title: Beta-adrenergic facilitation of synaptic plasticity in the rat basolateral amygdala in vitro is gradually reversed by corticosterone.
abstract: The rat basolateral amygdala is important for emotional learning; this is modulated by noradrenaline and corticosterone. We report that the beta-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol markedly enhances synaptic plasticity induced in the basolateral amygdala by a weak stimulation paradigm but is ineffective with stronger protocols. Simultaneous application of corticosterone gradually reversed the facilitatory effect of isoproterenol. When corticosterone was briefly applied several hours prior to isoproterenol, facilitatory effects of the beta-agonist were entirely suppressed. This suggests that in the basolateral amygdala, beta-adrenergic influences promote synaptic plasticity; this is gradually normalized by corticosterone, preventing the network from overshooting.
authors.affiliation: Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences-Center for NeuroScience, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1098 SM, The Netherlands. Z.Pu@uva.nl
authors.forename: Zhenwei
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Pu
authors.forename: Harm J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Krugers
authors.forename: Marian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Joëls
mesh_terms: D018750:6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione / Q000494:pharmacology; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000679:Amygdala / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D001703:Biophysics; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004594:Electrophysiology; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007545:Isoproterenol / Q000494:pharmacology; D017774:Long-Term Potentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D013569:Synapses / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D055366:Synaptic Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; D018750:6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione; D007545:Isoproterenol; D003345:Corticosterone