Noradrenaline depresses facial stimulation-evoked cerebellar MLI-PC synaptic transmission via α2-AR/PKA signaling cascade in vivo in mice

Wang, Jun-Ya; Weng, Wen-Cai; Wang, Ting-Qi; Liu, Yue; Qiu, De-Lai; Wu, Mao-Cheng; Chu, Chun-Ping

doi:10.1038/s41598-023-42975-5

Download PDF

Article
Open access
Published: 23 September 2023

Noradrenaline depresses facial stimulation-evoked cerebellar MLI-PC synaptic transmission via α2-AR/PKA signaling cascade in vivo in mice

Jun-Ya Wang^1,2^na1,
Wen-Cai Weng^1,4^na1,
Ting-Qi Wang¹,
Yue Liu^1,2,
De-Lai Qiu²,
Mao-Cheng Wu³ &
…
Chun-Ping Chu²

Scientific Reports volume 13, Article number: 15908 (2023) Cite this article

564 Accesses
1 Citations
Metrics details

Subjects

Abstract

The noradrenergic fibers of the locus coeruleus, together with mossy fibers and climbing fibers, comprise the three types of cerebellar afferents that modulate the cerebellar neuronal circuit. We previously demonstrated that noradrenaline (NA) modulated synaptic transmission in the mouse cerebellar cortex via adrenergic receptors (ARs). In the present study, we investigated the effect of NA on facial stimulation-evoked cerebellar molecular layer interneuron (MLI)-Purkinje cell (PC) synaptic transmission in urethane-anesthetized mice using an in vivo cell-attached recording technique and a pharmacological method. MLI-PC synaptic transmission was induced by air-puff stimulation (duration: 60 ms) of the ipsilateral whisker pad, which exhibited positive components (P1 and P2) accompanied by a pause in simple spike activity. Cerebellar molecular layer application of NA (15 µM) decreased the amplitude and area under the curve of P1, and the pause in simple spike activity, but increased the P2/P1 ratio. The NA-induced decrease in P1 amplitude was concentration-dependent, and the half-inhibitory concentration was 10.94 µM. The NA-induced depression of facial stimulation-evoked MLI-PC GABAergic synaptic transmission was completely abolished by blockade of α-ARs or α2-ARs, but not by antagonism of α1-ARs or β-ARs. Bath application of an α2-AR agonist inhibited MLI-PC synaptic transmission and attenuated the effect of NA on the synaptic response. NA-induced depression of MLI-PC synaptic transmission was completely blocked by a mixture of α2A- and 2B-AR antagonists, and was abolished by inhibition of protein kinase A. In addition, electrical stimulation of the molecular layer evoked MLI-PC GABAergic synaptic transmission in the presence of an AMPA receptor antagonist, which was inhibited by NA through α2-ARs. Our results indicate that NA inhibits MLI-PC GABAergic synaptic transmission by reducing GABA release via an α2-AR/PKA signaling pathway.

Sleep pressure modulates single-neuron synapse number in zebrafish

Article Open access 01 May 2024

Cognitive representations of intracranial self-stimulation of midbrain dopamine neurons depend on stimulation frequency

Article Open access 13 May 2024

Control of neuronal excitation–inhibition balance by BMP–SMAD1 signalling

Article Open access 17 April 2024

Introduction

The cerebellar cortex is composed of a molecular layer (ML), Purkinje cell (PC) layer, and granular cell layer, which mainly comprise PCs, molecular layer interneurons (MLIs), granule cells (GCs), and Golgi cells. Sensory information is conveyed to the cerebellar cortex by mossy fibers (MFs) and climbing fibers, which regulates the outputs of PCs. The PCs are core components of the cerebellar cortex, receiving projections from other cortical neurons and providing signals to the deep cerebellar nucleus¹. MLIs inhibit PCs, which receive excitatory input from parallel fibers and inhibitory inputs from other interneurons^2,3,4. Under in vivo conditions, sensory stimulation excites MLIs, which leads to the inhibition of PCs; this suggests that MLIs are critical for controlling PCs, which process sensory information in the mouse cerebellar cortex^5,6,7,8.

Noradrenaline (NA) is an essential neurotransmitter and neuromodulator that has been widely investigated in the central nervous system. NAergic neurons in the locus coeruleus (LC) are the major source of NA in the mammalian brain, from which NAergic fibers project to all other parts of the brain, including the forebrain and cerebellum^9,10,11. Anatomical studies indicate that NAergic fibers are distributed throughout the cerebellar cortex^12,13. Monoamine fibers (including NAergic fibers), MFs, and climbing fibers are the three classes of cerebellar afferent inputs^{14, 15}. The LC-NA system is considered to play an important modulatory role in sensory information processing and physiological processes downstream of the cerebellum, such as movement coordination and motor learning^16,17,18.

Adrenergic receptors (ARs) are G protein-coupled receptors divided into α- (α1A, α1B, α1D, α2A, α2B, α2C), and β-receptor (β1–β3) types¹⁹. NA regulates synaptic transmission in cerebellar neurons by activating distinct AR subunits. Activation of α1- and α2-ARs inhibits parallel fiber-PC synaptic transmission, whereas activation of β-ARs enhances parallel fiber-PC synaptic transmission through the protein kinase A (PKA) signaling pathway^20,21,22. In contrast, activation of β3-ARs depresses parallel-PC excitatory postsynaptic currents via the PI3K signaling pathway²³. Additionally, NA enhances inhibitory neurotransmitter release through α1- and β-ARs, while also inhibiting the excitability of interneurons via the activation of α2-ARs^{20, 24}. Under in vivo conditions, NA enhances inhibitory inputs of PCs by exciting MLIs, leading to the inhibition of PCs²⁵. Moreover, NA reduces glutamate release at climbing fiber-PC synapses^{26, 27} and depresses facial stimulation-evoked MF-GC synaptic transmission via the activation of α2-ARs²⁸.

NA modulates synaptic transmission in cerebellar cortical neurons, although the mechanism through which NA modulates sensory stimulation-evoked MLI-PC synaptic transmission in living animals remains unknown. Therefore, we investigated the effect of NA on facial stimulation-evoked MLI-PC synaptic transmission in urethane-anesthetized mice using in vivo electrophysiological and pharmacological approaches.

Materials and methods

Anesthesia and surgical procedures

Experimental procedures were approved by the Animal Care and Use Committee of Yanbian University and performed in accordance with the animal welfare guide lines of the National Institutes of Health. Permission No. is SYXK (Ji) 2011-006. Anesthesia and surgical procedures have been described previously^{5, 6}. In brief, either male (n = 83) or female (n = 83) 6–8 weeks old ICR mice were anesthetized with urethane (1.3 g/kg body weight, intraperitoneal injection). Mice were tracheotomized to avoid respiratory obstruction, and fixed on a stereotaxic frame. A 1–1.5 mm craniotomy was opened to expose the cerebellar surface of Crus II. The surface of cerebellum was superfused with oxygenated artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF: 125 mM NaCl, 3 mM KCl, 1 mM MgSO₄, 2 mM CaCl₂, 1 mM NaH₂PO₄, 25 mM NaHCO₃, and 10 mM D-glucose) with a peristaltic pump (Gilson Minipulse 3; Villiers, LeBel, France) at 0.5 mL/min. Rectal temperature was monitored and maintained at 37.0 ± 0.2 °C using body temperature equipment.

Cell-attached recordings and stimulation

The cell-attached recordings from PCs were performed with an Axopatch-700B amplifier (Molecular Devices, Foster City, CA, United States) under current clamp conditions (I = 0). The signals were acquired through a Digidata 1550 series analog-to-digital interface on a personal computer using Clampex 10.4 software (Molecular Devices). Recording electrodes were filled with ACSF, with resistances of 3–5 MΩ. Blind cell-attached recordings from PCs were performed at depths about 200 µM under the pia mater membrane. When neuronal spike firing appeared, micro-adjusting the electrode position to make the spike discharge amplitude moderate. Then, slowly release the positive pressure of the recording electrode and apply a slight negative pressure to format a cell-attached recording. PCs were identified by firing of regular spontaneous SS and irregular complex spikes.

The sensory stimulation was performed by air-puff (60 ms; 60 psi) of ipsilateral whisker pad through a 12-gauge stainless steel tube connected to a pressurized injection system (Picospritzer R III; Parker Hannifin Co, Pine Brook, Fairfield, NJ, United States). The air-puff stimulation was controlled by a personal computer, and was synchronized with the electrophysiological recordings via a Master 8 controller (A.M.P.I., Jerusalem, Israel) and Clampex 10.4 software. Air-puff stimulation (60 ms, 60 psi) of ipsilateral whisker pad induces MLI-PC synaptic responses, which expressed P1, P2 and a pause of SS firing in cerebellar PCs (Fig. 1A). According to our previous study, P1 and P2 were identified as MLI-PC synaptic induced by stimulation-on and -off, respectively⁵.

Electrical stimulation of molecular layer was performed by a stimulating electrode containing ACSF (0.1–0.5 MΩ). The stimulation electrode was placed under the cerebellar surface and close to the recorded PC. The current pulses (200 µs, 50–100 µA) at 30 s intervals were delivered through a glass electrode mounted on a remote-controlled micromanipulator (MP-385; Sutter Instrument Company, Novato, CA, USA) by an isolated stimulator (Isoflex; A.M.P.I., Jerusalem, Israel). The stimulator was synchronized with electrophysiology recording via a Master 8 controller (A.M.P.I.) and Clampex10.4 software (Molecular Device, Foster City, CA, USA). In order to recording the stimulation-evoked MLI-PC GABAergic synaptic response, an AMPA receptor antagonist, NBQX (50 µM) was added in ACSF to block glutamatergic excitatory synaptic transmission.

Chemicals

The reagents included urethane; phentolamine (Phen), a nonselective α-AR antagonist; propranolol (Prop), a nonselective β-AR blocker; prazosin (Praz), an α1-AR antagonist; yohimbine (Yohim), an α2-AR antagonist, were bought from Sigma-Aldrich (Shanghai, China). NA; UK14304 (UK), an α2-AR agonist; BRL44408, an α2A-AR antagonist; Imiloxan, a highly selective α2B-AR antagonist; JP1302, a potent and selective α2C-AR antagonist; KT5720, a selective protein kinase A inhibitor; chelerythrine, a selective protein kinase C inhibitor; Gabazine (SR95531), a selective GABA_A receptor antagonist and NBQX (2,3-dioxo-6-nitro-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrobenzo[f] quinoxaline-7-sulfonamide), an AMPA receptor antagonist, were purchased from Tocris (Bristol, UK). All the drugs were finally dissolved in ACSF. In order to avoid the influence of NA on mossy fiber-granule cell synaptic transmission, NA was microinjected onto the molecular layer above the recorded PCs at 0.1 µL/s by a micropump (KDS-210, KD Scientific, Holliston, MA, United States). Molecular layer microapplication of NA inhibited the facial stimulation-evoked MLI-PC synaptic transmission, but did less affect the evoked mossy fiber-granule cell response (Supplemental Fig. 1). The other drugs were bath applied directly onto the cerebellar surface by a peristaltic pump (Gilson Mini pulse 3; Villiers-Le-Bel, France) at 0.5 mL/min. After a stable cell-attached recording was configured, the baseline was recorded, then perfusion of chemicals was done. In some experiments involving PKA or PKC inhibitors, application of KT5720 (1 µM) or chelerythrine (30 µM) was began at least 30 min before electrical recording and continuing throughout a experiment.

Statistical analysis

Electrophysiological data were analyzed using Clampfit 10.4 software (Molecular Devices, Foster City, CA). Paired-pulse ratio was calculated as amplitude of P2 divided by amplitude of P1. Data were normalized to baseline and used for further analyses. All values were expressed as the mean ± SEM, and differences were evaluated by the Student’s paired t-test (Figs. 1, 7) and One-way ANOVA (Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9) using SPSS software (Chicago, IL). P values below 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Ethical approval

The experimental procedures were approved by the Animal Care and Use Committee of the Yanbian University. Permission No. is SYXK (Ji) 2011-006. All the experimental methods were in accordance with the animal welfare guidelines of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, and the Animal Research: Reporting in Vivo Experiments (ARRIVE; https://arriveguidelines.org).

Results

Effects of NA on facial stimulation-evoked MLI-PC synaptic transmission

A total of 166 neurons were identified as PCs that exhibited both simple spike (SS) and complex spike firing activity. Under cell-attached recording conditions, air-puff stimulation (60 ms; 60 psi) on the ipsilateral whisker pad induced inhibitory components (P1 and P2), followed by a pause in SS firing (Fig. 1A,C). Consistent with our previous studies^5,6,7, P1 and P2 were identified as forms of facial stimulation-evoked MLI-PC GABAergic synaptic transmission. ML microapplication of NA (15 µM) significantly inhibited P1 and P2 (Fig. 1A,B). In addition, NA decreased the spontaneous SS firing rate of cerebellar PCs (Fig. 1C). In the presence of NA, the normalized amplitude of P1 was 31.66 ± 2.17% that of baseline (artificial cerebrospinal fluid [ACSF]: 100.0 ± 3.03%; P < 0.0001; n = 6; Fig. 1D), the normalized duration of the pause in SS was 56.72 ± 2.53% that of baseline (100.0 ± 2.13%; P < 0.0001; n = 6; Fig. 1E), and the actual pause duration was 64.29 ± 8.45 ms (ACSF: 114.9 ± 15.59 ms; P = 0.0012; n = 6; Fig. 1F). PCs exhibited regular SS firing, with a mean firing rate of 16.37 ± 2.05 Hz (ACSF: 31.41 ± 2.63 Hz; P < 0.0001; n = 6). However, the normalized P2/P1 ratio was 159.15 ± 7.76% that of baseline during the application of NA (ACSF: 99.5 ± 3.1%; P < 0.001; n = 6; Fig. 1G). NA reduced the amplitude of P1 in a concentration-dependent manner. The half-inhibitory concentration of NA was 10.94 µM (Fig. 1H). In addition, there was no significant difference in the amplitude of facial stimulation-evoked P1 between females and males in the presence of NA (P = 0.39; n = 3 mice in the female and male groups (data not shown). Taken together, the results indicate that ML microapplication of NA induces a concentration-dependent decrease in facial stimulation-evoked MLI-PC synaptic transmission.

