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Age Dependent Neuroplasticity in the Hamster Hippocampus
Author(s) -
Arant Ryan J,
Trood Elizabeth L,
Hamilton Jock S,
Horwitz Barbara A,
Horowitz John M
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.20.5.a1416-c
The hippocampus of the golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) is postulated to function both in memory formation and in controlling entrance into and arousal from hibernation. However, the range of mechanisms supporting neural plasticity in the hamster has not been well studied. We tested the hypothesis that long‐term depression (LTD), a form of plasticity, can be elicited in hamsters. Hippocampal slices were prepared, and population spikes (PS) were measured in the CA1 cell layer following stimulation of the Schaffer collateral‐commissural pathway. Paired pulse low frequency stimulation, LFS, was used to elicit LTD in slices from hamster adults (>60 days old); single pulse LFS was used to elicit LTD in slices from hamster pups (<30 days old). Approximately 50 minutes after LFS, tetanus was used to elicit long‐term potentiation (LTP). LFS decreased PS amplitude by 0.5 ± 5.1% in adults (n = 9), an insignificant change. In contrast, LFS decreased PS amplitude by 13.9 ± 7.0% (n = 4) in pups, clearly showing the presence of LTD in pups (P<0.05, paired t test). After tetanus, PS amplitude increased by 43.8 ± 12.0% in pups and by 26.3 ± 3.9% in adults (P<0.05), demonstrating the presence of LTP (and verifying slice viability). Thus, LTD, which is presumably involved in memory formation, was readily elicited in slices from young but not in adult hamsters while LTP was present in slices from both groups. (Supported by an Univ. California President's Undergraduate Fellowship to R. Arant.)