Visual stimuli-induced LTD of GABAergic synapses mediated by presynaptic NMDA receptors.
Local GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) circuits contribute to sensory experience-dependent refinement of neuronal connections in the developing nervous system, but whether GABAergic synapses themselves can be rapidly modified by sensory stimuli is largely unknown. Here we report that repetitive light stimuli or theta burst stimulation (TBS) of the optic nerve in the developing Xenopus retinotectal system induces long-term potentiation (LTP) of glutamatergic inputs but long-term depression (LTD) of GABAergic inputs to the same tectal neuron. The LTD is due to a reduction in presynaptic GABA release and requires activation of presynaptic NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptors (NMDARs) and coincident high-level GABAergic activity. Thus, the presynaptic NMDAR may function as a coincidence detector for adjacent glutamatergic and GABAergic activities, leading to coordinated synaptic modification by sensory experience.
Division of Neurobiology, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California Berkeley, California 94720-3200, USA.
Cheng-Chang
CC
Lien
Yangling
Y
Mu
Mariana
M
Vargas-Caballero
Mu-ming
MM
Poo
D000818:Animals; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D019706:Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D007814:Larva; D036881:Long-Term Synaptic Depression / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D017729:Presynaptic Terminals / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000378:metabolism*; D012160:Retina / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D013477:Superior Colliculi / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014785:Vision, Ocular / Q000502:physiology; D014795:Visual Pathways / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D014982:Xenopus laevis; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism*
D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid