Induction of LTD by activation of group I mGluR in the dentate gyrus in vitro.

The ability of activation of group I metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR) to induce long-term depression (LTD) was investigated in the medial perforant path of the dentate gyrus in vitro. Application of the group I agonists (RS)-3,5-dihydroxyphenylglycine (DHPG) and (RS)-2-chloro-5-hydroxyphenylglycine (CHPG), and also the partial agonist (S)-(+)-2-(3'-Carboxybicyclo[1.1.1]pentyl)-glycine (UPF 596), induced LTD of the field EPSP. The induction of LTD is likely to be mediated via mGluR5 since CHPG and UPF 596 are selective agonists/partial agonists at that receptor. Further evidence for the involvement of group I mGluR in LTD induction was the finding, that the DHPG and low frequency stimulation induced LTD were inhibited by the group I mGluR antagonist [CRS]-1-aminoindan-1,5-dicarboxylic acid (AIDA). Investigation of the intracellular mechanisms underlying the induction of the group I mGluR-mediated LTD showed an inhibition of the LTD by the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor bisindolylmaleimide I and the protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor lavendustin A, but not the PKA inhibitor H89. These studies demonstrate that DHPG-induced LTD can be induced by the activation of mGluR5 followed by intracellular stimulation of PKC and tyrosine kinase.

(+)-MCPG blocks induction of LTP in CA1 of rat hippocampus via agonist action at an mGluR group II receptor.

We investigated the effect of metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) ligands on the induction of long-term potentiation (LTP) of field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) in CA1 of rat hippocampus, in particular the manner by which the nonsubtype selective mGluR ligand alpha-methyl-4-carboxyphenylglycine [(+)-MCPG] blocks LTP induction. Normalized control LTP was blocked by (+)-MCPG (250 microM), but not by the mGluRI selective antagonist (S)-4-carboxyphenylglycine (4-CPG), the mGluRII selective antagonist 1/(2S,3S, 4S)-2-methyl-2-(carboxycyclopropyl) glycine (MCCG), or the mGluRIII antagonist (S)-2-amino-2-methyl-4-phosphonobutanoic acid/alpha-methyl (MAP4). In contrast the mGluRII agonist ((1S, 3S)-1-aminocyclopentante-1,3-dicarboxylic acid -(1S,3S)-ACPD-; 10 or 25 microM) completely and consistently blocked LTP. The block of LTP by both (1S,3S)-ACPD and (+)-MCPG could be prevented by preincubation with the mGluRII antagonist MCCG. These studies demonstrate that (+)-MCPG blocks LTP induction through an agonist action at an mGluRII receptor and not through a nonselective antagonist action.

PCCG-IV inhibits the induction of long-term potentiation in the dentate gyrus in vitro.

The effects of two ligands with previously established high and selective potency for metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGlu receptors) group II have been investigated on the high frequency stimulation (HFS) induced long-term potentiation of the field excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) in the dentate gyrus of the rat hippocampus in vitro. The ligands investigated were (2S,1'S,2'S,3'R)-2-(2"-carboxy-3'-phenylcyclopropyl)glycine (PCCG-IV) and (R,S)-alpha-methyl-4-tetrazolylphenylglycine (MTPG). PCCG-IV (10 microM) strongly inhibited the induction of long-term potentiation of the field EPSP by high frequency stimulation. MTPG (50 microM) did not inhibit the induction of long-term potentiation, but prevented the inhibition of long-term potentiation induction by PCCG-IV. The inhibition of long-term potentiation induction by PCCG-IV is suggested to be due to an agonistic action on mGlu receptor group II, probably mGlu3 receptor, as the inhibition of long-term potentiation can be reversed by the application of MTPG, a well-known selective and potent antagonist of mGlu receptor group II.

Characterisation of the role of calcium in AlF4-induced long-term potentiation in area CA1 of rat hippocampus.

We investigated calcium influx in the long lasting potentiation induced in area CA1 of rat hippocampus by brief bath application of the G-protein activator A1F4-(NaF/AlCl3). Brief (10 min) bath application of A1F4 in standard saline (with 2 mM Ca2+) consistently induced a long lasting potentiation which was not observed if A1F4 was bath-applied in nominally calcium free saline. Increasing the potential calcium influx, either by raising extracellular calcium concentration to 3.5 mM or by addition of the voltage operated calcium channel (VOCC) agonist BayK8644, failed to increase the number of slices exhibiting potentiation or the mean level of potentiation. Bath application of AlF4 in the presence of the VOCC antagonist failed to block the potentiation and A1F4- readily induced a long lasting potentiation under voltage clamp conditions, strongly suggesting that the calcium influx required for A1F4-induced potentiation is not through NMDA receptors or VOCC channels. It is suggested that the calcium required may be provided by an ongoing recharging and emptying of IP3 sensitive intracellular Ca2+ stores.

DCG-IV inhibits synaptic transmission by activation of NMDA receptors in area CA1 of rat hippocampus.

