Enhanced presynaptic mitochondrial energy production is required for memory formation

Abstract Some of the prominent features of long-term memory formation include protein synthesis, gene expression, enhanced neurotransmitter release, increased excitability, and formation of new synapses. As these processes are critically dependent on mitochondrial function, we hypothesized that incr...

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Main Authors: Erica L. Underwood, John B. Redell, Kimberly N. Hood, Mark E. Maynard, Michael Hylin, M. Neal Waxham, Jing Zhao, Anthony N. Moore, Pramod K. Dash
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2023-09-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-40877-0
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author Erica L. Underwood
John B. Redell
Kimberly N. Hood
Mark E. Maynard
Michael Hylin
M. Neal Waxham
Jing Zhao
Anthony N. Moore
Pramod K. Dash
author_facet Erica L. Underwood
John B. Redell
Kimberly N. Hood
Mark E. Maynard
Michael Hylin
M. Neal Waxham
Jing Zhao
Anthony N. Moore
Pramod K. Dash
author_sort Erica L. Underwood
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Some of the prominent features of long-term memory formation include protein synthesis, gene expression, enhanced neurotransmitter release, increased excitability, and formation of new synapses. As these processes are critically dependent on mitochondrial function, we hypothesized that increased mitochondrial respiration and dynamics would play a prominent role in memory formation. To address this possibility, we measured mitochondrial oxygen consumption (OCR) in hippocampal tissue punches from trained and untrained animals. Our results show that context fear training significantly increased basal, ATP synthesis-linked, and maximal OCR in the Shaffer collateral-CA1 synaptic region, but not in the CA1 cell body layer. These changes were recapitulated in synaptosomes isolated from the hippocampi of fear-trained animals. As dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) plays an important role in mitochondrial fission, we examined its role in the increased mitochondrial respiration observed after fear training. Drp1 inhibitors decreased the training-associated enhancement of OCR and impaired contextual fear memory, but did not alter the number of synaptosomes containing mitochondria. Taken together, our results show context fear training increases presynaptic mitochondria respiration, and that Drp-1 mediated enhanced energy production in CA1 pre-synaptic terminals is necessary for context fear memory that does not result from an increase in the number of synaptosomes containing mitochondria or an increase in mitochondrial mass within the synaptic layer.
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spelling doaj.art-9c0032d9d59a4aa3b821be8f54ac2f1f2023-11-19T13:02:24ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222023-09-0113111310.1038/s41598-023-40877-0Enhanced presynaptic mitochondrial energy production is required for memory formationErica L. Underwood0John B. Redell1Kimberly N. Hood2Mark E. Maynard3Michael Hylin4M. Neal Waxham5Jing Zhao6Anthony N. Moore7Pramod K. Dash8Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, The University of Texas McGovern Medical SchoolDepartment of Neurobiology and Anatomy, The University of Texas McGovern Medical SchoolDepartment of Neurobiology and Anatomy, The University of Texas McGovern Medical SchoolDepartment of Neurobiology and Anatomy, The University of Texas McGovern Medical SchoolDepartment of Neurobiology and Anatomy, The University of Texas McGovern Medical SchoolDepartment of Neurobiology and Anatomy, The University of Texas McGovern Medical SchoolDepartment of Neurobiology and Anatomy, The University of Texas McGovern Medical SchoolDepartment of Neurobiology and Anatomy, The University of Texas McGovern Medical SchoolDepartment of Neurobiology and Anatomy, The University of Texas McGovern Medical SchoolAbstract Some of the prominent features of long-term memory formation include protein synthesis, gene expression, enhanced neurotransmitter release, increased excitability, and formation of new synapses. As these processes are critically dependent on mitochondrial function, we hypothesized that increased mitochondrial respiration and dynamics would play a prominent role in memory formation. To address this possibility, we measured mitochondrial oxygen consumption (OCR) in hippocampal tissue punches from trained and untrained animals. Our results show that context fear training significantly increased basal, ATP synthesis-linked, and maximal OCR in the Shaffer collateral-CA1 synaptic region, but not in the CA1 cell body layer. These changes were recapitulated in synaptosomes isolated from the hippocampi of fear-trained animals. As dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) plays an important role in mitochondrial fission, we examined its role in the increased mitochondrial respiration observed after fear training. Drp1 inhibitors decreased the training-associated enhancement of OCR and impaired contextual fear memory, but did not alter the number of synaptosomes containing mitochondria. Taken together, our results show context fear training increases presynaptic mitochondria respiration, and that Drp-1 mediated enhanced energy production in CA1 pre-synaptic terminals is necessary for context fear memory that does not result from an increase in the number of synaptosomes containing mitochondria or an increase in mitochondrial mass within the synaptic layer.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-40877-0
spellingShingle Erica L. Underwood
John B. Redell
Kimberly N. Hood
Mark E. Maynard
Michael Hylin
M. Neal Waxham
Jing Zhao
Anthony N. Moore
Pramod K. Dash
Enhanced presynaptic mitochondrial energy production is required for memory formation
Scientific Reports
title Enhanced presynaptic mitochondrial energy production is required for memory formation
title_full Enhanced presynaptic mitochondrial energy production is required for memory formation
title_fullStr Enhanced presynaptic mitochondrial energy production is required for memory formation
title_full_unstemmed Enhanced presynaptic mitochondrial energy production is required for memory formation
title_short Enhanced presynaptic mitochondrial energy production is required for memory formation
title_sort enhanced presynaptic mitochondrial energy production is required for memory formation
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-40877-0
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