maturation of neurons suggest the possibility that GAE may constitute a promising candidate for novel compounds for the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Pukyong National University, Namku, Busan, 608-737, South Korea.
authors.forename: Md Abdul
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hannan
authors.forename: Md
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohibbullah
authors.forename: Yong-Ki
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Joo Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.forename: Il Soo
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Moon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049229:Dendritic Spines / Q000187:drug effects; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D061251:Primary Cell Culture; D051381:Rats; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000378:metabolism*; D000461:Rhodophyta / Q000737:chemistry; D055366:Synaptic Potentials / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate