T. Krucker et al., Dynamic actin filaments are required for stable long-term potentiation (LTP) in area CA1 of the hippocampus, P NAS US, 97(12), 2000, pp. 6856-6861
Citations number
34
Categorie Soggetti
Multidisciplinary
Journal title
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
The hypothesis that dynamic actin filaments participate in specific aspects
of synaptic plasticity was investigated at the Schaffer-collateral-CA1 pyr
amidal cell synapse of mouse hippocampus. Low concentrations (0.01-1 mu M)
of compounds that inhibit actin filament assembly were bath applied to hipp
ocampal slices during extracellular recording of field excitatory postsynap
tic potentials. Cytochalasin D. cytochalasin B, and latrunculin A all impai
red the maintenance of LTP induced by brief high-frequency stimulation. Thi
s effect on LTP maintenance was specific, because none of the compounds aff
ected basal synaptic transmission, paired-pulse facilitation. LTP induction
, or post-tetanic potentiation. The effect of cytochalasin B was reversible
. The results are consistent with a model in which dynamic actin filaments
play an essential role in the molecular mechanisms underlying the early mai
ntenance phase of LTP, such as growth of new synaptic connections or conver
sion of silent synapses.