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Activity‐dependent synaptic plasticity in the supraoptic nucleus of the rat hypothalamus
Author(s) -
Panatier Aude,
Gentles Stephen J.,
Bourque Charles W.,
Oliet Stéphane H. R.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the journal of physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.802
H-Index - 240
eISSN - 1469-7793
pISSN - 0022-3751
DOI - 10.1113/jphysiol.2006.109447
Subject(s) - neuroscience , long term potentiation , excitatory postsynaptic potential , glutamatergic , synaptic plasticity , postsynaptic potential , supraoptic nucleus , metaplasticity , long term depression , ampa receptor , neurotransmission , post tetanic potentiation , chemistry , nonsynaptic plasticity , synaptic augmentation , biology , nmda receptor , glutamate receptor , hypothalamus , inhibitory postsynaptic potential , receptor , biochemistry
Activity‐dependent long‐term synaptic changes were investigated at glutamatergic synapses in the supraoptic nucleus (SON) of the rat hypothalamus. In acute hypothalamic slices, high frequency stimulation (HFS) of afferent fibres caused long‐term potentiation (LTP) of the amplitude of AMPA receptor‐mediated excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) recorded with the whole‐cell patch‐clamp technique. LTP was also obtained in response to membrane depolarization paired with mild afferent stimulation. On the other hand, stimulating the inputs at 5 Hz for 3 min at resting membrane potential caused long‐term depression (LTD) of excitatory transmission in the SON. These forms of synaptic plasticity required the activation of NMDA receptors since they were abolished in the presence of d ‐AP5 or ifenprodil, two selective blockers of these receptors. Analysis of paired‐pulse facilitation and trial‐to‐trial variability indicated that LTP and LTD were not associated with changes in the probability of transmitter release, thereby suggesting that the locus of expression of these phenomena was postsynaptic. Using sharp microelectrode recordings in a hypothalamic explant preparation, we found that HFS also generates LTP at functionally defined glutamatergic synapses formed between the organum vasculosum lamina terminalis and SON neurons. Taken together, our findings indicate that glutamatergic synapses in the SON exhibit activity‐dependent long‐term synaptic changes similar to those prevailing in other brain areas. Such forms of plasticity could play an important role in the context of physiological responses, like dehydration or lactation, where the activity of presynaptic glutamatergic neurons is strongly increased.