Research article summary (published 27 Feb 2001):

Long-term cholinergic enhancement of evoked potentials in rat hindlimb somatosensory cortex displays characteristics of long-term potentiation.

Full Abstract

Pairing a cutaneous electrical stimulus of the hind-paw with stimulation of the basal forebrain produces long-term cholinergic enhancement of the responsiveness to a tactile stimulus. A short period of pairing (20 trials) increased the area of the two main components of the evoked potential by 37.1 +/- 13.5% (+/- SEM) and 37.9 +/- 6.8%, respectively. The effects lasted for the duration of the experiment (> 2 h). The enhancement could be blocked by either MK-801, an NMDA receptor antagonist or by L-NAME, a nitric-oxide-synthase inhibitor when they were given prior to pairing. Control experiments with skin stimulation alone and basal forebrain stimulation alone had only small long-term effects (approximately 10%) on the size of the evoked potential. Thus, long-term cholinergic enhancement, attributable to disinhibition and increased release of acetylcholine in the cortex during neuronal excitation by other sources, and so named because it is blocked by atropine, may be a form of long-term potentiation. The existence of such a mechanism for the control of cortical neuronal plasticity identifies the basal forebrain as a powerful modulator of long-lasting changes in cortical neuronal excitability.

Author information

Author/s: Verdier, D (D); Dykes, R W (RW);

Affiliation: Département de Physiologie, Université de Montréal, Case postale 6128, Succursale Centre-ville, Montréal, Québec H3 C 3J7, Canada.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Experimental brain research. Experimentelle Hirnforschung. Expérimentation cérébrale (Exp Brain Res), published in Germany. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2001-Mar; vol 137 (issue 1) : pp 71-82

Dates: Created 2001/04/19; Completed 2001/08/30; Revised 2009/11/11;

PMID: 11310174, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/11/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Acetylcholine - metabolism Animals Basal Nucleus of Meynert - cytology; drug effects; metabolism Cholinergic Fibers - drug effects; metabolism; ultrastructure Dizocilpine Maleate - pharmacology Electric Stimulation Enzyme Inhibitors - pharmacology Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory - drug effects; physiology Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists - pharmacology Glutamic Acid - metabolism Hindlimb - innervation; physiology Long-Term Potentiation - drug effects; physiology Male

Male NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester - pharmacology Neural Pathways - cytology; drug effects; metabolism Neuronal Plasticity - drug effects; physiology Neurons - cytology; drug effects; metabolism Nitric Oxide Synthase - antagonists & inhibitors; metabolism Physical Stimulation Rats Rats, Sprague-Dawley Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate - antagonists & inhibitors; metabolism Somatosensory Cortex - drug effects; metabolism; ultrastructure Time Factors Touch - drug effects; physiology

Associated Chemicals: Enzyme Inhibitors (0) ; Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists (0) ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate (0) ; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester (50903-99-6) ; Acetylcholine (51-84-3) ; Glutamic Acid (56-86-0) ; Dizocilpine Maleate (77086-22-7) ; Nitric Oxide Synthase (EC 1.14.13.39)

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