Characterisation of ATP-induced facilitation of transmission in rat hippocampus

Purinergic signaling orchestrating neuron-glia communication

This review discusses the evidence supporting a role for ATP signaling (operated by P₂X and P₂Y receptors) and adenosine signaling (mainly operated by A₁ and A_2A receptors) in the crosstalk between neurons, astrocytes, microglia and oligodendrocytes. An initial emphasis will be given to the cooperation between adenosine receptors to sharpen information salience encoding across synapses. The interplay between ATP and adenosine signaling in the communication between astrocytes and neurons will then be presented in context of the integrative properties of the astrocytic syncytium, allowing to implement heterosynaptic depression processes in neuronal networks. The process of microglia 'activation' and its control by astrocytes and neurons will then be analyzed under the perspective of an interplay between different P₂ receptors and adenosine A_2A receptors. In spite of these indications of a prominent role of purinergic signaling in the bidirectional communication between neurons and glia, its therapeutical exploitation still awaits obtaining an integrated view of the spatio-temporal action of ATP signaling and adenosine signaling, clearly distinguishing the involvement of both purinergic signaling systems in the regulation of physiological processes and in the control of pathogenic-like responses upon brain dysfunction or damage.

Proteomic analysis involved with synaptic plasticity improvement by GABAA receptor blockade in hippocampus of a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease

GABAergic system plays a part in synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus. We had reported a long-term potentiation (LTP)-like facilitation in vivo, known as synaptic plasticity, through GABA_A receptor blockade by bicuculline and the expression of proteins involved with this synaptic plasticity in mouse hippocampus. In the present study, we aimed to show improvement of impaired synaptic plasticity through GABA_A receptor blockade and to clarify the molecular mechanisms involved with this improvement in the hippocampus of mice overexpressing human amyloid precursor protein with the E693Δ mutation (APP_OSK-Tg) as an Alzheimer's disease model showing impaired synaptic plasticity. Electrophysiological study showed that the LTP-like facilitation expressed with application of bicuculline in vivo was significantly greater than impaired tetanic LTP in APP_OSK-Tg mice, which was improved by bicuculline. Proteomic analysis showed that the expression of 11 proteins in the hippocampus was significantly changed 8 h after bicuculline application to APP_OSK-Tg mice. The identified proteins could be functionally classified as chaperone, cytoskeletal protein, energy metabolism, metabolism, neuronal development, and synaptic component. Additionally, western blotting validated the changes in four proteins. We therefore propose that the improvement of impaired synaptic plasticity through GABA_A receptor blockade could be mediated by the changed expression of these proteins.

Extracellular ATP modulates synaptic plasticity induced by activation of metabotropic glutamate receptors in the hippocampus

Synaptic plasticity is believed to be a cellular mechanism for memory formation in the brain. It has been known that the metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) is required for persistent forms of memory and induction of synaptic plasticity. Application of mGluR agonists induces synaptic plasticity in the absence of electrical conditioning stimulation, such as high or low frequency stimulation. The direction of the mGluR-induced synaptic plasticity, i.e., either long-term potentiation (LTP) or long-term-depression (LTD), is dependent on whether N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) are co-activated with mGluRs. ATP has modulatory effects on neuronal functions and, in particular, there is increasing evidence that it plays a crucial role in synaptic plasticity. LTP can be induced by application of ATP, and this effect is inhibited by NMDAR antagonist. Although cooperative effects of NMDARs and mGluRs and of NMDARs and extracellular ATP in synaptic plasticity have been revealed, the effect of extracellular ATP on mGluR-induced synaptic plasticity is unknown. In this article, we summarize published data on mGluR- and ATP-induced synaptic plasticity, and present new data showing that extracellular ATP facilitates both the LTP and LTD induced by mGluR activation.

