Nitric oxide-cGMP signaling cascade controls synchronous network activities in developing hippocampus

Abstract

Event Abstract Back to Event Nitric oxide-cGMP signaling cascade controls synchronous network activities in developing hippocampus Judit Veres1*, Beáta Németh1, Csaba Cserép1, Gergely Szabó1, Gábor Nyiri1, Tamás Freund1 and Norbert Hájos1 1 Laboratory of Network Neurophysiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Hungary Emerging synchronous activities in cell assemblies during development is a hallmark of maturation of neuronal networks. The generation of these synchronous events is governed by glutamatergic and GABAergic synaptic function. Although nitric oxide (NO), a gaseous messenger, can effectively regulate synaptic plasticity in the adult brain, and could play an important role in neuronal morphogenesis, its function in network operations during the early stages of life is unknown. The aim of the study was to investigate the role of NO signaling in synchronous activities emerging in developing hippocampal networks. Cells in in vitro slices prepared from 5 to 9-day-old mice were loaded with Fura2-AM. Using imaging techniques we followed neuronal firing with changes in the intracellular Ca2+ concentration in cell bodies located in stratum pyramidale of CA1 area. Events were considered to be synchronous, if the fluorescent signal increased simultaneously in the majority (>90%) of active cells. Our results indicate that inhibition of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) by L-NAME increased the number of synchronous events (n=8), while the application of an NO donor, SNP, decreased it (n=6). Accordingly, an NO-sensitive guanylyl cyclase (NOsGC) inhibitor, ODQ, elevated the occurrence of synchronous events (n=6), whereas application of Br-cGMP reduced it (n=6). In addition, we studied -using whole-cell recordings from CA1 pyramidal neurons- pharmacologically-isolated postsynaptic currents (PSCs) evoked by focal stimulation. Bath application of SNP decreased the amplitude of both excitatory and inhibitory PSCs (n=9 each), effects that could be prevented by co-application of ODQ (n=5). Our experiments showed that NO production in developing hippocampus can effectively control the occurrence of synchronous activity patterns by influencing synaptic transmission. Thus, the NO-cGMP molecular cascade may function as an important regulator of the activity-dependent maturation of neuronal networks. Conference: IBRO International Workshop 2010, Pécs, Hungary, 21 Jan - 23 Jan, 2010. Presentation Type: Poster Presentation Topic: Development Citation: Veres J, Németh B, Cserép C, Szabó G, Nyiri G, Freund T and Hájos N (2010). Nitric oxide-cGMP signaling cascade controls synchronous network activities in developing hippocampus. Front. Neurosci. Conference Abstract: IBRO International Workshop 2010. doi: 10.3389/conf.fnins.2010.10.00007 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 14 Apr 2010; Published Online: 14 Apr 2010. * Correspondence: Judit Veres, Laboratory of Network Neurophysiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary, veres@koki.hu Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Judit Veres Beáta Németh Csaba Cserép Gergely Szabó Gábor Nyiri Tamás Freund Norbert Hájos Google Judit Veres Beáta Németh Csaba Cserép Gergely Szabó Gábor Nyiri Tamás Freund Norbert Hájos Google Scholar Judit Veres Beáta Németh Csaba Cserép Gergely Szabó Gábor Nyiri Tamás Freund Norbert Hájos PubMed Judit Veres Beáta Németh Csaba Cserép Gergely Szabó Gábor Nyiri Tamás Freund Norbert Hájos Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.