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Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience Commons™
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Full-Text Articles in Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience
Structure And Composition Of Postsynaptic Densities, Madeline Farley
Structure And Composition Of Postsynaptic Densities, Madeline Farley
Dissertations & Theses (Open Access)
Communication between neurons within the brain occurs at chemical synapses and is fundamental for all brain functions. Modulation of the strength of communication is controlled by both presynaptic and postsynaptic mechanisms and is termed synaptic plasticity. One postsynaptic structure postulated to regulate synaptic strength is the postsynaptic density (PSD), a large electron dense protein complex located just below the synaptic membrane. The PSD, which is composed of signaling, scaffold and cytoskeletal proteins, supports and organizes neurotransmitter receptors within the synaptic membrane in addition to bridging signaling with the actin cytoskeletal network. The protein composition and structure of PSDs is known …
Abnormal Hippocampal Activation In Freely Behaving Mice Deficient For The Vesicular Acetylcholine Transporter, Shahin Moallem
Abnormal Hippocampal Activation In Freely Behaving Mice Deficient For The Vesicular Acetylcholine Transporter, Shahin Moallem
Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository
Acetylcholine (Ach) has a fundamental role in cortical activation. The activation of the hippocampus, a cortex implicated in cognitive and sensorimotor functions, is characterized by an increase in power and frequency of oscillations in the theta (4-10 Hz) and gamma (30-100 Hz) frequency range. We studied hippocampal activation in two mutant mouse lines with deficiency in cholinergic functionality: VAChT KDHET (HET), and VAChTNkx2.1-Cre-flox/flox (KO). We hypothesized that the mutant mice, relative to wild-type (WT) mice, will manifest abnormal theta and gamma oscillations during different behaviors, and in response to muscarinic cholinergic antagonist scopolamine hydrochloride and to the NMDA …
Pcdh19 Expression In Normal And Regenerating Adult Zebrafish Retinas, Kristin N. Forkapa Ms.
Pcdh19 Expression In Normal And Regenerating Adult Zebrafish Retinas, Kristin N. Forkapa Ms.
Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects
My Honors Research Project will test the function of the N-cadherin molecule on the zebrafish optic nerve regeneration. N-cadherin is a member of the cadherin superfamily. Cadherins are cell adhesion molecules important for animal development and maintenance of adult structures. Unlike mammals, fish and amphibians have the ability to regenerate their optic nerve after damages. Molecular mechanisms underlying the optic nerve regeneration are still under intense investigation. Studies in Dr. Liu’s laboratory showed that expression of several cadherins, including N-cadherin, was greatly increased during adult zebrafish optic nerve regeneration, suggesting that cadherins may be involved in the optic nerve regeneration …