title: Maintenance of long-term adaptation of synaptic transmission requires axonal transport following induction in an identified crayfish motoneuron.
abstract: Motoneurons can adapt to altered levels of electrical activity by effecting semi-permanent changes in their neuromuscular synaptic physiology. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that maintenance of activity-dependent long-term adaptation of synaptic transmission in a crayfish abdominal extensor motoneuron (phasic axon 3) required axonal transport following induction. Intact crayfish were chronically wired for periodic in vivo stimulation of axon 3. Periodic unilateral stimulation for 3-5 consecutive days (2 h/day) induced long-term adaptation (LTA) of neuromuscular synaptic transmission in axon 3. Initial EPSP amplitudes (measured at 0.1 Hz) were significantly reduced to approximately 40% of contralateral control amplitudes over a 7-day poststimulation period. Additionally, synaptic depression during 5 Hz test stimulation of axon 3 was significantly less in chronically stimulated neurons: excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) amplitudes measured after 20 min of 5 Hz test stimulation (final EPSPs) were significantly larger in conditioned neurons than in unstimulated controls. The depression of initial EPSP amplitudes persisted for 7 days postinduction, while the increased synaptic stamina persisted for 4 days but was absent at 7 days postinduction. Axotomy of axon 3 following induction of LTA had no effect on long-term maintenance of the activity-induced reduction in initial EPSP amplitudes. Initial EPSP amplitudes in conditioned, axotomized neurons were still reduced to 42% of control amplitudes over the 7-day postinduction period. In contrast, postinduction axotomy of axon 3 elicited an accelerated decay of the enhanced synaptic stamina. Following axotomy, final EPSP amplitudes were significantly larger in conditioned neurons for only 1 day poststimulation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: P V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Atwood
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000818:Animals; D003400:Astacoidea / Q000502:physiology*; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology*; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000502:physiology*; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology; D013570:Synaptic Membranes / Q000502:physiology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology*