Regulation of hippocampal transmitter release during development and long-term potentiation.
Developmental changes in rat hippocampal transmitter release and synaptic plasticity were investigated. Recordings from pairs of pyramidal neurons in slices showed that an action potential in a CA3 neuron released only a single quantum of transmitter onto a CA1 neuron. Failures of synaptic transmission reflected probabilistic transmitter release. The probability of release (Pr) was 0.9 in 4- to 8-day-old rats and decreased to less than 0.5 at 2 to 3 weeks. Long-term potentiation (LTP) in 2- to 3-week-old rats was associated with an increase in Pr from a single synaptic site. The high initial Pr in 4- to 8-day-old rats normally occludes the expression of LTP at this stage.
Bolshakov
V Y
VY
Department of Pharmacology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA.
Siegelbaum
S A
SA
D000200:Action Potentials; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D006624:Hippocampus; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D017774:Long-Term Potentiation; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D017729:Presynaptic Terminals / Q000502:physiology; D011336:Probability; D017966:Pyramidal Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D009435:Synaptic Transmission; D013572:Synaptic Vesicles / Q000502:physiology
D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D002118:Calcium