Dual effects of ATP on rat hippocampal synaptic plasticity

Yue Wang; Norman J Haughey; Mark P Mattson; Katsutoshi Furukawa

doi:10.1097/00001756-200403220-00012

Dual effects of ATP on rat hippocampal synaptic plasticity

Neuroreport. 2004 Mar 22;15(4):633-6. doi: 10.1097/00001756-200403220-00012.

Authors

Yue Wang¹, Norman J Haughey, Mark P Mattson, Katsutoshi Furukawa

Affiliation

¹ Laboratory of Neurosciences, Gerontology Research Center, National Institute on Aging, 5600 Nathan Shock Drive, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.

PMID: 15094466
DOI: 10.1097/00001756-200403220-00012

Abstract

Although ATP is reported to modulate synaptic plasticity, the mechanism of action of ATP on synaptic transmission is not fully understood. Here we show that ATP enhances long-term potentiation (LTP), and P2X receptor antagonists inhibit this ATP effect, but do not affect paired pulse facilitation (PPF) in rat hippocampal slices. ATP rapidly increases intracellular calcium, and P2X receptor antagonists inhibit this increase in cultured dissociated neurons. These results indicate that ATP enhances LTP via activation of postsynaptic P2X receptors. A pertussis toxin-sensitive G-protein inhibitor significantly attenuates PPF, although it does not affect LTP, indicating that presynaptic P2Y receptors also play an important role in neuronal plasticity. We conclude that ATP modulates synaptic plasticity via dual effects on pre- and post-synaptic mechanisms.

MeSH terms

Adenosine Triphosphate / metabolism
Adenosine Triphosphate / pharmacology*
Animals
Animals, Newborn
Calcium / metabolism
Calcium Signaling / drug effects
Calcium Signaling / physiology
Electric Stimulation
GTP-Binding Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism
Hippocampus / cytology
Hippocampus / drug effects
Hippocampus / metabolism*
In Vitro Techniques
Long-Term Potentiation / drug effects
Long-Term Potentiation / physiology*
Neural Pathways / cytology
Neural Pathways / drug effects
Neural Pathways / metabolism
Presynaptic Terminals / drug effects
Presynaptic Terminals / metabolism
Purinergic P2 Receptor Agonists
Purinergic P2 Receptor Antagonists
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Receptors, Purinergic P2 / metabolism*
Receptors, Purinergic P2X
Synaptic Membranes / drug effects
Synaptic Membranes / metabolism*
Synaptic Transmission / drug effects
Synaptic Transmission / physiology*

Substances

Purinergic P2 Receptor Agonists
Purinergic P2 Receptor Antagonists
Receptors, Purinergic P2
Receptors, Purinergic P2X
Adenosine Triphosphate
GTP-Binding Proteins
Calcium