Endocannabinoid-Dependent Long-Term Potentiation of Synaptic Transmission at Rat Barrel Cortex

Cereb Cortex. 2018 May 1;28(5):1568-1581. doi: 10.1093/cercor/bhx053.

Abstract

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays a critical role in modulating plasticity in sensory cortices. Indeed, a BDNF-dependent long-term potentiation (LTP) at distal basal excitatory synapses of Layer 5 pyramidal neurons (L5PNs) has been demonstrated in disinhibited rat barrel cortex slices. Although it is well established that this LTP requires the pairing of excitatory postsynaptic potentials (PSPs) with Ca2+ spikes, its induction when synaptic inhibition is working remains unexplored. Here we show that low-frequency stimulation at basal dendrites of L5PNs is able to trigger a PSP followed by an action potential (AP) and a slow depolarization (termed PSP-Ca2+ response) in thalamocortical slices without blocking synaptic inhibition. We demonstrate that AP barrage-mediated release of endocannabinoids (eCBs) from the recorded L5PNs induces PSP-Ca2+ response facilitation and BDNF-dependent LTP. Indeed, this LTP requires the type 1 cannabinoid receptors activation, is prevented by postsynaptic intracellular 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy) ethane-N,N,N,N'-tetraacetic acid (BAPTA) or the anandamide membrane transporter inhibitor AM404, and only occurs in L5PNs neurons showing depolarization-induced suppression of inhibition. Additionally, electrical stimulation at the posteromedial thalamic nucleus induced similar response and LTP. These results reveal a novel form of eCB-dependent LTP at L5PNs that could be relevant in the processing of sensory information in the barrel cortex.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate / pharmacology
  • 6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Arachidonic Acids / pharmacology
  • Benzoxazines / pharmacology
  • Calcium Channel Blockers / pharmacology
  • Cerebral Cortex / cytology*
  • Cerebral Cortex / physiology
  • Endocannabinoids / metabolism*
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / pharmacology
  • Extracellular Fluid / drug effects
  • Extracellular Fluid / metabolism
  • Long-Term Potentiation / drug effects
  • Long-Term Potentiation / physiology*
  • Morpholines / pharmacology
  • Naphthalenes / pharmacology
  • Neural Pathways / drug effects
  • Neural Pathways / physiology
  • Peptides, Cyclic / pharmacology
  • Pyramidal Cells / drug effects
  • Pyramidal Cells / physiology*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Receptor, trkB / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Synaptic Transmission / drug effects
  • Synaptic Transmission / physiology*
  • Thalamus / cytology

Substances

  • Arachidonic Acids
  • Benzoxazines
  • Calcium Channel Blockers
  • Endocannabinoids
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists
  • Morpholines
  • Naphthalenes
  • Peptides, Cyclic
  • cyclotraxin-B
  • (3R)-((2,3-dihydro-5-methyl-3-((4-morpholinyl)methyl)pyrrolo-(1,2,3-de)-1,4-benzoxazin-6-yl)(1-naphthalenyl))methanone
  • 6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione
  • 2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate
  • Receptor, trkB
  • N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)arachidonylamide