Nitric oxide is a volume transmitter regulating postsynaptic excitability at a glutamatergic synapse.
Neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) is broadly expressed in the brain and associated with synaptic plasticity through NMDAR-mediated calcium influx. However, its physiological activation and the mechanisms by which nitric oxide (NO) influences synaptic transmission have proved elusive. Here, we exploit the unique input-specificity of the calyx of Held to characterize NO modulation at this glutamatergic synapse in the auditory pathway. NO is generated in an activity-dependent manner by MNTB principal neurons receiving a calyceal synaptic input. It acts in the target neuron and adjacent inactive neurons to modulate excitability and synaptic efficacy, inhibiting postsynaptic Kv3 potassium currents (via phosphorylation), reducing EPSCs and so increasing action potential duration and reducing transmission fidelity. We conclude that NO serves as a volume transmitter and slow dynamic modulator, integrating spontaneous and evoked neuronal firing, thereby providing an index of global activity and regulating information transmission across a population of active and inactive neurons.
Steinert
Joern R
JR
MRC Toxicology Unit, Hodgkin Building, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 9HN, UK.
Kopp-Scheinpflug
Cornelia
C
Baker
Claire
C
Challiss
R A John
RA
Mistry
Raj
R
Haustein
Martin D
MD
Griffin
Sarah J
SJ
Tong
Huaxia
H
Graham
Bruce P
BP
Forsythe
Ian D
ID
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001306:Auditory Pathways / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D019706:Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D026602:Nitrergic Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I / Q000378:metabolism; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D011149:Pons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D017729:Presynaptic Terminals / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051670:Shaw Potassium Channels / Q000378:metabolism; D013570:Synaptic Membranes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology*
D051670:Shaw Potassium Channels; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I