Andrei B. Belousov, Ph.D.

Neuronal Plasticity

Neurons communicate with each other through chemical and electrical synapses. We are interested in the mechanisms of neuronal and synaptic development and plasticity. This includes (1) glutamate-dependent neuronal plasticity and the regulation of cholinergic phenotype in developing and mature CNS neurons, (2) the cellular and molecular mechanisms of regulation of electrical synapses (gap junctions) during development and traumatic injury, (3) activity-dependent homeostatic plasticity in the CNS neurons. To understand these mechanisms we use a variety of approaches including patch-clamp electrophysiology, digital calcium imaging, molecular biology, immunostaining, confocal microscopy, cell cultures and brain slices. These studies have implications for a number of developmental, mental, and neurological diseases.

Chronic NMDA receptor blockade prevents developmental gap junction uncoupling and Cx36 down–regulation in hypothalamic neurons in vitro and in vivo. The picture illustrates neuronal gap junction coupling in a hypothalamic culture. Shown are three superimposed images: neurobiotin (green), dextran Alexa 594 (red), and bright field. Yellow indicates neurobiotin and dextran Alexa 594 colocalization in the primary–labeled neuron. The green-colored neuron that does not contain yellow is the secondary–labeled neuron.