: Neuroscience Articles
News and Views: MeCP2 and drug addictionTwo studies in this issue show that the protein MeCP2, which is implicated in Rett syndrome, also critically regulates behavioral responses to psychostimulants. Although the two studies highlight different mechanisms of MeCP2 in regulating these behaviors, both underscore the importance of epigenetic mechanisms in establishing drug addiction. Nature Neuroscience, vol. 13 #9, pp1039-1041 |
News and Views: Dnmt3a: addiction's molecular forget-me-not?A new study examines the contribution of DNA methylation to long-term behavioral and morphological changes produced by cocaine exposure or chronic social defeat stress. Nature Neuroscience, vol. 13 #9, pp1041-1043 |
News and Views: Handling accumulated internal Cl? at inhibitory synapsesA study in this issue finds that under conditions of intense activity at specific inhibitory synapses, the voltage gated Cl? channel CIC-2 is vital for allowing efflux of accumulated internal Cl?. Nature Neuroscience, vol. 13 #9, pp1043-1044 |
News and Views: Zooming in on mouse visionAn examination of the micro-organization of visual cortex using two-photon calcium imaging provides a new level of insight into retinotopic maps, finding that retinotopy is scrambled on fine scales in mouse primary visual cortex. Nature Neuroscience, vol. 13 #9, pp1045-1046 |
Brief Communication: Regulation of fast-spiking basket cell synapses by the chloride channel ClC-2Fldy et al. find that GABAA receptor?mediated synaptic inputs from murine parvalbumin-expressing basket cells are selectively modulated by the membrane voltage? and intracellular chloride?dependent chloride channel ClC-2. Their data reveal a cell type?specific regulation of intracellular chloride homeostasis in the perisomatic region of hippocampal pyramidal neurons. Nature Neuroscience, vol. 13 #9, pp1047-1049 |
Brief Communication: Calcium action potentials in hair cells pattern auditory neuron activity before hearing onsetThe authors find that rat central auditory neurons fire action potentials in a stereotyped pattern of mini-bursts prior to hearing onset and that this pattern is initiated by cochlear hair cells. Nature Neuroscience, vol. 13 #9, pp1050-1052 |
Brief Communication: A calcineurin/AKAP complex is required for NMDA receptor?dependent long-term depressionAKAP79/150 is a protein scaffold that is thought to position specific kinases and phosphastases in their appropriate synaptic domains. The authors report that AKAP interacts with calcineurin to regulate NMDA receptor?dependent plasticity in rat hippocampal slices. Nature Neuroscience, vol. 13 #9, pp1053-1055 |
Brief Communication: Deletion of the potassium channel Kv12.2 causes hippocampal hyperexcitability and epilepsyThe authors report that the voltage-gated K+ channel Kv12.2 regulates firing threshold and excitability in hippocampal pyramidal neurons. Nature Neuroscience, vol. 13 #9, pp1056-1058 |
