title: Mechanisms of cAMP-induced sustained activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase in the hippocampus.
abstract: Protein phosphorylation is known to regulate synaptic plasticity and memory. Protein kinases including protein kinase A and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) play important roles in these processes. Forskolin, a protein kinase A activator, induces long-term potentiation (LTP) in the hippocampus. Forskolin also induces ERK activation, which plays important roles in LTP. However, the mechanisms of forskolin-induced ERK activation are not clearly understood. Here we show that forskolin induces sustained ERK activation in the hippocampal slices. Further, blockade of protein synthesis or transcription inhibits forskolin-induced sustained ERK activation. In contrast, forskolin-induced immediate ERK activation is unaffected by inhibition of protein synthesis or transcription. Sustained ERK activation may contribute to forskolin-induced LTP in the hippocampus.
authors.affiliation: National Brain Research Centre, Manesar, Haryana, India.
authors.forename: Kaushik P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Jeet B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Shiv K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Sharma
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005576:Colforsin / Q000494:pharmacology; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism*; D003609:Dactinomycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004640:Emetine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D010766:Phosphorylation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007093:Imidazoles; C048819:4-(3,4-dibutoxybenzyl)-2-imidazolidinone; D003609:Dactinomycin; D005576:Colforsin; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D004640:Emetine