Ultanir Sila K, Kim Ji-Eun, Hall Benjamin J, Deerinck Thomas, Ellisman Mark, Ghosh Anirvan
Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, and National Center for Microscopy and Imaging Research, Center for Research in Biological Systems, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007 Dec 4;104(49):19553-8. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0704031104. Epub 2007 Nov 28.
Dendritic spines are the major sites of excitatory synaptic transmission in the CNS, and their size and density influence the functioning of neuronal circuits. Here we report that NMDA receptor signaling plays a critical role in regulating spine size and density in the developing cortex. Genetic deletion of the NR1 subunit of the NMDA receptor in the cortex leads to a decrease in spine density and an increase in spine head size in cortical layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons. This process is accompanied by an increase in the presynaptic axon bouton volume and the postsynaptic density area, as well as an increase in the miniature excitatory postsynaptic current amplitude and frequency. These observations indicate that NMDA receptors regulate synapse structure and function in the developing cortex.
树突棘是中枢神经系统中兴奋性突触传递的主要部位，其大小和密度会影响神经回路的功能。在此，我们报告NMDA受体信号传导在调节发育中的皮质中树突棘的大小和密度方面起着关键作用。皮质中NMDA受体NR1亚基的基因缺失导致皮质第2/3层锥体神经元的树突棘密度降低，树突棘头部大小增加。这一过程伴随着突触前轴突终扣体积和突触后致密区面积的增加，以及微小兴奋性突触后电流幅度和频率的增加。这些观察结果表明，NMDA受体在发育中的皮质中调节突触结构和功能。
