Pros and Cons of APOE4 Homozygosity and Effects on Neuroplasticity, Malnutrition, and Infections in Early Life Adversity, Alzheimer's Disease, and Alzheimer's Prevention.

Fortea et al.'s. (2024) recent data analysis elegantly calls attention to familial late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD) with APOE4 homozygosity. The article by Grant (2024) reviews the factors associated with AD, particularly the APOE genotype and lifestyle, and the broad implications for prevention, both for individuals with the lifestyles associated with living in resource-rich countries and for those enduring environmental adversity in poverty settings, including high exposure to enteric pathogens and precarious access to healthcare. Grant discusses the issue of APOE genotype and its implications for the benefits of lifestyle modifications. This review highlights that bearing APOE4 could constitute an evolutionary benefit in coping with heavy enteric infections and malnutrition early in life in the critical formative first two years of brain development. However, the critical issue may be that this genotype could be a health concern under shifts in lifestyle and unhealthy diets during aging, leading to severe cognitive impairments and increased risk of AD. This commentary supports the discussions of Grant and the benefits of improving lifestyle for decreasing the risks for AD while providing further understanding and modelling of the early life benefits of APOE4 amidst adversity. This attention to the pathophysiology of AD should help further elucidate these critical, newly appreciated pathogenic pathways for developing approaches to the prevention and management in the context of the APOE genetic variations associated with AD.

Pannexin-1 Modulates Inhibitory Transmission and Hippocampal Synaptic Plasticity.

Pannexin-1 (Panx1) hemichannel is a non-selective transmembrane channel that may play important roles in intercellular signaling by allowing the permeation of ions and metabolites, such as ATP. Although recent evidence shows that the Panx1 hemichannel is involved in controlling excitatory synaptic transmission, the role of Panx1 in inhibitory transmission remains unknown. Here, we studied the contribution of Panx1 to the GABAergic synaptic efficacy onto CA1 pyramidal neurons (PyNs) by using patch-clamp recordings and pharmacological approaches in wild-type and Panx1 knock-out (Panx1-KO) mice. We reported that blockage of the Panx1 hemichannel with the mimetic peptide 10Panx1 increases the synaptic level of endocannabinoids (eCB) and the activation of cannabinoid receptors type 1 (CB1Rs), which results in a decrease in hippocampal GABAergic efficacy, shifting excitation/inhibition (E/I) balance toward excitation and facilitating the induction of long-term potentiation. Our finding provides important insight unveiling that Panx1 can strongly influence the overall neuronal excitability and play a key role in shaping synaptic changes affecting the amplitude and direction of plasticity, as well as learning and memory processes.

Norepinephrine, beyond the Synapse: Coordinating Epigenetic Codes for Memory.

The noradrenergic system is implicated in neuropathologies contributing to major disorders of the memory, including post-traumatic stress disorder and Alzheimer's disease. Determining the impact of norepinephrine on cellular function and plasticity is thus essential for making inroads into our understanding of these brain conditions, while expanding our capacity for treating them. Norepinephrine is a neuromodulator within the mammalian central nervous system which plays important roles in cognition and associated synaptic plasticity. Specifically, norepinephrine regulates the formation of memory through the stimulation of ß-ARs, increasing the dynamic range of synaptic modifiability. The mechanisms through which NE influences neural circuit function have been extended to the level of the epigenome. This review focuses on recent insights into how the noradrenergic recruitment of epigenetic modifications, including DNA methylation and post-translational modification of histones, contribute to homo- and heterosynaptic plasticity. These advances will be placed in the context of synaptic changes associated with memory formation and linked to brain disorders and neurotherapeutic applications.

Brain areas involved with obsessive-compulsive disorder present different DNA methylation modulation.

BACKGROUND: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by intrusive thoughts and repetitive actions, that presents the involvement of the cortico-striatal areas. The contribution of environmental risk factors to OCD development suggests that epigenetic mechanisms may contribute to its pathophysiology. DNA methylation changes and gene expression were evaluated in post-mortem brain tissues of the cortical (anterior cingulate gyrus and orbitofrontal cortex) and ventral striatum (nucleus accumbens, caudate nucleus and putamen) areas from eight OCD patients and eight matched controls. RESULTS: There were no differentially methylated CpG (cytosine-phosphate-guanine) sites (DMSs) in any brain area, nevertheless gene modules generated from CpG sites and protein-protein-interaction (PPI) showed enriched gene modules for all brain areas between OCD cases and controls. All brain areas but nucleus accumbens presented a predominantly hypomethylation pattern for the differentially methylated regions (DMRs). Although there were common transcriptional factors that targeted these DMRs, their targeted differentially expressed genes were different among all brain areas. The protein-protein interaction network based on methylation and gene expression data reported that all brain areas were enriched for G-protein signaling pathway, immune response, apoptosis and synapse biological processes but each brain area also presented enrichment of specific signaling pathways. Finally, OCD patients and controls did not present significant DNA methylation age differences. CONCLUSIONS: DNA methylation changes in brain areas involved with OCD, especially those involved with genes related to synaptic plasticity and the immune system could mediate the action of genetic and environmental factors associated with OCD.

Modulation of DNA Methylation and Gene Expression in Rodent Cortical Neuroplasticity Pathways Exerts Rapid Antidepressant-Like Effects.

BACKGROUND: Stress increases DNA methylation, primarily a suppressive epigenetic mechanism catalyzed by DNA methyltransferases (DNMT), and decreases the expression of genes involved in neuronal plasticity and mood regulation. Despite chronic antidepressant treatment decreases stress-induced DNA methylation, it is not known whether inhibition of DNMT would convey rapid antidepressant-like effects. AIM: This work tested such a hypothesis and evaluated whether a behavioral effect induced by DNMT inhibitors (DNMTi) corresponds with changes in DNA methylation and transcript levels in genes consistently associated with the neurobiology of depression and synaptic plasticity (BDNF, TrkB, 5-HT1A, NMDA, and AMPA). METHODS: Male Wistar rats received intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of two pharmacologically different DNMTi (5-AzaD 0.2 and 0.6 mg/kg or RG108 0.6 mg/kg) or vehicle (1 ml/kg), 1 h or 7 days before the learned helplessness test (LH). DNA methylation in target genes and the correspondent transcript levels were measured in the hippocampus (HPC) and prefrontal cortex (PFC) using meDIP-qPCR. In parallel separate groups, the antidepressant-like effect of 5-AzaD and RG108 was investigated in the forced swimming test (FST). The involvement of cortical BDNF-TrkB-mTOR pathways was assessed by intra-ventral medial PFC (vmPFC) injections of rapamycin (mTOR inhibitor), K252a (TrkB receptor antagonist), or vehicle (0.2 µl/side). RESULTS: We found that both 5-AzaD and RG108 acutely and 7 days before the test decreased escape failures in the LH. LH stress increased DNA methylation and decreased transcript levels of BDNF IV and TrkB in the PFC, effects that were not significantly attenuated by RG108 treatment. The systemic administration of 5-AzaD (0.2 mg/kg) and RG108 (0.2 mg/kg) induced an antidepressant-like effect in FST, which was, however, attenuated by TrkB and mTOR inhibition into the vmPFC. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that acute inhibition of stress-induced DNA methylation promotes rapid and sustained antidepressant effects associated with increased BDNF-TrkB-mTOR signaling in the PFC.

Neuronal and synaptic morphological alterations in the hippocampus of cannabinoid receptor type 1 knockout mice.

Cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1R) modulates synaptic activity and is widely distributed in brain areas such as the hippocampus, cerebellum, cerebral cortex, and striatum, among others. CB1R is involved in processes such as memory, learning, motor coordination, and mood. Genetic deletion of CB1R causes behavioral alterations. In this work, we evaluated neuronal morphology and synaptic structure in the hippocampus of adult male CB1R knockout mice (CB1R-/- ). Morphological changes in the CB1R-/- hippocampus evidenced a decrease in the expression of cytoskeletal proteins neurofilaments 160 KDa, neurofilaments 200 KDa, and microtubule-associated protein 2. CA1 neurons showed decreased arborization and changes in synaptic structure such as lower thickness of postsynaptic density and a reduction in synaptophysin levels. Results obtained in the present work provide evidence of the participation of CB1R in the establishment of neuronal structure and networks that could have an important role in neuronal plasticity. In addition, these changes observed in CB1R-/- could be correlated with behavioral alterations reported.

Convergent functional genomics of cocaine misuse in humans and animal models.

Background: Data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016 recently estimated that after opioid and cannabis use disorders, cocaine use disorders were among the most common, with around 5.8 million cases around the world. Several genome-wide expression studies (GWES) for cocaine misuse have been carried out in brain tissues from patients and controls and in mouse and rat models.Objectives: In the current work, we used a convergent functional genomics approach to identify novel candidate genes and pathways for cocaine misuse.Methods: We carried out meta-analyses for available GWES for cocaine misuse in humans and mouse and rat models (three, four, and two GWES, respectively). Multiple lines of evidence (GWES, genome-wide association and epigenomic data) were integrated to prioritize top candidate genes, and a functional enrichment analysis was carried out.Results: Several top candidate genes supported by multiple lines of genomic evidence, and with known roles in brain plasticity, were identified: APP, GRIN2A, GRIN2B, KCNA2, MAP4, PCDH10, PPP3CA, SNCB, and SV2C. An enrichment of genes regulated by the AP1 transcription factor was found.Conclusion: This is the first meta-analysis of GWES for cocaine misuse in humans and mouse and rat models. The analysis of convergence of multiple lines of genome-wide evidence identified novel candidate genes and pathways for cocaine misuse, which are of basic and clinical importance.

Maternal physical activity-induced adaptive transcriptional response in brain and placenta of mothers and rat offspring.

Maternal physical activity induces brain functional changes and neuroplasticity, leading to an improvement of cognitive functions, such as learning and memory in the offspring. This study investigated the effects of voluntary maternal physical activity on the gene expression of the neurotrophic factors (NTFs): BDNF, NTF4, NTRK2, IGF-1 and IGF-1r in the different areas of mother's brain, placenta and foetus brain of rats. Female Wistar rats (n = 15) were individually housed in voluntary physical activity cages, containing a running wheel, for 4 weeks (period of adaptation) before gestation. Rats were classified as inactive (I, n = 6); active (A, n = 4) and very active (VA, n = 5) according to daily distance spontaneously travelled. During gestation, the dams continued to have access to the running wheel. At the 20th day of gestation, gene expression of NTFs was analysed in different areas of mother's brain (cerebellum, hypothalamus, hippocampus and cortex), placenta and the offspring's brain. NTFs gene expression was evaluated using quantitative PCR. Very active mothers showed upregulation of IGF-1 mRNA in the cerebellum (36.8%) and NTF4 mRNA expression in the placenta (24.3%). In the cortex, there was a tendency of up-regulation of NTRK2 mRNA (p = 0.06) in the A and VA groups when compared to I group. There were no noticeable changes in the gene expression of NTFs in the offspring's brain. Our findings suggest the existence of a developmental plasticity induced by maternal physical activity in specific areas of the brain and placenta representing the first investment for offspring during development.

Superoxide generation via the NR2B-NMDAR/RasGRF1/NOX2 pathway promotes dendritogenesis.

N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) that contain the NR2A and NR2B subunits play a critical role in neuronal plasticity and dendritogenesis. Gain-and-loss-of function studies indicate that NR2B, but not NR2A, promotes dendritic branching. Accumulating evidence indicates that stimulation of NMDARs activates NADPH oxidase (NOX2), thereby generating superoxide. However, the molecular underpinnings of this process are not understood. RasGRF1, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor, is key for several forms of neuronal plasticity and interacts directly with the tail of NR2B. We investigated whether the NR2B-NMDAR/RasGRF1 pathway regulates the activity of NOX2 and whether superoxide production is required for dendritogenesis. We measured superoxide production in developing primary cultures of hippocampal neurons from 3 to 25 days in vitro (DIV) with the probe dihydroethidium (dHE). We found the highest dHE levels at early and intermediate developmental stages (3-15 DIV), when the NR2B-NMDAR expression is abundant. During these early/intermediate developmental stages, but not in mature neurons (>15 DIV), NMDAR activity is required for superoxide production. We also found that disrupting the NR2B-RasGRF1 interaction led to reduced dHE fluorescence intensity and moreover inhibited dendritic branching in hippocampal neurons. Together, our data indicate that superoxide production is induced by the NR2B-NMDARs/RasGRF1/NOX2 pathway and promotes dendritogenesis.