Purinergic signaling and hippocampal long-term potentiation

The purines ATP and adenosine are widely recognized for their neuromodulatory effects. They have been shown to have effects on neurons via various receptors and interactions with glial cells. In particular, long-term potentiation (LTP) in hippocampal slice preparations has been found to be modulated by ATP and adenosine. This review gives an overview of purinergic signaling in relation to hippocampal LTP and memory formation. The data supports the hypothesis that adenosine mediates a tonic suppression of synaptic transmission. Thus, low adenosine levels appear to increase basal synaptic activity via a decreased activation of the inhibitor A1 receptor, consequently making it more difficult to induce LTP because of lower contrast. During high stimulation, the inhibition of neighboring pathways by adenosine, in combination with an A2a receptor activation, appears to increase contrast of excited pathways against a nonexcited background. This would enable amplification of specific signaling while suppressing non-specific events. Although a clear role for purinergic signaling in LTP is evident, more studies are needed to scrutinize the modulatory role of ATP and adenosine and their receptors in synaptic plasticity and memory.

Modulation of ATP-induced LTP by cannabinoid receptors in rat hippocampus

Cannabinoids exert powerful action on various forms of synaptic plasticity. These retrograde messengers modulate GABA and glutamate release from presynaptic terminals by acting on presynaptic CB1 receptors. In particular, they inhibit long-term potentiation (LTP) elicited by electrical stimulation of excitatory pathways in rat hippocampus. Recently, LTP of the field excitatory postsynaptic potential (fEPSP) induced by exogenous ATP has been thoroughly explored. The present study demonstrates that cannabinoids inhibit ATP-induced LTP in hippocampal slices of rat. Administration of 10 μM of ATP led to strong inhibition of fEPSPs in CA1/CA3 hippocampal synapses. Within 40 min after ATP removal from bath solution, robust LTP was observed (fEPSP amplitude comprised 130.1 ± 3.8% of control, n = 10). This LTP never appeared when ATP was applied in addition to cannabinoid receptor agonist WIN55,212-2 (100 nM). Selective CB1 receptor antagonist, AM251 (500 nM), completely abolished this effect of WIN55,212-2. Our data indicate that like canonical LTP elicited by electrical stimulation, ATP-induced LTP is under control of CB1 receptors.

Alteration of purinergic P2X4 and P2X7 receptor expression in rats with temporal-lobe epilepsy induced by pilocarpine

SUMMARY

Although ATP and P2X receptor activity have been lately associated with epilepsy, little is known regarding their exact roles in epileptogenesis. Temporal-lobe epilepsy (TLE) in rat was induced by pilocarpine in order to study changes of hippocampal P2X(2), P2X(4) and P2X(7) receptor expression during acute, latent or chronic phases of epilepsy. During acute and chronic phases increased P2X(7) receptor expression was principally observed in glial cells and glutamatergic nerve terminals, suggesting participation of this receptor in the activation of inflammatory and excitotoxic processes during epileptogenesis. No significant alterations of hippocampal P2X(2) and P2X(4) receptor expression was noted during the acute or latent phase when compared to the control group, indicating that these receptors are not directly involved with the initiation of epilepsy. However, the reduction of hippocampal P2X(4) receptor immunostaining in the chronic phase could reflect neuronal loss or decreased GABAergic signaling.

The role of ATP and adenosine in the brain under normoxic and ischemic conditions

By taking advantage of some recently synthesized compounds that are able to block ecto-ATPase activity, we demonstrated that adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in the hippocampus exerts an inhibitory action independent of its degradation to adenosine. In addition, tonic activation of P2 receptors contributes to the normally recorded excitatory neurotransmission. The role of P2 receptors becomes critical during ischemia when extracellular ATP concentrations increase. Under such conditions, P2 antagonism is protective. Although ATP exerts a detrimental role under ischemia, it also exerts a trophic role in terms of cell division and differentiation. We recently reported that ATP is spontaneously released from human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) in culture. Moreover, it decreases hMSC proliferation rate at early stages of culture. Increased hMSC differentiation could account for an ATP-induced decrease in cell proliferation. ATP as a homeostatic regulator might exert a different effect on cell trophism according to the rate of its efflux and receptor expression during the cell life cycle. During ischemia, adenosine formed by intracellular ATP escapes from cells through the equilibrative transporter. The protective role of adenosine A(1) receptors during ischemia is well accepted. However, the use of selective A(1) agonists is hampered by unwanted peripheral effects, thus attention has been focused on A(2A) and A(3) receptors. The protective effects of A(2A) antagonists in brain ischemia may be largely due to reduced glutamate outflow from neurones and glial cells. Reduced activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases that are involved in neuronal death through transcriptional mechanisms may also contribute to protection by A(2A) antagonism. Evidence that A(3) receptor antagonism may be protective after ischemia is also reported.

