Synaptic plasticity: hippocampal LTP

• Published in: Current opinion in neurobiology Vol. 5; no. 3; pp. 324 - 334
• Main Authors: Larkman, Alan U, Jack, J Julian B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.06.1995
• Subjects: Animals; Hippocampus - physiology; Long-Term Potentiation - physiology; Nitric Oxide - metabolism; Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate - physiology; Synapses - physiology; AMPA—α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionate; PKC—protein kinase C; PKA—protein kinase A; STP—short-term potentiation; APV—2-amino-5-phosphonovalerate; PAF—platelet-activating factor; NO—nitric oxide; MK-801—(+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5 H-dibenzo( a,d)cyclohepten-5,10-imine; NMDA— N-methyl- d-aspartate; LTP—long-term potentiation; P —probability of neurotransmitter release; MCPG—[RS]-α-methyl-4-carboxyphenylglycine; NOS—NO synthase; BAPTA—1,2-bis( o-aminophenoxy)ethane- N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid; EPSC—excitatory postsynaptic current; GABA—γ-aminobutyric acid; NMDAR—NMDA-type glutamate receptor; mGluR—metabotropic glutamate receptor; CaMKII—Ca 2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II; LTD—long-term depression; PPF—paired-pulse facilitation; EPSP—excitatory postsynaptic potential; ACPD—15,3R-aminocyclopentane dicarboxylate
• ISSN: 0959-4388; 1873-6882
• DOI: 10.1016/0959-4388(95)80045-X

One of the most intensively studied forms of synaptic plasticity is long-term potentiation (LTP). The past year has seen further evidence advanced on both sides of the presynaptic/postsynaptic locus of expression debate, without an obvious path to reconcile the two views. Real progress has been made, however, in clarifying the possible role of nitric oxide as a retrograde messenger and the cellular location of its synthetic enzyme. Intriguing glimpses of the complex involvement of metabotropic glutamate receptors in the induction of LTP have also appeared.