PRESYNAPTIC LONG-TERM DEPRESSION AT A CENTRAL GLUTAMATERGIC SYNAPSE -A ROLE FOR CAMKII

CaMKII is a calcium-activated kinase that is abundant in neurons and h as been strongly implicated in memory and learning. Here we show that low-frequency stimulation of glutamatergic afferents in hippocampal sl ices from juvenile domestic chicks results in long-term depression of synaptic transmission. This reduction does not require activation of N MDA or metabotropic glutamate receptors and does not require a rise in postsynaptic calcium. However, buffering presynaptic calcium prevents the reduction of the excitatory postsynaptic potential or current tha t is induced by low-frequency stimulation. in addition, application of the calmodulin antagonist calmidazolium, or the specific CaMKII antag onist KN-93, completely blocks long-term depression. These findings de monstrate a newsy discovered form of long-term synaptic depression in the avian hippocampus.