Role of P2 purinergic receptors in synaptic transmission under normoxic and ischaemic conditions in the CA1 region of rat hippocampal slices

The role of ATP and its stable analogue ATPγS [adenosine-5′-o-(3-thio)triphosphate] was studied in rat hippocampal neurotransmission under normoxic conditions and during oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD). Field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fEPSPs) from the dendritic layer or population spikes (PSs) from the soma were extracellularly recorded in the CA1 area of the rat hippocampus. Exogenous application of ATP or ATPγS reduced fEPSP and PS amplitudes. In both cases the inhibitory effect was blocked by the selective A₁ adenosine receptor antagonist DPCPX (8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine) and was potentiated by different ecto-ATPase inhibitors: ARL 67156 (6-N,N-diethyl-D-β,γ-dibromomethylene), BGO 136 (1-hydroxynaphthalene-3,6-disulfonate) and PV4 [hexapotassium dihydrogen monotitanoundecatungstocobaltate(II) tridecahydrate, K₆H₂[TiW₁₁CoO₄₀]·13H₂O]. ATPγS-mediated inhibition was reduced by the P2 antagonist suramin [8-(3-benzamido-4-methylbenzamido)naphthalene-1,3,5-trisulfonate] at the somatic level and by other P2 blockers, PPADS (pyridoxalphosphate-6-azophenyl-2′,4′-disulfonate) and MRS 2179 (2′-deoxy-N⁶-methyladenosine 3′,5′-bisphosphate), at the dendritic level. After removal of both P2 agonists, a persistent increase in evoked synaptic responses was recorded both at the dendritic and somatic levels. This effect was prevented in the presence of different P2 antagonists. A 7-min OGD induced tissue anoxic depolarization and was invariably followed by irreversible loss of fEPSP. PPADS, suramin, MRS2179 or BBG (brilliant blue G) significantly prevented the irreversible failure of neurotransmission induced by 7-min OGD. Furthermore, in the presence of these P2 antagonists, the development of anoxic depolarization was blocked or significantly delayed. Our results indicate that P2 receptors modulate CA1 synaptic transmission under normoxic conditions by eliciting both inhibitory and excitatory effects. In the same brain region, P2 receptor stimulation plays a deleterious role during a severe OGD insult.

Activation of P2Y1 nucleotide receptors induces inhibition of the M-type K+ current in rat hippocampal pyramidal neurons

We have shown previously that stimulation of heterologously expressed P2Y1 nucleotide receptors inhibits M-type K+ currents in sympathetic neurons. We now report that activation of endogenous P2Y1 receptors induces inhibition of the M-current in rat CA1/CA3 hippocampal pyramidal cells in primary neuron cultures. The P2Y1 agonist adenosine 5'-[beta-thio]diphosphate trilithium salt (ADPbetaS) inhibited M-current by up to 52% with an IC50 of 84 nM. The hydrolyzable agonist ADP (10 microM) produced 32% inhibition, whereas the metabotropic glutamate receptor 1/5 agonist DHPG [(S)-3,5-dihydroxyphenylglycine] (10 microM) inhibited M-current by 44%. The M-channel blocker XE991 [10,10-bis(4-pyridinylmethyl)-9(10H)-anthracenone dihydrochloride] produced 73% inhibition at 3 microM; neither ADPbetaS nor ADP produced additional inhibition in the presence of XE991. The effect of ADPbetaS was prevented by a specific P2Y1 antagonist, MRS 2179 (2'-deoxy-N'-methyladenosine-3',5'-bisphosphate tetra-ammonium salt) (30 microM). Inhibition of the M-current by ADPbetaS was accompanied by increased neuronal firing in response to injected current pulses. The neurons responding to ADPbetaS were judged to be pyramidal cells on the basis of (1) morphology, (2) firing characteristics, and (3) their distinctive staining for the pyramidal cell marker neurogranin. Strong immunostaining for P2Y1 receptors was shown in most cells in these cultures: 74% of the cells were positive for both P2Y1 and neurogranin, whereas 16% were only P2Y1 positive. These results show the presence of functional M-current-inhibitory P2Y1 receptors on hippocampal pyramidal neurons, as predicted from their effects when expressed in sympathetic neurons. However, the mechanism of inhibition in the two cell types seems to differ because, unlike nucleotide-mediated M-current inhibition in sympathetic neurons, that in hippocampal neurons did not appear to result from raised intracellular calcium.

