L-type voltage-gated Ca 2؉ channels (VGCC) play an important role in dendritic development, neuronal survival, and synaptic plasticity. Recent studies have demonstrated that the gonadal steroid estrogen rapidly induces Ca 2؉ influx in hippocampal neurons, which is required for neuroprotection and potentiation of LTP. The mechanism by which estrogen rapidly induces this Ca 2؉ influx is not clearly understood. We show by electrophysiological studies that extremely low concentrations of estrogens acutely potentiate VGCC in hippocampal neurons, hippocampal slices, and HEK-293 cells transfected with neuronal L-type VGCC, in a manner that was estrogen receptor (ER)-independent. Equilibrium, competitive, and whole-cell binding assays indicate that estrogen directly interacts with the VGCC. Furthermore, a L-type VGCC antagonist to the dihydropyridine site displaced estrogen binding to neuronal membranes, and the effects of estrogen were markedly attenuated in a mutant, dihydropyridineinsensitive L-type VGCC, demonstrating a direct interaction of estrogens with L-type VGCC. Thus, estrogen-induced potentiation of calcium influx via L-type VGCC may link electrical events with rapid intracellular signaling seen with estrogen exposure leading to modulation of synaptic plasticity, neuroprotection, and memory formation.estrogen receptors ͉ signaling ͉ estradiol ͉ memory A large body of evidence shows that estrogens exert multiple rapid effects on the structure and function of neurons in a variety of brain regions, including the hippocampus (1). For example, estrogens rapidly potentiate kainite-induced currents in hippocampal neurons from wild-type (2) as well as from estrogenreceptor (ER)-␣ knockout (3) mice and induce rapid spine synapse formation in the CA1 hippocampus of ovariectomized (OVX) rats (4). Furthermore, acute application of estrogens to hippocampal slices increases NMDA and AMPA receptor transmission (5), induces long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD) (6), and rapidly modulates neuronal excitability in rat medial amygdala (7) and hippocampus(8).It is well known that estrogens interact with cell membrane components and initiate signaling events leading to a rise in intracellular Ca 2ϩ , and activation of Src kinase, G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), MAPK, PI3K/AKT, PKA, and adenylyl cyclase (9). The mechanism(s) by which estrogens induce these rapid and diverse effects remains largely unknown. Ca 2ϩ is a second messenger that can trigger the modification of synaptic efficacy. A plasticity-induction protocol like repetitive low-frequency synaptic stimulation (10) induces the elevation of postsynaptic intracellular Ca 2ϩ . The level of intracellular Ca 2ϩ concentration can activate numerous kinases like CAMK, PKA, PKC, MAPK, PI3K, or phosphatases (11-15), which, respectively, phosphorylate or dephosphorylate ion channels, transcription factors, and other proteins that are involved in synaptic plasticity and memory formation. Because voltage-gated Ca 2ϩ channels (VGCC)-mediated extracellular Ca ...

Activated ERK signaling mediated plasticity-related gene transcription has been proposed for one possible mechanism by which 17β-estradiol (E2) enhances synaptic plasticity and memory. Because activated ERK also enhances plasticity-related mRNA translation in the dendrites of neurons, we sought to determine the effects of E2 on activation of ERK, phosphorylation of translation initiation factors, and dendritic mRNA translation in hippocampal neurons. Acute E2 application resulted in a rapid, transient increase in phosphorylation of translation initiation factors, ribosomal protein (S6) and eIF4E binding protein1 (4EBP1), in an activated ERKdependent manner. Since phosphorylation of these translation factors enhance mRNA translation, we tested E2's effects on dendritic mRNA translation. Using a green fluorescent protein (GFP)-based dendritic mRNA translation reporter (reporter plasmid construct consisted of a GFP gene fused to the 3′UTR from CAMKIIα, which contains dendritic resident mRNA targeting and mRNA translational regulatory elements) we showed that E2 treatment resulted in increased somatic and dendritic GFP mRNA translation in GFP-reporter transfected hippocampal neurons. Translation inhibitor anisomycin and ERK inhibitor U0126 blocked E2 effects. Taken together, our results provide a novel mechanism by which E2 may trigger local protein synthesis of α-CaMKII in the dendrites, which is necessary for modulation of synaptic plasticity.

