The Journal of Neuroscience, January 15, 1999, 19(2):570-577
Cross-Modulation of Synaptic Plasticity by
-Adrenergic and
5-HT1A Receptors in the Rat Basolateral Amygdala
Su-Jane
Wang,
Li-Liang
Cheng, and
Po-Wu
Gean
Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, National
Cheng-Kung University, Tainan City, Taiwan 701
Neurotransmitter receptors are often colocalized in a neuron with
other receptors, and activation of one receptor can either amplify or
antagonize the response to a colocalized receptor. The aim of this
study was to investigate the cross-regulation of synaptic transmission
by
-adrenergic and serotonin 1A (5-HT1A) receptors and to elucidate their underlying mechanisms. Stimulation of
presynaptic
-adrenergic receptors with isoproterenol (Iso) in the
basolateral amygdala resulted in a long-lasting increase in synaptic
transmission. This effect was mimicked by forskolin, an activator for
adenylyl cyclase and a cAMP analog. In addition, the effect of
forskolin was blocked by catalytic and regulatory site antagonists for
cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), indicating a PKA-mediated
mechanism. Application of 5-HT depressed the synaptic transmission and
blocked Iso- and forskolin-induced potentiation. The effect of 5-HT was
mimicked by the selective 5-HT1A agonist 8-hydroxy-dipropylaminotetralin and was blocked by the selective 5-HT1A antagonist
1-(2-methoxyphenyl)-4[4-(2-phthalimido)butyl]piperazine, indicating its mediation by 5-HT1A receptors. To
determine the locus of interaction, Sp-cAMPS, a membrane-permeable
activator of PKA, was applied, and the potentiation produced by
Sp-cAMPS was completely blocked in slices pretreated with 5-HT. These
results suggest that the interaction between the intracellular
signaling pathways activated by 5-HT1A and
-adrenergic
receptors occurs at a step downstream from cAMP production.
Key words:
serotonin; isoproterenol; cAMP; protein kinase A; calcium
channel; long-term potentiation; amygdala
Copyright © 1999 Society for Neuroscience 0270-6474/99/192570-08$05.00/0