The Journal of Neuroscience, September 6, 2006, 26(36):9332-9339; doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2929-06.2006
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Cellular/Molecular
The Activation of Excitatory Glutamate Receptors Evokes a Long-Lasting Increase in the Release of GABA from Cerebellar Stellate Cells
Siqiong June Liu and
Philippe Lachamp
Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania 16802
Correspondence should be addressed to Dr. Siqiong June Liu, Department of Biology, 208 Mueller Laboratory, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA 16802. Email: sjl16{at}psu.edu
The excitability of a neuron is regulated by the balance of excitatory and inhibitory inputs that impinge on it. Such modulation can occur either presynaptically or postsynaptically. Here, we show that an excitatory transmitter can increase the release of an inhibitory transmitter and thus paradoxically produces a long-lasting enhancement of inhibitory synaptic transmission. This occurs at a near-physiological temperature. These findings from cerebellar stellate neurons reveal a novel form of long-term potentiation that is induced by the activation of NMDA-type glutamate receptors and that requires both glutamate and glycine. Our results indicate that Ca2+ entry into the presynaptic terminals during the activation of presynaptic NMDARs is necessary to induce the potentiation. This presynaptic modulation provides a mechanism by which an excitatory transmitter can induce a long-term increase in the release of an inhibitory transmitter and thus modify the activity of a simple neuronal circuit.
Key words: NMDA receptors; cerebellar stellate cell; synaptic plasticity; GABA release; presynaptic LTP; glycine
Received Feb. 8, 2006;
revised July 31, 2006;
accepted July 31, 2006.
Correspondence should be addressed to Dr. Siqiong June Liu, Department of Biology, 208 Mueller Laboratory, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA 16802. Email: sjl16{at}psu.edu
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