Mechanisms of synaptic depression triggered by metabotropic glutamate receptors

• Published in: Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS Vol. 65; no. 18; pp. 2913 - 2923
• Main Authors: Bellone, C, Lüscher, C, Mameli, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel Basel : SP Birkhäuser Verlag Basel 01.09.2008; SP Birkhäuser Verlag Basel; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: AMPA receptors; Animals; Biochemistry; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Cell Biology; Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials; Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials - physiology; glutamic acid; Glutamic acid receptors (metabotropic); Humans; Life Sciences; loci; Long-term depression; Long-Term Synaptic Depression; Long-Term Synaptic Depression - physiology; Mental depression; metabolism; metabotropic glutamate receptors; Molecular biology; Neuronal Plasticity; Neuronal Plasticity - physiology; Neurons; physiology; Protein Isoforms; Protein Isoforms - metabolism; Receptors; Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate; Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate - metabolism; Review; Signal transduction; Synapses; Synapses - physiology; Synaptic depression; Synaptic plasticity; Synaptic strength; Synaptic Transmission; Synaptic Transmission - physiology; metabotropic glutamate receptors; synaptic transmission; AMPA receptors; Long-term depression
• ISSN: 1420-682X; 1420-9071
• DOI: 10.1007/s00018-008-8263-3

Glutamate, by activation of metabotropic receptors (mGluRs), can lead to a reduction of synaptic efficacy at many synapses. These forms of synaptic plasticity are referred to as long-term depression (mGluR-LTD). We will distinguish between mGluR-LTD induced by pre- or postsynaptic receptors and mGluR-LTD induced by the locus of the expression mechanism of the synaptic depression. We will also review recent evidence that mGluR-mediated responses themselves are subject to depression, which may constitute a form of metaplasticity.