INDUCTION AND DURATION OF LONG-TERM POTENTIATION IN THE HIPPOCAMPUS OF THE FREELY MOVING MOUSE

We describe a simple method, using readily available minaturised compo nents, for inducing and monitoring long-term potentiation (LTP) at per forant path-granule cell synapses in the dentate gyrus of the freely m oving mouse. Tetanic stimulation induced LTP of the field EPSP and the population spike which persisted for more than 24 h but was not prese nt 10 days after the tetanus. The potentiation of the population spike was proportionately greater than the potentiation of the EPSP (E-S po tentiation). Induction of LTP was blocked by intraperitoneal injection s of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, ((RS)-2-carb oxypiperazin-4-yl)-propyl-1-phosphonic acid (CPP). (C) 1997 Elsevier S cience B.V.