title: Control of synaptic depression by glutamate transporters.
abstract: The role of glutamate transporters in the regulation of synaptic depression was examined in the avian nucleus magnocellularis. Repetitive stimulation of presynaptic auditory nerve fibers resulted in acute depression of EPSCs. Pharmacological blockade of glutamate transport in glial cells enhanced residual glutamate in the synaptic cleft and markedly increased the extent of depression at stimulus frequencies above 20 Hz via a postsynaptic mechanism. Glutamate pyruvate transaminase, a glutamate scavenger, accelerated the decay of the EPSC and reduced synaptic depression, indicating that transporters are not completely effective in rapid removal of glutamate. Regulation of residual transmitter by glia may thus serve to control synaptic strength in a frequency-dependent manner.
authors.affiliation: Oregon Hearing Research Center, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, Oregon 97201, USA.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Turecek
authors.forename: L O
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Trussell
mesh_terms: D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / Q000502:physiology*; D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000494:pharmacology; D027322:Amino Acid Transport System X-AG; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D001581:Benzothiadiazines / Q000494:pharmacology; D002642:Chick Embryo; D017626:Cochlear Nucleus / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D019706:Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007608:Kainic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D016202:N-Methylaspartate / Q000494:pharmacology; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology; D018091:Receptors, AMPA / Q000502:physiology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D018350:alpha-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D027322:Amino Acid Transport System X-AG; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D001581:Benzothiadiazines; D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists; D018091:Receptors, AMPA; C011274:3-hydroxyaspartic acid; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D018698:Glutamic Acid; C020889:dihydrokainic acid; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D018350:alpha-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic Acid; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; C004639:cyclothiazide; D007608:Kainic Acid