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Impaired development of hippocampal mossy fibre synapses in mouse mutants for the presynaptic scaffold protein Bassoon
Author(s) -
Lanore Frederic,
Blanchet Christophe,
Fejtova Anna,
Pinheiro Paulo,
Richter Karin,
Balschun Detlef,
Gundelfinger Eckart,
Mulle Christophe
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
the journal of physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.802
H-Index - 240
eISSN - 1469-7793
pISSN - 0022-3751
DOI - 10.1113/jphysiol.2009.184929
Subject(s) - glutamatergic , active zone , long term potentiation , neuroscience , hippocampal formation , excitatory postsynaptic potential , neural facilitation , neurotransmission , neurotransmitter , synapse , silent synapse , biology , chemistry , glutamate receptor , synaptic vesicle , inhibitory postsynaptic potential , central nervous system , receptor , biochemistry , vesicle , membrane
Bassoon, a protein highly concentrated at the synaptic active zone, is thought to participate in the organization of the cytomatrix at the site of neurotransmitter release. Bassoon is amongst the first proteins to accumulate at newly formed synaptic junctions, raising the question of the functional role of this protein in the early stages of synaptic development. Here we show that the course of synaptic maturation of hippocampal mossy fibre (MF) synapses (glutamatergic synapses with multiple release sites) is markedly altered during the first 2 weeks of postnatal development in mutant mice lacking the central region of Bassoon (Bsn −/− mice). At postnatal day 7 (P7), Bsn −/− mice display large amplitude MF‐EPSCs with decreased paired pulse ratios, an abnormality which may be linked to deficits in the organization of the presynaptic active zone. Surprisingly, 1 week later, decreased MF‐EPSCs amplitude is observed in Bsn −/− mice, consistent with the inactivation of a subset of synaptic release sites. Finally, at more mature states a decreased posttetanic potentiation is observed at MF‐synapses. These results support the notion that Bassoon is important for organizing the presynaptic active zone during the postnatal maturation of glutamatergic synapses.