title: Age-dependent loss of PTP and LTP in the hippocampus of PrP-null mice.
abstract: We have investigated synaptic function in the hippocampus in mice of different ages carrying a null mutation in the PrP gene. Experiments carried out in vivo and in vitro in two laboratories revealed no differences in the ability of juvenile and young adult control and PrP-null mice to express long-term potentiation, paired-pulse facilitation, or posttetanic potentiation in either the dentate gyrus or in the CA1 region. However, we found a significant reduction in the level of posttetanic potentiation and long-term potentiation in the CA1 region of aged PrP-null mice. These results are discussed in relationship to reported increased levels of oxidative stress in older PrP-null mice.
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Sciences, University Medical School, Hugh Robson Building, George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, UK.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Curtis
authors.forename: Mick
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Errington
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bliss
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Voss
authors.forename: Nikki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: MacLeod
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D019706:Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000502:physiology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D017774:Long-Term Potentiation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D011328:Prions / Q000235:genetics*; D012044:Regression Analysis
chemical_list: D011328:Prions