Dopamine favours the emergence of long-term depression versus long-term potentiation in slices of rat prefrontal cortex.
In the present study, we have investigated possible interactions between dopamine and long-term changes in synaptic efficacy induced in layer V pyramidal cells by tetanization of afferents from layer I-II. In the absence of dopamine, we confirmed that high frequency stimulation of excitatory afferents induced long-term potentiation, long-term depression or no change. Inversely, in the presence of dopamine, we have found that the same tetanus led to long-term depression in synaptic transmission in a majority of cells, but no more long-term potentiation. These results suggest that in rat prefrontal cortex, dopamine may determine the direction of activity dependent changes in synaptic efficacy and therefore, plays a functional role in the physiology of this structure.
Law-Tho
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CNRS ERS 0100, Laboratoire de Neurobiologie et Neuropharmacologie du développement, Université de Paris-Sud, Orsay, France.
Desce
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JM
Crepel
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F
D000818:Animals; D004298:Dopamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D017774:Long-Term Potentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects
D004298:Dopamine