Interplay of chemical neurotransmitters regulates developmental increase in electrical synapses

dc.contributor.advisorBelousov, Andrei B
dc.contributor.authorPark, Won-Mee
dc.contributor.cmtememberBlanco, Gustavo
dc.contributor.cmtememberFontes, Joseph
dc.contributor.cmtememberStanford, John A.
dc.contributor.cmtememberZhu, Bao-Ting
dc.date.accessioned2011-10-09T13:27:26Z
dc.date.available2011-10-09T13:27:26Z
dc.date.issued2011-08-31
dc.date.submitted2011
dc.description.abstractCoupling of neurons by electrical synapses (gap junctions) transiently increases during embryonic and/or early postnatal development of the mammalian central nervous system and plays an important role in a number of developmental events. A previous study revealed the mechanisms that control the developmental uncoupling of neuronal gap junctions, however, developmental regulation of neuronal gap junction coupling is largely unknown and is addressed in this dissertation. The current study revealed that the developmental increase in neuronal gap junction coupling is regulated by the interplay between the activity of group II metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR) and GABAA receptors (GABAAR). Specifically, the experiments including dye coupling, electrotonic coupling, western blots and siRNA technology in the rat and mouse hypothalamus and cortex in vivo and in vitro demonstrated that activation of group II mGluRs augments, and inactivation prevents, the developmental increase in neuronal gap junction coupling and connexin36 (Cx36, neuronal gap junction protein) expression. In contrast, changes in GABAA receptor activity have the opposite effects. The regulation by group II mGluRs is through cyclic AMP/protein kinase A-dependent signaling, while the GABAAR-dependent regulation is via influx of Ca2+ through L-type voltage-gated Ca2+ channels and activation of protein kinase C-dependent signaling. Further, the receptor mediated up-regulation of Cx36 requires a neuron-restrictive silencer element in the Cx36 gene promoter and the down-regulation involves the 3' untranslated region of the Cx36 mRNA, as shown using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and luciferase reporter activity analysis. In addition, the methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium analysis indicates that mechanism for the developmental increase in neuronal gap junction coupling directly control the death/survival mechanisms in developing neurons. Altogether, the results suggest a multi-tiered strategy for chemical synapses in developmental regulation of electrical synapses.
dc.format.extent113 pages
dc.identifier.otherhttp://dissertations.umi.com/ku:11625
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1808/8175
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherUniversity of Kansas
dc.rightsThis item is protected by copyright and unless otherwise specified the copyright of this thesis/dissertation is held by the author.
dc.rights.accessrightsopenAccess
dc.subjectNeurosciences
dc.subjectChemical synapse
dc.subjectCx36
dc.subjectDevelopment
dc.subjectElectrical synapse
dc.subjectGap junction
dc.subjectHypothalamus
dc.thesis.degreeDisciplineMolecular & Integrative Physiology
dc.thesis.degreeLevelPh.D.
dc.titleInterplay of chemical neurotransmitters regulates developmental increase in electrical synapses
dc.typeDissertation
dspace.entity.typePublication
kusw.bibid7643024
kusw.oapolicyThis item does not meet KU Open Access policy criteria.
kusw.oastatusna
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