University of Wollongong
Browse

Embryonic striatal grafts restore bi-directional synaptic plasticity in a rodent model of Huntington's disease

Download (689.89 kB)
journal contribution
posted on 2024-11-14, 20:51 authored by David Mazzocchi-Jones, Mate Dobrossy, Stephen Dunnett
Embryonic striatal grafts integrate with the host striatal circuitry, forming anatomically appropriate connections capable of influencing host behaviour. In addition, striatal grafts can influence host behaviour via a variety of non-specific, trophic and pharmacological mechanisms; however, direct evidence that recovery is dependent on circuit reconstruction is lacking. Recent studies suggest that striatal grafts alleviate simple motor deficits, and also that learning of complex motor skills and habits can also be restored. However, although the data suggest that such 're-learning' requires integration of the graft into the host striatal circuitry, little evidence exists to demonstrate that such integration includes functional synaptic connections. Here we demonstrate that embryonic striatal grafts form functional connections with the host striatal circuitry, capable of restoring stable synaptic transmission, within an excitotoxic lesion model of Huntington's disease. Furthermore, such 'functional integration' of the striatal graft enables the expression of host-graft bi-directional synaptic plasticity, similar to the normal cortico-striatal circuit. These results indicate that striatal grafts express synaptic correlates of learning, and thereby provide direct evidence of functional neuronal circuit repair, an essential component of 'functional integration'.

History

Citation

Mazzocchi-Jones,D. M., Dobrossy, M., & Dunnett, S. (2009). Embryonic striatal grafts restore bi-directional synaptic plasticity in a rodent model of Huntington's disease. European Journal of Neuroscience, 30(11), 2134-2142.

Journal title

European Journal of Neuroscience

Volume

30

Issue

11

Pagination

2134-2142

Language

English

RIS ID

29707

Usage metrics

    Categories

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC