APV, an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist, blocks the hippocampal theta rhythm in behaving rats

Frequency-specific medial septal nucleus deep brain stimulation improves spatial memory in MK-801-treated male rats

BACKGROUND

Few treatments exist for the cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia. Pharmacological agents resulting in glutamate N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor hypofunction, such as MK-801, mimic many of these symptoms and disrupt neural activity. Recent evidence suggests that deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the medial septal nucleus (MSN) can modulate medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and hippocampal activity and improve spatial memory.

OBJECTIVE

Here, we examine the effects of acute MK-801 administration on oscillatory activity within the septohippocampal circuit and behavior. We also evaluate the potential for MSN stimulation to improve cognitive behavioral measures following MK-801 administration.

METHODS

59 Sprague Dawley male rats received either acute intraperitoneal (IP) saline vehicle injections or MK-801 (0.1 mg/kg). Theta (5-12 Hz), low gamma (30-50 Hz) and high frequency oscillatory (HFO) power were analyzed in the mPFC, MSN, thalamus and hippocampus. Rats underwent MSN theta (7.7 Hz), gamma (100 Hz) or no stimulation during behavioral tasks (Novel object recognition (NOR), elevated plus maze, Barnes maze (BM)).

RESULTS

Injection of MK-801 resulted in frequency-specific changes in oscillatory activity, decreasing theta while increasing HFO power. Theta, but not gamma, stimulation enhanced the anxiolytic effects of MK-801 on the elevated plus maze. While MK-801 treated rats exhibited spatial memory deficits on the Barnes maze, those that also received MSN theta, but not gamma, stimulation found the escape hole sooner.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings demonstrate that acute MK-801 administration leads to altered neural activity in the septohippocampal circuit and impaired spatial memory. Further, these findings suggest that MSN theta-frequency stimulation improves specific spatial memory deficits and may be a possible treatment for cognitive impairments caused by NMDA hypofunction.

Angiotensin II induces cognitive decline and anxiety-like behavior via disturbing pattern of theta-gamma oscillations

Hypertension is the most common chronic disease accompanied by cognitive decline and anxiety-like behavior. Angiotensin II (Ang II) induces hypertension by activating angiotensin II receptor subtype 1 (AT1R). The purpose of the study was to examine the potential underlying mechanism of alterations in cognition and anxiety-like behavior induced by Ang II. Adult C57 mice were intraperitoneal injected with either 1 mg/kg/d Ang II or saline individually for 14 consecutive days. Ang II resulted in cognitive decline and anxious like behavior in C57 mice. Moreover, Ang II disturbed bidirectional synaptic plasticity and neural oscillation coupling between high theta and gamma on PP (perforant pathway)-DG (dentate gyrus) pathway. In addition, Ang II decreased the expression of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NR) 2A and NR 2B and increased the expression of GABA_AR α1. The data suggest that Ang II disturb neural oscillations via altering excitatory and inhibitory (E/I) balance and eventually damage cognition and anxiety-like behavior in mice.

Hippocampal Interneuronal α7 nAChRs Modulate Theta Oscillations in Freely Moving Mice

Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs) are critically involved in hippocampal theta generation, but much less is known about the role of nicotinic AChRs (nAChRs). Here we provide evidence that α7 nAChRs expressed on interneurons, particularly those in oriens lacunosum moleculare (OLM), also regulate hippocampal theta generation. Local hippocampal infusion of a selective α7 nAChR antagonist significantly reduces hippocampal theta power and impairs Y-maze spontaneous alternation performance in freely moving mice. By knocking out receptors in different neuronal subpopulations, we find that α7 nAChRs expressed in OLM interneurons regulate theta generation. Our in vitro slice studies indicate that α7 nAChR activation increases OLM neuron activity that, in turn, enhances pyramidal cell excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs). Our study also suggests that mAChR activation promotes transient theta generation, while α7 nAChR activation facilitates future theta generation by similar stimulations, revealing a complex mechanism whereby cholinergic signaling modulates different aspects of hippocampal theta oscillations through different receptor subtypes.

The Theta Rhythm of the Hippocampus: From Neuronal and Circuit Mechanisms to Behavior

This review focuses on the neuronal and circuit mechanisms involved in the generation of the theta (θ) rhythm and of its participation in behavior. Data have accumulated indicating that θ arises from interactions between medial septum-diagonal band of Broca (MS-DbB) and intra-hippocampal circuits. The intrinsic properties of MS-DbB and hippocampal neurons have also been shown to play a key role in θ generation. A growing number of studies suggest that θ may represent a timing mechanism to temporally organize movement sequences, memory encoding, or planned trajectories for spatial navigation. To accomplish those functions, θ and gamma (γ) oscillations interact during the awake state and REM sleep, which are considered to be critical for learning and memory processes. Further, we discuss that the loss of this interaction is at the base of various neurophatological conditions.

Voltage-independent GluN2A-type NMDA receptor Ca2+ signaling promotes audiogenic seizures, attentional and cognitive deficits in mice

The NMDA receptor-mediated Ca2+ signaling during simultaneous pre- and postsynaptic activity is critically involved in synaptic plasticity and thus has a key role in the nervous system. In GRIN2-variant patients alterations of this coincidence detection provoked complex clinical phenotypes, ranging from reduced muscle strength to epileptic seizures and intellectual disability. By using our gene-targeted mouse line (Grin2aN615S), we show that voltage-independent glutamate-gated signaling of GluN2A-containing NMDA receptors is associated with NMDAR-dependent audiogenic seizures due to hyperexcitable midbrain circuits. In contrast, the NMDAR antagonist MK-801-induced c-Fos expression is reduced in the hippocampus. Likewise, the synchronization of theta- and gamma oscillatory activity is lowered during exploration, demonstrating reduced hippocampal activity. This is associated with exploratory hyperactivity and aberrantly increased and dysregulated levels of attention that can interfere with associative learning, in particular when relevant cues and reward outcomes are disconnected in space and time. Together, our findings provide (i) experimental evidence that the inherent voltage-dependent Ca2+ signaling of NMDA receptors is essential for maintaining appropriate responses to sensory stimuli and (ii) a mechanistic explanation for the neurological manifestations seen in the NMDAR-related human disorders with GRIN2 variant-meidiated intellectual disability and focal epilepsy.

Is hippocampal theta frequency related to individual and sex differences in anxiety-like behaviour? An analysis in male and female Long-Evans rats

Hippocampal theta activity is a prominent slow (4-12 Hz) oscillatory activity pattern generated in the mammalian hippocampal formation. Based on evidence that anxiolytic drugs consistently decrease the frequency of hippocampal theta activity in rodents, hippocampal theta has been linked to anxiety states, leading to the influential theta suppression model of anxiolysis. Surprisingly, very few studies have examined whether hippocampal theta frequency relates to individual or sex differences in anxiety-like behaviour. Here, male and female rats were tested on the elevated plus maze (EPM) to quantify levels of defensive, anxiety-like behaviours. Females exhibited higher levels of open arm exploration (open arm entries and open arm time) compared to males, suggestive of reduced anxiety in females. Subsequently, reticular-elicited hippocampal theta activity was characterized in the same rats under deep urethane anesthesia. There was no sex difference in theta frequency over a range of stimulation intensities. Further, there were no significant correlations between behavioural measures of anxiety in the EPM and theta frequency among individual animals. Theta frequency did, however, decrease following systemic administration of the clinically-used anxiolytic agent buspirone (10 mg/kg). Together, these results suggest that theta frequency does not relate to levels of anxiety-like behaviours in the EPM in male and female rats, challenging the predictive validity of hippocampal theta activity as an index of anxiety in rodents.

Hippocampus and Entorhinal Cortex Recruit Cholinergic and NMDA Receptors Separately to Generate Hippocampal Theta Oscillations

Although much progress has been made in understanding type II theta rhythm generation under urethane anesthesia, less is known about the mechanisms underlying type I theta generation during active exploration. To better understand the contributions of cholinergic and NMDA receptor activation to type I theta generation, we recorded hippocampal theta oscillations from freely moving mice with local infusion of cholinergic or NMDA receptor antagonists to either the hippocampus or the entorhinal cortex (EC). We found that cholinergic receptors in the hippocampus, but not the EC, and NMDA receptors in the EC, but not the hippocampus, are critical for open-field theta generation and Y-maze performance. We further found that muscarinic M1 receptors located on pyramidal neurons, but not interneurons, are critical for cholinergic modulation of hippocampal synapses, theta generation, and Y-maze performance. These results suggest that hippocampus and EC neurons recruit cholinergic-dependent and NMDA-receptor-dependent mechanisms, respectively, to generate theta oscillations to support behavioral performance.

Neural mechanisms of navigation involving interactions of cortical and subcortical structures

Animals must perform spatial navigation for a range of different behaviors, including selection of trajectories toward goal locations and foraging for food sources. To serve this function, a number of different brain regions play a role in coding different dimensions of sensory input important for spatial behavior, including the entorhinal cortex, the retrosplenial cortex, the hippocampus, and the medial septum. This article will review data concerning the coding of the spatial aspects of animal behavior, including location of the animal within an environment, the speed of movement, the trajectory of movement, the direction of the head in the environment, and the position of barriers and objects both relative to the animal's head direction (egocentric) and relative to the layout of the environment (allocentric). The mechanisms for coding these important spatial representations are not yet fully understood but could involve mechanisms including integration of self-motion information or coding of location based on the angle of sensory features in the environment. We will review available data and theories about the mechanisms for coding of spatial representations. The computation of different aspects of spatial representation from available sensory input requires complex cortical processing mechanisms for transformation from egocentric to allocentric coordinates that will only be understood through a combination of neurophysiological studies and computational modeling.

Electroencephalographic study of chlorpromazine alone or combined with alpha-lipoic acid in a model of schizophrenia induced by ketamine in rats

Schizophrenia is characterized by behavioral symptoms, brain function impairments and electroencephalographic (EEG) changes. Dysregulation of immune responses and oxidative imbalance underpins this mental disorder. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of the typical antipsychotic chlorpromazine (CP) alone or combined with the natural antioxidant alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) on changes in the hippocampal average spectral power induced by ketamine (KET). Three days after stereotactic implantation of electrodes, male Wistar rats were divided into groups treated for 10 days with saline (control) or KET (10 mg/kg, IP). CP (1 or 5 mg/kg, IP) alone or combined with ALA (100 mg/kg, P.O.) was administered 30 min before KET or saline. Hippocampal EEG recordings were taken on the 1st, 5th and 10th days of treatment immediately after the last drug administration. KET significantly increased average spectral power of delta and gamma-high bands on the 5th and 10th days of treatment when compared to control. Gamma low-band significantly increased on the 1st, 5th and 10th days when compared to control group. This effect of KET was prevented by CP alone or combined with ALA. Indeed, the combination of ALA 100 + CP1 potentiated the inhibitory effects of CP1 on gamma low-band oscillations. In conclusion, our results showed that KET presents excitatory and time-dependent effects on hippocampal EEG bands activity. KET excitatory effects on EEG were prevented by CP alone and in some situations potentiated by its combination with ALA.

A systematic review of the effects of NMDA receptor antagonists on oscillatory activity recorded in vivo

Distinct frequency bands can be differentiated from neuronal ensemble recordings, such as local field potentials or electrocorticogram recordings. Recent years have witnessed a rapid acceleration of research examining how N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonists influence fundamental frequency bands in cortical and subcortical brain regions. Herein, we systematically review findings from in vivo studies with a focus on delta, theta, gamma and more recently identified high-frequency oscillations. We also discuss some of the current hypotheses that are considered to account for the actions of NMDAR antagonists on these frequency bands. The data emphasize a close relationship between altered oscillatory activity and NMDAR blockade, with both local and large-scale networks accounting for their effects. These findings may have fundamental implications for the psychotomimetic effects produced by NMDAR antagonists.

Ketamine disrupts theta synchrony across the septotemporal axis of the CA1 region of hippocampus

The hippocampal theta signal reflects moment-to-moment variation in the synchrony of synaptic input to hippocampal neurons. Consistent with the topography of hippocampal afferents, the synchrony (coherence) of the theta signal varies across the septotemporal axis. Septotemporal variation in the theta signal can also be observed in relation to ongoing and past experience. Thus there is a systematic decrease in the relationship between locomotor speed and theta power across the septotemporal axis, septal hippocampus exhibiting the strongest relationship. Conversely, theta in temporal hippocampus decrements over repeated behavioral experience (running episodes), while theta in the septal hippocampus does not. Ketamine is an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonist that can decrease theta power. The present study examined whether ketamine treatment could alter theta coherence across the long axis independent of changes in locomotor behavior. Rats were well trained to navigate a linear runway and outfitted with electrodes at different septotemporal positions within CA1. Locomotor behavior and theta coherence and power were examined after administration of 2.5 and 10 mg/kg ketamine. Ketamine (2.5 mg/kg) decreased theta coherence between distant CA1 electrode sites without altering running speed or theta power. Both doses of ketamine also blunted and reversed the decrement in theta power observed at midseptotemporal and temporal electrodes over repeated run sessions. The results demonstrate the sensitivity of global network synchronization to relatively low doses of ketamine and septotemporal differences in the influence of ketamine on hippocampal dynamics in relation to past experience.

Septohippocampal GABAergic neurons mediate the altered behaviors induced by n-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonists

We hypothesize that selective lesion of the septohippocampal GABAergic neurons suppresses the altered behaviors induced by an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, ketamine or MK-801. In addition, we hypothesize that septohippocampal GABAergic neurons generate an atropine-resistant theta rhythm that coexists with an atropine-sensitive theta rhythm in the hippocampus. Infusion of orexin-saporin (ore-SAP) into the medial septal area decreased parvalbumin-immunoreactive (GABAergic) neurons by ~80%, without significantly affecting choline-acetyltransferase-immunoreactive (cholinergic) neurons. The theta rhythm during walking, or the immobility-associated theta induced by pilocarpine, was not different between ore-SAP and sham-lesion rats. Walking theta was, however, more disrupted by atropine sulfate in ore-SAP than in sham-lesion rats. MK-801 (0.5 mg/kg i.p.) induced hyperlocomotion associated with an increase in frequency, but not power, of the hippocampal theta in both ore-SAP and sham-lesion rats. However, MK-801 induced an increase in 71-100 Hz gamma waves in sham-lesion but not ore-SAP lesion rats. In sham-lesion rats, MK-801 induced an increase in locomotion and an impairment of prepulse inhibition (PPI), and ketamine (3 mg/kg s.c.) induced a loss of gating of hippocampal auditory evoked potentials. MK-801-induced behavioral hyperlocomotion and PPI impairment, and ketamine-induced auditory gating deficit were reduced in ore-SAP rats as compared to sham-lesion rats. During baseline without drugs, locomotion and auditory gating were not different between ore-SAP and sham-lesion rats, and PPI was slightly but significantly increased in ore-SAP as compared with sham lesion rats. It is concluded that septohippocampal GABAergic neurons are important for the expression of hyperactive and psychotic symptoms an enhanced hippocampal gamma activity induced by ketamine and MK-801, and for generating an atropine-resistant theta. Selective suppression of septohippocampal GABAergic activity is suggested to be an effective treatment of some symptoms of schizophrenia.

Contractile properties and movement behaviour in neonatal rats with axotomy, treated with the NMDA antagonist DAP5

BACKGROUND

It is well known that axotomy in the neonatal period causes massive loss of motoneurons, which is reflected in the reduction of the number of motor units and the alteration in muscle properties. This type of neuronal death is attributed to the excessive activation of the ionotropic glutamate receptors (glutamate excitotoxicity). In the present study we investigated the effect of the NMDA antagonist DAP5 [D-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid] in systemic administration, on muscle properties and on behavioural aspects following peripheral nerve injury.

METHODS

Wistar rats were subjected to sciatic nerve crush on the second postnatal day. Four experimental groups were included in this study: a) controls (injection of 0.9% NaCl solution) b) crush c) DAP5 treated and d) crush and DAP5 treated. Animals were examined with isometric tension recordings of the fast extensor digitorum longus and the slow soleus muscles, as well as with locomotor tests at four time points, at P14, P21, P28 and adulthood (2 months).

RESULTS

1. Administration of DAP5 alone provoked no apparent adverse effects. 2. In all age groups, animals with crush developed significantly less tension than the controls in both muscles and had a worse performance in locomotor tests (p < 0.01). Crush animals injected with DAP5 were definitely improved as their tension recordings and their locomotor behaviour were significantly improved compared to axotomized ones (p < 0.01). 3. The time course of soleus contraction was not altered by axotomy and the muscle remained slow-contracting in all developmental stages in all experimental groups. EDL, on the other hand, became slower after the crush (p < 0.05). DAP5 administration restored the contraction velocity, even up to the level of control animals 4. Following crush, EDL becomes fatigue resistant after P21 (p < 0.01). Soleus, on the other hand, becomes less fatigue resistant. DAP5 restored the profile in both muscles.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results confirm that contractile properties and locomotor behaviour of animals are severely affected by axotomy, with a differential impact on fast contracting muscles. Administration of DAP5 reverses these devastating effects, without any observable side-effects. This agent could possibly show a therapeutic potential in other models of excitotoxic injury as well.

Beta-amyloid protein (25-35) disrupts hippocampal network activity: role of Fyn-kinase

Early cognitive deficit characteristic of early Alzheimer's disease seems to be produced by the soluble forms of beta-amyloid protein. Such cognitive deficit correlates with neuronal network dysfunction that is reflected as alterations in the electroencephalogram of both Alzheimer patients and transgenic murine models of such disease. Correspondingly, recent studies have demonstrated that chronic exposure to betaAP affects hippocampal oscillatory properties. However, it is still unclear if such neuronal network dysfunction results from a direct action of betaAP on the hippocampal circuit or it is secondary to the chronic presence of the protein in the brain. Therefore, we aimed to explore the effect of acute exposure to betaAP(25-35) on hippocampal network activity both in vitro and in vivo, as well as on intrinsic and synaptic properties of hippocampal neurons. We found that betaAP(25-35), reversibly, affects spontaneous hippocampal population activity in vitro. Such effect is not produced by the inverse sequence betaAP(35-25) and is reproduced by the full-length peptide betaAP(1-42). Correspondingly betaAP(25-35), but not the inverse sequence betaAP(35-25), reduces theta-like activity recorded from the hippocampus in vivo. The betaAP(25-35)-induced disruption in hippocampal network activity correlates with a reduction in spontaneous neuronal activity and synaptic transmission, as well as with an inhibition in the subthreshold oscillations produced by pyramidal neurons in vitro. Finally, we studied the involvement of Fyn-kinase on the betaAP(25-35)-induced disruption in hippocampal network activity in vitro. Interestingly, we found that such phenomenon is not observed in slices obtained from Fyn-knockout mice. In conclusion, our data suggest that betaAP acutely affects proper hippocampal function through a Fyn-dependent mechanism. We propose that such alteration might be related to the cognitive impairment observed, at least, during the early phases of Alzheimer's disease.

Participation of hippocampal ionotropic glutamate receptors in histamine H(1) antagonist-induced memory deficit in rats

RATIONALE

Pyrilamine, a selective histamine H(1) antagonist, impaired spatial memory, and decreased hippocampal theta activity during a radial maze task.

OBJECTIVE

We investigated the ameliorative effects of glutamatergic drugs on pyrilamine-induced spatial memory deficit and the decrease in hippocampal theta activity in rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Drug effects were measured using an eight-arm radial maze with four arms baited. Hippocampal theta rhythm during the radial maze task was also recorded with a polygraph system using a telemetric technique.

RESULTS

Intraperitoneal injection of pyrilamine (35 mg/kg) resulted in impaired reference and working memory in the radial maze task and a decrease in the amplitude and power of hippocampal theta waves. The working memory deficit and the decrease in hippocampal theta power were antagonized by intrahippocampal injection of D: -cycloserine (1 microg/side), spermidine (10 microg/side), spermine (10 microg/side), aniracetam (1 microg/side), and 1-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-ylcarbonyl) piperidine (1-BCP) (1 microg/side), but not concanavalin A.

CONCLUSION

These results clearly indicate that H(1) antagonist-induced working memory deficit, and the decrease in hippocampal theta activity was closely associated with hippocampal glutamatergic neurotransmission mediated by N-methyl-D: -aspartate (NMDA) and alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors.

The supramammillo-septal-hippocampal pathway mediates sensorimotor gating impairment and hyperlocomotion induced by MK-801 and ketamine in rats

RATIONALE

Ketamine or MK-801 induced sensorimotor gating deficit, but the underlying neural mechanisms are not completely known. We have previously demonstrated that the medial septum (MS) mediated the phencyclidine-induced deficit in prepulse inhibition of the acoustic startle (PPI) in rats.

OBJECTIVES

We investigated the involvement of the supramammillary area (SUM) to MS pathway in PPI impairment and behavioral hyperlocomotion induced by MK-801 or ketamine in rats and correlated the behavioral deficits with hippocampal gamma wave increase.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ketamine (6 mg/kg, s.c.) or MK-801 (0.5 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered after infusion of saline or the GABA(A) receptor agonist, muscimol (0.25 microg), into the MS or SUM. Locomotion, PPI, and hippocampal electroencephalogram (EEG) were recorded.

