An electrophysiological characterisation of long-term potentiation in cultured dissociated hippocampal neurones

Long-term potentiation (LTP) of synaptic transmission is under intense inve stigation. It is believed that the mechanisms involved in its induction and expression are critically involved in synaptic processes that are importan t for teaming and memory and other physiological functions. A reliable mean s of inducing LTP in dissociated cultured neurones would facilitate investi gations into the molecular basis of LTP but has been hard to achieve. Here we report a mechanism for inducing LTP in postnatal dissociated hippocampal neurones using transient depolarisation. This form of LTP is prevented by NMDA receptor antagonists and by chelating Call in the postsynaptic neurone . It is manifest primarily as an increase in the frequency of mEPSCs. (C) 2 001 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.