Guanosine Attenuates Behavioral Deficits After Traumatic Brain Injury by Modulation of Adenosinergic Receptors.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of disability worldwide, triggering chronic neurodegeneration underlying cognitive and mood disorder still without therapeutic prospects. Based on our previous observations that guanosine (GUO) attenuates short-term neurochemical alterations caused by TBI, this study investigated the effects of chronical GUO treatment in behavioral, molecular, and morphological disturbances 21 days after trauma. Rats subject to TBI displayed mood (anxiety-like) and memory dysfunction. This was accompanied by a decreased expression of both synaptic (synaptophysin) and plasticity proteins (BDNF and CREB), a loss of cresyl violet-stained neurons, and increased astrogliosis and microgliosis in the hippocampus. Notably, chronic GUO treatment (7.5 mg/kg i.p. daily starting 1 h after TBI) prevented all these TBI-induced long-term behavioral, neurochemical, and morphological modifications. This neuroprotective effect of GUO was abrogated in the presence of the adenosine A1 receptor antagonist DPCPX (1 mg/kg) but unaltered by the adenosine A2A receptor antagonist SCH58261 (0.05 mg/kg). These findings show that a chronic GUO treatment prevents the long-term mood and memory dysfunction triggered by TBI, which involves adenosinergic receptors.

The mGluR5 positive allosteric modulator VU0409551 improves synaptic plasticity and memory of a mouse model of Huntington's disease.

Huntington's Disease (HD) is an autosomal-dominant neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by involuntary body movements, cognitive impairment, and psychiatric disorder. The metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) plays an important role in HD and we have recently demonstrated that mGluR5-positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) can ameliorate pathology and the phenotypic signs of a mouse model of HD. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms involved in mGluR5 PAMs effect on memory. Our results demonstrate that subchronic treatment with the mGluR5 PAM VU0409551 was effective in reversing the memory deficits exhibited by BACHD mice, a mouse model for HD. Moreover, VU0409551 treatment stabilized mGluR5 at the cellular plasma membrane of BACHD mice, increasing the expression of several genes important for synaptic plasticity, including c-Fos, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, Arc/Arg3.1, syntaxin 1A, and post-synaptic density-95. In addition, VU0409551 treatment also increased dendritic spine density and maturation and augmented the number of pre-synaptic sites. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that VU0409551 triggered the activation of cell signaling pathways important for synaptic plasticity, enhancing the level of dendritic spine maturation and rescuing BACHD memory impairment. OPEN PRACTICES: Open Science: This manuscript was awarded with the Open Materials Badge. For more information see: https://cos.io/our-services/open-science-badges/.

IGF1 neuronal response in the absence of MECP2 is dependent on TRalpha 3.

Rett syndrome (RTT) is an X-linked neurodevelopmental disorder in which the MECP2 (methyl CpG-binding protein 2) gene is mutated. Recent studies showed that RTT-derived neurons have many cellular deficits when compared to control, such as: less synapses, lower dendritic arborization and reduced spine density. Interestingly, treatment of RTT-derived neurons with Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF1) could rescue some of these cellular phenotypes. Given the critical role of IGF1 during neurodevelopment, the present study used human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from RTT and control individuals to investigate the gene expression profile of IGF1 and IGF1R on different developmental stages of differentiation. We found that the thyroid hormone receptor (TRalpha 3) has a differential expression profile. Thyroid hormone is critical for normal brain development. Our results showed that there is a possible link between IGF1/IGF1R and the TRalpha 3 and that over expression of IGF1R in RTT cells may be the cause of neurites improvement in neural RTT-derived neurons.

Plasticity in Uterine Innervation: State of the Art.

Early studies often claimed that autonomic nerves were unimportant for uterine function, since denervation of the uterus had little effects on reproductive success. In 1979, Thorbert wrote, "It seems unlikely that Nature has equipped the uterus with a complex innervation merely as a structural ornament. Our ignorance in this area may be rather due to defects in methods of study". Investigations carried out over the last four decades proved that Thorbert's words were correct, because it is now clear that autonomic and sensory nerves regulate many critical uterine functions. However, the most remarkable aspect of uterine innervation is its capacity to change in response to physiological fluctuations in levels of sex hormones, as those accompanying pregnancy, the sex cycle and puberty. The present review provides an overview about how sex hormones influence uterine innervation. Data are presented about how this physiological plasticity is mimicked by exogenous administration of sex hormones, particularly estrogen. We will review recent developments illustrating the complex multifactorial mechanisms regulating uterine neural plasticity and the nature of molecular signals involved. Finally, we will go through recent findings pointing to the relevance of uterine innervation in gynecological diseases leading to pain and infertility.

The GDNF-GFRα1 complex promotes the development of hippocampal dendritic arbors and spines via NCAM.

The formation of synaptic connections during nervous system development requires the precise control of dendrite growth and synapse formation. Although glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and its receptor GFRα1 are expressed in the forebrain, the role of this system in the hippocampus remains unclear. Here, we investigated the consequences of GFRα1 deficiency for the development of hippocampal connections. Analysis of conditional Gfra1 knockout mice shows a reduction in dendritic length and complexity, as well as a decrease in postsynaptic density specializations and in the synaptic localization of postsynaptic proteins in hippocampal neurons. Gain- and loss-of-function assays demonstrate that the GDNF-GFRα1 complex promotes dendritic growth and postsynaptic differentiation in cultured hippocampal neurons. Finally, in vitro assays revealed that GDNF-GFRα1-induced dendrite growth and spine formation are mediated by NCAM signaling. Taken together, our results indicate that the GDNF-GFRα1 complex is essential for proper hippocampal circuit development.

Social stress in adolescents induces depression and brain-region-specific modulation of the transcription factor MAX.

MAX is a conserved constitutive small phosphoprotein from a network of transcription factors that are extensively studied in tumorigenesis and whose functions affect cell proliferation, differentiation and death. Inspired by its higher expression during development and in regions involved in emotional behaviors, we hypothesized its involvement in cerebral changes caused by early-life stress. We studied the effects of repeated social stress during adolescence on behaviors and on MAX and its putative partner MYC. Thirty-day-old C57BL/6 male mice underwent brief daily social defeat stress from an adult aggressor for 21 days. Following social stress episodes and housing in social groups after each defeat, adolescent mice exhibit depressive-like, but not anxiety-like behaviors and show higher MAX nuclear immunoreactivity in hippocampal (HC) but not prefrontal cortical (PFC) neurons. Conversely, MAX immunoreactivity is lower in the striatum (ST) of defeated adolescents. The positive correlation between MAX and MYC levels in the PFC revealed disruptions in both the HC and ST. The changes in MAX protein levels are not due to differential gene expression or protein degradation in those regions, suggesting that posttranscriptional modifications occurred. These findings indicate that repeated, brief social defeat in adolescent male mice, combined with group housing, is a useful protocol to study a subtype of depression that is dissociated from generalized (non-social) anxiety. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an association between dysregulation of the MAX-MYC network in the brain and a behavior, suggesting a novel approach for exploiting the neuroplasticity associated with depression.

Experience-dependent upregulation of multiple plasticity factors in the hippocampus during early REM sleep.

Sleep is beneficial to learning, but the underlying mechanisms remain controversial. The synaptic homeostasis hypothesis (SHY) proposes that the cognitive function of sleep is related to a generalized rescaling of synaptic weights to intermediate levels, due to a passive downregulation of plasticity mechanisms. A competing hypothesis proposes that the active upscaling and downscaling of synaptic weights during sleep embosses memories in circuits respectively activated or deactivated during prior waking experience, leading to memory changes beyond rescaling. Both theories have empirical support but the experimental designs underlying the conflicting studies are not congruent, therefore a consensus is yet to be reached. To advance this issue, we used real-time PCR and electrophysiological recordings to assess gene expression related to synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus and primary somatosensory cortex of rats exposed to novel objects, then kept awake (WK) for 60 min and finally killed after a 30 min period rich in WK, slow-wave sleep (SWS) or rapid-eye-movement sleep (REM). Animals similarly treated but not exposed to novel objects were used as controls. We found that the mRNA levels of Arc, Egr1, Fos, Ppp2ca and Ppp2r2d were significantly increased in the hippocampus of exposed animals allowed to enter REM, in comparison with control animals. Experience-dependent changes during sleep were not significant in the hippocampus for Bdnf, Camk4, Creb1, and Nr4a1, and no differences were detected between exposed and control SWS groups for any of the genes tested. No significant changes in gene expression were detected in the primary somatosensory cortex during sleep, in contrast with previous studies using longer post-stimulation intervals (>180 min). The experience-dependent induction of multiple plasticity-related genes in the hippocampus during early REM adds experimental support to the synaptic embossing theory.