RESULTS

MK-801 or ketamine induced PPI impairment and behavioral hyperlocomotion, accompanied by an increase in hippocampal gamma waves (30-100 Hz). The changes in behavior and gamma waves induced by ketamine or MK-801 were antagonized by pre-infusion of muscimol, but not saline, into the SUM or MS. Infusion of muscimol into the SUM alone did not significantly affect PPI, but it suppressed spontaneous locomotor behavior and hippocampal EEG. Infusion of ionotropic glutamate receptor antagonists into the MS did not affect the PPI deficit or the gamma wave increase after MK-801.

CONCLUSIONS

A non-glutamatergic component of the supramammillo-septal pathway mediates the hyperlocomotion and the deficits in PPI induced by MK-801 or ketamine. Inactivation of the MS or SUM normalized both the hippocampal gamma waves and the behavioral deficits (PPI impairment and hyperlocomotion).

Septohippocampal properties ofN-methyl-D-aspartate-induced theta-band oscillation and synchrony

Microinfusion of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) into apical dendrites of hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells of urethane-anesthetized rats resulted in long lasting (20-30 min) induction of hippocampal synchrony at the field and cellular level. Power but not frequency of NMDA-induced theta was significantly greater than tail pinch-induced theta activity. This effect was antagonized by intrahippocampal infusion of AP5, but unaffected by i.v. atropine sulfate. During AP5 blockade tail pinch theta frequency and power were significantly reduced. Microinfusion of NMDA into the medial septum also resulted in long lasting induction of hippocampal theta field activity. Contrary to the results of hippocampal NMDA microinfusions, frequency but not power of NMDA-induced theta was significantly greater than tail pinch- induced theta activity. Microinfusion of AP5 into the medial septum significantly lowered power of tail pinch-induced theta but did not affect frequency. Wheel running behavior of rats induced by low levels of electrical stimulation of the posterior hypothalamic nucleus (PH) was completely abolished by microinfusion of AP5 into the medial septum, accompanied by a significant reduction in theta power and frequency. Wheel running and theta were maintained at control levels with high intensity PH stimulation. We propose that: (1) the glutamatergic septohippocampal projection represents a third pathway capable of generating hippocampal field and cellular synchrony, independent of that generated by the septohippocampal cholinergic and GABAergic projections, and (2) the septohippocampal glutamatergic projection serves to function as an interface between cholinergic and GABAergic modulated sensory processing Type 2 theta and movement related Type 1 theta.

The drugs don't work-or do they? Pharmacological and transgenic studies of the contribution of NMDA and GluR-A-containing AMPA receptors to hippocampal-dependent memory

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this article is to provide a review of studies using N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists to assess the hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP)/learning hypothesis.

DISCUSSION

In particular, we will re-examine the validity of both (1) the original hippocampal LTP/spatial learning hypothesis of Morris and (2) the sensorimotor account put forward by Cain, among others, both from the point of view of the pharmacological studies on which they were based and with regard to recent studies with genetically modified mice. More specifically, we will review the pharmacological studies in the light of recent work on the glutamate receptor A (GluR-A or GluR1) L-alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazelopropionate (AMPA) receptor sub-unit knockout mouse. We will argue that neither the original hippocampal LTP/spatial learning hypothesis nor a sensorimotor account can adequately explain all of the available data. We argue instead that hippocampal synaptic plasticity, which requires NMDA receptors for its induction and GluR-A-containing AMPA receptors for its continued expression, contributes to a process whereby appropriate behavioural responses are selected rapidly on the basis of conditional information provided by the context. These contextual cues could include not only the spatial context (i.e. the 'where') and the temporal context (the 'when'), but also other aspects of context, such as internal state cues (hunger and fear state), and can be used to rapidly and flexibly alter valences of specific response options.

RECOMMENDATIONS

We also suggest that there is a separate, distinct, NMDA/GluR-A-independent mechanism through which the context can gradually (incrementally or decrementally) alter the valence of a particular response option.

Participation of the hippocampal theta rhythm in memory formation for an eight-arm radial maze task in rats

Participation of the hippocampal theta rhythm in memory formation was studied using an eight-arm radial maze task in rats. The numbers of reference memory and working memory errors were decreased gradually by daily training from session 10 and 6, respectively. On the other hand, the decrease in running time per choice was recognized from session 3. Theta power in the hippocampal CA1 area was gradually decreased from session 9, and there is a close relationship between the changes in theta power in the hippocampus and the number of reference memory errors. Based on those observations, it can be concluded that the hippocampal theta wave is intimately associated with the reference memory of the eight-arm radial maze in rats.

Effects of AP5 infusion into the lateral ventricle on the activities and hippocampal electrical patterns of sleep episodes in rats

Although N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors of the hippocampus are mainly associated with learning and memory that might occur "on-line" during sharp waves (SPWs) and theta-rhythm, the participation of hippocampal NMDA receptors in sleep-related processes has not been well studied. In this study, the activity of sleep episodes, hippocampal SPWs and theta-rhythm were recorded in rats received a repeated infusion of NMDA receptor antagonist, D,L-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid (AP5), into the lateral ventricle in a 5-h daytime sleep. The first trial AP5 infusion (30 mM/2 microl) did not change measures of the activity of slow wave sleep (SWS), paradoxical sleep (PS) and awake episodes, but induced a delay in the latency of the first onset of PS; in the hippocampal EEG, it increased the amplitude of SPWs within SWS and shifted the amplitude/spectral power of theta-rhythm from high to low frequency within PS. The repeated AP5 infusion augmented the activity of SWS, and impaired PS and awake episodes; in the EEG-sleep picture, it maintained high scores of SPWs with the complete blockade of theta-rhythm generation. When AP5 rat was woken, the theta-rhythm was seen during exploratory behavior. These findings provide evidence that hippocampal NMDA receptors via SPWs or directly associated with the synaptic events of theta-rhythm generation are critical for the PS activities.

Genetic dissection of theta rhythm heterogeneity in mice

Rhythmic oscillatory activities at the theta frequency (4-12 Hz) in the hippocampus have long-attracted attention because they have been implicated in diverse brain functions, including spatial cognition. Although studies based on pharmacology and lesion experiments suggested heterogeneity of these rhythms and their behavioral correlates, controversies are abundant on these issues. Here we show that mice harboring a phospholipase C (PLC)-beta1(-/-) mutation (PLC-beta1(-/-) mice) lack one subset of theta rhythms normally observed during urethane anesthesia, alert immobility, and passive whole-body rotation. In contrast, the other subset of theta rhythms observed during walking or running was intact in these mutant mice. PLC-beta1(-/-) mice also have somewhat disrupted theta activity during paradoxical sleep but do have an atropine-resistant component of theta rhythm. In addition, carbachol-induced oscillations were obliterated in hippocampal slices of PLC-beta1(-/-) mice. Interestingly, PLC-beta1(-/-) mice showed deficits in a hidden platform version of the Morris water maze yet performed well in motor coordination tests and a visual platform version of the Morris water maze. The results genetically define the existence of at least two subtypes of theta rhythms and reveal their association with different behaviors.

