Role of voltage-dependent calcium channel long-term potentiation (LTP) and NMDA LTP in spatial memory

Abstract

This experiment explores the role of two forms of long-term potentiation (LTP) in behavioral memory. NMDA and/or voltage-dependent calcium channels (VDCCs) were antagonized pharmacologically at levels that block nmdaLTP and vdccLTP, respectively, in rats learning an eight-arm radial maze task. Animals were trained twice a day for 11 d under the systemic influence of MK-801, verapamil, both drugs, or saline. During acquisition, the mixed drug group displayed significantly more working memory errors and reference memory errors than all other groups. The mixed drug group was markedly impaired on the first daily trial but improved dramatically on their second daily trial. After a 7 d delay, saline and MK-801 animals maintained their predelay level of performance. The performance of the verapamil groups declined significantly over the delay. These results demonstrate that: (1) vdccLTP is necessary for the retention of information over a 7 dperiod, (2) the blockade of both forms of LTP prevents the retention of information over a 21 hr period, and (3) blockade of both forms of LTP does not prevent the storing of information over a short period of time (3 hr).

Publisher

Society for Neuroscience

Publication Date

12-15-2000

Publication Title

Journal of Neuroscience

Department

Neuroscience

Document Type

Article

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.20-24-09272.2000

Keywords

Long-term potentiation, Antagonist MK-801, Hippocampus

Language

English

Format

text

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