Giant miniature endplate potentials at vertebrate neuromuscular junctions: A review.

An unusually large amplitude spontaneous miniature endplate potentials (gMEPPs) occur naturally at low frequency at the vertebrate neuromuscular junction. Unlike the normal miniature endplate potentials (nMEPPs), these gMEPPs have long duration and long time to peak. More strikingly, gMEPPs seem to be independent of extracellular and intracellular Ca and have a greater temperature sensitivity than nMEPPs.

Synaptic Plasticity and Cognitive Ability in Experimental Adult-Onset Hypothyroidism.

Adult-onset hypothyroidism impairs normal brain function. Research on animal models of hypothyroidism has revealed critical information on how deficiency of thyroid hormones impacts the electrophysiological and molecular functions of the brain, which leads to the well known cognitive impairment in untreated hypothyroid patients. Currently, such information can only be obtained from experiments on animal models of hypothyroidism.

Thyroidectomy and PTU-Induced Hypothyroidism: Effect of L-Thyroxine on Suppression of Spatial and Non-Spatial Memory Related Signaling Molecules.

Background: The calcium/calmodulin protein kinase II (CaMKII) signaling cascade is crucial for hippocampus-dependent learning and memory. Hypothyroidism impairs hippocampus- dependent learning and memory in adult rats, which can be prevented by simple replacement therapy with L-thyroxine (thyroxine, T4) treatment. In this study, we compared animal models of hypothyroidism induced by thyroidectomy and treatment with propylthiouracil (PTU) in terms of synaptic plasticity and the effect on underlying molecular mechanisms of spatial and non-spatial types of memory.

Understanding stress: Insights from rodent models.

Through incorporating both physical and psychological forms of stressors, a variety of rodent models have provided important insights into the understanding of stress physiology. Rodent models also have provided significant information with regards to the mechanistic basis of the pathophysiology of stress-related disorders such as anxiety disorders, depressive illnesses, cognitive impairment and post-traumatic stress disorder. Additionally, rodent models of stress have served as valuable tools in the area of drug screening and drug development for treatment of stress-induced conditions.

NMDA receptor-independent LTP in mammalian nervous system.

Long-term potentiation (LTP) of synaptic transmission is a form of activity-dependent synaptic plasticity that exists at most synapses in the nervous system. In the central nervous system (CNS), LTP has been recorded at numerous synapses and is a prime candidate mechanism associating activity-dependent plasticity with learning and memory. LTP involves long-lasting increase in synaptic strength with various underlying mechanisms.