mice. Here, we investigated whether similar defects are also seen in dissociated and organotypic cultures from hippocampus and forebrain of tn-r 2/2 mice and whether the structure of PNs could be normalized.In tn-r 2/2 cultures, accumulations of several extracellular matrix molecules were mostly associated with somata, whereas dendrites were sparsely covered, compared with tn-r þ/þ mice. Experiments to normalize the structure of PNs in tn-r 2/2 organotypic slice cultures by depolarization of neurons, or by co-culturing tn-r þ/þ and tn-r 2/2 brain slices failed to restore a normal PN phenotype. However, formation of dendritic PNs in cultures was improved by the application of tenascin-R protein and rescued by polyclonal antibodies to aggrecan and a bivalent, but not monovalent form of the lectin Wisteria floribunda agglutinin. These results show that tenascin-R and aggrecan are decisive contributors to formation and stabilization of PNs and that tenascin-R may implement these functions by clustering of aggrecan. Proposed approaches for restoration of normal PN structure are noteworthy in the context of PN abnormalities in neurological disorders, such as epilepsy, schizophrenia and addiction.

Key pointsr The proteoglycan brevican is a major component of the extracellular matrix of perineuronal nets and is highly enriched in the perisynaptic space suggesting a role for synaptic transmission.r We have introduced the calyx of Held in the auditory brainstem as a model system to study the impact of brevican on dynamics and reliability of synaptic transmission. r These data show that brevican is an important mediator of fast synaptic transmission at the calyx of Held. AbstractThe extracellular matrix is an integral part of the neural tissue. Its most conspicuous manifestation in the brain are the perineuronal nets (PNs) which surround somata and proximal dendrites of distinct neuron types. The chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan brevican is a major component of PNs. In contrast to other PN-comprising proteoglycans (e.g. aggrecan and neurocan), brevican is mainly expressed in the perisynaptic space closely associated with both the preand postsynaptic membrane. This specific localization prompted the hypothesis that brevican might play a role in synaptic transmission. In the present study we specifically investigated the role of brevican in synaptic transmission at a central synapse, the calyx of Held in the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body, by the use of in vivo electrophysiology, immunohistochemistry, biochemistry and electron microscopy. In vivo extracellular single-unit recordings were acquired in brevican-deficient mice and the dynamics and reliability of synaptic transmission were compared to wild-type littermates. In knockout mice, the speed of pre-to-postsynaptic action potential (AP) transmission was reduced and the duration of the respective pre-and postsynaptic APs increased. The reliability of signal transmission, however, was not affected by the lack of brevican. The changes in dynamics of signal transmission were accompanied by the reduction of (i) presynaptic vGlut1 and (ii) the size of subsynaptic cavities. The present results suggest an essential role of brevican for the functionality of high-speed synaptic transmission at the calyx of Held.M. Blosa and M. Sonntag contributed equally to this work.

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Small- to medium-sized neurons in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) convey nociceptive information to the spinal cord. The co-expression of TRPV1 receptors (sensitive to vanilloids, heat and acidic pH) with P2X(3) receptors (sensitive to extracellular ATP) has been found in many DRG neurons. We investigated whether the co-activation of these two receptor classes in small-diameter cells leads to a modulation of the resulting current responses shaping the intensity of pain sensation. The whole-cell patch clamp method was used to record agonist-induced currents in cultured rat DRG neurons and in HEK293 cells transfected with the respective wild-type recombinant receptors or their mutants. Co-immunoprecipitation studies were used to demonstrate the physical association of TRPV1 and P2X(3) receptors. At a negative holding potential, the P2X(3) receptor agonist alpha,beta-meATP induced less current in the presence of the TRPV1 agonist capsaicin than that in its absence. This inhibitory interaction was not changed at a positive holding potential, in a Ba(2+)-containing superfusion medium, or when the buffering of intrapipette Ca(2+) was altered. The C-terminal truncation at Glu362 of P2X(3) receptors abolished the TRPV1/P2X(3) cross-talk in the HEK293 expression system. Co-immunoprecipitation studies with polyclonal antibodies generated against TRPV1 and P2X(3) showed a visible signal in HEK293 cells transfected with both receptors. It is concluded that the two pain-relevant receptors TRPV1 and P2X(3) interact with each other in an inhibitory manner probably by a physical association established by a motif located at the C-terminal end of the P2X(3) receptor distal to Glu362.