6533b86dfe1ef96bd12c96ba

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Platelet-activating factor contributes to the induction of long-term potentiation in the rat somatosensory cortex in vitro

Peter HeuslerGerd Boehmer

subject

Malemedicine.medical_specialtyLong-Term PotentiationCentral nervous systemStimulationIn Vitro TechniquesBiologySomatosensory systemRats Sprague-Dawleychemistry.chemical_compoundInternal medicineExcitatory Amino Acid AgonistsmedicineAnimalsPlatelet Activating FactorMolecular BiologyPlatelet-activating factorGeneral NeuroscienceValineLong-term potentiationSomatosensory CortexElectric StimulationIn vitroRatsmedicine.anatomical_structureEndocrinologychemistrySynaptic plasticityNMDA receptorNeurology (clinical)NeuroscienceDevelopmental Biology

description

The contribution of platelet-activating factor (PAF) to the induction of neocortical LTP was examined in rat brain slices containing the primary somatosensory cortex (SI). Field potentials evoked by single pulse stimulation in cortical layer IV were recorded from layer II/III. In control experiments, tetanic high frequency stimulation (HFS) resulted in input-specific, NMDA receptor-dependent LTP (21.1+/-3.2%; mean+/-SEM; n=15; P0.001). BN-52021 (5 microM), an antagonist at the extracellular PAF receptor, weakened the HFS-induced LTP to 12.4+/-2.7% (n=11; P0.05). In contrast, HFS-induced LTP was significantly enhanced to 29.4+/-2.3% (n=11; P0.05) when brain slices were superfused with ACSF containing the PAF receptor-agonist C-PAF (1.5 microM). The difference between LTP weakened by BN-52021 and LTP enhanced by C-PAF was highly significant (P0.0005). These results suggest a physiological contribution of PAF to the induction of LTP in neocortical area SI. This contribution of PAF is mediated by an action at extracellular receptor sites.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2007-03-01Brain Research
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainres.2006.12.016