Publications by authors named "D Ragozzino"
Article Synopsis
- Microglia play a crucial role in regulating synaptic function in the brain, but their behavior in acute brain slices may be influenced by the slicing and maintenance process.
- In this study, researchers found that after 4 hours of slicing, microglia show morphological and functional changes, including becoming more reactive and altering their signaling capabilities.
- The study suggests that these changes in microglia correspond to a decrease in synaptic transmission in pyramidal neurons, highlighting the importance of considering time factors in ex vivo experiments involving microglia and synaptic function.
Functional studies of circular RNAs (circRNAs) began quite recently, and few data exist on their function in vivo. Here, we have generated a knockout (KO) mouse model to study circDlc1(2), a circRNA highly expressed in the prefrontal cortex and striatum. The loss of circDlc1(2) led to the upregulation of glutamatergic-response-associated genes in the striatal tissue, enhanced excitatory synaptic transmission in neuronal cultures, and hyperactivity and increased stereotypies in mice.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMicroglia, which are the resident immune cells of the CNS, also have important functions in physiological conditions. In this chapter, we review the experimental evidence that microglia modulate neuronal and synaptic activity during normal development and in adults. We show that microglia can regulate the maturation and function of both inhibitory and excitatory synapses that can be stimulated or repressed.
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- * The R451C mutation leads to misfolding of the protein, causing it to be stuck in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), negatively impacting synaptic activity and social behavior.
- * A study found that certain glucocorticoids, especially dexamethasone (DEX), can help improve the stability and surface trafficking of the misfolded protein, suggesting a possible treatment strategy for autism-related mutations.
Synapses are the fundamental structures of neural circuits that control brain functions and behavioral and cognitive processes. Synapses undergo formation, maturation, and elimination mainly during postnatal development via a complex interplay with neighboring astrocytes and microglia that, by shaping neural connectivity, may have a crucial role in the strengthening and weakening of synaptic functions, that is, the functional plasticity of synapses. Indeed, an increasing number of studies have unveiled the roles of microglia and astrocytes in synapse formation, maturation, and elimination as well as in regulating synaptic function.
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