Blockade of NMDA receptors enhances spontaneous sharp waves in rat hippocampal slices

An in vitro model of sharp waves (SPWs) and ripples was used to investigate the involvement of NMDA receptors in SPW/ripple production. Intracellular recordings from CA3 pyramidal cells confirmed that SPWs are composed of primarily excitatory currents. Unexpectedly, NMDA receptor antagonists greatly increased the size of SPWs and ripples. This effect may have involved decreased calcium influx through NMDA receptors and a subsequent reduction in the activation of SK2 calcium-activated potassium channels. The results support the claim that activation of NMDA receptors can serve to dampen the excitation of SPWs.

Glutamatergic synaptic transmission participates in generating the hippocampal EEG

The participation of ionotropic glutamatergic synapses in the generation of hippocampal electroencephalography (EEG) of behaving rats has not been systematically studied. In this study, field potentials in hippocampal CA1 were recorded following injection of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptor antagonists, or vehicle control, either into the lateral ventricles or directly into the hippocampus or the medial septum. Intraventricular (i.c.v.) AMPA receptor antagonist 6,7-dinitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (DNQX, 5-10 microg) decreased the commissural evoked potential and the amplitude of the hippocampal EEG, including the theta rhythm. Theta frequency was decreased by 10 microg, but not 5 microg DNQX i.c.v. Unilateral intrahippocampal injection of DNQX (5 microg) only decreased the amplitude, but not the frequency, of the theta rhythm near the site of injection, without affecting theta amplitude or frequency at the opposite hippocampus. Other than theta, the large irregular activity (with a delta frequency peak at 1-2 Hz) and gamma EEG (30-100 Hz) were also decreased by i.c.v. and intrahippocampal injections of DNQX. Intrahippocampal injection of NMDA receptor antagonist D-2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (D-APV, 2.5 microg) decreased the amplitude of the theta rhythm and, less consistently, the gamma EEG. The frequency of the theta rhythm and the peak of the commissural evoked potential were not significantly affected by intrahippocampal D-APV injection. Medial septal injections of D-APV or D,L-APV (2.24 microg in 0.4 microl), but not DNQX (10 microg in 0.4 microl), decreased the amplitude of the hippocampal theta significantly, but theta frequency was not significantly affected. It is concluded that both NMDA and AMPA receptors in the hippocampus are involved in generating the amplitude of the hippocampal EEG of theta and gamma frequencies, while NMDA receptors in the medial septum are involved in controlling the amplitude of theta and gamma EEG in the hippocampus. Excitatory glutamatergic synaptic currents, activated by afferents from the entorhinal cortex and CA3, are suggested to participate in hippocampal EEG activities.

Cellular mechanisms underlying the rhythmic bursts induced by NMDA microiontophoresis at the apical dendrites of CA1 pyramidal neurons

This article reports the cellular mechanisms underlying a form of intracellular "theta-like" (theta-like) rhythm evoked in vitro by microiontophoresis of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) at the apical dendrites of CA1 pyramidal neurons. Rhythmic membrane potential (Vm) oscillations and action potential (AP) bursts (approximately 6 Hz; approximately 20 mV; approximately 2-5 APs) were evoked in all cells. The response lasted approximately 2 s, and the initial oscillations were usually small (< 20 mV) and below AP threshold. Rhythmic bursts were never evoked by imposed depolarization in the absence of NMDA. Block of Na+ conductance with tetrodotoxin (TTX) (1.5 microM), of non-NMDA receptors with 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX) (20 microM) and of synaptic inhibition by bicuculline (50 microM) and picrotoxin (50 microM) did not prevent NMDA oscillation. Inhibition of the voltage dependence of the NMDA conductance in Mg2+-free Ringer's solution blocked oscillations. Preventing Ca2+ influx with Ca2+-free and Co2+ (2-mM) solutions and block of the slow Ca2+-dependent afterhyperpolarization (sAHP) by carbamilcholine (5 microM), isoproterenol (10 microM), and intracellular BAPTA blocked NMDA oscillations. Inhibition of L-type Ca2+ conductance with nifedipine (30 microM) reduced oscillation amplitude. Block of tetraethylammonium (TEA) (10 mM) and 4AP (10 mM)-sensitive K+ conductance increased the duration and amplitude, but not the frequency, of oscillations. In conclusion, theta-like bursts relied on the voltage dependence of the NMDA conductance and on high-threshold Ca2+ spikes to initiate and boost the depolarizing phase of oscillations. The repolarization is initiated by TEA-sensitive K+ conductance and is controlled by the sAHP. These results suggest a role of interactions between NMDA conductance and intrinsic membrane properties in generating the CA1 theta-rhythm.

Tetanic stimulation of schaffer collaterals induces rhythmic bursts via NMDA receptor activation in rat CA1 pyramidal neurons

Exploring the principles that regulate rhythmic membrane potential (Vm) oscillations and bursts in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons is essential to understanding the theta rhythm (theta). Recordings were performed in vitro in hippocampal slices from young rats, and a group of the recorded CA1 pyramidal cells were dye-filled with carboxifluorescein and immunolabeled for the R1 subunit of the NMDA receptor. Tetanic stimulation of Schaffer collaterals (SCs) and iontophoresis of glutamate evoked rhythmic Vm oscillations and bursts (approximately 10 mV, approximately 7 Hz, 2-5 spikes per burst) in cells (31%) placed close to the midline ("medial cells"). Rhythmic bursts remained under picrotoxin (10 microM) and Vm oscillations persisted with tetrodotoxin (1.5 microM), but bursts were blocked by AP5 (25 microM) and Mg2+-free solutions. Depolarization and AMPA never induced rhythmic bursts. The rest of the neurons (69%), recorded closer to the CA3 region ("lateral cells"), discharged rhythmically single repetitive spikes under SC stimulation and glutamate in control conditions, but fired rhythmic bursts under similar stimulation, both when NMDA was applied and when non-NMDA receptors were blocked with CNQX (20 microM). Medial cells exhibited a larger NMDA current component and a higher NMDAR1 density at the apical dendritic shafts than lateral cells, suggesting that these differences underlie the dissimilar responses of both cell groups. We conclude that the "theta-like" rhythmic oscillations and bursts induced by glutamate and SC stimulation relied on the activation of NMDA receptors at the apical dendrites of medial cells. These results suggest a role of CA3 pyramidal neurons in the generation of CA1 theta via the activation of NMDA receptors of CA1 pyramidal neurons.

