title: Concurrent upregulation of postsynaptic L-type Ca(2+) channel function and protein kinase A signaling is required for the periadolescent facilitation of Ca(2+) plateau potentials and dopamine D1 receptor modulation in the prefrontal cortex.
abstract: Further understanding of how prefrontal cortex (PFC) circuit change during postnatal development is of great interest due to its role in working memory and decision-making, two cognitive abilities that are refined late in adolescence and become altered in schizophrenia. While it is evident that dopamine facilitation of glutamate responses occurs during adolescence in the PFC, little is known about the cellular mechanisms that support these changes. Among them, a developmental facilitation of postsynaptic Ca(2+) function is of particular interest given its role in coordinating neuronal ensembles, a process thought to contribute to maturation of PFC function. Here we conducted whole-cell patch clamp recordings of deep-layer pyramidal neurons in PFC brain slices and determined how somatic-evoked Ca(2+)-mediated plateau depolarizations change throughout postnatal day (PD) 25 (juvenile) to adulthood (PD 80). Postsynaptic Ca(2+) potentials in the PFC increase in duration throughout postnatal development. A remarkable shift from short to prolonged depolarizations was observed after PD 40. This change is reflected by an enhancement of L-type Ca(2+) channel function and postsynaptic PKA signaling. We speculate that such a protracted developmental facilitation of Ca(2+) response in the PFC may contribute to improvement of working memory performance through adolescence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, The Chicago Medical School, 3333 Green Bay Rd., North Chicago, IL 60064, USA.
authors.forename: Li-Jun
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Heng
authors.forename: Julie A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Markham
authors.forename: Xiu-Ti
authors.initials: XT
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Kuei Y
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Tseng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology*; D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type / Q000502:physiology*; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000502:physiology*; D019706:Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D017966:Pyramidal Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017447:Receptors, Dopamine D1 / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type; D017447:Receptors, Dopamine D1; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases; D002118:Calcium