Introduction: The magnocellular neurons (MCNs) of the supraoptic nucleus (SON) play a crucial role in control of physiological and pathophysiologiccal condition due to two peptides that they synthesize, i.e. Oxytocin (OXT) and Vasopressin (AVP). The activity of MCNs is regulated by a variety of excitatory and inhibitory inputs. Opioid receptors are one of the important receptors in SON synap...

The activity of the magnocellular neurons (MCNs) of supraoptic nucleus (SON) is regulated by a variety of excitatory and inhibitory inputs. Opioids are one of the important compounds that affect these inputs at SON synapses. In this study, whole-cell patch clamp recording of SON neurons was used to investigate the effect of acute and repeated morphine administration on spontaneous inhibitory an...

Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) receive excitatory glutamatergic input from ON and OFF bipolar cells in distinct sublaminae of the inner plexiform layer (IPL). AMPA and NMDA receptors (AMPARs and NMDARs) mediate excitatory inputs in both synaptic layers, but specific roles for NMDARs at RGC synapses remain unclear. NMDARs comprise NR1 and NR2 subunits and are anchored by membrane-associated guany...

Methamphetamine (METH) is a psychostimulant drug. Abuse of METH produces long-term behavioral changes including behavioral, sensitization, tolerance, and dependence. It induces neurotoxic effects in several areas of the brain via enhancing dopamine (DA) level abnormally, which may cause a secondary release of glutamate (GLU). However, repeated administration of METH still increases release of G...

Several studies have provided evidence that NG2-expressing (NG2(+)) progenitor cells are anatomically associated to neurons in gray matter areas. By analyzing the spatial distribution of NG2(+) cells in the hilus of the mouse dentate gyrus, we demonstrate that NG2(+) cells are indeed closely associated to interneurons. To define whether this anatomical proximity reflected a specific physiologic...

Conantokin G (Con G), derived from the venom of Conus geographus, is the most characterized natural peptide antagonist targeted to N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. Although Con G is known to bind to the glutamate binding site on the NR2 subunit of the receptor, it is unclear whether it can allosterically modulate the function of the receptor through the glycine binding site on the NR1 sub...

the activity of the magnocellular neurons (mcns) of supraoptic nucleus (son) is regulated by a variety of excitatory and inhibitory inputs. opioids are one of the important compounds that affect these inputs at son synapses. in this study, whole-cell patch clamp recording of son neurons was used to investigate the effect of acute and repeated morphine administration on spontaneous inhibitory an...

Action potentials trigger synaptic terminals to synchronously release vesicles, but some vesicles release spontaneously. G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) can modulate both of these processes. At cranial primary afferent terminals, the GPCR cannabinoid 1 (CB1) is often coexpressed with transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1), a nonselective cation channel present on most afferents. H...

DYT1 dystonia is an inherited movement disorder caused by mutations in DYT1 (TOR1A), which codes for torsinA. Most of the patients have a trinucleotide deletion (ΔGAG) corresponding to a glutamic acid in the C-terminal region (torsinA(ΔE)). Dyt1 ΔGAG heterozygous knock-in (KI) mice, which mimic ΔGAG mutation in the endogenous gene, exhibit motor deficits and deceased frequency of spontaneous ex...

Imbalance in the activity of striatal direct and indirect pathway neurons contributes to motor disturbances in several neurodegenerative diseases. In Huntington's disease (HD), indirect pathway [dopamine (DA) D2 receptor-expressing] medium-sized spiny neurons (MSNs) are believed to show earlier vulnerability than direct pathway MSNs. We examined synaptic activity and DA modulation in MSNs formi...