Metabotropic glutamate receptors in the hippocampus and nucleus accumbens are involved in generating seizure-induced hippocampal gamma waves and behavioral hyperactivity

The involvement of metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) subtypes in the generation of hippocampal EEG (30-100 Hz) and behaviors induced by a hippocampal afterdischarge (AD) was examined in freely behaving rats. A hippocampal AD induced an increase in gamma waves (30-100 Hz) for 20 min, accompanied by behavioral hyperactivity. Bilateral intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) infusion of (RS)-alpha-methyl-4-carboxyphenylglycine (MCPG), a group I and II mGluR antagonist, 30 min before a hippocampal AD, significantly suppressed both the increase in gamma waves and the behavioral hyperactivity. The hippocampal theta rhythm, the spontaneous hippocampal gamma waves, and evoked field potential oscillations of approximately 40 Hz were not affected by MCPG. Pre-infusion (i.c.v.) of (2S)-alpha-ethylglutamic acid (EGLU; a group II mGluR antagonist), but not (RS)-1-aminoindan-1,5-dicarboxylic acid (AIDA; a group I mGluR antagonist), suppressed the postictal increase of both hippocampal gamma waves and behaviors. MCPG was infused locally into different brain structures in order to specify its target sites. Intra-hippocampal infusion of MCPG, or EGLU, blocked the increase in both gamma waves and behaviors. Infusion of MCPG into the nucleus accumbens suppressed the postictal behavioral hyperactivity without affecting the increase in hippocampal gamma waves. MCPG injected into the medial septum blocked neither postictal gamma activity nor behavioral hyperactivity. It is suggested that the group II mGluRs in the hippocampus are involved in generation of the postictal hippocampal gamma waves, while behavioral hyperactivity is partly mediated by mGluRs in the nucleus accumbens. However, spontaneous gamma and theta waves in the normal hippocampus are not mediated by mGluRs.

Synaptic plasticity and memory: an evaluation of the hypothesis

Changing the strength of connections between neurons is widely assumed to be the mechanism by which memory traces are encoded and stored in the central nervous system. In its most general form, the synaptic plasticity and memory hypothesis states that "activity-dependent synaptic plasticity is induced at appropriate synapses during memory formation and is both necessary and sufficient for the information storage underlying the type of memory mediated by the brain area in which that plasticity is observed." We outline a set of criteria by which this hypothesis can be judged and describe a range of experimental strategies used to investigate it. We review both classical and newly discovered properties of synaptic plasticity and stress the importance of the neural architecture and synaptic learning rules of the network in which it is embedded. The greater part of the article focuses on types of memory mediated by the hippocampus, amygdala, and cortex. We conclude that a wealth of data supports the notion that synaptic plasticity is necessary for learning and memory, but that little data currently supports the notion of sufficiency.

Receptor blockade reveals a correspondence between hippocampal-dependent behavior and experience-dependent synaptic enhancement

This study examined the involvement of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) in experience-dependent synaptic plasticity. Rats chronically received an NMDA receptor antagonist (AP5) or saline (SAL) and were exposed to individual cages (IC) or environmental enrichment (EC). AP5 impaired measures of hippocampal-dependent behavior and increased locomotor activity. Perforant path synaptic strength, measured in the in vitro hippocampal slice, was increased and long-term potentiation (LTP) was decreased for EC+SAL animals. The experience-dependent effects on synaptic function were inhibited by drug treatment. Measures of synaptic strength were correlated with hippocampal-dependent behavior and synaptic plasticity for EC animals. The results suggest a relationship between hippocampal-dependent behavior and experience-dependent modification of perforant path synaptic function through NMDAR activation.

Cholinergic induction of oscillations in the hippocampal slice in the slow (0.5-2 Hz), theta (5-12 Hz), and gamma (35-70 Hz) bands

Carbachol, a muscarinic receptor agonist, produced three distinct spontaneous oscillations in the CA3 region of rat hippocampal slices. Carbachol concentrations in the 4-13 microM range produced regular synchronized CA3 discharges at 0.5-2 Hz (carbachol-delta). Higher concentrations (13-60 microM) produced short episodes of 5-10 Hz (carbachol-theta) oscillations separated by nonsynchronous activity. Concentrations of carbachol ranging from 8-25 microM also produced irregular episodes of high-frequency discharges (carbachol-gamma, 35-70 Hz), in isolation or mixed with carbachol-theta and carbachol-delta. At carbachol concentrations sufficient to induce carbachol-theta, low concentrations of APV reversibly transformed carbachol-theta into carbachol-delta. Higher concentrations of D,L-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid (APV) reversibly and completely blocked carbachol-theta. A systematic study of the effects of carbachol shows that the frequency of spontaneous oscillations depended nonlinearly on the level of muscarinic activation. Field and intracellular recordings from CA1 and CA3 pyramidal cells and interneurons during carbachol-induced rhythms revealed that the hippocampal circuitry preserved in the slice was capable of spontaneous activity over the range of frequencies observed in vivo and suggests that the presence of these rhythms could be under neuromodulatory control.

Individual and combined manipulation of muscarinic, NMDA, and benzodiazepine receptor activity in the water maze task: implications for a rat model of Alzheimer dementia

Recent evidence indicates that Alzheimer disease typically involves different degrees of impairment in a variety of neurotransmitter systems, behaviors, and cognitive abilities in different patients. To investigate the relations between neurotransmitter system, behavioral, and cognitive impairments in an animal model of Alzheimer disease we studied spatial learning in a Morris water maze in male Long-Evans rats given neurochemical agents that targeted muscarinic cholinergic, NMDA, or benzodiazepine systems. Naive rats given a single agent or a combination of agents were severely impaired in place responding and had behavioral strategy impairments. Rats made familiar with the required water maze behavioral strategies by non-spatial pretraining performed as well as controls if given a single agent. Non-spatially pretrained rats with manipulation of both muscarinic cholinergic and NMDA or muscarinic cholinergic and benzodiazepine systems had a specific place response impairment but no behavioral strategy impairments. The results suggest that impairment of both muscarinic cholinergic and NMDA, or muscarinic cholinergic and benzodiazepine systems may model some aspects of human Alzheimer disease (impairments in navigation in familiar environments), but not other aspects of this disorder (global dementia leading to general loss of adaptive behavior). Previous research suggests that impairment of both muscarinic cholinergic and serotonergic systems may provide a better model of global dementia. The water maze testing and detailed behavioral analysis techniques used here appear to provide a means of investigating the contributions of various combinations of neurotransmitter system impairments to an animal model of Alzheimer disease.

Ethanol, memory, and hippocampal function: a review of recent findings

For well over a century, ethanol was believed to exert its effects on cognition and behavior by producing a ubiquitous depression of central nervous system activity. A general disruption in brain function was consistent with the belief that ethanol's effects on cognition and behavior were also quite general. Substantial evidence now indicates that ethanol produces a host of selective effects on neural activity, resulting in regional differences in ethanol's effects in the brain. Consistent with such evidence, recent research suggests that ethanol's effects on cognition and behavior are not as global as previously assumed. The present paper discusses evidence that many of ethanol's effects on learning and memory stem from altered cellular activity in the hippocampus and related structures. Potential mechanisms for ethanol's disruption of hippocampal function are reviewed. Evidence suggests that ethanol disrupts activity in the hippocampus by interacting directly with hippocampal neurons and by interacting with critical hippocampal afferents.

N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonists are less effective in blocking long-term potentiation at apical than basal dendrites in hippocampal CA1 of awake rats

Long-term potentiation (LTP) of field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fEPSPs) at the apical or basal dendrites of CA1 pyramidal cells was induced by stimulation with a 1-s train of 200-Hz pulses in awake rats, with or without the presence of various doses of an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist. Apical LTP was blocked by an intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) dose of 40 microg D-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid (D-AP5) or 20 mg/kg i.p. D-2-amino-4-methyl-5-phosphono-3-pentanoic acid (CGP-40116), whereas basal LTP was blocked by half the dose of D-AP5 or CGP-40116. The noncompetitive antagonist MK-801 (< or =1 mg/kg i.p.) had no significant effect on apical LTP. Apical LTP was not blocked by i.c.v. nifedipine. The effect of an NMDA receptor antagonist alone on apical and basal fEPSPs was also evaluated, to assess the net effect of the NMDA receptor antagonist in blocking LTP. MK-801 (0.5-1 mg/kg i.p.) or CGP-40116 (10-20 mg/kg i.p.) but not D-AP5 suppressed apical fEPSPs for several hours and confounded the expression of apical LTP during this time. We concluded that hippocampal LTP at different synapses has different sensitivity to NMDA receptor antagonists and that a general blockade of hippocampal NMDA receptor functions cannot be inferred by a single hippocampal LTP measure.

Frequency-dependent inhibition in the dentate gyrus is attenuated by the NMDA receptor blocker MK-801 at doses that do not yet affect long-term potentiation

The dual impairment of both long-term potentiation (LTP) in the dentate gyrus and spatial memory by N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) blockers such as 2-aminophosphonovaleric acid (APV) or dizocilpine (MK-801) is considered supportive evidence for the hypothesis that LTP-like mechanisms are involved in spatial memory. However, several studies suggest that, at doses that affect aspects of behavior, LTP is not yet blocked. One possible explanation may be that the blockade of NMDA receptors affect processes other than LTP, which are required for learning. In the present study, we assessed in vivo the effects of the NMDA receptor antagonist MK-801 on LTP and on frequency-dependent inhibition, which has previously been shown to reflect activity of GABAergic interneurons in the rat dentate gyrus. We report here that NMDA receptors are instrumental in frequency-dependent inhibition. Furthermore, frequency-dependent inhibition was found to be more sensitive than LTP to the NMDA antagonist MK-801. Our findings indicate that, in addition to the blockade of LTP, the application of NMDA antagonists affects local circuit activity in the dentate gyrus. The results direct attention to the potential role of interneuronal activity in general and of frequency-dependent inhibition in particular in dentate gyrus related behaviors.

Hippocampal theta rhythm in anesthetized rats: role of AMPA glutamate receptors

The present study describes the effects of intraseptal infusions of 1 nmol AMPA and 12 nmol NBQX on both frequency and amplitude of physostigmine-induced theta rhythm in urethane-anesthetized rats. Infusion of AMPA increased the theta frequency. This effect was blocked by a prior infusion of NBQX. Infusion of NBQX decreased the theta amplitude, and this effect was not altered by AMPA. These results suggest that the septal AMPA/glutamate receptors exert subtle modulatory influences on septohippocampal cells involved in theta rhythm generation.

A comparison between the effects of medial septal lesions and entorhinal cortex lesions on performance of nonspatial working memory tasks and reversal learning

Rats with either electrolytic medial septal lesions or cytotoxic entorhinal lesions were compared to unoperated controls on a series of delayed matching-to-sample (DMS) tasks. A DMS trial consisted of two runs. In the first (information) run, the subject was familiarized with a sample discriminandum. In the second (choice) run, the subject was required to discriminate the sample discriminandum from a novel one. When a set of 20 discrete complex objects were used as discriminanda and each discriminandum was used once per day, neither lesions impaired choice accuracy. However, when a single pair of simple discriminanda was employed and re-used between trials within a day, rats with medial septal lesions were severely impaired whereas rats with entorhinal lesions performed at a level comparable to unoperated controls. Next, proactive interference was demonstrated by the introduction of an extra run prior to the information run. When this extra (pre-information) run required the subjects to visit the (eventual) negative discriminandum such that correct choice had to be guided by relative familiarity judgement, choice performance was reduced. Neither lesion group was selectively affected by this manipulation. But when the relative reinforcement history of the pre-information run and the information run was manipulated, such that a correct response required the subject to approach a discriminandum that had recently been non-rewarded, rats with entorhinal lesions were selectively impaired. The effect of delay was demonstrated when a 20-s interval was imposed between information run and choice run. This reduced overall choice accuracy, and this effect appeared to be more pronounced in both lesion groups, although not significantly so. Finally, neither lesion affected the acquisition of a simple discrimination task, but reversal learning was selectively enhanced in the entorhinal lesion group.

Membrane and circuit properties of lateral septum neurons: relationships with hippocampal rhythms

The lateral septum receives the most important afferents from the hippocampus, has been proposed to contribute to theta (theta) rhythm generation. Our aim was to study the membrane and circuital properties of lateral septum neurons and their relationship with hippocampal rhythms. Extra- and intracellular recordings (n=81) were obtained in urethane-anesthetized rats. Two neuronal populations were found, one of them with hippocampal theta; rhythm dependence (theta-D, 68%), and the other group independent of hippocampal theta; rhythm (theta-I, 32%). Other differences were spontaneous firing rate (theta-D=13.20+/-2.09, theta-I=6.99+/-1.18; p<0.005) with a bursting pattern in the theta-D group and single discharges in the theta-I group. Intracellular recordings showed higher synaptic activity in theta-D than in theta-I neurons. Both groups showed fast spikes while only theta-D neurons had high-threshold and low-threshold slow spikes. theta-D neurons had theta-oscillations in their membrane potential. Stimulation of the contralateral lateral septum resets the hippocampal theta rhythm and the theta rhythm recorded intracellularly in the lateral septum neurons. Some neurons (10.6%) showed rhythmic oscillations lasting a few seconds, at a higher frequency than those of the simultaneously recorded hippocampal EEG. This high frequency appeared spontaneously or could be evoked by stimulations of the fornix and reticularis pontis oralis nucleus (RPO). Homologous high frequency oscillations appeared in the simultaneously recorded hippocampal EEG, synchronized with the neuronal activity, during fornix stimulation. RPO stimulation evoked increments (57%) or decrements (43%) in the firing rate of lateral septum neurons. Thus, they could participate in different septal networks to modulate the theta rhythm. The marked functional relationship between lateral septum neurons and hippocampal theta rhythm supports the proposal that lateral septum represents a feedback system for the improvement of medial septum theta rhythm. The hypothalamic projections could be a way to introduce theta and higher rhythms into this structure that control many biological rhythms.

Intracerebroventricular infusion of the NMDA receptor-associated glycine site antagonist 7-chlorokynurenate impairs water maze performance but fails to block hippocampal long-term potentiation in vivo

Most previous studies investigating the relationship between N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-dependent synaptic plasticity and learning have employed drugs that either compete with glutamate for access to the primary agonist binding site (e.g., D-2-amino-5-phosphopentanoic acid) or block the associated ion channel (e.g., dizocilpine). This study targeted the glycine receptor site located on the NMDA receptor complex. Chronic intracerebroventricular infusion of the glycine site antagonist 7-chlorokynurenate (7CK; 75 mM, 0.5 microliter/h, icv, for up to 14 days) impaired performance of male Lister hooded rats during acquisition of a spatial reference memory task in the water maze. In addition, however, these animals showed sensorimotor deficits, including a prolonged righting reflex, ataxia, and difficulty in staying on the escape platform. On completion of behavioral testing, the rats were anesthetized with urethane and an attempt was made to induce LTP in the hippocampus ipsilateral to the infusion cannula. Both control and 7CK-infused animals displayed equivalent long-term potentiation (LTP) 60 min posttetanus. A novel analytical technique for assaying drug tissue levels involving high-performance liquid chromotography with fluorescence detection revealed that tissue levels of 7CK in hippocampus were extremely low and unlikely to be sufficient to affect LTP, as observed. These findings neither support nor compromise the LTP/learning hypothesis, but they illustrate some of the problems of using drugs to elucidate the neurobiological mechanisms of learning and memory and the importance of a within-subjects design incorporating behavioral, physiological, and biochemical measures.

