• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.230-239
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• 2020

Previous studies have shown disrupted synaptic plasticity and neural activity in depression. Such alteration is strongly associated with disrupted synaptic structures. Chronic stress has been known to induce changes in dendritic structure in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), but antidepressant effect on structure of these brain areas has been unclear. Here, the effects of imipramine on dendritic spine density and morphology in BLA and mPFC subregions of stressed mice were examined. Chronic restraint stress caused depressive-like behaviors such as enhanced social avoidance and despair level coincident with differential changes in dendritic spine structure. Chronic stress enhanced dendritic spine density in the lateral nucleus of BLA with no significant change in the basal nucleus of BLA, and altered the proportion of stubby or mushroom spines in both subregions. Conversely, in the apical and basal mPFC, chronic stress caused a significant reduction in spine density. The proportion of stubby or mushroom spines in these subregions overall reduced while the proportion of thin spines increased after repeated stress. Interestingly, most of these structural alterations by chronic stress were reversed by imipramine. In addition, structural changes caused by stress and blocking the changes by imipramine were corelated well with altered activation and expression of synaptic plasticity-promoting molecules such as phospho-CREB, phospho-CAMKII, and PSD-95. Collectively, our data suggest that imipramine modulates stress-induced changes in synaptic structure and synaptic plasticity-promoting molecules in a coordinated manner although structural and molecular alterations induced by stress are distinct in the BLA and mPFC.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2005.04a
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• pp.88-89
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• 2005

• 대한약리학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.10a
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• pp.98.2-98.2
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• 2006

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.53-66
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• 1978

An attempt has been made to discriminate the synapses in the striatum consisting caudate nucleus, putamen and fundus striati of the cat with emphasis on the characteristic structures of axon terminals and postsynaptic profiles. The differentiation is based on the size and shape of vesicle in the bouton terminal, and the symmetrical or asymmetrical thickening the pre- and postsynaptic membrane. Four types of synapses could be differentiated: Type I: the bontons with asymmetrical,synaptic thickenings contain round 45 nm diameter vesicles and contact cell soma, dendritic shafts and dendritic spines (74%). Type II : the boutons contain round 45nm diameter vesicles and are associated with symmetrical membrane thickenings. These synapses are formed on the soma and dendritic shafts (6%). Type III: the boutons with symmetrical membrane thickenings contain 50-60 nm diameter pleomorphic vesicles, and contact soma and dendritic shafts (18%). Type IV: the terminals contain flattened vesicles ($25{\times}45 nm$) and are associated with symmetrical membrane thickenings. These synapses are found in contact with soma and dendritic shafts. Additionally, the bouton en passant, which is expanded from myelinated or unmyelinated axons containing round vesicles (45nm diameter) contacts the dendritic shaft or dendritic spine with asymmetrical membrane thickenings. Two unusual types of synapses, axo-axonic and dendro-dendritic, are found occasionally.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.50
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• pp.6.1-6.6
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• 2020

The cerebellum is a region of the brain that plays an important role in motor control. It is classified phylogenetically into archicerebellum, paleocerebellum and neocerebellum. The Purkinje cells are lined in a row called Purkinje cell layer and it has a unique dendritic branches with many spines. The previous study reported that there is a difference of synapse density according to the lobules based on large two-dimensional data. However, recent study with high voltage electron microscopy showed there was no differences in dendritic spine density of the Purkinje cell according to its phylogenetic lobule. We analyzed Purkinje cell density in the II, VI and X lobules by stereological modules and synaptic density was estimated by double disector based on Purkinje cell density in the molecular layer of each lobule. The results showed that there was significant difference in the Purkinje cell density and synapse number according to their phylogenetic lobules. The number of Purkinje cell in a given volume was larger in the archicerebellum, but synapse density was higher in the neocerebellum. These data suggest that cellular and synaptic organization of the Purkinje cell is different according to their phylogenetic background.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.806-817
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• 2021

Increasing evidence suggests that depression is associated with impairments in neural plasticity. Sirtuin 1 plays an important role in neural plasticity, and the activation of mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling is known to improve neural plasticity. In this study, we aimed to determine whether sirtuin 1 affects dendrite outgrowth and spine formation through mTORC1 signaling. Resveratrol (sirtuin 1 activator; 1 and 10 μM) and sirtinol (sirtuin 1 inhibitor; 1 and 10 μM) were treated in primary cortical culture with and without dexamethasone (500 μM). Levels of sirtuin 1, phospho-extracellular signal regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), phospho-mTORC1, and phospho-p70 ribosomal protein S6 kinase (p70S6K) were evaluated using Western blot analysis. Dendritic outgrowth and spine density were assessed using immunostaining. Resveratrol significantly increased levels of sirtuin 1 expression and phosphorylation of ERK1/2 (a downstream target of sirtuin 1), mTORC1, and p70S6K (a downstream target of mTORC1) in a concentration-dependent manner under dexamethasone conditions. Resveratrol also significantly increased dendritic outgrowth and spine density. Conversely, sirtinol significantly decreased levels of sirtuin 1 expression and phosphorylation of ERK1/2, mTORC1, and p70S6K in a concentration-dependent manner under normal conditions. Moreover, sirtinol significantly decreased dendritic outgrowth and spine density. Consistent with the results of sirtinol, sirtuin 1 knockdown using sirtuin 1 siRNA transfection significantly decreased dendritic outgrowth and spine density as well as phosphorylation levels of ERK1/2 and mTORC1. These data suggest that sirtuin 1 enhances dendritic outgrowth and spine density by activating mTORC1 signaling.

• 한국전자현미경학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.05a
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• pp.116-117
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• 2005

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2001

The morphological features of neuronal dendritic spines are changed their shapes, sizes and density in response to physiological or pathological conditions . Therefore, exact analysis of spines warrants understanding of neuronal function. The size of the spine is at the borderline of resolution with light microscopy. High voltage electron microscopy Provide excellent resolution of the spines with proper stain techniques thanks to its higher resolution and penetration power. We evaluated more effective staining method for observing dendritic spines after labeling Purkinje cells with anti-calbindin 28 kD immunohistochemistry or Golgi staining methods. 4 fm thickness sections were observed with high voltage electron microscopy and some morphometric analyses were performed. Both Golgi staining and immunohistochemistry revealed the detail structures of the Purkinje cell such as soma, dendrites, and dendritic spines. High voltage electron micrographs with Golgi staining provide more precise morphology and are easy to measure. Average density of spine is $24.5{\pm}3.6/10{\mu}m$ and its length is $1.12{\pm}0.22{\mu}m$. For quantitative analysis of the spines, high voltage electron, micrographs with Golgi staining are more effective. This preliminary result is expected to be useful for further study of spine plasticity in various conditions.

• Korean Journal of Exercise Nutrition
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.32-35
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• 2019

[Purpose] Fibronectin type III domain containing 5 (FNDC5)/irisin is an exercise-induced myokine, which contributes to cognitive functions. However, the relationship between the neuroprotective effects of FNDC5/irisin and hippocampal dendritic remodeling and astrocyte-secreted factors remains unclear. Therefore, we explored whether subchronic recombinant irisin treatment affected hippocampal morphology and some astrocyte-derived molecules. [Methods] Mice were intraperitoneally injected with irisin (0.5 μg/kg/day) for seven days, followed by their sacrifice two days later. Hippocampal morphometric parameters were analyzed and pgc-1a, fndc5, bdnf, and some astrocyte-derived factors mRNA levels were measured. [Results] Dendritic length, arborization, and spine density were enhanced by irisin regimen in hippocampal CA1 and CA3 areas. Hippocampal pgc-1a, fndc5, and bdnf mRNA levels were significantly increased by irisin treatment. Moreover, hevin mRNA levels were significantly enhanced, whereas tgf-b1 levels downregulated by irisin treatment. [Conclusion] FNDC5/irisin has dendritogenic activity probably through hevin induction and TGF-β1 suppression.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.8
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• pp.1062-1066
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• 2009

N-Acetylglucosamine kinase (GlcNAc kinase or NAGK; EC 2.7.1.59) catalyzes the phosphorylation of GlcNAc to GlcNAc-6-phosphate (GlcNAc-6-P). Despite detailed characterization of the enzyme itself, there have been few studies on the expression of NAGK in mammalian tissues. In the rat hippocampal neuron in culture, NAGK-immunoreactivity (IR) formed clusters in somatodendritic domains. In this study we characterized the NAGK clusters that protrude out the long axis of dendritic shafts. By double-labeling of the neurons with antibodies against NAGK and various synaptic proteins, we show that NAGK is positioned at the base of spines, while there were no NAGK protrusions into inhibitory postsynaptic sites. Immunoblot analysis showed that NAGK was included in synaptosomes but not in PSD fractions. Our results indicate that the NAGK clusters at the dendritic periphery protrude into spines.