Mechanism of altered synaptic strength due to experience: relation to long-term potentiation.
An increase in medial perforant synaptic strength can be observed for hippocampal slices from rats exposed to environmental enrichment. The expression of enhanced synaptic strength exhibits properties similar to long-term potentiation (LTP), a physiological model of memory storage. Similarities include an increase in strength of the synaptic response in the absence of an altered paired-pulse ratio and an increase in the binding of the glutamate agonist alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionate. Furthermore, environmental enrichment interacts with the mechanisms responsible for the induction of LTP by inhibiting further increases in synaptic strength following LTP-inducing stimulation. The results provide evidence for experience-mediated influences on postsynaptic mechanisms regulating medial perforant path synaptic strength.
Foster
T C
TC
Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville 22903, USA.
Gagne
J
J
Massicotte
G
G
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000502:physiology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007700:Kinetics; D017774:Long-Term Potentiation; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018091:Receptors, AMPA / Q000378:metabolism; D012931:Social Environment; D012934:Social Isolation; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology*; D018350:alpha-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic Acid / Q000378:metabolism
D018091:Receptors, AMPA; D018350:alpha-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic Acid