Wnt-5a induces the conversion of silent to functional synapses in the hippocampus.

ABSTRACT: Synapse unsilencing is an essential mechanism for experience-dependent plasticity. Here, we showed that the application of the ligand Wnt-5a converts glutamatergic silent synapses into functional ones by increasing both α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid (AMPA) and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) currents (I_AMPA and I_NMDA, respectively). These effects were mimicked by the hexapeptide Foxy-5 and inhibited by secreted frizzled-related protein sFRP-2. I_NMDA potentiation was produced by increased synaptic potency, followed by an increase in the probability of release (Pr), even in the presence of 7-nitro-2,3-dioxo-1,4-dihydroquinoxaline-6-carbonitrile (CNQX). At a longer time of Wnt-5a exposure, the Pr increments were higher in I_NMDA t

SUBMITTER: Alvarez-Ferradas C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9650636 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature