Lecture 11-Neuroscience Techniques Flashcards
What role do MDGA proteins play in synaptic regulation?
MDGA proteins regulate the balance between excitatory and inhibitory synapses by interacting with Neuroligins (MDGA2 with Neuroligin-1 for excitatory synapses and MDGA1 with Neuroligin-2 for inhibitory synapses).
Where are excitatory and inhibitory synapses typically formed?
Excitatory synapses are primarily formed on dendritic spines, while inhibitory synapses form on dendrites or the cell soma.
What is the primary advantage of single-cell analyses in neurobiology?
Single-cell analyses allow precise genetic or pharmacological manipulation of neurons to study synapse formation and function.
What is a key limitation of single-cell analyses?
Single-cell analyses may not fully replicate how neurons behave in the intact central nervous system (CNS).
What is MDGA2? How does overexpression of MDGA2 affect synapse formation in cultured neurons?
-A protein that regulates the formation of synapses
- Overexpressing MDGA2 reduces the formation of both excitatory and inhibitory synapses.
- This is shown by fewer clusters of VGAT (inhibitory) and VGLUT1 (excitatory) markers.
What markers were used to study synapse formation in MDGA2 experiments?
VGAT was used to identify inhibitory synapses, and VGLUT1 was used to identify excitatory synapses.
What insights do neural circuit-level studies provide in neurobiology?
They offer a snapshot of synapse density and distribution, reflecting neural circuit organization during a specific developmental stage.
What is a two limitations of studying circuits?
- Minimal temporal resolution (samples show only a snapshot at one time, making it difficult to track changes or activity over time)
- Captures synaptic states at specific developmental stages, limiting dynamic understanding of synaptic changes.
What is a key limitation of studying neuronal function in brain slices?
- Neuronal function studies often use isolated brain tissue or cells, not the whole brain.
- Results may reflect changes caused by the experiment setup, not normal brain activity.
How does the level of resolution in neuronal function assessments help study synaptic activity?
It allows direct assessment of changes in cellular characteristics and synaptic inputs, ranging from single channel to whole cell analysis.
What are two caveats studying neuronal networks?
- It’s difficult to distinguish between network effects and those from individual cells
- Only measuring some parts of the network can miss important interactions and affect understanding of the whole network’s function.
What does the “Neuronal Networks” resolution level focus on and what scales does it assess?
- It focuses on population responses to understand how groups of neurons behave and how network properties change, from a single neuron to multiple neurons within a network.
What is a caveat when studying synaptic plasticity in relation to brain disorders?
Synaptic plasticity changes can occur without behavioral signs of neuropathologies, making it hard to directly link them to observable symptoms.
What does the “Neural Plasticity” resolution level assess and how is altered synaptic plasticity linked to brain disorders?
- It assesses how neural networks respond to changes in neural activity related to cognition.
-Altered synaptic plasticity may be an early sign of brain disorders.
What is a caveat when using animal models (e.g., mice) to study neurological disorders?
Mice are not humans, so the results may not directly apply to humans, and there could be other reasons for the observed traits.