Abstract

In model membranes, arachidonic acid and diacylglycerol have been proposed to synergistically induce a membrane-inserted, constitutively active form of protein kinase C. We have investigated the effects of these lipid protein kinase C activators on synaptic efficacy in the Schaffer collateral input to CA1 hippocampal pyramidal cells. Arachidonic acid (5 μ M) perfusion combined with repetitive afferent stimulation had no consistent effect on field excitatory postsynaptic potentials recorded in stratum radiatum, while treatment with a cell-permeable diglyceride, oleoyl-acetylglycerol (5 μg/ml), followed by stimulation, led to a short-term potentiation. By contrast, the combination of oleoyl-acetylglycerol and arachidonic acid gave rise to a long-lasting non-decremental potentiation of field excitatory postsynaptic potentials. The induction of potentiation was “activity dependent”, as there was either no significant effect or there was a measurable depression when repetitive synaptic stimulation was omitted. Furthermore, consistent with a protein kinase C-dependent process, the potentiation was blocked by the kinase inhibitors H-7 and staurosporine. The results suggest that relatively low concentrations of arachidonic acid and diacylglycerol work synergistically through protein kinase C to persistently enhance synaptic transmission. This synergy has the makings of an associative (Hebbian) device for long-term potentiation induction operating at the second messenger level.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.