Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 8, 2026
16:38
Dual Electrophysiological Recordings of Synaptically-evoked Astroglial and Neuronal Responses in Acute Hippocampal Slices
Published on: November 26, 2012
Asynchronous synaptic responses in hippocampal CA1 neurons during synaptic long-term potentiation
1Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
Neuroscience Letters
|July 8, 1988
Summary
Stimulating guinea pig hippocampus slices increased miniature excitatory postsynaptic potentials (mEPSPs) in CA1 neurons. This effect, linked to asynchronous transmitter release, was enhanced after long-term potentiation induction.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Synaptic Plasticity
- Electrophysiology
Background:
- The hippocampus plays a crucial role in learning and memory.
- Synaptic transmission involves the release of neurotransmitters.
- Long-term potentiation (LTP) is a key mechanism for synaptic plasticity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of stimulating stratum radiatum on miniature EPSPs in CA1 neurons.
- To determine if long-term potentiation influences the frequency of miniature EPSPs.
Main Methods:
- Using guinea pig hippocampal slices.
- Incubating slices in Ba2+ solution.
- Stimulating the stratum radiatum.
- Recording excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) and miniature EPSPs (mEPSPs) in CA1 neurons.
- Inducing long-term potentiation (LTP).
Main Results:
- Stratum radiatum stimulation induced an EPSP followed by an increased frequency of mEPSPs in CA1 neurons.
- These mEPSPs, indicative of asynchronous transmitter release, were further increased after LTP induction.
Conclusions:
- Barium ions enhance neurotransmitter release.
- Asynchronous transmitter release in CA1 neurons is modulated by synaptic activity.
- Long-term potentiation potentiates asynchronous neurotransmitter release, suggesting a role in synaptic plasticity.
More Related Videos
09:39Improved Preparation and Preservation of Hippocampal Mouse Slices for a Very Stable and Reproducible Recording of Long-term Potentiation
Published on: June 26, 2013
14:27Investigating Long-term Synaptic Plasticity in Interlamellar Hippocampus CA1 by Electrophysiological Field Recording
Published on: August 11, 2019
Related Concept Videos
01:35Long-term Potentiation
Long-term potentiation, or LTP, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTP is the process of synaptic strengthening that occurs over time between pre- and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic strengthening of LTP works in opposition to the synaptic weakening of long-term depression (LTD) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
01:05Long-term Depression
Long-term depression, or LTD, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTD is the process of synaptic weakening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic weakening of LTD works in opposition to synaptic strengthening by long-term potentiation (LTP) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
01:25Long-term Potentiation
Long-term potentiation, or LTP, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTP is the process of synaptic strengthening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic strengthening of LTP works in opposition to the synaptic weakening of long-term depression (LTD) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
Hebbian LTP
LTP can occur when presynaptic neurons...
Hebbian LTP
LTP can occur when presynaptic neurons...
01:03Long-term Depression
Long-term depression, or LTD, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTD is the process of synaptic weakening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic weakening of LTD works in opposition to synaptic strengthening by long-term potentiation (LTP) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
Calcium Ion Concentration Mechanism
If over time, all...
Calcium Ion Concentration Mechanism
If over time, all...
01:26Chemical Synapses
Chemical synapses are specialized sites between two neurons or between a neuron and a non-neuronal cell like a muscle, glandular or sensory cell.
Because chemical synapses depend on the release of neurotransmitter molecules from synaptic vesicles to pass on their signal, there is an approximately one millisecond delay between when the axon potential reaches the presynaptic terminal and when the neurotransmitter leads to opening of postsynaptic ion channels. Additionally, this signaling is...
Because chemical synapses depend on the release of neurotransmitter molecules from synaptic vesicles to pass on their signal, there is an approximately one millisecond delay between when the axon potential reaches the presynaptic terminal and when the neurotransmitter leads to opening of postsynaptic ion channels. Additionally, this signaling is...
01:28Integration of Synaptic Events
Synaptic integration mainly includes the summation of graded potentials. Graded potentials, regardless of their type, cause subtle alterations in membrane voltage, resulting in either depolarization or hyperpolarization. These incremental changes, when combined or summed, can propel the neuron toward its threshold. Consider, for example, a membrane experiencing a +15 mV shift, causing it to depolarize from -70 mV to -55 mV. In this scenario, graded potentials govern the membrane's ability to...