Neuroscience

2. Introduction
• Adult neurogenesis occurs in the
brains of most mammals, including
humans, and contributes to
learning and memory
• During development, astrocytes
promote the formation of synapses
in distinct neuronal populations
• Molecules: Glypican, thrombospondin

3. Purpose of current study
Examined the role of exocytosis from astrocytes on the synaptic
integration of adult-born hippocampal neurons.
Astrocyte
Release molecule(s)
Synapse
formation in
new born
neuron

4. Materials and Methods
• Used two transgenic mice line
– iBot-Glast-CreERT2 mouse
– tetO.dnSNARE mouse
• Viral injection: MoMuLv-RFP (infected dividing cell)
• IHC and Confocal imaging / EM
• Electrophysiology
• TERF

5. Materials and Methods
Animals

6. Figure 1.
BoNT Expression in Astrocytes Impairs the Maturation and
Survival of New Neurons as Well as Dendritic Spine Formation
boNT/B cleaves the vesicle-associated membrane synaptobrevin-2

8. Figure 2.
dnSNARE Expression in Astrocytes Impairs the Maturation and
Survival of New Neurons as Well as Dendritic Spine Formation

10. Figure 3.
The Fine Structure of Perisynaptic Processes of dnSNARE-
Expressing Astrocytes Is Similar to WT

12. Figure 4.
Impaired NMDA- and AMPA-Mediated Synaptic Transmission in
Newborn Neurons in dnSNARE Mice

13. Figure 5.
Pre-established Spines Are Not Destabilized by dnSNARE
Expression in Astrocytes

14. Figure 6.
In dnSNARE Mice, Extracellular D-serine Is Reduced and Its
Exogenous Application Partially Rescues NMDAR EPSCs in
Newborn Neurons
The knockdown of the essential NR1 subunit of the NMDA
receptor results in the drastic elimination of new neurons

16. Figure 7.
D-serine Administration Restores the Maturation of New
Neurons in dnSNARE Mice

18. Conclusion