The mammalian secondary palate forms from two shelves of mesenchyme sheathed in a single-layered epithelium. These shelves meet during embryogenesis to form the midline epithelial seam (MES). Failure of MES degradation prevents mesenchymal confluence and results in a cleft palate. Previous studies indicated that MES cells undergo features of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and may become migratory as part of the fusion mechanism. To detect MES cell movement over the course of fusion, we imaged the midline of fusing embryonic ephrin-B2/GFP mouse palates in real time using two-photon microscopy. These mice express an ephrin-B2driven green fluorescent protein (GFP) that labels the palatal epithelium nuclei and persists in those cells through the time window necessary for fusion. We observed collective migration of MES cells toward the oral surface of the palatal shelf over 48 hr of imaging, and we confirmed histologically that the imaged palates had fused by the end of the imaged period. We previously reported that ephrin reverse signaling in the MES is required for palatal fusion. We therefore added recombinant EphA4/Fc protein to block this signaling in imaged palates. The blockage inhibited fusion, as expected, but did not change the observed migration of GFP-labeled cells. Thus, we uncoupled migration and fusion. Our data reveal that palatal MES cells undergo a collective, unidirectional movement during palatal fusion and that ephrin reverse signaling, though required for fusion, controls aspects of the fusion mechanism independent of migration. K E Y W O R D S development, EMT, ephrin, epithelia, palate

The secondary palate arises from outgrowths of epithelia-covered embryonic mesenchyme that grow from the maxillary prominence, remodel to meet over the tongue, and fuse at the midline. These events require the coordination of cell proliferation, migration, and gene expression, all of which take place in the context of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Palatal cells generate their ECM, and then stiffen, degrade, or otherwise modify its properties to achieve the required cell movement and organization during palatogenesis. The ECM, in turn, acts on the cells through their matrix receptors to change their gene expression and thus their phenotype. The number of ECM-related gene mutations that cause cleft palate in mice and humans is a testament to the crucial role the matrix plays in palate development and a reminder that understanding that role is vital to our progress in treating palate deformities. This article will review the known ECM constituents at each stage of palatogenesis, the mechanisms of tissue reorganization and cell migration through the palatal ECM, the reciprocal relationship between the ECM and gene expression, and human syndromes with cleft palate that arise from mutations of ECM proteins and their regulators. Anat Rec, 303:1543Rec, 303: -1556Rec, 303: , 2020

Neuromodulation of synaptic plasticity by 17β-estradiol (E2) is thought to influence information processing and storage in the cortex and hippocampus. Because E2 rapidly affects cortical memory and synaptic plasticity, we examined its effects on phosphorylation of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor (AMPAR) [AMPA-type glutamate receptor subunit 1 (GluR1 subunit)], all of which are important for the induction and maintenance of synaptic plasticity and memory. Acute E2 treatment resulted in an increased temporal and spatial phosphorylation pattern of CaMKII, ERK, and AMPAR (GluR1 subunit). By using inhibitors, we were able to attribute GluR1 phosphorylation to CaMKII at serine 831, and we also found that E2 treatment increased GluR1 insertion into the surface membrane. Because soluble amyloid-beta (Aβ) oligomers inhibit CaMKII and ERK activation, which is necessary for synaptic plasticity, we also tested E2’s ability to ameliorate Aβ-induced dysfunction of synaptic plasticity. We found that estrogen treatment in neuronal culture, slice culture, and in vivo, ameliorated Aβ oligomer-induced inhibition of CaMKII, ERK, and AMPAR phosphorylation, and also ameliorated the Aβ oligomer-induced reduction of dendritic spine density in a CaMKII-dependent manner. These phosphorylation events are correlated with the early stage of inhibitory avoidance learning, and our data show that E2 improved inhibitory avoidance memory deficits in animals treated with soluble Aβ oligomers. This study identifies E2-induced signaling that attenuates soluble Aβ peptide-mediated dysfunction of pathways in synaptic plasticity.