SAHA attenuates sevoflurane-induced learning and memory impairments in fetal mice.

Previous studies have found that children with multiple exposures to anesthesia at an early age are at increased risk of learning and memory impairment. Sevoflurane is the most commonly used inhalational anesthetic for general anesthesia in children. Multiple exposures to sevoflurane have been shown to induce neuroinflammation, inhibit neurogenesis, and cause subsequent learning and memory impairments in fetal mice. Histone-tail acetylation has been implicated in memory formation. In this study, we employed suberanilohydroxamic acid (SAHA), an inhibitor of histone deacetylases, to treat sevoflurane-induced learning and memory impairments. Six-day-old C57BL/6 mice were exposed to sevoflurane for 2 h daily for 3 days. Morris water maze test performed to evaluate learning and memory impairments and the expression of genes related in to synaptic remodeling/plasticity, or regulated by neuronal activity or the cell cycle were detected by real-time PCR. We found that SAHA attenuated sevoflurane-induced learning and memory impairments in fetal mice. Our findings suggest that SAHA may have potential as a therapeutic agent for preventing or treating the neurotoxicity associated with anesthesia.

Mmp1 processing of the PDF neuropeptide regulates circadian structural plasticity of pacemaker neurons.

In the Drosophila brain, the neuropeptide PIGMENT DISPERSING FACTOR (PDF) is expressed in the small and large Lateral ventral neurons (LNvs) and regulates circadian locomotor behavior. Interestingly, PDF immunoreactivity at the dorsal terminals changes across the day as synaptic contacts do as a result of a remarkable remodeling of sLNv projections. Despite the relevance of this phenomenon to circuit plasticity and behavior, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this work we provide evidence that PDF along with matrix metalloproteinases (Mmp1 and 2) are key in the control of circadian structural remodeling. Adult-specific downregulation of PDF levels per se hampers circadian axonal remodeling, as it does altering Mmp1 or Mmp2 levels within PDF neurons post-developmentally. However, only Mmp1 affects PDF immunoreactivity at the dorsal terminals and exerts a clear effect on overt behavior. In vitro analysis demonstrated that PDF is hydrolyzed by Mmp1, thereby suggesting that Mmp1 could directly terminate its biological activity. These data demonstrate that Mmp1 modulates PDF processing, which leads to daily structural remodeling and circadian behavior.

Creb is modulated in the mouse superior colliculus in developmental and experimentally-induced models of plasticity.

In the central nervous system long-term plastic processes need the activation of specific gene expression programs and the synthesis of new protein in order to occur. A transcription factor fundamental for several plasticity mechanisms in various CNS areas is the cAMP response element-binding protein, CREB. This factor is activated through phosphorylation at its Serine 133 residue by multiple signaling pathways. Little is known about CREB role in the superior colliculus, a midbrain area considered an experimentally useful model for the study of neuronal plasticity processes. In the present work we studied by Western blot analysis the modulation of CREB expression and activation in the mouse superior colliculus in three models of neuronal plasticity: (1) developmental plasticity; (2) lesion-induced plasticity; (3) and fluoxetine-induced restored plasticity. We used an antibody that detects endogenous level of the total CREB protein (anti-TCREB) to identify possible modulations at CREB expression level, and a second antibody (anti-PCREB) that detects endogenous level of CREB only when it is phosphorylated at Ser133, to identify modifications of CREB activation state. The results showed that: (1) the expression and activation of CREB increase during the development of the superior colliculus in temporal correlation with the plastic process of refinement of retino-collicular projections; (2) the activation of CREB is induced by a monocular lesion performed during the critical period for plasticity in young animals but not when performed in less plastic juvenile mice; (3) the expression and activation of CREB increase in adult animals treated with fluoxetine, known to restore high levels of plasticity in adult animals. These results suggest that CREB transcription factor plays a fundamental role in plasticity processes also at the level of the mouse superior colliculus.