Dynamic actin filaments are required for stable long-term potentiation (LTP) in area CA1 of the hippocampus
T Krucker1, G R Siggins, S Halpain
1Departments of Neuropharmacology and Cell Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
Abstract:
The hypothesis that dynamic actin filaments participate in specific aspects of synaptic plasticity was investigated at the Schaffer-collateral-CA1 pyramidal cell synapse of mouse hippocampus. Low concentrations (0.01-1 microM) of compounds that inhibit actin filament assembly were bath applied to hippocampal slices during extracellular recording of field excitatory postsynaptic potentials. Cytochalasin D, cytochalasin B, and latrunculin A all impaired the maintenance of LTP induced by brief high-frequency stimulation. This effect on LTP maintenance was specific, because none of the compounds affected basal synaptic transmission, paired-pulse facilitation, LTP induction, or post-tetanic potentiation. The effect of cytochalasin B was reversible. The results are consistent with a model in which dynamic actin filaments play an essential role in the molecular mechanisms underlying the early maintenance phase of LTP, such as growth of new synaptic connections or conversion of silent synapses.
Related Concept Videos
Long-term Potentiation
Generation of Straight or Branched Actin Filaments
Arp2/3 Complex
Arp2/3 complex is a seven-subunit complex consisting of two proteins similar to actin- Arp2 and Arp3, and five other subunits that help keep Arp2 and Arp3 inactive. When required, the complex is...
Actin Filament Depolymerization
In F-actin, the ADF/cofilin proteins...
Formation of Higher-order Actin Filaments
The high-order actin networks...
Long-term Potentiation
Hebbian LTP
LTP can occur when presynaptic neurons...
Long-term Depression
Calcium Ion Concentration Mechanism
If over time, all...