NA-induced depression of MLI-PC synaptic transmission was mediated by α-ARs

α- and β-ARs, which modulate sensory information processing and motor coordination, are widely expressed in the cerebellar cortex¹⁸, and therefore we examined whether NA-induced inhibition of facial stimulation-evoked MLI-PC synaptic transmission occurred through α-ARs. As shown in Fig. 2, NA (15 µM) inhibited MLI-PC synaptic transmission; this effect was abolished by a non-selective α-AR antagonist (phentolamine, 100 µM) (Fig. 2A,B). In the presence of NA and phentolamine, the normalized amplitude of P1 increased from 35.13 ± 2.09% (NA alone) to 101.52 ± 2.81% that of baseline (P < 0.0001 vs. NA alone; n = 6; Fig. 2D), and the normalized P2/P1 ratio decreased from 155.13 ± 8.37% (NA alone) to 100.85 ± 3.66% that of baseline (P < 0.0001 vs. NA alone; n = 6; Fig. 2E). The mean frequency of SS firing increased from 15.74 ± 1.83 Hz (NA alone) to 29.88 ± 2.65 Hz (ACSF: 29.75 ± 3.26 Hz; P = 0.0013 vs. NA alone; n = 6; not shown). Furthermore, we used a non-selective β-AR blocker (propranolol, 100 µM) to determine whether NA inhibited the MLI-PC synaptic response through the activation of β-ARs. The application of propranolol failed to abolish NA-induced inhibition of MLI-PC synaptic transmission (Fig. 2C). In the presence of NA and propranolol, the normalized amplitude of P1 was 30.52 ± 2.59% (n = 6) that of baseline, which was similar to that of NA alone (31.85 ± 3.42%; P = 0.95; n = 6; Fig. 2F), and the P2/P1 ratio was 156.76 ± 9.85% that of baseline, which was also similar to that of NA alone (157.89 ± 7.16%; P = 0.92; n = 6; Fig. 2G). Moreover, the mean frequency of SS firing was 15.53 ± 1.85 Hz, and there was no significant change compared with NA alone (15.88 ± 2.09 Hz; P = 0.9; n = 6; not shown).

NA inhibited facial stimulation-evoked MLI-PC synaptic transmission through activation of α2-ARs

NA depresses climbing fiber-PC and MF-GC synaptic transmission via α2-ARs^26,27,28, and therefore we applied the α2-AR antagonist yohimbine (100 µM) to determine whether NA can inhibit MLI-PC synaptic transmission through activation of α2-ARs. The results showed that application of yohimbine completely abolished the inhibitory effect of NA on P1 (Fig. 3A,B). In the presence of NA and yohimbine, the normalized amplitude of P1 increased from 34.23 ± 2.62% (NA, 15 µM) to 98.62 ± 3.55% that of baseline (P < 0.0001 vs. NA alone; n = 6; Fig. 3D), and the P2/P1 ratio decreased from 162.43 ± 8.13% (NA, 15 µM) to 101.99 ± 3.45% that of baseline (P < 0.001 vs. NA alone; n = 6; Fig. 3E). Moreover, the mean frequency of SS firing increased from 14.2 ± 1.79 Hz (NA alone) to 26.31 ± 1.66 Hz (ACSF: 26.19 ± 2.65 Hz; P < 0.0001 vs. NA alone; n = 6; not shown). These results suggest that NA suppresses facial stimulation-evoked MLI-PC synaptic transmission through presynaptic α2-ARs. However, application of the α1-AR antagonist prazosin (50 µM) had less effect on the NA-induced inhibition of MLI-PC synaptic transmission (Fig. 3C). In the presence of NA (15 µM) and prazosin (50 µM), the normalized amplitude of P1 was 35.29 ± 2.94% (n = 6) that of baseline (ACSF: 100.0 ± 3.19%; P < 0.001; n = 6), which was similar to that of NA alone (35.87 ± 2.38%; P = 0.78; n = 6; Fig. 3F). The normalized P2/P1 ratio was 155.02 ± 6.07% (NA + prazosin; n = 6) that of baseline (ACSF: 100.0 ± 4.11%; P < 0.001; n = 6), which was not significantly different from that of NA alone (158.91 ± 8.08%; P = 0.93; n = 6; Fig. 3G). The mean frequency of SS firing was 16.71 ± 1.61 Hz and there was no significant change compared with NA alone (17.13 ± 1.71 Hz; P = 0.85; n = 6; not shown).

We also assessed the effect of a highly selective α2-AR agonist, UK14304, on MLI-PC synaptic transmission. Bath application of UK14304 (1 µM) in ML induced a time-dependent decrease of facial stimulation-induced MLI-PC synaptic transmission (Fig. 4A,B). In the presence of UK14304, the normalized amplitude of P1 was 24.72 ± 2.25% that of baseline (ACSF: 100.0 ± 2.15%; P < 0.0001; n = 6; Fig. 4C). In addition, the normalized duration of the pause in SS was 54.69 ± 2.09% that of baseline (ACSF: 100.0 ± 2.21%; P < 0.001; n = 6; Fig. 4D), the actual pause duration was 62.9 ± 6.36 ms (ACSF: 116.02 ± 12.5 ms; P = 0.01; n = 6; Fig. 4E), and the normalized P2/P1 ratio was 155.37 ± 9.21% that of baseline (ACSF: 100.0 ± 3.47%; P < 0.001; n = 6; Fig. 4F). PCs exhibited regular SS firing at a mean rate of 14.46 ± 1.41 Hz in the presence of UK14304, which was significantly lower than that in ACSF (ACSF: 30.52 ± 2.57 Hz; P < 0.0001; n = 6). Notably, bath application of UK14304 prevented the effect of microinjection of NA on facial stimulation-induced MLI-PC synaptic transmission (Fig. 4A,B). In the presence of UK14304 and NA, the normalized amplitude of P1 was 25.81 ± 1.64% that of baseline, which was similar to that of UK alone (P = 0.96; Fig. 4C). Additionally, the normalized duration of the pause for SS was 55.65 ± 2.6% that of baseline, which was similar to that of UK alone (P = 0.89; Fig. 4D), and the actual pause duration was 64.37 ± 7.15 ms, which was not significantly different from that of UK alone (P = 0.99; Fig. 4E). Finally, the normalized P2/P1 ratio was 156.31 ± 6.31% that of baseline, which was not significantly different than that of UK alone (P = 0.88; Fig. 4F). These findings indicate that pharmacological activation of α2-ARs depresses facial stimulation-evoked MLI-PC synaptic transmission and prevents NA from further depressing synaptic transmission.

NA depressed facial stimulation-evoked MLI-PC synaptic transmission via α2-AR subtypes

The α2-AR family includes α2A-, α2B- and α2C-AR subtypes, which are expressed in the cerebellum^{29,30,31,32,33,34,35}. The application of an α2A-AR antagonist, BRL44408 (BRL, 50 µM), partly abolished the NA-induced depression of MLI-PC synaptic transmission (Fig. 5A,B). In the presence of NA and BRL, the normalized amplitude of P1 increased from 34.24 ± 2.29% (NA, 15 µM) to 69.77 ± 2.31% that of baseline (P < 0.001 vs. NA alone; P = 0.0073 vs. ACSF; n = 6; Fig. 5C), and the normalized P2/P1 ratio decreased from 162.56 ± 8.05% (NA, 15 µM) to 128.13 ± 4.09% that of baseline (ACSF: 100 ± 2.91%; P < 0.001 vs. NA alone; P = 0.0038 vs. ACSF; n = 6; Fig. 5D). The mean frequency of SS firing increased from 15.01 ± 1.39 Hz (NA alone) to 23.01 ± 2.34 Hz (ACSF: 28.09 ± 2.31 Hz; P = 0.0015 vs. NA alone; P < 0.001 vs. ACSF; n = 6; not shown). In the presence of NA and an α2B-AR antagonist (imiloxan, 50 µM) (Fig. 5E), the normalized amplitude of P1 increased from 34.02 ± 3.05% (NA, 15 µM) to 74.41 ± 2.78% that of baseline (ACSF: 100 ± 0.95%; P < 0.001 vs. NA alone; P < 0.001 vs. ACSF; n = 6; Fig. 5F). Moreover, the normalized P2/P1 ratio was reduced from 163.23 ± 7.12% (NA, 15 µM) to 124.58 ± 3.58% that of baseline (ACSF: 101.39 ± 2.66%; P < 0.001 vs. NA alone; P = 0.013 vs. ACSF; n = 6; Fig. 5G). Moreover, the mean frequency of SS firing increased from 14.81 ± 2.29 Hz (NA alone) to 21.99 ± 2.49 Hz (ACSF: 26.39 ± 3.32 Hz; P = 0.0027 vs. NA alone; P < 0.001 vs. ACSF; n = 6; not shown). In the presence of NA and an α2C-AR antagonist (JP1302, 50 µM) (Fig. 5E), the normalized amplitude of P1 was 37.11 ± 1.31% (NA + JP1302; n = 6) that of baseline, which was not significantly different from that of NA alone (37.58 ± 1.69%; P = 0.9; n = 6; Fig. 5H). The normalized P2/P1 ratio was 154.68 ± 6.59% that of baseline, which was similar to that of NA alone (159.16 ± 8.09%; P = 0.96; n = 6; Fig. 5I). Moreover, the mean frequency of SS firing was 17.38 ± 2.09 Hz, which was not significantly different than that of NA alone (17.01 ± 1.22 Hz; P = 0.97; n = 6 [data not shown]).

We then used a mixture of BRL (50 µM) and imiloxan (50 µM) to examine whether microapplication of NA depressed MLI-PC synaptic transmission through both α2A- and α2B-ARs. In the presence of a mixture of BRL (50 µM) and imiloxan (50 µM), microapplication of NA (15 µM) failed to depress MLI-PC synaptic transmission (Fig. 6A,B). In the presence of BRL, imiloxan, and NA, the normalized amplitude of P1 increased from 36.16 ± 1.91% (NA, 15 µM) to 101.34 ± 2.09% that of baseline (ACSF: 100.0 ± 1.96%; P < 0.001 vs NA alone; P = 0.76 vs. ACSF; n = 6; Fig. 6C). Additionally, the normalized P2/P1 ratio decreased from 156.05 ± 6.23% (NA, 15 µM) to 100.94 ± 3.93% that of baseline (ACSF: 100.0 ± 0.69%; P < 0.001 vs. NA alone; P = 0.69 vs. ACSF; n = 6; Fig. 6D). The mean frequency of SS firing was increased from 16.6 ± 2.12 Hz (NA alone) to 32.41 ± 2.34 Hz, which was similar to that in ACSF (ACSF: 33.29 ± 3.15 Hz; P < 0.0001 vs. NA alone; P = 0.94 vs. ACSF; n = 6; not shown). These findings suggested that NA-induced inhibition of facial stimulation-evoked MLI-PC synaptic transmission is mediated by both α2A- and α2B-ARs in vivo in mice.

NA inhibited facial stimulation-evoked MLI-PC synaptic transmission via the PKA signaling pathway

Previous studies demonstrated that activation of α2-ARs inhibits adenylate cyclase activity, reduces cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), and exerts physiological effects through the PKA signaling pathway^{19, 36}. In this study, when PKA was inhibited by KT5720 (1 µM), the application of NA (15 µM) failed to inhibit facial stimulation-evoked MLI-PC synaptic transmission (Fig. 7A,B). In the absence of PKA activity, the normalized amplitude of P1 was 98.35 ± 2.54% that of baseline (control: 100.0 ± 1.96%; P = 0.61; n = 6; Fig. 7C), and the normalized area under the curve of P1 was 98.72 ± 2.86% that of baseline (control: 100.0 ± 3.69%; P = 0.79; n = 6; Fig. 7D). There was no significant change in the mean frequency of SS firing compared with control (not shown). In contrast, inhibition of PKC by chelerythrine (30 µM) failed to abolish the NA (15 µM)-induced inhibition of MLI-PC synaptic transmission. In the absence of PKC activity, the normalized amplitude of P1 was 30.74 ± 4.71% that of baseline (control: 100.0 ± 3.46%; P < 0.001; n = 6; Fig. 7E), which was similar to that of NA alone (31.66 ± 2.17%; P = 0.79). The normalized area under the curve of P1 was 30.43 ± 4.08% that of baseline (control: 100.0 ± 2.21%; P < 0.001; n = 6; Fig. 7F), which was not significantly different from that of NA alone (30.76 ± 1.46%; P = 0.78). In addition, the mean frequency of SS firing was not significant different than that of NA alone (not shown). These results indicate that inhibiting PKA abolishes the NA-induced decrease in MLI-PC synaptic transmission, in turn suggesting that NA inhibits facial stimulation-evoked MLI-PC synaptic transmission via the PKA signaling pathway.

NA inhibited electrical stimulation of ML-evoked MLI-PC GABAergic synaptic transmission

The facial stimulation-evoked MLI-PC synaptic transmission occurred via the MF-GC-parallel fiber pathway, and therefore cerebellar ML application of NA inhibited the MLI-PC synaptic response via direct inhibition of MLI-PC synaptic transmission, or indirectly by depressing parallel fiber-MLI synaptic transmission. Our results showed that NA depressed facia stimulation-evoked MLI-PC GABAergic synaptic transmission, accompanied by an increase in the P2/P1 ratio, suggesting that NA directly inhibited MLI-PC synaptic transmission by reducing GABA release at MLI-PC synapses. We further isolated the ML stimulation-evoked MLI-PC GABAergic synaptic response by bath application of an AMPA receptor antagonist, NBQX (50 µM). Electrical stimulation of the ML (200 µs, 50–100 µA) evoked a response in cerebellar PCs, which expressed a negative component (N1) followed by a positive component (P1) (Fig. 8A). Cerebellar surface perfusion of NBQX completely blocked N1, indicating that N1 is an AMPA receptor-mediated glutamatergic component (Fig. 8B). Because AMPA receptor blockade abolished parallel fiber-PC synaptic transmission, we did not employ an NMDA receptor antagonist in this experiment. Notably, P1 was abolished by application of a GABA_A receptor antagonist, gabazine (20 µM), indicating that P1 arises from an MLI-PC GABAergic response (Fig. 8C). The electrical stimulation-evoked MLI-PC response was inhibited by microapplication of 15 µM NA, which was reversed by bath application of an α2-AR antagonist, yohimbine (100 µM; Fig. 9A). In the presence of NBQX and NA, the normalized amplitude of P1 was 31.51 ± 1.71% that of baseline (P < 0.0001; n = 6; Fig. 9B), and the normalized P2/P1 ratio was 150.66 ± 6.28% that of baseline (P < 0.001; n = 6; Fig. 9C). In the presence of NBQX, NA and yohimbine, the normalized amplitude of P1 increased from 31.36 ± 2.35% (NA, 15 µM) to 99.02 ± 2.16% that of baseline (P < 0.0001 vs. NA alone; n = 6; Fig. 9D), and the normalized P2/P1 ratio decreased from 154.24 ± 6.25% (NA, 15 µM) to 100.35 ± 4.07% that of baseline (P < 0.0001; n = 6; Fig. 9E). These results indicate that NA directly inhibits MLI-PC synaptic transmission via α2-ARs, suggesting that NA inhibits facial stimulation-evoked MLI-PC synaptic transmission by reducing GABA release at MLI-PC synapses.

Discussion

In this study, cerebellar ML microapplication of NA elicited concentration-dependent depression of facial stimulation-evoked MLI-PC GABAergic synaptic transmission, accompanied by an increase in the P2/P1 ratio, through activation of α2-ARs. The NA-induced suppression of MLI-PC synaptic transmission was inhibited by blockade of α2A- or α2B-ARs, but not by antagonism of α2C-ARs, and it was completely blocked by a mixture of α2A- and 2B-AR antagonists. NA-induced depression of MLI-PC synaptic transmission was abolished by inhibiting PKA, but not by inhibiting PKC. Moreover, electrical stimulation evoked MLI-PC GABAergic synaptic transmission in the absence of AMPA receptor activity, which was depressed by NA via α2-ARs. These results indicate that NA inhibits facial stimuli-evoked MLI-PC synaptic transmission through the presynaptic α2-AR/PKA pathway, and that NA plays a critical modulatory role in MLI-PC synaptic transmission in vivo in mice.

NA depresses facial stimulation-induced MLI-PC synaptic transmission via α2-ARs

Sensory information is transferred to the cerebellar cortex through the MF-GC-parallel fiber and climbing fiber pathways, and is then integrated by PCs to generate motor outputs^2,3,4. Anatomical studies indicate that NAergic fibers originate from the LC and project to all layers of the cerebellar cortex^{13, 37}. Importantly, NAergic fibers form varicosities near the dendrites of PCs³⁸, which indicates that NAergic afferents are critical for the regulation of PC activity and synaptic transmission in the cerebellar cortex^{9, 11}. Electrophysiological studies in living animals have demonstrated that NA depressed neuronal activity in the cerebellar cortex via the activation of α2-ARs^{26, 27} and also inhibited facial stimulation-evoked MF-GC synaptic transmission²⁸. The present results showed that cerebellar surface micro-application of NA inhibits either facial stimulation- or electric stimulation-evoked MLI-PC synaptic transmission in a concentration-dependent manner, accompanied by a significant increase in the P2/P1 ratio. These results suggest that NA inhibits MLI-PC synaptic transmission by reducing GABA release via the activation of ARs.

Previous studies have shown that NA differentially modulates neurotransmitter release and synaptic transmission in the cerebellar cortex by activating various subtypes of ARs at pre- or postsynaptic sites²⁹. NA reduces the excitability of MLIs through presynaptic α2-ARs^{20, 21}, and activation of α2-ARs inhibits GABA release in the cerebellar cortex through either pre-or postsynaptic sites⁴⁵. The activation of presynaptic α2-ARs reduces GABA release from histaminergic neurons of the tuberomammillary nucleus in vitro in rats⁴⁷. We previously demonstrated that NA depresses facial stimulation-evoked MF-GC synaptic transmission and climbing fiber-PC synaptic transmission via α2-ARs in vivo in mice, indicating that α2-ARs play important modulatory roles in synaptic transmission in the cerebellar cortex^26,27,28. Consistent with previous studies^{26,27,28, 46, 47}, the present results showed that an α2-AR antagonist, but not α1-AR or β-AR antagonists, abolished NA-induced inhibition of facial stimulation-evoked MLI-PC synaptic transmission, suggesting that NA depresses MLI-PC synaptic transmission through α2-ARs. Notably, a highly selective α2-AR agonist, UK14304, mimicked the NA-induced suppression of MLI-PC synaptic transmission and overwhelmed the effect of NA on synaptic responses; these results indicate that NA reduced MLI-PC synaptic transmission through α2-ARs.

Previous studies demonstrated that NA facilitated GABAA receptor function through a postsynaptic β-AR mediated, cAMP-dependent cascade in cerebellar PCs^{42, 43} and enhanced GABAergic synaptic transmission by activating presynaptic β2-AR in cerebellar MLI-PC synapses in cerebellar slices^{41, 44}. Through α1-ARs expressed in the presynaptic terminals and soma, NA also enhances inhibitory neurotransmitter release in dendritic domains of cerebellar PCs in vitro in rodents^{20, 46}. However, this study showed that NA reduced facial stimulation-evoked MLI-PC synaptic transmission through α2-ARs. The present results are contrary to those of previous studies, which may be attributable to the differences between in vivo and in vitro experimental conditions. The cerebellar cortex receives noradrenergic inputs from the LC, which may release a certain amount of NA during experimental processes^{9, 10, 39}. The NA-induced depression of facial stimulation-evoked MLI-PC synaptic transmission observed herein was not dependent on beta- or α1-ARs, possibly because of the status of these AR subtypes during the experimental process (e.g., AR activation saturation or desensitization). Endogenous NA might activate and desensitize beta- and α1-ARs of the MLI membrane and axonal terminals such that exogenous NA cannot activate them. Thus, the additional application of NA inhibits facial stimulation-evoked MLI-PC synaptic transmission by activating α2-AR. However, further experiments are needed to understand the mechanisms of NA-induced inhibition of facial stimulation-evoked MLI-PC synaptic transmission in vivo in mice.

Although the α2A-AR is a major presynaptic receptor subtype regulating neurotransmitter release, α2B- and α2C-ARs also function as presynaptic autoreceptors inhibiting neurotransmitter release^48,49,50. In the cerebellum, α2A- and α2B-AR mRNA is expressed in PCs, GCs, and MLIs^{31, 32, 35, 51}. The α2C-AR mRNA is transiently expressed in the granular layer and ML during GC development⁵². Immunohistochemical studies showed that α2A-AR was abundantly expressed in PCs and GCs^{33, 34}. Moreover, α2C-AR immunoreaction products are scattered throughout the granular layer and ML of the rat cerebellum⁵³. Knockout of the α2A-AR gene impaired motor coordination in mice⁵⁴. In histaminergic neurons of the tuberomammillary nucleus, NA-induced inhibition of GABAergic synaptic transmission was significantly blocked by a selective α2A-AR antagonist, but not by a selective α2B or α2C adrenoceptor antagonist, indicating that α2A-AR mediates NA-induced inhibition of GABAergic synaptic transmission⁵⁵. However, the present results showed that NA-induced inhibition of MLI-PC synaptic transmission was completely abolished by a mixture of α2A- and α2B-AR antagonists, indicating that both α2A- and α2B-AR are involved in the NA-induced inhibition of MLI-PC synaptic transmission. In the cerebellar cortex, basket-type MLIs are usually found in the inner third of the ML, and their stomata are close by or within the PC layer. They are characterized by basket-like structures with axonal arborizations that envelop PC somas, forming pincer synapses and providing strong basket-type somatic inhibition of PCs^{7, 56,57,58}. Moreover, immunohistochemical results showed that both α2A- and α2B-ARs are abundantly expressed by MLIs, including on somas and axon terminals^{29,30,31,32,33,34,35}. Our electrophysiological results showed NA-induced inhibition of GABAergic synaptic transmission accompanied by an increase in the P2/P1 ratio through activation of α2A- and α2B-ARs. There are two plausible mechanisms underlying NA-induced inhibition of MLI-PC synaptic transmission through α2A- and α2B-ARs. First, NA can inhibit the neuronal firing activity of MLIs by activating α2A- and α2B-ARs on the soma, leading to a decrease in GABA release at their terminals and inhibition of MLI-PC synaptic transmission. Second, NA can also downregulate the release of GABA by directly activating α2A- and α2B-ARs at MLI axonal terminals, leading to a decrease in GABA release and MLI-PC synaptic transmission.

NA-induced inhibition of MLI-PC synaptic transmission via the PKA signaling pathway

The α2-AR is a Gi/o-coupled metabolic receptor^{36, 59,60,61} that negatively regulates the activity of adenylyl cyclases and inhibits voltage-gated Ca²⁺ channel activity⁶⁰. Activation of presynaptic α2-ARs inhibits N-type calcium channels, neurotransmitter release, and PKA activity, which in turn decreases phosphorylation of receptors⁶¹. Activation of α2-ARs suppresses the production of cAMP-dependent PKA; in turn, this activates protein phosphatase 1, which inhibits synaptic transmission^{62, 63} and reduces presynaptic glutamate release from mitral cells through Gi/o-protein-mediated inhibition of Ca²⁺ channels in the mouse olfactory bulb⁶⁴. In the cerebellar cortex, NA reduces glutamate release at CF-PC synapses via a presynaptic α2-AR-PKA signaling pathway in vitro in mouse²⁷. The present results demonstrate that the NA-induced suppression of facial stimulation-evoked MLI-PC synaptic transmission is prevented by inhibition of PKA, suggesting that NA inhibits this form of synaptic transmission via a α2-AR/PKA signaling pathway. In addition, inhibition of PKC fails to prevent the NA-induced suppression of MLI-PC synaptic transmission, suggesting that the inhibition is not dependent on the PKC signaling pathway. We also studied the effect of NA on the facial stimulation-evoked MLI-PC synaptic transmission using urethane anesthetized mice. Although most of anesthesia is known to promote inhibition, urethane produces inhibition of neuronal excitability by activation of the barium-sensitive potassium leak conductance, but did not alter excitatory glutamate-mediated or inhibitory GABAA- or GABAB-mediated synaptic transmission. Neither the amplitude nor decay time constant of GABAA- or GABAB-mediated monosynaptic inhibitory postsynaptic currents were altered by urethane, nor was the frequency of spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents⁴⁰. Therefore, urethane anesthesia should have less effect on facial stimulation-evoked MLI-PC GABAergic synaptic transmission in vivo in mice.

Taken together, the present results indicate that NA activates α2A- and α2B-ARs, resulting in depression of facial stimulation-evoked MLI-PC synaptic transmission through a presynaptic α2-AR/PKA signaling pathway. This suggests that adrenergic neurons in the LC could control sensory information integration in PCs by modulating MLI-PC synaptic transmission in the cerebellar cortex.

Data availability

The datasets generated and analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

