Masahiko Watanabe

This study examines nanoscale changes in synaptic proteins in human temporal lobe epilepsy, finding increased AMPA receptor density and altered calcium channel organization in specific synapse types.

The paper identifies cold-selective lamina I spinal projection neurons and their connections to brain regions involved in thermosensation.

This study identifies tegmental atrophy in iRBD using VBM and a novel brainstem atlas, linking atrophy in specific nuclei to autonomic dysfunction.

The paper develops cPcdhβ reporter mouse lines to visualize stochastic expression of cPcdhβ isoforms in vivo and identifies patterns such as cell-type selectivity and developmental regulation.

The paper estimates the absolute numbers of three GABAergic interneuron populations and total GABAergic synapses in the human hippocampus using stereological and electron microscopy techniques.

This study shows that two thalamostriatal systems in common marmosets have distinct roles in visual discrimination learning, with one affecting reversal learning and the other impacting task acquisition.

The paper uses single-nucleus RNA sequencing to identify five distinct classes of anterolateral system neurons in the adult mouse spinal cord and their laminar distribution.

The paper investigates glutamate/GABA co-transmission in SuM to dentate granule cell synapses, finding distinct release properties and frequency-dependent filtering mechanisms.

This paper identifies shared GABA transmission pathology in L-DOPA-induced and tardive dyskinesia models through structural and functional analysis of striatal neurons.

The paper visualizes homophilic interactions of clustered protocadherin in neurons using a novel FRET probe and finds that these interactions occur at contact sites between neurites and are stable, while synapses show rare homophilic interactions.

The paper examines the localization of cPcdhγ proteins in pre- and post-synaptic compartments of hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells and finds an imbalance in their expression.

This study shows that NPY-expressing inhibitory interneurons in the spinal dorsal horn reduce pain and itch behaviors, suggesting they are potential targets for treating pathological pain and itch.

This study shows that disrupting Neurexins in serotonergic neurons reduces serotonin release and alters behavior in mice.

FT-GO improves fluorescent histochemical analysis by enhancing signal detection while reducing background noise in mouse and marmoset brains.

The paper examines changes in PSD protein composition across development in mice and primates, linking these changes to autism spectrum disorder.

This study shows that Neurexins are essential for cerebellar granule cell survival by organizing autocrine neurotrophin secretion machinery, independent of postsynaptic contact.

This study shows that mossy cells in the hippocampus express functional extrasynaptic kainate receptors that can drive their activity when glutamate levels increase.

The paper shows SIPA1L1 is not part of the PSD complex but interacts with GPCR regulators, leading to behavioral and neurological issues in its absence.

The paper shows that Nlgn3 interacts with Nrxn1+AS4 in inhibitory synapses to regulate synaptic transmission in mouse hippocampus.

This study shows that activating locus coeruleus norepinephrine neurons enhances aversive memory retrieval in mice.

The paper designs and characterizes CPTX, a synthetic protein that restores synaptic function and behavior in mouse models of neurological diseases.

This study shows that different splice variants of Neuroligin3 affect inhibitory synaptic function in mouse hippocampal CA1 neurons and reveals the diversity of Nlgn gene expression in these neurons.

This study shows that GluD1 knockout mice exhibit impaired fear memory, reduced sociability, and enhanced depressive-like behavior, with antidepressant effects observed with serotonin reuptake inhibitors.

This study identifies calretinin-positive neurons in the spinal cord dorsal horn as part of an excitatory network that amplifies pain signals and is a potential target for analgesic therapies.