Dementia are now mostly described as synaptopathies [11], and alterations of glutamatergic synapses have been involved in the etiology of autism [41].
Although "alterations of single synapses or cells have not been shown to have similar macroscopic effects" to alterations in single base-pairs [57] this metaphor is misleading for the reason that neither have alterations in single base-pairs been shown to affect ecosystem dynamics.
The decreased expression of neuronal structure proteins complements previous data, which show that chronic mild stress triggers alterations of hippocampal synapses and promotes a decrease in dendritic spine density [ 7].
Next we investigated whether TBPH dysfunction may cause alterations of NMJ synapse structure and morphology, as previously suggested (27– 30).
However, cognitive deficits may be present several years before the onset of neuron loss and gross brain atrophy and these can be attributed to morphological alterations and loss of synapses (DeKosky and Scheff, 1990; Scheff et al., 1990).
To determine possible morphological alteration of excitatory synapses in Dp71-null mice in vivo, we compared axospinous asymetric synapse density and morphology in both genotypes using quantitative electron microscopy (EM).
Loss of Dp427 in mdx mice alters GABAA-receptor clustering [34], which has been associated with abnormal enhancement of hippocampal LTP [13], [46], reorganization of inhibitory synapses and morphological alterations of hippocampal excitatory-synapse subtypes [47], and behavioral impairments mainly characterized by mild memory retention deficits [13], [48].
Maternal injection of lipopolysaccharides induced activation of microglia at birth and alteration of glutamatergic synapses in the adult offspring.
In addition, we also proved the alterations in a character of synapses.
This neurotrophin regulates synaptic plasticity, and a lack of BDNF results in alterations of excitatory and inhibitory synapses [ 15].