Dual presynaptic control by ATP of glutamate release via facilitatory P2X1, P2X2/3, and P2X3 and inhibitory P2Y1, P2Y2, and/or P2Y4 receptors in the rat hippocampus

ATP is released in a vesicular manner from nerve terminals mainly at higher stimulation frequencies. There is a robust expression of ATP (P2) receptors in the brain, but their role is primarily unknown. We report that ATP analogs biphasically modulate the evoked release of glutamate from purified nerve terminals of the rat hippocampus, the facilitation being mediated by P2X1, P2X2/3, and P2X3 [antagonized by 8-(benzamido)naphthalene-1,3,5-trisulfonate and 2',3'-O-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl)-ATP] and the inhibition by P2Y1, P2Y2, and/or P2Y4 [antagonized by reactive blue 2 and 2'deoxy-N6-methyladenosine-3',5'-bisphosphate and mimicked by P1-(urinine 5'-),P4-(inosine 5'-) tetraphosphate and 2-methylthio-ADP] receptors. The combination of single-cell PCR analysis of rat hippocampal pyramidal neurons, Western blot analysis of purified presynaptic active zone fraction, and immunocytochemical analysis of hippocampal glutamatergic terminals revealed that the P2 receptors expressed in glutamatergic neurons, located in the active zone and in glutamatergic terminals, were precisely P2X1, P2X2, and P2X3 subunits and P2Y1, P2Y2, and P2Y4 receptors. This provides coincident functional and molecular evidence that P2 receptors are present and act presynaptically as a modulatory system controlling hippocampal glutamate release.

Stabilizing effects of extracellular ATP on synaptic efficacy and plasticity in hippocampal pyramidal neurons

The role of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) as a neurotransmitter and extracellular diffusible messenger has recently received considerable attention because of its possible participation in the regulation of synaptic plasticity. However, the possible contribution of extracellular ATP in maintaining and regulating synaptic efficacy during intracellular ATP depletion is understudied. We tested the effects of extracellular ATP on excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) evoked in CA1 pyramidal neurons by Schaffer collateral stimulation. In the absence of intracellular ATP, EPSC rundown was neutralized when a low concentration of ATP (1 microm) was added to the extracellular solution. Adenosine and ATP analogues did not prevent the EPSC rundown. The P(2) antagonists piridoxal-5'-phosphate-azophenyl 2',4'-disulphonate (PPADS) and reactive blue-2, and the P(1) adenosine receptor antagonist 8-cyclopentyltheophylline (CPT) had no detectable effects in cells depleted of ATP. However, the protective action of extracellular ATP on synaptic efficacy was blocked by extracellular application of the protein kinase inhibitors K252b and staurosporine. In contrast, K252b and staurosporine per se did not interfere with synaptic transmission in ATP loaded cells. Without intracellular ATP, bath-applied caffeine induced a transient (< 35 min) EPSC potentiation that was transformed into a persistent long-term potentiation (> 80 min) when 1 microm ATP was added extracellularly. An increased probability of transmitter release paralleled the long-term potentiation induced by caffeine, suggesting that it originated presynaptically. Therefore, we conclude that extracellular ATP may operate to maintain and regulate synaptic efficacy and plasticity in conditions of abnormal intracellular ATP depletion by phosphorylation of a surface protein substrate via activation of ecto-protein kinases.

Increased long-term potentiation in the CA1 region of rat hippocampus via modulation of GTPase signalling or inhibition of Rho kinase

There is accumulating evidence that Ras, and Ras-related GTPases of the Rho family, such as RhoA, RhoB and Rac1, are involved in synaptic plasticity in brain regions such as the hippocampus. We have recently shown that Rho family GTPases are activated by synaptic transmission in the CA1 region of the hippocampus. Since the function of these GTPases is dependent on post-translational isoprenylation by either farnesyl or geranylgeranyl transferases, we tested the hypothesis that inhibition of isoprenylation would modify long-term potentiation (LTP). Farnesyl transferase inhibition, which suppressed activation of RhoB and Ras but not RhoA or Rac1, reduced the magnitude of LTP, while geranylgeranyl transferase inhibition, which inhibited RhoA and Rac1 but not RhoB, increased the magnitude of LTP. In addition, Y-27632, a specific inhibitor of a downstream effector of Rho GTPases-Rho-kinase-also increased the magnitude of LTP. This provides strong evidence that GTPases are important mediators of synaptic plasticity, and demonstrates that Rho-kinase acts to reduce the degree of plasticity at hippocampal synapses during LTP. Rho-kinase inhibitors have the unusual property of increasing the magnitude of LTP, and so may be potential cognitive enhancers.

Purinergic P2 receptors trigger adenosine release leading to adenosine A2A receptor activation and facilitation of long-term potentiation in rat hippocampal slices

Electrophysiological recordings were used to investigate the effects of ATP analogues on theta-burst-induced long-term potentiation (LTP) in rat hippocampal slices. alpha,beta-Methylene ATP (alpha,beta-MeATP; 20 microM) decreased LTP from 36+/-9% to 17+/-5%, an effect prevented by adenosine A(1) receptor blockade in accordance with the localised catabolism of ATP analogues into adenosine, leading to adenosine A(1) receptor activation. Thus, to probe the role of extracellular ATP, all experiments were performed with the A(1) receptor selective antagonist, 1,3-dipropyl-8-cyclopentylxanthine (50 nM). In these conditions, alpha,beta-MeATP or 5'-adenylylimido-diphosphate (beta,gamma-ImATP; 20 microM) facilitated LTP by 120%, an effect prevented by the P2 receptor antagonists, pyridoxalphosphate-6-azophenyl-2'-4'-disulphonic acid (PPADS; 20 microM) or suramin (75 microM), as well as by the P2X(1/3)-selective antagonist 8-(benzamido)naphthalene-1,3,5-trisulfonate (10 microM). The facilitations of LTP by either alpha,beta-MeATP or beta,gamma-ImATP (20 microM) were also prevented by both 4-(2-[7-amino-2-(2-furyl(1,2,4)-triazolo(2,3a)-(1,3,5)triazin-5-yl-amino]ethyl)phenol (50 nM) or 7-2(-phenylethyl)-5-amino-2-(2-furyl)-pyrazolo-[4,3-e]-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-c] pyrimidine (50 nM), antagonists of facilitatory adenosine A(2A) receptors, were occluded by the A(2A) receptor agonist, CGS 21680 (10 nM) and were prevented by the protein kinase C inhibitor, chelerythrine (6 microM) and unaffected by the protein kinase A inhibitor, H89 (1 microM). Furthermore, beta,gamma-ImATP (20 microM) enhanced [(3)H]adenosine outflow from rat hippocampal slices by nearly 150%, an effect prevented by PPADS (20 microM) or suramin (75 microM). The adenosine transport inhibitors, nitrobenzylthioinosine (5 microM) and dipyridamole (10 microM) also prevented beta,gamma-ImATP (20 microM)-induced [(3)H]adenosine outflow and facilitation of LTP. These results suggest that ATP analogues facilitate LTP through P2 receptor activation that mainly triggers adenosine release leading to the activation of adenosine A(2A) receptors.

Cellular Distribution and Functions of P2 Receptor Subtypes in Different Systems

This review is aimed at providing readers with a comprehensive reference article about the distribution and function of P2 receptors in all the organs, tissues, and cells in the body. Each section provides an account of the early history of purinergic signaling in the organ?cell up to 1994, then summarizes subsequent evidence for the presence of P2X and P2Y receptor subtype mRNA and proteins as well as functional data, all fully referenced. A section is included describing the plasticity of expression of P2 receptors during development and aging as well as in various pathophysiological conditions. Finally, there is some discussion of possible future developments in the purinergic signaling field.

