Dendritic beading during early brain development impairs signal transmission and synaptic plasticity

Pratyush Suryavanshi; Satya Murthy Tadinada; Samuel Baule; Naisha Jhaveri-Cruz; Ted Abel; Joseph Glykys

doi:10.1186/s40478-025-02123-8

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Dendritic beading during early brain development impairs signal transmission and synaptic plasticity

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Dendritic beading during early brain development impairs signal transmission and synaptic plasticity

Pratyush Suryavanshi, Satya Murthy Tadinada, Samuel Baule, Naisha Jhaveri-Cruz, Ted Abel and Joseph Glykys

Acta neuropathologica communications, Vol.13(1), 212

10/06/2025

DOI: 10.1186/s40478-025-02123-8

PMCID: PMC12502544

PMID: 41053811

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https://doi.org/10.1186/s40478-025-02123-8View

Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Excessive glutamate receptor activation during brain pathologies causes varicose dendritic swelling, also known as "dendritic beading", yet its impact on developing brain circuits is poorly understood. Using field electrophysiology and two-photon imaging in awake, behaving mice and acute brain slices (P11-19), we found that severe and recurrent seizure-like activity (induced by NMDA and 4-aminopyridine) resulted in widespread, long-lasting dendritic beading and spine loss in cortical and hippocampal neurons, with localization patterns distinct from those described in adults. Beads showed persistently high calcium levels and stopped the spread of dendritic calcium signals. Dendritic beads suppressed hippocampal evoked field potentials, followed by only partial recovery, and reduced hippocampal long-term potentiation. Clinically used hyperosmotic treatments (mannitol or hypertonic saline) reduced seizure-induced beading and restored dendritic signal propagation. These findings suggest that seizure-induced dendritic beading disrupts circuit function and synaptic plasticity and may contribute to cognitive deficits after early-life seizures.

4-Aminopyridine

Animals

Brain - growth & development

Brain - pathology

Brain - physiopathology

Dendrites - drug effects

Dendrites - pathology

Dendrites - physiology

Disease Models, Animal

Female

Hippocampus - growth & development

Hippocampus - pathology

Hippocampus - physiopathology

Male

Mice

Mice, Inbred C57BL

Mice, Transgenic

N-Methylaspartate

Neuronal Plasticity - drug effects

Neuronal Plasticity - physiology

Seizures - chemically induced

Seizures - pathology

Seizures - physiopathology

Synaptic Transmission - drug effects

Synaptic Transmission - physiology

Details

Title: Subtitle: Dendritic beading during early brain development impairs signal transmission and synaptic plasticity
Creators: Pratyush Suryavanshi - University of Iowa
Satya Murthy Tadinada - University of Iowa
Samuel Baule - University of Iowa
Naisha Jhaveri-Cruz - University of Iowa
Ted Abel - University of Iowa
Joseph Glykys - University of Iowa
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Acta neuropathologica communications, Vol.13(1), 212
DOI: 10.1186/s40478-025-02123-8
PMID: 41053811
PMCID: PMC12502544
NLM abbreviation: Acta Neuropathol Commun
ISSN: 2051-5960
eISSN: 2051-5960
Publisher: BMC
Grant note: NIH/NINDS R01NS115800 / NIH HHS P50 HD103556 / NICHD NIH HHS 1066027 / American Epilepsy Society,United States
Language: English
Date published: 10/06/2025
Academic Unit: Neurology; Molecular Physiology and Biophysics; Psychiatry; Stead Family Department of Pediatrics; Psychological and Brain Sciences; Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Neuroscience and Pharmacology; Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Neurology (Pediatrics); Internal Medicine
Record Identifier: 9984969243102771

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