Protons are a neurotransmitter that regulates synaptic plasticity in the lateral amygdala.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
; 111(24): 8961-6, 2014 Jun 17.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-24889629
ABSTRACT
Stimulating presynaptic terminals can increase the proton concentration in synapses. Potential receptors for protons are acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs), Na(+)- and Ca(2+)-permeable channels that are activated by extracellular acidosis. Those observations suggest that protons might be a neurotransmitter. We found that presynaptic stimulation transiently reduced extracellular pH in the amygdala. The protons activated ASICs in lateral amygdala pyramidal neurons, generating excitatory postsynaptic currents. Moreover, both protons and ASICs were required for synaptic plasticity in lateral amygdala neurons. The results identify protons as a neurotransmitter, and they establish ASICs as the postsynaptic receptor. They also indicate that protons and ASICs are a neurotransmitter/receptor pair critical for amygdala-dependent learning and memory.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Protons
/
Synapses
/
Neurotransmitter Agents
/
Acid Sensing Ion Channels
/
Amygdala
/
Neuronal Plasticity
Type of study:
Prognostic_studies
Limits:
Animals
Language:
En
Journal:
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
Year:
2014
Type:
Article