LTP in the mouse nucleus accumbens is developmentally regulated

  1. Nicole L. Schramm,
  2. Regula E. Egli,
  3. Danny G. Winder*

Article first published online: 1 JUL 2002

DOI: 10.1002/syn.10104

Issue

Synapse

Synapse

Volume 45, Issue 4, pages 213–219, 15 September 2002

Additional Information

How to Cite

Schramm, N. L., Egli, R. E. and Winder, D. G. (2002), LTP in the mouse nucleus accumbens is developmentally regulated. Synapse, 45: 213–219. doi: 10.1002/syn.10104

Author Information

  1. Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, and Center for Molecular Neuroscience, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232-0615

*Department of Molecular Physiology & Biophysics, Room 724B, MRB 1, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232-0615

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 1 JUL 2002
  2. Article first published online: 1 JUL 2002
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 25 APR 2002
  4. Manuscript Received: 13 FEB 2002

Funded by

  • Whitehall Foundation
  • NIH. Grant Number: T32-NS07491
  • NRSA. Grant Number: DA14151

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Keywords:

  • addiction;
  • brain;
  • forskolin;
  • cAMP;
  • plasticity;
  • tetanus;
  • induction;
  • maintenance;
  • excitability

Abstract

Glutamatergic transmission in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) has been shown to be important for behavioral adaptations in response to drugs of abuse. NMDA-receptor dependent long-term potentiation (LTP) of glutamatergic synaptic transmission has been hypothesized to underlie many lasting alterations in behavior. Thus, we examined LTP in NAc core and find that it is developmentally regulated. Specifically, tetanus-evoked, NMDA receptor-dependent LTP is observed in the NAc of “adolescent” (3-week-old) mice more frequently than in adult (6–20-week-old) mice. In contrast, cAMP-dependent enhancement of transmission is not developmentally regulated. Removal of extracellular Mg2+ restores LTP in adult NAc core, suggesting developmental regulation of induction processes rather than maintenance mechanisms. These findings are discussed in the context of behavioral changes elicited in response to drugs of abuse, which differ in adolescent vs. adult rodents and humans. Synapse 45:213–219, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

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