Drugs that Alter Inhibitory Targets Offer Therapeutic Strategies for Autism, Schizophrenia
Feb 21, 2017
Targeted Drug Therapies during Adolescence May Be Used to Normalize Synapse Number in the Brains of Individuals with Abnormal Numbers of Synapses, Such As Found in Schizophrenia and Autism
Brooklyn, NY – Memories are formed at structures in the brain known as dendritic spines, which communicate with other brain cells through “synapses.” The number of these brain connections decreases by half after puberty in a process termed adolescent “synaptic pruning” that is necessary for normal learning in adulthood. However, the pruning away of unnecessary synapses does not follow the normal process in diseases such as autism and schizophrenia, where the abnormality is thought to underlie many of the cognitive impairments associated with these disorders.
Researchers at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University recently discovered that an inhibitory brain receptor triggers pruning in adolescence in a pre-clinical model. Now, a new article by the SUNY Downstate researchers shows that drugs that selectively target these receptors, when administered during adolescence, can alter synapse number.
Sheryl S. Smith, PhD, professor of physiology and pharmacology at Downstate, explains, “Drugs that enhance activity of this inhibitory receptor reduce synapse number, while drugs that decrease this inhibitory receptor increase synapse number.”
Dr. Smith adds, “These findings suggest that targeted drug therapies during adolescence could potentially be used to normalize synapse number in the brains of individuals with abnormal numbers of synapses, such as found in autism and schizophrenia.” Dr. Smith cautions, however, that at this time such drugs are not yet available for use in humans.
The article is "α4βδ GABAA receptors reduce dendritic spine density in CA1 hippocampus
and impair relearning ability of adolescent female mice: Effects of a GABA agonist
and a stress steroid," by Sonia Afroz, Hui Shen, Sheryl S. Smith (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroscience.2017.01.051). It appears in Neuroscience, Volume 347 (April 2017), published by Elsevier.
The research leading to the results published by Neuroscience was supported by the National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Mental Health,
Award Number R01-MH100561, to Sheryl S. Smith. The content is solely the responsibility
of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National
Institute of Mental Health or National Institutes of Health.
Copies of this paper are available to credentialed journalists upon request; please
contact Elsevier's Newsroom at newsroom@elsevier.com or +31 20 485 2492.
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About SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University
Downstate Health Sciences University in Brooklyn is one of four academic health centers (AMCs) in The State University of New York (SUNY) 64-campus system and the only SUNY AMC in New York City dedicated to health education, research, and patient care for the borough’s 2.7 million residents. Its flagship hospital, University Hospital at Downstate (UHD), is a teaching hospital and benefits from the expertise of Downstate’s exceptional medical school and world-class academic center research facilities. With a staff of over 800 physicians representing 53 specialties and subspecialties, Downstate offers comprehensive healthcare services to the community.
UHD provides high-risk neonatal and infant services, pediatric nephrology, and dialysis for kidney diseases and is the only kidney transplantation program in Brooklyn. Beyond its clinical expertise, Downstate houses a range of esteemed educational institutions, including its College of Medicine, College of Nursing, School of Health Professions, School of Graduate Studies, and School of Public Health. Downstate fosters innovation through its multifaceted biotechnology initiative, the Biotechnology Incubator and BioBAT, which support early-stage and more mature biotech companies.