Nature Neuroscience - Current issue : December 2009 - Vol 12 No 12
- PEDF regulation of adult neural stem cells
- MHC recognition by olfactory neurons
- Hippocampus-intrinsic theta oscillations
Current issue
Independent oscillators
Brief Communication by Goutagny and colleaguesAlthough in vivo studies have suggested that hippocampal theta oscillation is generated by extrinsic medial septal input, theoretical studies have suggested the hippocampus has the minimal feedback circuitry to intrinsically generate its own theta rhythm. This study directly demonstrates such oscillation, independent of external inputs.
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News and Views by Colgin and MoserCurrent issue
PEDF regulation of adult neural stem cells
Article by Andreu-Agulló and colleaguesNotch signaling is essential for the maintenance of adult neural stem cells in vivo. Here, Andreu-Agulló and colleagues show that PEDF, released from endothelial cells, enhances Notch signaling in the mouse subependymal zone by inactivating a repressor of Notch target genes.
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News and Views by Chojnacki and WeissCurrent issue
Dendrite remodeling
Article by Kirilly and colleaguesCertain Drosophila dendrites undergo major remodeling during metamorphosis. This study shows that the first step, the severing of larval dendrites, depends on the upregulation of the cytoskeleton-binding protein Mical by the transcription factor Sox14.
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News and Views by Osterloh and FreemanCurrent issue
MHC recognition by olfactory neurons
Article by Leinders-Zufall and colleaguesMajor histocompatibility complex peptides function as olfactory cues for vomeronasal sensory neurons (VSNs) in the mammalian nose. The authors report that individual VSNs expressing the receptor gene V2r1b have broad peptide responsiveness but sufficient specificity to distinguish peptides differing by a single amino acid residue.
Current issue
Nardilysin regulates myelination
Article by Ohno and colleaguesNardilysin (NRDc) enhances the shedding of ectodomains from neuronal membrane proteins. The null mutant described here reveals that nardilysin is necessary for myelination in both central and peripheral nervous system.
Current issue
Balancing amyloid-β
Article by Abramov and colleaguesEven without the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, normal brain releases a small amount of amyloid-β peptide (Aβ). Abramov and colleagues now show that endogenous Aβ that is produced and released from presynaptic terminals can alter synaptic transmission and short-term plasticity.
Current issue
Cleaning up during development
Article by Wu and colleaguesDuring development of the peripheral ganglia, 50% of neurons die by apoptosis. This paper shows that satellite glial cell precursors clear these neuronal corpses in developing DRG and identifies some of the molecular players involved in this phagocytosis.
Advance online publication
NMDA receptor loss leads to schizophrenia-like behavior
Article by Belforte and colleaguesThe authors generated mice lacking the NR1 subunit of the NMDA receptor selectively in cortical and hippocampal interneurons to test the hypothesis that glutamatergic dysfunction can cause pathophysiology similar to schizophrenia. These mice develop several psychotic symptoms.
