Extracellular ATP as a neurotransmitter: its role in synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus.
Growing evidence indicates that ATP may play a very important role in Long-Term Potentiation (LTP), a neurophysiological process that has been implicated in memory formation. LTP is an enhancement of synaptic strength induced by a specific pattern of high frequency stimulation, or by application of exogenous ATP. In the hippocampus LTP-inducing stimulation is accompanied by a massive, Ca(2+)-dependent release of ATP from presynaptic terminals. Released extracellular ATP may either interact with numerous types of ATP receptors present on the neuronal surface, or serve as a substrate for ecto-protein phosphorylation. The results of combined electrophysiological and biochemical experiments indicate that participation of extracellular ATP in the ecto-protein phosphorylation process is most likely involved in the permanent amplification of the synaptic response in the hippocampus.
Wieraszko
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CSI/IBR Center for Developmental Neuroscience and Developmental Disabilities, College of Staten Island/City University of New York, NY 10314, USA. Wieraszko@Postbox.CSI.CUNY.Edu.
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000502:physiology*; D017774:Long-Term Potentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D008322:Mammals; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000502:physiology*; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology*
D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate