A hebbian form of long-term potentiation dependent on mGluR1a in hippocampal inhibitory interneurons

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2001 Jul 31;98(16):9401-6. doi: 10.1073/pnas.161493498. Epub 2001 Jul 10.

Abstract

Hippocampal inhibitory interneurons play important roles in controlling the excitability and synchronization of pyramidal cells, but whether they express long-term synaptic plasticity that contributes to hippocampal network function remains uncertain. We found that pairing postsynaptic depolarization with theta-burst stimulation induced long-term potentiation (LTP) of putative single-fiber excitatory postsynaptic currents in interneurons. Either postsynaptic depolarization or theta-burst stimulation alone failed to induce LTP. LTP was expressed as a decrease in failure rates and an increase in excitatory postsynaptic current amplitude, independent of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors, and dependent on metabotropic glutamate receptors subtype 1a. LTP was induced specifically in interneurons in stratum oriens and not in interneurons of stratum radiatum/lacunosum-moleculare. Thus, excitatory synapses onto specific subtypes of inhibitory interneurons express a new form of hebbian LTP that will contribute to hippocampal network plasticity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials
  • Hippocampus / cytology
  • Hippocampus / physiology*
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Interneurons / physiology*
  • Long-Term Potentiation
  • Rats
  • Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate / physiology*
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / physiology

Substances

  • Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate
  • metabotropic glutamate receptor type 1