Long-term enhancement of EPSP and NMDA receptor-mediated synaptic transmission in the amygdala

• Published in: Brain research bulletin Vol. 31; no. 1; pp. 7 - 11
• Main Authors: Gean, P W, Chang, F C, Huang, C C, Lin, J H, Way, L J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 1993; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: 2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate - pharmacology; 6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione; Amygdala; Amygdala - physiology; Animals; Bicuculline - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; Central nervous system; Central neurotransmission. Neuromudulation. Pathways and receptors; Electric Stimulation; Electrophysiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; In Vitro Techniques; Long-term potentiation; N-methyl-D-aspartate; Quinoxalines - pharmacology; Rats; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate - antagonists & inhibitors; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate - physiology; Synapses - physiology; Synaptic Transmission - physiology; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs; Amygdala; Long-term potentiation; N-methyl-D-aspartate; Potentiation; Rat; Rodentia; Central nervous system; Electrophysiology; Basal ganglion; Glutamate receptor; Long term; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Synaptic transmission; Synaptic plasticity; Excitatory postsynaptic potential; NMDA receptor; Amygdaloid nucleus; Brain (vertebrata)
• ISSN: 0361-9230; 1873-2747
• DOI: 10.1016/0361-9230(93)90003-T

An in vitro slice preparation of rat amygdala was used to study the long-term modifications of synaptic efficacy following high-frequency stimulation of the ventral endopyriform nucleus. Delivery of brief tetani to the afferent fibers led to a long-term potentiation (LTP) of the amplitude and the initial slope of excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP). Pretreatment the slices with DL-2-amino-5-phosphonovaleate (DL-APV, 50 μM) blocked the induction of LTP, indicating that N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor activation is required for induction. NMDA receptor-mediated component of synaptic response (EPSP NMDA) was isolated by application of a solution containing 6-cyano-7-nitro-quinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX. 10 μM) and bicuculline (20 μM). Tetanic stimulation led to a lasting potentiation of the EPSP NMDA. These results suggest that brief repetitive stimulation of afferent pathway produces forms of LTP that share many properties of LTP seen in the CA1 region of the hippocampus.