High-frequency stimulation induces ethanol-sensitive long-term potentiation at glutamatergic synapses in the dorsolateral bed nucleus of the stria terminalis.
Anatomical and functional data support a critical role for the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) in the interaction between stress and alcohol/substance abuse. We report here that neurons of the dorsal anterolateral BNST respond to glutamatergic synaptic input in a synchronized way, such that an interpretable extracellular synaptic field potential can be readily measured. High-frequency stimulation of these glutamatergic inputs evoked NMDA receptor (NMDAR)-dependent long-term potentiation (LTP). We found that an early portion of this LTP is reduced by acute exposure to ethanol in a GABA(A) receptor-dependent manner. This effect of ethanol is accompanied by a significant and reversible dose-dependent attenuation of isolated NMDAR signaling and is mimicked by incomplete NMDAR blockade.
Weitlauf
Carl
C
Neuroscience Graduate Program, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232-0615, USA.
Egli
Regula E
RE
Grueter
Brad A
BA
Winder
Danny G
DG
D000818:Animals; D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type / Q000502:physiology; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004594:Electrophysiology; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D017774:Long-Term Potentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000502:physiology; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000502:physiology; D012686:Septal Nuclei / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D000431:Ethanol; D018698:Glutamic Acid