Activation of Rho GTPases by synaptic transmission in the hippocampus

Ras-related GTPases of the Rho family, such as RhoA and RhoB, are well-characterised mediators of morphological change in peripheral tissues via their effects on the actin cytoskeleton. We tested the hypothesis that Rho family GTPases are involved in synaptic transmission in the CA1 region of the hippocampus. We show that GTPases are activated by synaptic transmission. RhoA and RhoB were activated by low frequency stimulation, while the induction of long-term potentiation (LTP) by high frequency stimulation was associated with specific activation of RhoB via NMDA receptor stimulation. This illustrates that these GTPases are potential mediators of synaptic transmission in the hippocampus, and raises the possibility that RhoB may play a role in plasticity at hippocampal synapses during LTP.

Caffeine-mediated presynaptic long-term potentiation in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons

We report a new form of long-term potentiation (LTP) in Schaffer collateral (SC)-CA1 pyramidal neuron synapses that originates presynaptically and does not require N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor activation nor increases in postsynaptic-free Ca2+. Using rat hippocampal slices, application of a brief "pulse" of caffeine in the bath evoked a nondecremental LTP (CAFLTP) of SC excitatory postsynaptic currents. An increased probability of transmitter release paralleled the CAFLTP, suggesting that it originated presynaptically. The P1 adenosine receptor antagonist 8-cyclopentyltheophylline and the P2 purinoreceptor antagonists suramin and piridoxal-5'-phosphate-azophenyl 2',4'-disulphonate blocked the CAFLTP. Inhibition of Ca2+ release from caffeine/ryanodine stores by bath-applied ryanodine inhibited the CAFLTP, but ryanodine in the pipette solution was ineffective, suggesting a presynaptic effect of ryanodine. Previous induction of the "classical" LTP did not prevent the CAFLTP, suggesting that the LTP and the CAFLTP have different underlying cellular mechanisms. The CAFLTP is insensitive to the block of NMDA receptors by 2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid and to Ca2+ chelation with intracellular 1,2-bis (2-aminophenoxy) ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid, indicating that neither postsynaptic NMDA receptors nor increases in cytosolic-free Ca2+ participate in the CAFLTP. We conclude that the CAFLTP requires the interaction of caffeine with presynaptic P1, P2 purinoreceptors, and ryanodine receptors and is caused by an increased probability of glutamate release at SC terminals.

Long-term potentiation and long-term depression induced by local application of ATP to hippocampal CA1 neurons of the guinea pig

The present study has investigated the role of ATP in the induction of synaptic plasticity, using local application of ATP by picopump administration into the stratum radiatum of guinea pig hippocampal region CA1. Excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) evoked by stimulation of Schaffer collateral/commissural afferents synapsing on CA1 pyramidal cells of hippocampal slices were monitored in voltage-clamp mode, using whole-cell recording. Brief local application of ATP (1 mM) induced an inward current, usually consisting of early- and late-phase components. Because the late-phase component of an ATP-induced current was largely inhibited by Ca2+-free solution, this component is supposed to depend on extracellular Ca2+. After local application of ATP, long-term synaptic modification of EPSCs was induced: LTP was detected in neurons exhibiting a small late Ca2+ current, while LTD was obtained from recordings showing a large late Ca2+ current in response to ATP application. There was a statistically significant correlation between the magnitude of long-term plastic changes and the size of Ca2+ currents in response to ATP application. Furthermore, there was significant difference between the average size of the Ca2+ current in the LTP group and the size in the LTD group. These results suggest that a small Ca2+ influx in response to ATP application induces LTP, whereas a large one induces LTD in guinea pig hippocampal CA1 neurons.

