title: A Role for Nitric Oxide in Long-term Potentiation.
abstract: Nitric oxide production in the cerebellum and induction of long-term potentiation (LTP) in the hippocampus have some characteristics in common: both phenomena are induced by activation of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors and both are highly dependent on calcium-mediated processes. Here we provide evidence that endogenous nitric oxide production is necessary for synaptic plasticity in the CA1 hippocampus of the rat. LTP recorded in slices was blocked in a concentration-dependent manner by the nitric oxide synthase inhibitors l-NG-nitroarginine and l-NG-nitroarginine methyl ester, but l-NG-monomethylarginine was only marginally active. Bathing the slices with haemoglobin, a protein that scavenges nitric oxide, also resulted in a concentration-dependent blockade of LTP. Nitric oxide released locally from hydroxylamine produced a stable potentiation of synaptic transmission that was not additive with LTP induced by high-frequency stimulation. These results are fully consistent with the presumed retrograde messenger role of nitric oxide in LTP.
authors.affiliation: Rhône - Poulenc Rorer Central Research, Centre de Recherches de Vitry-Alfortville, 94403 Vitry-sur-Seine, France.
authors.forename: Christelle
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bon
authors.forename: Georg Andrees
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Böhme
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Doble
authors.forename: Jean-Marie
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Stutzmann
authors.forename: Jean-Charles
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Blanchard