The specific role of BDNF-triggered synaptic activation in synapse development of hippocampal neurons

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

The establishment of neuronal networks during development requires the precise formation of synaptic connections. Despite the increasing wealth of data concerning the question of how neuronal networks are wired with high precision the underlying mechanisms still remain elusive. This project is aimed at investigating the precise role of BDNF-triggered activation of individual developing synapses in hippocampal slice cultures. Interestingly, the focal application of BDNF to immature silent synapses leads to a very high frequency of spontaneous transmission events for a period of at least one hour after BDNF application. To investigate the role of BDNF during early synapse development, the new mechanism of BDNF-triggered unsilencing of individual synapses will be identified. It will be also interesting to investigate the minimal stimulation intensity, the duration of activation, and what types of synapses can be activated. In addition, I will ask the question if the mechanism of synapse activation is pre- or postsynaptically. As a second step, I will address whether the unsilencing of individual synapses is specific to the application of BDNF or whether it could occur as well by transactivation of TrkB receptors. As BDNF levels might be limited in the developing hippocampus it is still a matter of particular interest if TrkB signaling independent of neurotrophins could as well be crucial during early synaptogenesis.