title: Use of hippocampal slices to study mRNA changes in relation to synaptic plasticity.
abstract: We have developed a method allowing suitable morphological conservation combined with in situ hybridization, on hippocampal slices used in conventional electrophysiological studies. After a bath application of kainate (KA, 750 nM, 2 min 15 s), electrical stimulation of the mossy fibre zone evoked epileptiform activity for up to 2 h. In situ hybridization performed on these slices showed a marked increased in expression of the transcription factor Zif/268 over the pyramidal and the granule cells and the surrounding neuropils. Bath application of tetraethylammonium (TEA, 25 mM, 10 min) elicited long-term potentiation in CA1 lasting up to 4 h. This was associated with enhanced expression of Zif/268 which returned to control values after 2 h 30 min. These observations suggest that slice preparations are suitable for the study of the role of neuronal activity in the regulation of gene expression.
authors.affiliation: INSERM U 29, Laboratoire de Neurobiologie et Physiopathologie du Développement, Hôpital de Port Royal, Paris, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chinestra
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Leinekugel
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ben Ari
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pollard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051766:Early Growth Response Protein 1; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004827:Epilepsy; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007608:Kainic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D017774:Long-Term Potentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D017966:Pyramidal Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D019789:Tetraethylammonium; D013757:Tetraethylammonium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016335:Zinc Fingers
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D051766:Early Growth Response Protein 1; C486110:Egr1 protein, rat; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013757:Tetraethylammonium Compounds; D014157:Transcription Factors; D019789:Tetraethylammonium; D007608:Kainic Acid