References

Palay, S. L. & Chan-Palay, V. Cerebellar cortex: Cytology and organization. J. Neurol. Sci. 27(1), 128–129 (1974).
Google Scholar
Häusser, M. & Clarck, B. A. Tonic synaptic inhibition modulates neural output pattern and spatiotemporal synaptic integration. Neuron 19(3), 665–678 (1997).
PubMed Google Scholar
Mittmann, W., Koch, U. & Häusser, M. Feed-forward inhibition shapes the spike output of cerebellar Purkinje cells. J. Physiol. 563, 369–378 (2005).
CAS PubMed Google Scholar
Bower, J. M. Model-founded explorations of the roles of molecular layer inhibition in regulating purkinje cell responses in cerebellar cortex: More trouble for the beam hypothesis. Front. Cell Neurosci. 4, 27 (2010).
PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar
Chu, C. P., Bing, Y. H. & Qiu, D. L. Sensory stimulus evokes inhibition rather than excitation in cerebellar Purkinje cells in vivo in mice. Neurosci. Lett. 487, 182–186 (2011).
CAS PubMed Google Scholar
Chu, C. P., Bing, Y. H., Liu, Q. R. & Qiu, D. L. Synaptic responses evoked by tactile stimuli in Purkinje cells in mouse cerebellar cortex Crus II in vivo. PLoS One 6, e22752 (2011).
ADS CAS PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar
Chu, C. P., Bing, Y. H., Liu, H. & Qiu, D. L. Roles of molecular layer interneurons in sensory information processing in mouse cerebellar cortex Crus II in vivo. PLoS One 7(5), e37031 (2012).
ADS CAS PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar
Bing, Y. H., Wu, M. C., Chu, C. P. & Qiu, D. L. Facial stimulation induces long-term depression at cerebellar molecular layer interneuron-Purkinje cell synapses in vivo in mice. Front. Cell. Neurosci. 9, e214 (2015).
Google Scholar
Schwarz, L. A. & Luo, L. Organization of the locus coeruleus-norepinephrine system. Curr. Biol. 25, R1051–R1056 (2015).
CAS PubMed Google Scholar
Schwarz, L. A. et al. Viral-genetic tracing of the input-output organization of a central noradrenaline circuit. Nature 524(7563), 88–92 (2015).
ADS CAS PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar
Robertson, S. D., Plummer, N. W., De Marchena, J. & Jensen, P. Developmental origins of central norepinephrine neuron diversity. Nat. Neurosci. 16(8), 1016–1023 (2013).
CAS PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar
Kimoto, Y., Satoh, K., Sakumoto, T., Tohyama, M. & Shimizu, N. Afferent fiber connections from the lower brain stem to the rat cerebellum by the horseradish peroxidase method combined with MAO staining, with special reference to noradrenergic neurons. J. Hirnforsch. 19, 85–100 (1978).
CAS PubMed Google Scholar
Schroeter, S. et al. Immunolocalization of the cocaine- and antidepressant-sensitive l-norepinephrine transporter. J. Comp. neurol. 420, 211–232 (2000).
ADS CAS PubMed Google Scholar
Haines, D. E. & Dietrichs, E. Cerebellar terminology. Cerebellum 1(3), 163–164 (2002).
PubMed Google Scholar
Schweighofer, N., Doya, K. & Kuroda, S. Cerebellar aminergic neuromodulation: Towards a functional understanding. Brain Res. Rev. 44, 103–116 (2004).
PubMed Google Scholar
Foote, S. L., Bloom, F. E. & Aston-Jones, G. Nucleus locus ceruleus: New evidence of anatomical and physiological specificity. Physiol. Rev. 63, 844–914 (1983).
CAS PubMed Google Scholar
Berridge, C. W. & Waterhouse, B. D. The locus coeruleus-noradrenergic system: Modulation of behavioral state and state-dependent cognitive processes. Brain Res. Rev. 42, 33–84 (2003).
PubMed Google Scholar
Waterhouse, B. D. & Navarra, R. L. The locus coeruleus-norepinephrine system and sensory signal processing: A historical review and current perspectives. Brain Res. 1709, 1–15 (2019).
CAS PubMed Google Scholar
Hein, L. Adrenoceptors and signal transduction in neurons. Cell Tissue Res. 326(2), 541–551 (2006).
CAS PubMed Google Scholar
Hirono, M. & Obata, K. Alpha-adrenoceptive dual modulation of inhibitory GABAergic inputs to Purkinje cells in the mouse cerebellum. J. Neurophysiol. 95(2), 700–708 (2006).
CAS PubMed Google Scholar
Hirono, M., Matsunaga, W. & Chimura, T. Developmental enhancement of alpha2-adrenoceptor-mediated suppression of inhibitory synaptic transmission onto mouse cerebellar Purkinje cells. Neuroscience 156(1), 143–154 (2008).
CAS PubMed Google Scholar
Lippiello, P. et al. Noradrenergic modulation of the parallel fiber-Purkinje cell synapse in mouse cerebellum. Neuropharmacology 89, 33–42 (2015).
CAS PubMed Google Scholar
Lippiello, P. et al. Role of β3-adrenergic receptor in the modulation of synaptic transmission and plasticity in mouse cerebellar cortex. J. Neurosci. Res. 98(11), 2263–2274 (2020).
MathSciNet CAS PubMed Google Scholar
Ennis, M. & Aston-Jones, G. GABA-mediated inhibition of locus coeruleus from the dorsomedial rostral medulla. J. Neurosci. 9(8), 2973–2981 (1989).
CAS PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar
Guo, A. et al. Effects of norepinephrine on spontaneous firing activity of cerebellar Purkinje cells in vivo in mice. Neurosci. Lett. 629, 262–266 (2016).
CAS PubMed Google Scholar
Sun, N. et al. Noradrenaline depresses spontaneous complex spikes activity of cerebellar Purkinje cells via α2-adrenergic receptor in vivo in mice. Neurosci. Lett. 703, 38–44 (2019).
ADS CAS PubMed Google Scholar
Cui, L. et al. Noradrenaline inhibits complex spikes activity via the presynaptic PKA signaling pathway in mouse cerebellar slices. Neurosci. Lett. 729, 135008 (2020).
CAS PubMed Google Scholar
Li, B. X. et al. Effect of noradrenaline on the facial stimulation-evoked mossy fiber-granule cell synaptic transmission in mouse cerebellar cortex. Front. Neurosci. 15, 785995 (2021).
MathSciNet PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar
Mccune, S. K., Voigt, M. M. & Hill, J. M. Expression of multiple alpha adrenergic receptor subtype messenger RNAs in the adult rat brain. Neuroscience 57(1), 143–151 (1993).
CAS PubMed Google Scholar
Nicholas, A. P., Pieribone, V. & Hokfelt, T. Distributions of mrnas for alpha-2adrenergic receptor subtypes in rat brain: An insitu hybridization study. J. Comp. Neurol. 328, 575–594 (1993).
CAS PubMed Google Scholar
Schambra, U. B., Mackensen, G. B., Stafford-Smith, M., Haines, D. E. & Schwinn, D. A. Neuron specific -adrenergic receptor expression in human cerebellum: Implications for emerging cerebellar roles in neurologic disease. Neuroscience 135, 507–523 (2005).
CAS PubMed Google Scholar
Tavares, A., Handy, D. E., Bogdanova, N. N., Rosene, D. L. & Gavras, H. Localization of alpha 2A- and alpha 2B-adrenergic receptor subtypes in brain. Hypertension 27(3 Pt 1), 449–455 (1996).
CAS PubMed Google Scholar
Talley, E. M., Rosin, D. L., Lee, A., Guyenet, P. G. & Lynch, K. R. Distribution of 2A-adrenergic receptor-like immunoreactivity in the rat central nervous system. J. Comp Neurol. 372, 111–134 (1996).
CAS PubMed Google Scholar
Aoki, C., Go, C. G., Venkatesan, C. & Kurose, H. Perikaryal and synaptic localization of alpha 2A-adrenergic receptor-like immunoreactivity. Brain Res. 650, 181–204 (1994).
CAS PubMed Google Scholar
Wang, G. S., Chang, N. C., Wu, S. C. & Chang, A. C. Regulated expression of α2B-adrenoceptor during development. Dev. Dyn. 225, 142–152 (2002).
CAS PubMed Google Scholar
Saunders, C. & Limbird, L. E. Localization and trafficking of alpha2-adrenergic receptor subtypes in cells and tissues. Pharmacol. Therap. 84, 193–205 (1999).
CAS Google Scholar
Olson, L. & Fuxe, K. On the projections from the locus coeruleus noradrenaline neurons:the cerebellar innervation. Brain Res. 28, 165–171 (1971).
CAS PubMed Google Scholar
Landis, S. C. & Bloom, F. E. Ultrastructural identification of noradrenergic boutons in mutant and normal mouse cerebellar cortex. Brain Res. 96, 299–305 (1975).
CAS PubMed Google Scholar
Krobert, K. A., Sutton, R. L. & Feeney, D. M. Spontaneous and amphetamine-evoked release of cerebellar noradrenaline after sensorimotor cortex contusion: An in vivo microdialysis study in the awake rat. J. Neurochem. 62(6), 2233–2240 (1994).
CAS PubMed Google Scholar
Sceniak, M. P. & Maciver, M. B. Cellular actions of urethane on rat visual cortical neurons in vitro. J. Neurophysiol. 95(6), 3865–3874 (2006).
CAS PubMed Google Scholar
Saitow, F., Satake, S., Yamada, J. & Konishi, S. Beta-adrenergic receptor-mediated presynaptic facilitation of inhibitory GABAergic transmission at cerebellar interneuron-Purkinje cell synapses. J. Neurophysiol. 84(4), 2016–2025 (2000).
CAS PubMed Google Scholar
Cheun, J. E. & Yeh, H. H. Modulation of GABAA receptor-activated current by norepinephrine in cerebellar Purkinje cells. Neuroscience 51(4), 951–960 (1992).
CAS PubMed Google Scholar
Kondo, S. & Marty, A. Differential effects of noradrenaline on evoked, spontaneous and miniature IPSCs in rat cerebellar stellate cells. J. Physiol. 509(Pt 1), 233–243 (1998).
CAS PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar
Sessler, F. M. et al. Noradrenergic potentiation of cerebellar Purkinje cell responses to GABA: Evidence for mediation through the beta-adrenoceptor-coupled cyclic AMP system. Brain Res. 499(1), 27–38 (1989).
CAS PubMed Google Scholar
Dolphin, A. C. Noradrenergic modulation of glutamate release in the cerebellum. Brain Res. 252(1), 111–116 (1982).
CAS PubMed Google Scholar
Herold, S., Hecker, C., Deitmer, J. W. & Brockhaus, J. Alpha1-adrenergic modulation of synaptic input to Purkinje neurons in rat cerebellar brain slices. J. Neurosci. Res. 82(4), 571–579 (2005).
CAS PubMed Google Scholar
Stevens, D. R., Kuramasu, A., Eriksson, K. S., Selbach, O. & Haas, H. L. Alpha 2-adrenergic receptor-mediated presynaptic inhibition of GABAergic IPSPs in rat histaminergic neurons. Neuropharmacology 46(7), 1018–1022 (2004).
CAS PubMed Google Scholar
Altman, J. D. et al. Abnormal regulation of the sympathetic nervous system in alpha2A-adrenergic receptor knockout mice. Mol. Pharmacol. 56(1), 154–161 (1999).
CAS PubMed Google Scholar
Lakhlani, P. P. et al. Substitution of a mutant alpha2a-adrenergic receptor via “hit and run” gene targeting reveals the role of this subtype in sedative, analgesic, and anesthetic-sparing responses in vivo. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 94(18), 9950–9955 (1997).
ADS CAS PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar
Hein, L., Altman, J. D. & Kobilka, B. K. Two functionally distinct alpha2-adrenergic receptors regulate sympathetic neurotransmission. Nature 402(6758), 181–184 (1999).
ADS CAS PubMed Google Scholar
Winzer-Serhan, U. H. & Leslie, F. M. Alpha2B adrenoceptor mRNA expression during rat brain development. Dev. Brain Res. 100(1), 90–100 (1997).
CAS Google Scholar
Winzer-Serhan, U. H., Raymon, H. K., Broide, R. S., Chen, Y. & Leslie, F. M. Expression of alpha 2 adrenoceptors during rat brain development—I. Alpha 2A messenger RNA expression. Neuroscience 76(1), 241–260 (1997).
CAS PubMed Google Scholar
Rosin, D. L. et al. Immunohistochemical localization of alpha 2A-adrenergic receptors in catecholaminergic and other brainstem neurons in the rat. Neuroscience 56, 139–155 (1993).
CAS PubMed Google Scholar
Lähdesmäki, J. et al. Behavioral and neurochemical characterization of α2A-adrenergic receptor knockout mice. Neuroscience 113, 289–299 (2002).
PubMed Google Scholar
Nakamura, M., Suk, K., Lee, M. G. & Jang, I. S. Alpha-2A adrenoceptor-mediated presynaptic inhibition of GABAergic transmission in rat tuberomammillary nucleus neurons. J. Neurochem. 125(6), 832–842 (2013).
CAS PubMed Google Scholar
O’Donoghue, D. L., King, J. S. & Bishop, G. A. Physiological and anatomicalstudies of the interactions between Purkinje cells and basket cells in the cat’scerebellar cortex: Evidence for a unitary relationship. J. Neurosci. 9, 2141–2150 (1989).
PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar
Donato, R., Rodrigues, R. J., Takahashi, M., Tsai, M. C. & Soto, D. GABA releaseby basket cells onto Purkinje cells, in rat cerebellar slices, is directly controlled bypresynaptic purinergic receptors, modulating Ca²⁺ influx. Cell Calcium 44, 521–532 (2008).
CAS PubMed Google Scholar
Huang, Z. J., Di Cristo, G. & Ango, F. Development of GABA innervation in the cerebral and cerebellar cortices. Nat. Rev. Neurosci. 8, 673–686 (2007).
CAS PubMed Google Scholar
DeBock, F. et al. Alpha2-adrenoreceptor activation inhibits LTP and LTD in the basolateral amygdala: Involvement of Gi/o-protein-mediated modulation of Ca²⁺-channels and inwardly rectifying K⁺-channels in LTD. Eur. J. Neurosci. 17(7), 1411–1424 (2003).
CAS PubMed Google Scholar
Limbird, L. E. Receptors linked to inhibition of adenylate cyclase: Additional signaling mechanisms. FASEB J. 2(11), 2686–2695 (1988).
CAS PubMed Google Scholar
Yi, F., Liu, S. S., Luo, F., Zhang, X. H. & Li, B. M. Signaling mechanism underlying a2A adrenergic suppression of excitatory synaptic transmission in the medial prefrontal cortex of rats. Eur. J. Neurosci. 38(3), 2364–2373 (2013).
PubMed Google Scholar
Yan, Z. et al. Protein phosphatase 1 modulation of neostriatal AMPA channels: Regulation by DARPP-32 and spinophilin. Nat. Neurosci. 2(1), 13–17 (1999).
CAS PubMed Google Scholar
Mulkey, R. M., Endo, S., Shenolikar, S. & Malenka, R. C. Involvement of a calcineurin/inhibitor-1 phosphatase cascade in hippocampal long-term depression. Nature 369(6480), 486–488 (1994).
ADS CAS PubMed Google Scholar
Huang, G. Z. et al. Alpha 2-Adrenergic receptor activation promotes long-term potentiation at excitatory synapses in the mouse accessory olfactory bulb. Learn Mem. 25(4), 147–157 (2018).
CAS PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank Michael Irvine, PhD, from Liwen Bianji (Edanz) (www.liwenbianji.cn) for editing the English text of a draft of this manuscript.

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32171005, 32070986), the Major Projects of the Ministry of Science and Technology (2021ZD0202300), the Jilin Province Science and Technology Development Plan Project (YDZJ202301ZYTS164).

Author information

These authors contributed equally: Jun-Ya Wang and Wen-Cai Weng.

Authors and Affiliations

Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, College of Medicine, Yanbian University, Yanji, China
Jun-Ya Wang, Wen-Cai Weng, Ting-Qi Wang & Yue Liu
Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medicine, Jilin Medical University, Jilin, 132013, Jilin, China
Jun-Ya Wang, Yue Liu, De-Lai Qiu & Chun-Ping Chu
Department of Osteology, Affiliated Hospital of Yanbian University, Yanji, 133002, Jilin, China
Mao-Cheng Wu
Department Radiology, Dalian Xinhua Hospital, Dalian University, Dalian, China
Wen-Cai Weng

Authors

Jun-Ya Wang
View author publications
You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar
Wen-Cai Weng
View author publications
You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar
Ting-Qi Wang
View author publications
You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar
Yue Liu
View author publications
You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar
De-Lai Qiu
View author publications
You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar
Mao-Cheng Wu
View author publications
You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar
Chun-Ping Chu
View author publications
You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

C.P.-C. and M.C.-W. wrote the main manuscript text and J.Y.-W. and W.C.-W. prepared Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 and Supplementary. T.Q.-W. and Y.-.L performed surgical procedures, electrophysiological recordings. M.C.-W. and D.L.-Q. performed analyzed data. C.P.-C. and J.Y.-W. wrote the manuscript with help and input from all authors. All authors reviewed the manuscript.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Mao-Cheng Wu or Chun-Ping Chu.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher's note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary Information

Supplementary Information.

Rights and permissions

Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article's Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article's Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wang, JY., Weng, WC., Wang, TQ. et al. Noradrenaline depresses facial stimulation-evoked cerebellar MLI-PC synaptic transmission via α2-AR/PKA signaling cascade in vivo in mice. Sci Rep 13, 15908 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-42975-5

Download citation

Received: 11 May 2023
Accepted: 17 September 2023
Published: 23 September 2023
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-42975-5

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.