Concepedia

Control of Excitatory and Inhibitory Synapse Formation by Neuroligins

Ben Chih, Holly S. Engelman, Peter Scheiffele

Science · 2005 · 710 citations · 17 references

Open access

TL;DR

Neural networks rely on a delicate balance of excitatory and inhibitory synapses, whose formation is regulated by bidirectional pre‑ and postsynaptic signaling. The study demonstrates that Neuroligin family members promote postsynaptic differentiation in cultured rat hippocampal neurons. Using cultured rat hippocampal neurons, the authors showed that Neuroligin family members promote postsynaptic differentiation. RNAi‑mediated knockdown of neuroligin isoforms caused loss of both excitatory and inhibitory synapses, with electrophysiology revealing a predominant reduction in inhibitory function, demonstrating that neuroligins regulate the formation and functional balance of synapses in hippocampal neurons.

Abstract

The normal function of neural networks depends on a delicate balance between excitatory and inhibitory synaptic inputs. Synapse formation is thought to be regulated by bidirectional signaling between pre- and postsynaptic cells. We demonstrate that members of the Neuroligin family promote postsynaptic differentiation in cultured rat hippocampal neurons. Down-regulation of neuroligin isoform expression by RNA interference results in a loss of excitatory and inhibitory synapses. Electrophysiological analysis revealed a predominant reduction of inhibitory synaptic function. Thus, neuroligins control the formation and functional balance of excitatory and inhibitory synapses in hippocampal neurons.