title: Involvement of postsynaptic G proteins in hippocampal long-term potentiation.
abstract: The possible involvement of postsynaptic guanosine 5-triphosphate (GTP)-binding proteins (G proteins) in long-term potentiation (LTP) was studied in rat hippocampal slices, using whole-cell recording techniques. The inclusion of guanosine 5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) (GDP beta S) or guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTP gamma S) in the recording pipette significantly reduced or abolished the baclofen-induced hyperpolarization of pyramidal neurons, which indicates uncoupling of the signal transduction from G protein-coupled receptors by these compounds. Both GDP beta S and GTP gamma S significantly attenuated the magnitude of LTP in the fimbria-CA3 synapses, but not in the mossy fiber-CA3 synapses. GTP gamma S did not attenuate LTP in the Schaffer-CA1 synapses. The effects of guanine nucleotide analogs on fimbrial LTP were reversed by postsynaptic depolarization during high frequency stimulation. These results suggest that postsynaptic G proteins may be involved in the generation of LTP in the fimbrial synapses, possibly by affecting membrane depolarization during high frequency afferent activation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Katsuki
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaneko
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Satoh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003956:Dialysis; D005260:Female; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D006150:Guanine Nucleotides / Q000494:pharmacology; D016244:Guanosine 5'-O-(3-Thiotriphosphate) / Q000494:pharmacology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D006150:Guanine Nucleotides; D016244:Guanosine 5'-O-(3-Thiotriphosphate); D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins