The effect of synapsin I phosphorylation upon binding of synaptic vesicles to spectrin.

We have previously demonstrated that brain spectrin is attached to small spherical synaptic vesicles via synapsin I. These studies utilized a novel microfiltration assay in which 125I-labelled synaptic vesicles were incubated with brain spectrin which was covalently attached to cellulosic membranes. In these studies purified dephosphosynapsin I was demonstrated to competitively inhibit the binding of the synaptic vesicles to the immobilized brain spectrin with a KI = 45 nM. In the current study we demonstrate that phosphorylation of synapsin I site 1 (0.74 mol Pi/mol synapsin I) with cAMP-dependent protein kinase and sites 2 and 3 (2.0 mol Pi/mol synapsin I) with Ca(2+)-calmodulin kinase II had little effect upon its interaction with brain spectrin. cAMP-dependent protein kinase phosphorylated synapsin I and Ca(2+)-calmodulin kinase II phosphorylated synapsin I both inhibited the binding of 125I-labelled synaptic vesicles to immobilized brain spectrin with a KI of 23 nM and 24 nM respectively. We conclude that phosphorylation of synapsin I does not down-regulate the interaction of synaptic vesicles with brain spectrin.     

The AWS from a parent's point of view:

The parents of 36 people with mental handicaps were interviewed concerning their views on more integrated services for their relatives. Most were in favour of such developments, but considerable opposition was expressed in a number of areas, especially in relation to day care and education. Parents of those with more severe handicaps tended to be least in favour of integration. Some implications for consumer involvement in the AWS are discussed.     

Tissue-type plasminogen activator is a modulator of the synaptic vesicle cycle

正Tissue-type plasminogen activator(t PA)is a serine proteinase that catalyzes the conversion of plasminogen into plasmin.For a long time after its discovery it was thought that t PA’s main source was the endothelial cell and that therefore its chief role was to generate plasmin in the vascular system.However,this concept was challenged four decades later when a group of investigators detected t PA m RNA in well-defined areas of the     

Neuroeconomics: a view from neuroscience

All choices are economic decisions, and this is true because mobile organisms run on batteries. For them the clock is always ticking and their battery draining so every moment represents a choice of how to invest a bit of energy. From this perspective, all choices - those made and those not made - engender costs and yield variable future returns. There is no more fundamental stricture for an organism than to behave so as to recharge their batteries; consequently, each moment of existence is attended by the need to value that moment and its near-term future quickly and accurately. The central issue of neuroeconomics is valuation - the way the brain values literally everything from internal mental states to experienced time (the neuroscience part), and why it should do so one way and not another (the normative economics part). All these valuations have now begun to be probed in experiments by pairing quantitative behavioral and computational modeling with neuroimaging or neurophysiological experiments.     

The reception of family therapy: a view from the psychiatric journals

An analysis of the reviews of books on family studies and therapy in psychiatric journals was done to determine how mental health professionals perceived the family therapy movement and how they responded to its basic theoretical and clinical tenets. The reviews published in leading psychiatric journals from 1955 to 1970 illustrate the rich debate that accompanied the family therapy movement in the first fifteen years of its history in the U.S. Concern over efficacy, theory, limits and affiliation dominated the reviews. The reviewers' responses evolved in a fluctuating pattern from an early acceptance of family therapy to a middle phase of resistance and contestation when family treatment seemed to challenge the domination of the individual approach in the field of psychiatry and, finally, a renewed support of the family approach as an addition to the expanding psychotherapeutic armamentarium. This paper challenges the prevailing view among family therapists and others that family therapy developed in a hostile psychiatric environment.     

The anatomy of mentalization: a view from developmental neuroimaging

The capacity for mentalization emerges from developmental changes in the physical structure of the brain. Although pediatric imaging studies have not directly addressed the process of mentalizing, general principles of brain development may shed light on the neurobiology of mentalization. Increases in white matter, which speeds communication between brain cells, growing complexity of neuronal networks suggested by gray matter changes, and environmentally sensitive plasticity are all essential aspects in a child's ability to mentalize and maintain the adaptive flexibility necessary for healthy transition into adulthood.     

癫癎大鼠海马区囊泡锚定蛋白Ⅰ的表达及突触超微结构的改变

目的 观察大鼠癫痢发作后海马区囊泡锚定蛋白Ⅰ（synapsinⅠ）的表达和突触超微结构的变化，探讨突触功能、形态可塑性与癫痢的关系。方法用锂-匹罗卡品制作癫痫大鼠模型，应用免疫组化法观察致痢后急性期、静止期和慢性期synapsinⅠ在海马的表达；应用电镜和图像处理软件观察海马突触超微结构。结果 癫痢组大鼠海马区synapsinⅠ的表达于致痢后3h减弱；6h和12h达高峰。与对照组比较差异有显著性（P〈0．05-0．01）；24h恢复正常并持续到60d。致痢后3h突触后致密物质厚度（PSD）和突触数密度（Nv）无显著改变；6hPSD增高。Nv降低；7d、30dPSD恢复正常，Nv增高。结论 synapsinⅠ的高表达和PSD的增高可能与急性期癫痢持续状态的维持有关；synapsinⅠ的正常表达和PSD的正常可能是静止期内癫痢不发作的原因之一；慢性期Nv的增加是自发性发作出现的物质基础。     

癫癎大鼠海马区囊泡锚定蛋白Ⅰ的表达及突触超微结构的改变

目的观察大鼠癫癎发作后海马区囊泡锚定蛋白Ⅰ(synapsinⅠ)的表达和突触超微结构的变化,探讨突触功能、形态可塑性与癫癎的关系.方法　用锂-匹罗卡品制作癫癎大鼠模型,应用免疫组化法观察致癎后急性期、静止期和慢性期synapsinⅠ在海马的表达;应用电镜和图像处理软件观察海马突触超微结构.结果癫癎组大鼠海马区synapsinⅠ的表达于致癎后3 h减弱;6 h和12 h达高峰,与对照组比较差异有显著性(P<0.05～0.01);24 h恢复正常并持续到60 d.致癎后3 h突触后致密物质厚度(PSD)和突触数密度(Nv)无显著改变;6 h PSD增高,Nv降低;7 d、30 d PSD恢复正常,Nv增高.结论synapsinⅠ的高表达和PSD的增高可能与急性期癫癎持续状态的维持有关;synapsinⅠ的正常表达和PSD的正常可能是静止期内癫癎不发作的原因之一;慢性期Nv的增加是自发性发作出现的物质基础.     

Cortical plasticity: a view from nonhuman primates

The primate's large brain-to-body weight ratio and high complexity are unusual in the animal kingdom. There is compelling evidence that it is an evolutionary adaptation that allows its owner to live a long life because of its competence in solving a wide range of problems. How primates use their brain to achieve such competence is of course of central interest to us. Here we review some key aspects of the neocortex that can be explored in nonhuman primates. Studies of the cortical circuits in the visual cortex reveal that the two major types of pathways, called feedforward and feedback, involve a very small fraction of the total synapses that any area contains. Nevertheless these pathways may be critical for some important forms of cortical plasticity, like perceptual learning and tasks involving perception and action.     

Traumatic stress: a personal view from combat

What follows is my personal account of the effects of traumatic stress disorder as it is caused by the effects of combat. I tell it in the first person because it is the most effective way to emphasize the highly personal, traumatic nature of combat stress and because it is my own story. I have endeavored to explain how combat stress occurs, what happens to the individual as a result and how a person can recover from its effects. I offer my story because I think that there are thousands of men who have been in offensive combat, who may have lived my life, but who have not had the opportunity to tell their story about why they hurt.