Calcium signal-dependent plasticity of neuronal excitability developed postnatally.
Neuronal plasticity and its development were investigated at pyramidal neurons in the cortical slices of rats. The threshold and probability of firing spikes were measured by using whole-cell recording to assess neuronal excitability. Postsynaptic high frequency activity (HFA) at the pyramidal neurons, evoked by 20 trains (250-ms interval) of five depolarization-pulses (1 ms) at 100 Hz, persistently lowered the threshold and increased the probability of firing spikes. After long-term enhancement of neuronal excitability by HFA was stable, another HFA induced further enhancement. Infusing 1 mM 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)-ethane-N, N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid or 100 microM CaMKII(281-301) into the recording neurons prevented HFA-induced long-term enhancement of neuronal excitability. The infusion of 40 microM calcineurin autoinhibitory peptide enhanced neuronal excitability, which occluded HFA effect. HFA-induced long-term enhancement of intrinsic excitability expressed at most pyramidal neurons after postnatal day (PND) 14, but not at those before PND 9. Our results show a new type of neuronal plasticity induced by physiological activity at cortical neurons, which requires calcium-dependent protein phosphorylation and develops during postnatal period. An upregulation of intrinsic excitability at cortical neurons facilitates their activity and broadens signal codes; consequently, their computational ability is upgraded.
Zhang
Mei
M
Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045, USA.
Hung
Fen S
FS
Zhu
Yan
Y
Xie
Zuoping
Z
Wang
Jin-Hui
JH
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D054732:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000502:physiology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D054732:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases