A major finding in the visual plasticity literature is that visual deprivation is effective only during an early 'sensitive' period, which is lengthened by dark rearing. Unresolved is whether the visual cortex is in a normally plastic state prior to…
N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor/channel (NMDAR) and voltage-dependent calcium channel (VDCC) antagonists applied independently reduce the magnitude of long-term potentiation (LTP) in area CA1 of the hippocampal slice preparation. When used in…
We describe the development of a computer-assisted instructional tool for the neurosciences. Designed to run on readily available MS-DOS computers, the Graphic Brain utilizes computer-generated static and animated images and accompanying text to…
Brain slices have been responsible for the majority of advances in our understanding of the cellular aspects of altered synaptic strength underlying memory, long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD), and increases and decreases,…
Long-term potentiation (LTP) of excitatory synaptic transmission could be a mechanism underlying memory. Induction of LTP requires Ca2+ influx into postsynaptic neurons through ion channels gated by NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptors in…
To examine the effects of TET on the electrophysiology of area CA1 of hippocampus, hippocampal slices were obtained from adult hooded rats and were maintained in vitro using standard techniques. Stimulating and recording electrodes were placed in the…
The purpose of the present study was to improve our understanding of the role of NMDA receptors in neocortical synaptic plasticity. In slices of rat visual cortex the field potential elicited in layer III in response to white matter stimulation…
The duration of long-term potentiation (LTP) of the CA1 evoked field potential in rat hippocampal slices was significantly modulated by pre-treatment of slices with delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) added to the incubation media. The three THC doses…
The effects of phenobarbital, phenytoin, and valproic acid on pharmacologically isolated NMDA-EPSP, AMPA-EPSP, and GABA-IPSPs were examined in rat hippocampal slices. Phenobarbital (0.05 mg/ml) had no effect on the NMDA-EPSP, but decreased the slope…
In hippocampal CA1 area, there are at least two forms of long-term potentiation (LTP): one is N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-dependent LTP (NMDA LTP), which is induced with a 25 Hz tetanus and blocked by 50 microM
The development of long-term potentiation (LTP), an enduring alteration in synaptic efficacy following afferent activation, was examined in CA1 hippocampus and primary visual cortex of rat. Both regions show little LTP prior to postnatal day 5,…
We examined the effects of GABAB receptor activation in the dentate gyrus of hippocampal slices prepared from 6-8-day-old rat pup. Baclofen (0.25-1.0 microM), a GABAB agonist, rapidly and potently disinhibited the developing dentate, similar to its…
There are 3 known forms of synaptic plasticity at CNS synapses: long-term potentiation (LTP) mediated by NMDA receptor activation, LTP mediated by voltage-dependent calcium channel (VDCC) activation, and long-term depression (LTD) mediated by the…
The effects of spermine, an endogenous polyamine, were examined in area CA1 of the rat hippocampal slice preparation. Spermine, at low millimolar concentrations, rapidly and potently depressed NMDA and K/AMPA-mediated population EPSPs, and…
This experiment explores the role of two forms of long-term potentiation (LTP) in behavioral memory. NMDA and/or voltage-dependent calcium channels (VDCCs) were antagonized pharmacologically at levels that block nmdaLTP and vdccLTP, respectively, in…
1. Activation of GABAA receptors can produce both hyperpolarizing and depolarizing responses in CA1 pyramidal cells. The hyperpolarizing response is mediated by a Cl- conductance, but the ionic basis of the depolarizing response is not clear. We…
1. Activation of GABA(A) receptors can produce both hyperpolarizing and depolarizing responses in CA1 pyramidal cells. The hyperpolarizing response is mediated by a Cl- conductance, but the ionic basis of the depolarizing response is not clear. We…
Conditioning stimulation of afferent fibers in hippocampal area CA1 produced heterosynaptic, posttetanic depression (PTD) of responses evoked by stimulation of an independent set of afferent fibers. PTD was present within 5 s of conditioning…
Long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD) are calcium-dependent forms of synaptic plasticity observed in area CA1 of the hippocampus. Low-frequency tetani (1-5 Hz) activates protein phosphatases to induce LTD, whereas high-frequency…
Conditioning stimulation applied to afferent fibers in stratum radiatum or stratum oriens of hippocampal area CA1 produced heterosynaptic, posttetanic depression (PTD) of excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs). PTD amounted to a
Cocaine use by pregnant women is currently of concern for its social and economic impact. Clinical studies of cocaine exposed offspring are limited by methodological constraints. In this study we used a rabbit model to examine the effects of…
We studied the ontogeny of muscarinic depression in the developing rat visual cortex using carbachol (a nonhydrolyzable cholinergic agonist) application to neocortical slices obtained from four postnatal age groups: 9-10 days, 15 days, 30-40 days and…
We studied the ontogeny of muscarinic depression in the developing rat visual cortex using carbachol (a nonhydrolyzable cholinergic agonist) application to neocortical slices obtained from four postnatal age groups: 9-10 days, 15 days,
Activity dependent calcium entry into neurons can initiate a form of synaptic plasticity called long-term potentiation (LTP). This phenomenon is considered by many to be one possible cellular mechanism underlying learning and memory. The calcium…
