Role of transforming growth factor-beta in long-term synaptic facilitation in Aplysia.
The role of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) in long-term synaptic facilitation was examined in isolated Aplysia ganglia. Treatment with TGF-beta1 induced long-term facilitation (24 and 48 hours), but not short-term (5 to 15 minutes) or intermediate-term (2 to 4 hours) facilitation. The long-term effects of TGF-beta1 were not additive with those of serotonin. Moreover, serotonin-induced facilitation was blocked by an inhibitor of TGF-beta. Thus, activation of TGF-beta may be part of the cascade of events underlying long-term sensitization, consistent with the hypothesis that signaling molecules that participate in development also have roles in adult neuronal plasticity.
Zhang
F
F
Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Texas Medical School, Houston 77030, USA.
Endo
S
S
Cleary
L J
LJ
Eskin
A
A
Byrne
J H
JH
D000818:Animals; D001048:Aplysia / Q000502:physiology*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000502:physiology; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D000077294:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type II; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000502:physiology; D012701:Serotonin / Q000494:pharmacology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013569:Synapses / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology*
D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D012701:Serotonin; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D000077294:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type II