title: Effect of heparin-binding growth-associated molecule (HB-GAM) on synaptic transmission and early LTP in rat hippocampal slices.
abstract: Heparin-binding growth-associated molecule (HB-GAM) is an 18-kDa developmentally regulated protein, which promotes neurite outgrowth, axonal guidance and synaptogenesis through interaction with cell-surface heparan-sulphate proteoglycans. We have studied the effect of HB-GAM on synaptic transmission and long-term potentiation (LTP) in the area CA1 of rat hippocampal slices, where HB-GAM mRNA is expressed in an activity-dependent manner. Injection of recombinant HB-GAM into the dendritic area inhibited tetanus-induced LTP without affecting baseline synaptic responses or the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-receptor mediated transmission. HB-GAM did not depotentiate tetanus-induced LTP or prevent heterosynaptic LTP induced by application of tetraethylammonium (TEA), indicating that the effect was limited to early, synapse-specific stages of LTP induction. These results suggest that HB-GAM is involved in the regulation of synaptic plasticity in hippocampus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Lauri
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rauvala
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kaila
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Taira
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D019706:Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D017774:Long-Term Potentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000187:drug effects; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D016207:Cytokines; D008934:Mitogens; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C066845:pleiotrophin