The behavioral effects of NMDA antagonists in serotonin depleted rats

The influence of serotonin (5-HT) depletion (5,7-dihydroxytryptamine, 5,7-DHT, 250.0 micrograms, ICV), on behavioral effects of non-competitive (MK-801) and competitive (CGP 37849) NMDA antagonists, was examined in rats. 5,7-DHT induced very potent and long lasting decrease in the 5-HT concentration in the brainstem and limbic forebrain. One week after 5,7-DHT administration, dopamine metabolism was found enhanced in the brainstem. The lesion did not change rat baseline motor and exploratory activity, but it significantly disinhibited animals' behavior suppressed by shock, in the Vogel test. Serotonin depletion revealed locomotor stimulating effect of MK-801, administered IP at the doses of 0.05 and 0.2 mg/kg. However, no change in striatal dopamine metabolism was detected in rats injected with the same dose of MK-801 (0.2 mg/kg), and examined one week after serotonergic denervation. Serotonergic lesions antagonized both enhancements of exploratory behavior, and motor suppression produced by the dose of 1.0 and 10.0 mg/kg of CGP 37849, respectively. Thus, 5,7-DHT-induced lesions influenced in a complex way the effects of NMDA antagonists. It is reasoned, that enhancement of motor stimulating effects of MK-801 in neurotoxin pretreated animals, reflects synergistic disinhibition of activity of dopaminergic neurons by MK-801 and serotonin depletion. On the other hand, antagonism of CGP 37849-caused motor depression can be explained by the lowering influence of 5,7-DHT on serotonin content. It is known that the release of serotonin is strongly stimulated by higher doses of CGP 37849, and takes part in the expression of some symptoms of the serotonin-like syndrome, including motor disturbances.

Stimulation on the positive phase of hippocampal theta rhythm induces long-term potentiation that can Be depotentiated by stimulation on the negative phase in area CA1 in vivo

Long-term potentiation (LTP) of synaptic transmission induced by high-frequency stimulation (HFS) is considered to be a model for learning processes; however, standard HFS protocols consisting of long trains of HFS are very different from the patterns of spike firing in freely behaving animals. We have investigated the ability of brief bursts of HFS triggered at different phases of background theta rhythm to mimic more natural activity patterns. We show that a single burst of five pulses at 200 Hz given on the positive phase of tail pinch-triggered theta rhythm reliably induced LTP in the stratum radiatum of the hippocampus of urethane-anesthetized rats. Three of these bursts saturated LTP, and 10 bursts occluded the induction of LTP by long trains of HFS. Burst stimulation on the negative phase or at zero phase of theta did not induce LTP or long-term depression. In addition, stimulation with 10 bursts on the negative phase of theta reversed previously established LTP. The results show that the phase of sensory-evoked theta rhythm powerfully regulates the ability of brief HFS bursts to elicit either LTP or depotentiation of synaptic transmission. Furthermore, because complex spike activity of approximately five pulses on the positive phase of theta rhythm can be observed in freely moving rats, LTP induced by the present theta-triggered stimulation protocol might model putative synaptic plastic changes during learning more closely than standard HFS-induced LTP.

Transient and persistent consequences of acute stress on long-term potentiation (LTP), synaptic efficacy, theta rhythms and bursts in area CA1 of the hippocampus

Previous studies reported that exposure to an acute stressor of restraint and intermittent tailshock impairs long-term potentiation (LTP) in area CA1 of the rat hippocampus. In the first experiment, the longevity of the stress-induced impairment of LTP was determined. LTP of the excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) was impaired 2 but not 4 days after stressor cessation. Exposure to the stressor also persistently enhanced the synaptic response to the tetanic stimulation patterned after theta rhythm activity (10, 100 Hz bursts delivered at 5 Hz). In a second experiment, we tested the hypothesis that exposure to the stressor enhanced synaptic efficacy itself. EPSPs were recorded from freely moving rats before, during and after stressor exposure. The synaptic response was not enhanced during stressor exposure. Instead, cessation of the stressor (and perhaps movement associated with release from restraint) induced a transient (< 2 min) decrease in synaptic efficacy. To determine whether exposure to the stressor enhances endogenous theta rhythms in area CA1, electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings were obtained from freely moving rats before, during and after exposure to the stressor. The power of theta (4-8 Hz) and low frequency (0.1-3.9 Hz) activity was enhanced in response to the tailshock aspect of the stressor. Together, the results indicate that exposure to an acute stressful event increases theta activity and its cessation transiently decreases synaptic efficacy. These transient effects are succeeded by a persistently sensitized response to theta burst stimulation and impaired LTP.

LTP and spatial learning--where to next?

Hebb suggested, in 1949, that memories could be stored by forming associative connections between neurons if the criterion for increasing the connection strength between them be that they were active simultaneously. Much attention has been devoted towards trying to determine a) if there is a physiological substrate of such a rule, and b) if so, whether the phenomenon participates in real-life memory formation. The discovery of the electrically induced increase in synaptic strength known as long-term potentiation (LTP), in the early 1970s, demonstrated that a neural version of the Hebb rule could be observed under laboratory conditions in the hippocampus, a structure important for some types of learning. However, a quarter of a century later, the evidence linking LTP to learning and memory is still contradictory. The purpose of the present article is to review and assess the types of approach that have been taken in trying to determine whether hippocampal synaptic plasticity participates in memory formation.

The neuroscience of spatial navigation: focus on behavior yields advances

The development of the water maze as a laboratory approach to the study of spatial navigation has led to a large amount of research on the brain mechanisms of this ecologically important behavior. The procedural simplicity of this task belies its underlying complexity, which can complicate the interpretation of data obtained with the standard water maze procedure. In this review, recent experiments that used novel training procedures and detailed analyses of behavior are evaluated, together with related experiments, to clarify the brain mechanisms involved in this behavior. Pharmacological, lesion, and unit recording experiments demonstrate the existence of forebrain circuits for spatial navigation that are considerably more varied and extensive than was previously proposed, and involve various extrahippocampal structures. The use of novel and specialized procedures, together with a continued detailed focus on the behavior of animals in the maze, appears to be the most promising approach to understanding the mechanisms of spatial navigation.

Synchronization and cooperative interaction in brain activity

A conception is advanced according to which synchronization and the cooperative interaction of plastic processes at the level of the individual cell and of cell units of varying degrees of complexity form a principle of cerebral integration. The triggering and unfolding of plastic reorganizations which take place with the participation of motivational-emotional structures are realized through the mechanism of alteration of cell excitability. These influences are widely distributed throughout the cerebral cortex, but are selective in relation to the current need of the organism.