A5007734615- Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Neuroscience and Neural Engineering
- Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
- Retinal Development and Disorders
- Neural dynamics and brain function
- Ion channel regulation and function
- Photoreceptor and optogenetics research
- CRISPR and Genetic Engineering
- Ion Transport and Channel Regulation
- Down syndrome and intellectual disability research
- Axon Guidance and Neuronal Signaling
- Signaling Pathways in Disease
- Receptor Mechanisms and Signaling
- Microbial Inactivation Methods
- Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Nerve injury and regeneration
- Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
- Cellular transport and secretion
- Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Planarian Biology and Electrostimulation
- RNA Interference and Gene Delivery
- Advanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniques
- Memory and Neural Mechanisms
- Advanced Memory and Neural Computing
Italian Institute of Technology
2016-2025
Dulbecco Telethon Institute
2017-2025
Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Sezione di Genova
2014-2018
Polytechnic University of Turin
2017
Scuola Normale Superiore
2001-2010
University of California, Berkeley
2004-2010
National Research Council
2003
University of Genoa
2000
GABA exerts excitatory actions on embryonic and neonatal cortical neurons, but the in vivo function of this excitation is essentially unknown. Using utero electroporation, we eliminated action a subpopulation rat ventricular progenitors neurons derived from these by premature expression Cl- transporter KCC2, as confirmed changes reversal potential GABA-induced currents resting membrane after GABA(A) receptor blockade. We found that radial migration to layer II/III somatosensory cortex...
Experience-dependent plasticity in the cortex is often higher during short critical periods postnatal development. The mechanisms limiting adult cortical are still unclear. Maturation of intracortical GABAergic inhibition suggested to be crucial for closure period ocular dominance (OD) visual cortex. We find that reduction transmission rat partially reactivates OD response monocular deprivation (MD). This accompanied by an enhancement activity-dependent potentiation synaptic efficacy but not...
Thus far, the developmental plasticity of visual system has been studied by altering or reducing experience. Here, we investigated whether a complex sensory-motor stimulation, provided rearing animals in an enriched environment, affects development. We found that raising mice this condition causes earlier eye opening, precocious development acuity, and accelerated decline white matter-induced long-term potentiation. These effects are accompanied cAMP response element-mediated gene expression...
Cytosolic cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and guanosine (cGMP) often mediate antagonistic cellular actions of extracellular factors, from the regulation ion channels to cell volume control axon guidance. We found that localized cAMP cGMP activities in undifferentiated neurites cultured hippocampal neurons promote suppress formation, respectively, exert opposite effects on dendrite formation. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer imaging showed alterations amount resulted changes cGMP,...
Experience-dependent plasticity in the developing visual cortex depends on electrical activity and molecular signals involved stabilization or removal of inputs. Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1,2 (also called p42/44 mitogen-activated protein kinase) activation is regulated by both factors. We show that two different inhibitors ERK pathway suppress induction forms long-term potentiation (LTP) rat cortical slices their intracortical administration to monocularly deprived rats prevents...
DURING BRAIN DEVELOPMENT, THERE IS A PROGRESSIVE REDUCTION OF INTRACELLULAR CHLORIDE ASSOCIATED WITH SHIFT IN GABA POLARITY: depolarizes and occasionally excites immature neurons, subsequently hyperpolarizing them at later stages of development. This sequence, which has been observed in a wide range animal species, brain structures preparations, is thought to play an important role activity-dependent formation modulation functional circuits. sequence also considerably reinforced recently...
Significance The control of intracellular Cl − and pH plays a crucial role in several neuronal functions, the study these processes would be helped by tools for their noninvasive optical measurement vivo. In this study, we have performed combined measurements individual pyramidal neurons means vivo two-photon imaging, provide direct experimental demonstration presence postnatal developmental shift to lower intraneuronal . Moreover, introduce an approach dynamic simultaneous monitoring These...
In utero electroporation is a powerful tool to transfect and manipulate neural-precursor cells of the rodent parietal cortex their progeny in vivo. Although this technique can potentially target numerous brain areas, reliability transfection some regions low or physical access limited. Here we present new configuration based on use three electrodes, relative position polarities which be adjusted. The allows easy exceedingly reliable monolateral bilateral at locations that could only...
Microglia are brain-resident immune cells and regulate mechanisms essential for cognitive functions. Down syndrome (DS), the most frequent cause of genetic intellectual disability, is caused by a supernumerary chromosome 21, containing also genes related to system. In hippocampus Dp(16) mouse model DS individuals, we found activated microglia, as assessed their morphology; activation markers; and, mice, electrophysiological profile. Accordingly, increased pro-inflammatory cytokine levels...
Abstract Cation-chloride cotransporters (CCCs) NKCC1 and NKCC2 catalyze electroneutral symport of 1 Na + , K 2 Cl − across cell membranes. mediates trans-epithelial secretion regulates excitability some neurons is critical to renal salt reabsorption. Both transporters are inhibited by the so-called loop diuretics including bumetanide, these drugs a mainstay for treating edema hypertension. Here, our single-particle electron cryo-microscopy structures supported functional studies reveal an...
GABAA receptors (GABAARs) exist as different subtype variants showing unique functional properties and defined spatio-temporal expression pattern. The molecular mechanisms underlying the developmental of GABAAR are largely unknown. intracellular concentration chloride ([Cl−]i), main ion permeating through GABAARs, also undergoes considerable changes during maturation, being higher at early neuronal stages with respect to adult neurons. Here we investigate possibility that [Cl−]i could...
Down syndrome (DS) is caused by the triplication of human chromosome 21 and represents most frequent genetic cause intellectual disability. The trisomic Ts65Dn mouse model DS shows synaptic deficits reproduces essential cognitive disabilities syndrome. Aerobic exercise improved various neurophysiological dysfunctions in mice, including hippocampal deficits, promoting synaptogenesis neurotransmission at glutamatergic terminals. Most importantly, same intervention also prompted recovery adult...
Autism spectrum disorders are neurodevelopmental conditions with diverse aetiologies, all characterized by common core symptoms such as impaired social skills and communication, well repetitive behaviour. Cell adhesion molecules, receptor tyrosine kinases associated downstream signalling have been strongly implicated in both neurodevelopment autism disorders. We found that downregulation of the cell molecule NEGR1 or kinase fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGFR2) similarly affects neuronal...
Aberrant expression ratio of Cl− transporters, NKCC1 and KCC2, is implicated in several brain conditions. inhibition by the FDA-approved diuretic drug, bumetanide, rescues core symptoms rodent models and/or clinical trials with patients. However, bumetanide has a strong effect due to kidney transporter NKCC2, creating critical drug compliance issues health concerns. Here, we report discovery new chemical class selective inhibitors lead candidate ARN23746. ARN23746 restores physiological...