GLUTAMATE RESPONSIVENESS ENHANCED IN NEURONS EXPRESSING AMYLOID PRECURSOR PROTEIN

ALTHOUGH the neurotoxicity of beta-amyloid peptide is well established , the cellular functions of amyloid precursor protein (APP) remain unc lear. Using an adenoviral vector, we introduced cDNA encoding human AP P holoprotein into rat hippocampal neurones in culture. Neurones expre ssing the membrane-bound form of APP showed greater responsiveness to applied glutamate than non-expressing control neurones, as revealed by Ca2+ fluorometry. This increased responsiveness was not the result of secreted APP, as confirmed by observations of closely spaced APP-expr essing and non-expressing cells in the same culture dish. These data s uggest that one function of APP may be the regulation of glutamate rec eptors in neurones.