ATP induces long-term potentiation of C-fiber-evoked field potentials in spinal dorsal horn: the roles of P2X4 receptors and p38 MAPK in microglia.
Many studies have shown that adenosine triphosphate (ATP), as a neurotransmitter, is involved in plastic changes of synaptic transmission in central nervous system. In the present study, we tested whether extracellular ATP can induce long-term potentiation (LTP) of C-fiber-evoked field potentials in spinal dorsal horn. The results showed the following: (1) ATP at a concentration of 0.3 mM induced spinal LTP of C-fiber-evoked field potentials, lasting for at least 5 h; (2) spinal application of 2',3'-O-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl)adenosine-5-triphosphate (TNP-ATP; an antagonist of P2X(1-4) receptors), but not pyridoxal-phosphate-6-azophenyl-2',4'-disulphonic acid (PPADS; an antagonist of P2X(1,2,3,5,7) receptors), 30 min before ATP blocked ATP-induced LTP, indicating that ATP may induce spinal LTP by activation of P2X(4) receptors; (3) at 60 min after LTP induction the level of phospho-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p-p38 MAPK) was significantly elevated and at 180 min after LTP the number of P2X(4) receptors increased significantly; both p-p38 and P2X(4) receptors were exclusively co-located with the microglia marker, but not with neuronal or astrocyte marker; (4) spinal application of TNP-ATP but not PPADS prevented p38 activation; (5) spinal application of SB203580, a p38 MAPK inhibitor, prevented both spinal LTP and the upregulation of P2X(4) receptors. The results suggested that ATP may activate p38 MAPK by binding to intrinsic P2X(4) receptors in microglia, and subsequently enhance the expression of P2X(4) receptors, contributing to spinal LTP.
Department of Physiology and Pain Research Center, Zhongshan Medical School, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, People's Republic of China.
Qing-Juan
QJ
Gong
Yu-Ying
YY
Li
Wen-Jun
WJ
Xin
Ying
Y
Zang
Wen-Jie
WJ
Ren
Xu-Hong
XH
Wei
Yong-Yong
YY
Li
Tong
T
Zhang
Xian-Guo
XG
Liu
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D005110:Extracellular Space / Q000378:metabolism; D017774:Long-Term Potentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D017628:Microglia / Q000502:physiology*; D020671:Posterior Horn Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D058919:Purinergic P2 Receptor Antagonists; D011732:Pyridoxal Phosphate / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018048:Receptors, Purinergic P2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D058848:Receptors, Purinergic P2X4; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000502:physiology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000502:physiology; D015854:Up-Regulation; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*
D058919:Purinergic P2 Receptor Antagonists; D018048:Receptors, Purinergic P2; D058848:Receptors, Purinergic P2X4; C077792:pyridoxal phosphate-6-azophenyl-2',4'-disulfonic acid; D011732:Pyridoxal Phosphate; C045674:2',3'-O-(2,4,6-trinitro-cyclohexadienylidine)adenosine 5'-triphosphate; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases