Activation of postsynaptically silent synapses during pairing-induced LTP in CA1 region of hippocampal slice

Liao, D., Hessler, N. A., Malinow, R. (June 1995) Activation of postsynaptically silent synapses during pairing-induced LTP in CA1 region of hippocampal slice. Nature, 375 (6530). pp. 400-4. ISSN 0028-0836 (Print)

URL: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7760933
DOI: 10.1038/375400a0

Abstract

Long-term potentiation (LTP) is an enhancement of synaptic strength that can be produced by pairing of presynaptic activity with postsynaptic depolarization. LTP in the hippocampus has been extensively studied as a cellular model of learning and memory, but the nature of the underlying synaptic modification remains elusive, partly because our knowledge of central synapses is still limited. One proposal is that the modification is postsynaptic, and that synapses expressing only NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptors before potentiation are induced by LTP to express functional AMPA (alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazoleproprionate) receptors. Here we report that a high proportion of synapses in hippocampal area CA1 transmit with NMDA receptors but not AMPA receptors, making these synapses effectively non-functional at normal resting potentials. These silent synapses acquire AMPA-type responses following LTP induction. Our findings challenge the view that LTP in CA1 involves a presynaptic modification, and suggest instead a simple postsynaptic mechanism for both induction and expression of LTP.

Item Type: Paper
Uncontrolled Keywords: Animals Electric Stimulation Hippocampus/ physiology In Vitro Long-Term Potentiation/ physiology Neurotransmitter Agents/metabolism Patch-Clamp Techniques Rats Receptors, AMPA/metabolism Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate/metabolism Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. Synapses/ physiology
Subjects: bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing > Long term potentiation
organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions > tissues types and functions > hippocampus
organism description > animal > mammal > rodent > rat
organism description > animal > mammal > rodent > rat
organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions > sub-cellular tissues: types and functions > synapse
CSHL Authors:
Communities: CSHL labs
Depositing User: Jessica Koos
Date: 1 June 1995
Date Deposited: 08 Aug 2014 20:23
Last Modified: 08 Aug 2014 20:23
Related URLs:
URI: https://repository.cshl.edu/id/eprint/30614

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