We investigated the synaptic depressant action of the metabotropic glutamate receptor group II agonist, (2S,1'R,2'R,3'R)-2-(2',3'-dicarboxycyclopropyl)-glycine (DCG-IV), in area CA1 of rat hippocampus. A brief bath application of DCG-IV (10 microM) caused a rapidly reversible depression to 0.57 +/- 0.22 (i.e., 43%) of baseline excitatory postsynaptic potential (epsp) slope. This depression could not be attenuated by the metabotropic glutamate receptor antagonists alpha-methyl-L-CCGI/(2S,3S,4S)-2-methyl-2-(carboxycyclopropyl++ +)glycine (MCCG), (RS)-alpha-methyl-4-tetrazolyphenylglycine (MTPG) or (S)-2-amino-2-methyl-4-phosphonobutanoic acid alpha-methyl-AP4) (MAP4). However, the DCG-IV-induced depression could be reversed by the NMDA receptor antagonist, D(-)-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid (AP5; 50 microM), and partially reversed by the adenosine A1 receptor antagonist 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine (DPCPX; 5 microM). These results strongly suggest that DCG-IV is an agonist at NMDA receptors and provide further evidence against a role for metabotropic glutamate receptor group II in synaptic transmission in area CA1 of rat hippocampus.

Metabotropic glutamate receptor dependent EPSP and EPSP-spike potentiation in area CA1 of the submerged rat hippocampal slice.

1. We reexamined the important areas of conflict in (1S,3R)-1-aminocyclopentane-1,3-dicarboxylic acid [(1S,3R)-ACPD]-induced potentiation of the field excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) and, for the first time, investigated the role of mGluRs in EPSP-spike (E-S) coupling. 2. (1S,3R)-ACPD (10 microM) bath applied for 20 min consistently induced a long-lasting potentiation of the dendritic EPSP in area CA1 of submerged rat hippocampal slices, which was considerably faster in onset than described previously. 3. This effect was not associated with any change in presynaptic fiber volley but was dependent on both an intact CA3 connection, because removal of area CA3 blocked (1S,3R)-ACPD-induced potentiation, and also on functional N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, because (1S,3R)-ACPD-induced potentiation was blocked by inclusion of the NMDA receptor antagonist D(-)-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid (AP5; 50 microM). 4. (1S,3R)-ACPD induced a long-lasting potentiation of the population spike (PS) amplitude that was consistently larger than that of the EPSP measured in the cell body area. This EPSP-PS (E-S) potentiation was blocked by inclusion of the gamma-aminobuturic acid-A (GABAA) receptor antagonist, picrotoxin (50 microM). 5. E-S potentiation induced by high-frequency stimulation (HFS), which was of the same magnitude as that induced by (1S,3R)-ACPD, was blocked by the mGluR-selective antagonist (+)-alpha-methyl-4-carboxyphenylglycine (+MCPG; 250 microM). +MCPG also blocked HFS-induced long-term potentiation (LTP) of the EPSP measured in the cell body. 6. These results suggest that (1S,3R)-ACPD-induced potentiation is NMDA receptor dependent, contrary to some previous findings, and provide further evidence that both synaptic and E-S potentiation induced by (1S,3R)-ACPD share common mechanisms of expression with HFS-induced LTP. The data emphasize the important role of mGluRs in induction of EPSP LTP and E-S potentiation.

Attenuation of high-voltage-activated Ca2+ current run-down in rat hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells by NaF.

Calcium currents in CA1 neurons from rat hippocampus were studied with the whole-cell, patch-clamp technique. Under control conditions high-voltage-activated (HVA) calcium currents activated from membrane potentials of -80 mV and -40 mV underwent "run-down". The rate of run-down of the current activated from -40 mV was significantly attenuated by inclusion of the G-protein activator NaF (1 mM) in the pipette and also irreversibly attenuated by brief batch application of NaF (10 mM). This effect was significantly reduced by inclusion of high (10 mM) ethyleneglycoltetraacetate (EGTA) concentrations in the pipette, suggesting an involvement of calcium-dependent processes. It is suggested that activation of guanine nucleotide-binding proteins by NaF leads to a long-lasting attenuation of HVA calcium current run-down in hippocampal CA1 cells.

Prolonged enhancement of synaptic transmission in area CA1 of rat hippocampal slices induced by NaF/AlCl3 does not require NMDA receptor activation but is suppressed by inhibitors of phosphoinositide-mediated signalling pathways.

The processes underlying the action of AlF4- (10 mM NaF/10 microM AlCl3) in inducing long-lasting enhancement of synaptic transmission in area CA1 of rat hippocampal slices have been investigated. Exposure of hippocampal slices to AlF4- for 10 min caused population EPSP slope to rise by approximately 50% within 60 min of washing off the NaF/AlCl3 saline. This effect was not inhibited either by APV (50 microM), or by temporary interruption of the delivery of test stimuli during and for up to 20 min after application of the AlF4- -containing medium. However, pretreatment of preparations with either thapsigargin (1 microM) or staurosporine (1 microM), or omission of Ca2+ from the AlF4- -containing saline (no addition of EGTA) prevented the potentiating action of NaF/AlCl3. We conclude that the potentiating effect of AlF4- is via a G-protein linked to phosphoinositide turnover, and that both arms of this signalling pathway are necessary for potentiation to occur. Ca2+ influx is also a requirement, but does not occur through the NMDA receptor.