MOLECULAR-COMPONENTS OF STRIATAL PLASTICITY - THE VARIOUS ROUTES OF CYCLIC-AMP PATHWAYS

Neuroplasticity serves an important role for normal striatal function and in disease states. One route to neuroplasticity involves activatio n of the transcription factor cyclic 3',5'-adenosine monophosphate (cy clic AMP) response element binding protein (CREB) by phosphorylation o f the amino acid (133)Ser. Dopamine and glutamate, the two predominant neurotransmitters in the striatum, induce CREB phosphorylation in pri mary cultures of rat striatum through cyclic AMP and Ca2+ pathways. He re we present the role of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors and Ca2+ in c yclic AMP-mediated CREB phosphorylation.