Involvement of excitatory amino acid receptors in long-term potentiation in the Schaffer collateral–commissural pathway of rat hippocampal slices

Abstract

The present article reviews studies from our laboratory, which have shown that excitatory amino acid receptors of the N-methyl-D-aspartate type are involved in the induction of long-term potentiation in the Schaffer collateral–commissural pathway of rat hippocampal slices. The nature of the excitatory amino acid receptors that mediate the response that is modified by the induction of long-term potentiation is also considered. The mechanism of induction of long-term potentiation is discussed, as are some possible stages that are required for the maintenance of this process. Some new data are presented concerning the ability of N-methyl-D-aspartate to potentiate synaptic transmission and to depress the amplitude of the presynaptic fibre volley. Concerning the potentiation, it is shown that brief (1–2 min) perfusion of slices with N-methyl-D-aspartate is sufficient to potentiate synaptic transmission for at least 3 h. The N-methyl-D-aspartate induced depression of the presynaptic fibre volley is shown to be transient and independent of synaptic transmission.Key words: long-term potentiation, N-methyl-D-aspartate, a-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid, synaptic plasticity, hippocampus.