9 research outputs found
The short-time structural plasticity of dendritic spines is altered in a model of Rett syndrome
The maturation of excitatory transmission comes about through a developmental period in which dendritic spines are highly motile and their number, form and size are rapidly changing. Surprisingly, although these processes are crucial for the formation of cortical circuitry, little is known about possible alterations of these processes in brain disease. By means of acute in vivo 2-photon imaging we show that the dynamic properties of dendritic spines of layer V cortical neurons are deeply affected in a mouse model of Rett syndrome (RTT) at a time around P25 when the neuronal phenotype of the disease is still mild. Then, we show that 24h after a subcutaneous injection of IGF-1 spine dynamics is restored. Our study demonstrates that spine dynamics in RTT mice is severely impaired early during development and suggest that treatments for RTT should be started very early in order to reestablish a normal period of spine plasticity
Anterograde transport of neurotrophins and axodendritic transfer in the developing visual system
Gene Expression Profiles - A New Dynamic and Functional Dimension to the Exploration of Learning and Memory
Stability of local brain levels of insulin-like growth factor-I in two well-characterized models of decreased plasma IGF-I
Grafted cerebellar cells in a mouse model of hereditary ataxia express IGF–I system genes and partially restore behavioral function
Molecular pathogenesis and cellular pathology of spinocerebellar ataxia type 7 neurodegeneration
The many faces of insulin-like peptide signalling in the brain
Central and peripheral insulin-like peptides (ILPs), which include insulin, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) and IGF2, exert many effects in the brain. Through their actions on brain growth and differentiation, ILPs contribute to building circuitries that subserve metabolic and behavioural adaptation to internal and external cues of energy availability. In the adult brain each ILP has distinct effects, but together their actions ultimately regulate energy homeostasis - they affect nutrient sensing and regulate neuronal plasticity to modulate adaptive behaviours involved in food seeking, including high-level cognitive operations such as spatial memory. In essence, the multifaceted activity of ILPs in the brain may be viewed as a system organization involved in the control of energy allocation. © 2012 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved.Peer Reviewe