The extracellular matrix molecule brevican is an integral component of the machinery mediating fast synaptic transmission at the calyx of Held
Blosa M, Sonntag M, Jaeger C, Weigel S, Seeger J, Frischknecht R, Seidenbecher CI, Matthews RT, Arendt T, Ruebsamen R, Morawski M (2015)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2015
Journal
Book Volume: 593
Pages Range: 4341-4360
Journal Issue: 19
DOI: 10.1113/JP270849
Abstract
The extracellular matrix is an integral part of the neural tissue. Its most conspicuous manifestation in the brain are the perineuronal nets (PNs) which surround somata and proximal dendrites of distinct neuron types. The chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan brevican is a major component of PNs. In contrast to other PN-comprising proteoglycans (e.g. aggrecan and neurocan), brevican is mainly expressed in the perisynaptic space closely associated with both the pre- and postsynaptic membrane. This specific localization prompted the hypothesis that brevican might play a role in synaptic transmission. In the present study we specifically investigated the role of brevican in synaptic transmission at a central synapse, the calyx of Held in the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body, by the use of in vivo electrophysiology, immunohistochemistry, biochemistry and electron microscopy. In vivo extracellular single-unit recordings were acquired in brevican-deficient mice and the dynamics and reliability of synaptic transmission were compared to wild-type littermates. In knockout mice, the speed of pre-to-postsynaptic action potential (AP) transmission was reduced and the duration of the respective pre- and postsynaptic APs increased. The reliability of signal transmission, however, was not affected by the lack of brevican. The changes in dynamics of signal transmission were accompanied by the reduction of (i) presynaptic vGlut1 and (ii) the size of subsynaptic cavities. The present results suggest an essential role of brevican for the functionality of high-speed synaptic transmission at the calyx of Held.
Involved external institutions
Universität Leipzig
Germany (DE)
Max-Planck-Institut für Neurobiologie / Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology
Germany (DE)
State University of New York at Albany (UNY Albany / UAlbany)
United States (USA) (US)
Germany (DE)
Max-Planck-Institut für Neurobiologie / Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology
Germany (DE)
State University of New York at Albany (UNY Albany / UAlbany)
United States (USA) (US)
How to cite
APA:
Blosa, M., Sonntag, M., Jaeger, C., Weigel, S., Seeger, J., Frischknecht, R.,... Morawski, M. (2015). The extracellular matrix molecule brevican is an integral component of the machinery mediating fast synaptic transmission at the calyx of Held. The Journal of Physiology, 593(19), 4341-4360. https://dx.doi.org/10.1113/JP270849
MLA:
Blosa, Maren, et al. "The extracellular matrix molecule brevican is an integral component of the machinery mediating fast synaptic transmission at the calyx of Held." The Journal of Physiology 593.19 (2015): 4341-4360.
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