title: Hebbian induction of long-term potentiation of Aplysia sensorimotor synapses: partial requirement for activation of an NMDA-related receptor.
abstract: Long-term potentiation (LTP) of Aplysia sensorimotor synapses in cell culture can be induced by pairing sensory neuron activity with depolarization of the motorneuron. This pairing-induced LTP is prevented by perfusion with D,L-2-amino-5-phosphononovalerate (APV), a selective antagonist for the N-methyl-D-asparate (NMDA) subclass of glutamate receptors. Repeated pairing of presynaptic activity with postsynaptic depolarization induces LTP comprising both APV-sensitive and APV-insensitive components. Infusing BAPTA, a selective Ca2+ chelator, into the postsynaptic motoneuron completely blocks pairing-induced LTP. These results demonstrate that Aplysia sensorimotor synapses are capable of hebbian LTP-similar to that exhibited by synapses in the mammalian hippocampus - and suggest a role for this type of synaptic plasticity in classical conditioning of the defensive withdrawal reflex of Aplysia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiological Science, University of California, Los Angeles 90024-1568.
authors.forename: X Y
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Glanzman
mesh_terms: D015763:2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001048:Aplysia; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004533:Egtazic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D017774:Long-Term Potentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*; D013569:Synapses / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D004533:Egtazic Acid; D015763:2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate; C025603:1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid; D002118:Calcium