Long-term potentiation of glutamatergic synaptic transmission induced by activation of presynaptic P2Y receptors in the rat medial habenula nucleus

A novel form of long-term potentiation of glutamatergic synaptic transmission is described in the rat medial habenula nucleus. It occurs when uridine 5'-triphosphate is bath applied at low micromolar concentrations and is prevented by Reactive Blue 2, suggesting that it is mediated by P2Y4 receptors. Uridine 5'-diphosphate can also cause such a Reactive Blue 2-sensitive potentiation, but at higher concentrations (200 microm), suggesting that this might also be an effect on the relatively uridine 5'-diphosphate-insensitive P2Y4 receptor. The potentiation is due to an increase in presynaptic release probability. It requires neither depolarization nor calcium influx postsynaptically and is thus probably non-Hebbian. When potentiation due to low concentrations of uridine 5'-triphosphate is inhibited in the presence of Reactive Blue 2, uridine 5'-triphosphate causes instead a significant inhibition of glutamate release. We suggest that this inhibition may be mediated by a Reactive Blue 2-insensitive P2Y2-like receptor. At higher concentrations of uridine 5'-triphosphate (200 micro m), the inhibitory effect dominates such that even in the absence of Reactive Blue 2 no potentiation is seen.

Cooperativity between extracellular adenosine 5'-triphosphate and activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors in long-term potentiation induction in hippocampal CA1 neurons

The mechanism of ATP-induced long-term potentiation (LTP) was studied pharmacologically using guinea-pig hippocampal slices. LTP, induced in CA1 neurons by 10 min application of 10 microM ATP, was blocked by co-application of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, D,L-2-amino-5-phosphonovalerate (5 or 50 microM). In ATP-induced LTP, the delivery of test synaptic inputs (once every 20 s) to CA1 neurons could be replaced by co-application of NMDA (100 nM) during ATP perfusion. These results suggest that, in CA1 neurons, a co-operative effect between extracellular ATP and activation of NMDA receptors is required to trigger the process involved in ATP-induced LTP. In addition, ATP-induced LTP was blocked by co-application of an ecto-protein kinase inhibitor, K-252b (40 or 200 nM), whereas a P2X purinoceptor antagonist, pyridoxal phosphate 6-azophenyl-2',4'-disulfonic acid 4-sodium (50 microM), or a P2Y purinoceptor antagonist, basilen blue (10 microM), had no effect.The results of the present study, therefore, indicate that the mechanisms of ATP-induced LTP involve the modulation of NMDA receptors/Ca(2+) channels and the phosphorylation of extracellular domains of synaptic membrane proteins, one of which could be the NMDA receptor/Ca(2+) channel.

Modulation of hippocampal glutamatergic transmission by ATP is dependent on adenosine a(1) receptors

Excitatory glutamatergic synapses in the hippocampal CA1 region of rats are potently inhibited by purines, including adenosine, ATP, and ATP analogs. Adenosine A(1) receptors are known to mediate at least part of the response to adenine nucleotides, either because adenine nucleotides activate A(1) receptors directly, or activate them secondarily upon the nucleotides' conversion to adenosine. In the present studies, the inhibitory effects of adenosine, ATP, the purportedly stable ATP analog adenosine-5'-O-(3-thio)triphosphate (ATPgammaS), and cyclic AMP were examined in mice with a null mutation in the adenosine A(1) receptor gene. ATPgammaS displaced the binding of A(1)-selective ligands to intact brain sections and brain homogenates from adenosine A(1) receptor wild-type animals. In homogenates, but not in intact brain sections, this displacement was abolished by adenosine deaminase. In hippocampal slices from wild-type mice, purines abolished synaptic responses, but slices from mice lacking functional A(1) receptors showed no synaptic modulation by adenosine, ATP, cAMP, or ATPgammaS. In slices from heterozygous mice the dose-response curve for both adenosine and ATP was shifted to the right. In all cases, inhibition of synaptic responses by purines could be blocked by prior treatment with the competitive adenosine A(1) receptor antagonist 8-cyclopentyltheophylline. Taken together, these results show that even supposedly stable adenine nucleotides are rapidly converted to adenosine at sites close to the A(1) receptor, and that inhibition of synaptic transmission by purine nucleotides is mediated exclusively by A(1) receptors.