title: Enhanced LTP in mice deficient in the AMPA receptor GluR2.
abstract: AMPA receptors (AMPARs) are not thought to be involved in the induction of long-term potentiation (LTP), but may be involved in its expression via second messenger pathways. However, one subunit of the AMPARs, GluR2, is also known to control Ca2+ influx. To test whether GluR2 plays any role in the induction of LTP, we generated mice that lacked this subunit. In GluR2 mutants, LTP in the CA1 region of hippocampal slices was markedly enhanced (2-fold) and nonsaturating, whereas neuronal excitability and paired-pulse facilitation were normal. The 9-fold increase in Ca2+ permeability, in response to kainate application, suggests one possible mechanism for enhanced LTP. Mutant mice exhibited increased mortality, and those surviving showed reduced exploration and impaired motor coordination. These results suggest an important role for GluR2 in regulating synaptic plasticity and behavior.
authors.affiliation: Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Agopyan
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Miu
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gerlai
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Taverna
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Velumian
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: MacDonald
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Carlen
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Abramow-Newerly
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Roder
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002118:Calcium / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000502:physiology; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability / Q000235:genetics; D004594:Electrophysiology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D017774:Long-Term Potentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009154:Mutation / Q000502:physiology; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D017729:Presynaptic Terminals / Q000502:physiology; D018091:Receptors, AMPA / Q000235:genetics*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D018091:Receptors, AMPA; D002118:Calcium