title: Chronic neurotrophin-3 strengthens synaptic connections to motoneurons in the neonatal rat.
abstract: We report that neurotrophin-3 (NT-3), delivered chronically via fibroblasts implanted intrathecally into neonatal rats, can facilitate synaptic transmission in the spinal cord. A small collagen plug containing NT-3-secreting fibroblasts was placed on the exposed dorsal surface of the spinal cord (L1) of 2-d-old rats; controls received beta-galactosidase-secreting fibroblasts. After 6 hr to 12 d of survival, synaptic potentials (EPSP) elicited by two synaptic inputs, L5 dorsal root and ventrolateral funiculus (VLF), were recorded intracellularly in L5 motoneurons in vitro. Preparations treated with NT-3 implants exhibited enhanced monosynaptic synaptic transmission from both inputs, which persisted over the entire testing period. Unlike acute enhancement of transmission by NT-3 (Arvanian and Mendell, 2001a), the chronic effect could occur at connections not normally eliciting an NMDA receptor-mediated response at the time of NT-3 exposure. Using susceptibility to blockade of the NMDA receptor by Mg2+ and APV, we confirmed that chronic treatment with NT-3 did not enhance NMDA receptor activity at these connections. Cords treated with chronic NT-3 also transiently displayed polysynaptic components activated by VLF that were blocked by the NMDA receptor antagonist APV. These novel NMDA receptor-mediated potentials may reflect changes in interneurons near the site of fibroblast implantation. We conclude that chronic NT-3 enhances the potency of segmental and descending projections via mechanisms different from those underlying acute changes.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004594:Electrophysiology; D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D019706:Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000637:transplantation; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008161:Lumbosacral Region; D008274:Magnesium / Q000494:pharmacology; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D020933:Neurotrophin 3 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013569:Synapses / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013995:Time; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D020933:Neurotrophin 3; D003094:Collagen; D001616:beta-Galactosidase; D008274:Magnesium