Synaptic Plasticity: Multiple Mechanisms and Functions |
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| Air date: | Monday, April 09, 2007, 12:00:00 PM |
| Category: | Neuroscience |
| Runtime: | 75 minutes |
| NLM Title: | Synaptic plasticity : multiple mechanisms and functions [electronic resource] / Robert Malenka. |
| Series: | NIH neuroscience seminar series |
| Author: | Malenka, Robert C. National Institutes of Health (U.S.) |
| Publisher: | [Bethesda, Md. : National Institutes of Health, 2007] |
| Other Title(s): | NIH neuroscience seminar series |
| Abstract: | (CIT): Long-lasting activity-dependent changes in the efficacy of synaptic transmission play an important role in the development of neural circuits and may mediate many forms of learning and memory. Work from Dr. Malenka's laboratory over the last 10 years has demonstrated that there are a variety of related but mechanistically distinct forms of synaptic plasticity. A major goal of his laboratory is to elucidate both the specific molecular events that are responsible for the triggering of these various forms of synaptic plasticity and the exact modifications in synaptic proteins that are responsible for the observed, long-lasting changes in synaptic efficacy. To accomplish this, they use cellular electrophysiological recording techniques to examine synaptic plasticity in a variety of different in vitro preparations including thin slices of various regions of the rodent brain and primary neurons in culture. Dr. Malenka's lab also uses cell biological and molecular techniques to examine the activity-dependent modulation of neurotransmitter receptors and to express dominant negative forms of various synaptic proteins so that their exact functions can be determined. An additional complementary approach has involved examining synaptic physiology and synaptic plasticity in various mutant mouse lines lacking specific synaptic proteins. A related but independent area of research in his laboratory is the elucidation of the synaptic action of drugs of abuse such as the psychostimulants cocaine and amphetamine. Toward this end, they have developed in vitro slice preparations of the nucleus accumbens and ventral tegmental area, brain regions which are thought to mediate several of the behavioral effects of drugs of abuse. They have characterized a novel form of synaptic plasticity in the nucleus accumbens and have done an extensive pharmacological characterization of the synaptic effects of dopamine, cocaine, and amphetamine. Currently they are examining in more detail the underlying mechanisms of dopamine's actions and determining how chronic treatment with drugs of abuse affect the synaptic responses of nucleus accumbens and ventral tegmental area cells. Because chronic exposure to drugs of abuse elicit long-term adaptive changes in critical neural circuits, it is hoped that the knowledge gained from the work on the molecular mechanisms underlying synaptic plasticity will provide important clues to the molecular mechanisms underlying the development of tolerance, dependence and addiction. NIH Neuroscience Seminar Series. |
| Subjects: | Endocannabinoids Neuronal Plasticity--physiology Synaptic Transmission--physiology |
| Publication Types: | Government Publications Lectures |
| Download: | Download
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| NLM Classification: | WL 102.8 |
| NLM ID: | 101306060 |
| CIT File ID: | 13746 |
| CIT Live ID: | 5252 |
| Permanent link: | http://videocast.nih.gov/launch.asp?13746 |
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Enhanced Audio Podcast | 1:05:17 |
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Enhanced Video Podcast | 1:05:17 | |