Adolescent Alcohol Exposure: Burden of Epigenetic Reprogramming, Synaptic Remodeling, and Adult Psychopathology.

Adolescence represents a crucial phase of synaptic maturation characterized by molecular changes in the developing brain that shape normal behavioral patterns. Epigenetic mechanisms play an important role in these neuromaturation processes. Perturbations of normal epigenetic programming during adolescence by ethanol can disrupt these molecular events, leading to synaptic remodeling and abnormal adult behaviors.

Epigenetics of schizophrenia: an open and shut case.

During the last decade and a half, there has been an explosion of data regarding epigenetic changes in schizophrenia. Most initial studies have suggested that schizophrenia is characterized by an overly restrictive chromatin state based on increases in transcription silencing histone modifications and DNA methylation at schizophrenia candidate gene promoters and increases in the expression of enzymes that catalyze their formation. However, recent studies indicate that the pathology is more complex.

Olfactory discrimination learning in mice lacking the fragile X mental retardation protein.

An automated training system was used to compare the behavior of knockout (KO) mice lacking the fragile X mental retardation protein with that of wild-type (WT) mice (C57Bl/6 strain) in the acquisition and retention of olfactory discriminations. KO and WT mice did not differ in the acquisition of a four-stage nose poke shaping procedure. In two separate experiments, mutant mice required substantially more training to acquire a series of novel olfactory discrimination problems than did control mice.

Interaction of Galphaq and Kir3, G protein-coupled inwardly rectifying potassium channels.

Activation of substance P receptors, which are coupled to Galpha(q), inhibits the Kir3.1/3.2 channels, resulting in neuronal excitation.