Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40349307›Full record

ArticleThe Journal of physiology2025

MicroRNA-138-5p suppresses excitatory synaptic strength at the cerebellar input layer.

Igor Delvendahl, Reetu Daswani, Jochen Winterer, Pierre-Luc Germain, Nora Maria Uhr, Gerhard Schratt, Martin Müller

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in The Journal of physiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Igor DelvendahlDepartment of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich (UZH), Zurich, Switzerland.ORCID 0000-0002-6151-2363
Reetu DaswaniLab of Systems Neuroscience, Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Health Science and Technology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology ETH, Zurich, Switzerland.
Jochen WintererLab of Systems Neuroscience, Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Health Science and Technology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology ETH, Zurich, Switzerland.ORCID 0000-0002-6800-6594
Pierre-Luc GermainLab of Systems Neuroscience, Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Health Science and Technology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology ETH, Zurich, Switzerland.ORCID 0000-0003-3418-4218
Nora Maria UhrLab of Systems Neuroscience, Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Health Science and Technology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology ETH, Zurich, Switzerland.
Gerhard SchrattNeuroscience Center Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Martin MüllerDepartment of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich (UZH), Zurich, Switzerland.ORCID 0000-0003-1624-6761

Funding

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) 535029399EC | ERC | HORIZON EUROPE European Research Council (ERC) 679881Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung (SNF) PP00P3_144816Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung (SNF) PZ00P3_174018
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

MicroRNAs are small, highly conserved non-coding RNAs that negatively regulate mRNA translation and stability. In the brain, miRNAs contribute to neuronal development, synaptogenesis, and synaptic plasticity. MicroRNA 138-5p (miR-138-5p) controls inhibitory synaptic transmission in the hippocampus and is highly expressed in cerebellar excitatory neurons. However, its specific role in cerebellar synaptic transmission remains unknown. Here, we investigated excitatory transmission in the cerebellum of mice expressing a sponge construct that sequesters endogenous miR-138-5p. Mossy fibre stimulation-evoked EPSCs in granule cells were ∼40% larger in miR-138-5p sponge mice compared to controls. Furthermore, we observed larger miniature EPSC amplitudes, suggesting an increased number of functional postsynaptic AMPA receptors. High-frequency train stimulation revealed enhanced short-term depression following miR-138-5p downregulation. Together with computational modelling, this suggests a negative regulation of presynaptic release probability. Overall, our results demonstrate that miR-138-5p suppresses synaptic strength through pre- and postsynaptic mechanisms, providing a potentially powerful mechanism for tuning excitatory synaptic input into the cerebellum. KEY POINTS: MicroRNAs are powerful regulators of mRNA translation and control key cell biological processes including synaptic transmission, but their role in regulating synaptic function in the cerebellum has remained elusive. In this study, we investigated how microRNA-138-5p (miR-138-5p) modulates excitatory transmission at adult murine cerebellar mossy fibre to granule cell synapses. Downregulation of miR-138-5p enhances excitatory synaptic strength at the cerebellar input layer and increases short-term depression. miR-138-5p exerts its regulatory function through both pre- and postsynaptic mechanisms by negatively regulating release probability at mossy fibre boutons, as well as functional AMPA receptor numbers in granule cells. These findings provide insights into the role of miR-138-5p in the cerebellum and expand our understanding of microRNA-dependent control of excitatory synaptic transmission and short-term plasticity.

Indexed as

CerebellumExcitatory Postsynaptic PotentialsMicroRNAsSynapsesAnimalsMaleMiceMice, Inbred C57BLReceptors, AMPASynaptic TransmissionMicroRNAsMIRN138 microRNA, mouseReceptors, AMPA

Identifiers

PMID40349307
PMCPMC12126606

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.