Approaching a physiological method for studying neuronal activity-regulated gene expression

JERÓNIMO LUKIN; SEBASTIÁN GIUSTI; MORA B. OGANDO; FLORENCIA MERINO; ANTONIA MARIN BURGIN; DAMIAN REFOJO

Congreso; XXXIII Sociedad Argentina de Investigación en Neurociencias (SAN); 2018

Neuronal activity-dependent transcription is an integral part of the neuronal response to environmental stimulation and it is crucial for different molecular mechanisms underlying synaptic plasticity (LTP/ LTD), learning and memory, behavioral responses and neuronal survival. The nature of transcriptional response to electrical activity (target genes and their temporal induction profile) has been broadly studied during the last few years. Previous researches investigations were done inducing activating neurons by applying protocols of chemical neuronal depolarization (KCl high concentrations, TTX withdrawal) that are highly artificial and far from any physiological condition.In this project, we aim to develop novel strategies to study neuronal activity-regulated gene expression both ex vivo (in brain slices) and in vitro (in primary neuron culture). We used electrical and optogenetic stimulations at different frequencies and patterns of depolarizing stimuli mimicking brain electrical oscillations and bursting activity. We were able to observe different levels of gene expression and temporal dynamics of three known activity-regulated genes (Npas4, cFos and Arc) upon these stimulation protocols.Together, the results indicate that activity patterns can determine the temporal dynamics of activation of gene expression and that the study of activity-dependent transcription should be refined and assessed with more physiological methods.