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A Role for Nitric Oxide in Long‐term Potentiation
Author(s) -
Bon Christelle,
Böhme Georg Andrees,
Doble Adam,
Stutzmann JeanMarie,
Blanchard JeanCharles
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
european journal of neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.346
H-Index - 206
eISSN - 1460-9568
pISSN - 0953-816X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1460-9568.1992.tb00891.x
Subject(s) - long term potentiation , nitric oxide , synaptic plasticity , chemistry , nitric oxide synthase , neurotransmission , nmda receptor , nitroarginine , hippocampus , neuroscience , pharmacology , biophysics , biochemistry , receptor , biology , organic chemistry
Nitric oxide production in the cerebellum and induction of long‐term potentiation (LTP) in the hippocampus have some characteristics in common: both phenomena are induced by activation of N ‐methyl‐D‐aspartate receptors and both are highly dependent on calcium‐mediated processes. Here we provide evidence that endogenous nitric oxide production is necessary for synaptic plasticity in the CA1 hippocampus of the rat. LTP recorded in slices was blocked in a concentration‐dependent manner by the nitric oxide synthase inhibitors L‐ N G ‐nitroarginine and L‐ N G ‐nitroarginine methyl ester, but L‐ N G ‐monomethylarginine was only marginally active. Bathing the slices with haemoglobin, a protein that scavenges nitric oxide, also resulted in a concentration‐dependent blockade of LTP. Nitric oxide released locally from hydroxylamine produced a stable potentiation of synaptic transmission that was not additive with LTP induced by high‐frequency stimulation. These results are fully consistent with the presumed retrograde messenger role of nitric oxide in LTP.