Activation of p42/44 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway in long-termpotentiation induced by nicotine in hippocampal CA1 region in rats

AIM: To investigate the relationship between activation of p42/44 mitogen-a ctivated protein kinase. (MAPK) pathway and hippocampal long term potentiat ion (LTP) induced by nicotine in area CAI. METHODS: Extracellular recording of population spike (PS) was performed within the pyramidal cell layer of hippocampal area CAI in vitro; Western blot analysis was employed to detect the active phosphorylated state and the total protein expression of p42/44 MAPK. RESULTS: PD98059 concentration-dependently (25 mu mol/L, 50 mu mol/L ) attenuated the induction of LTP induced by nicotine 10 mu mol/L; both p42 and p44, MAPK were activated with their total protein expression increasin g in CAI subregion in response to LTP induced by nicotine. CONCLUSION: Acti vation of p42/44 MAPK pathway is required for hippocampal LTP induced by ni cotine.