Metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) are critically involved in the maintenance of long-term potentiation (LTP) (Reymann and Matthies, 1989; Behnisch et al., 1991; Izumi et al., 1991; Bashir et al., 1993). In order to assess further the physiological role of MGluRs in LTP, we injected freely moving rats with the recently available, competitive mGluR antagonist (R,S)-alpha-methyl-4-carboxyp...

Postsynaptic depolarization of dendrites paired with spike generation at the soma is considered to be a central mechanism of long-term potentiation (LTP) induction and a prime example of a Hebbian synapse. This pairing, however, has never been actually demonstrated on tetanic stimulation. Optical imaging of neural activity with a voltage-sensitive dye (VSD) is one potentially suitable method fo...

In the present study the protective effect of Nigella sativa (N. sativa)on synaptic plasticity impairment induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in rats was investigated. Fifty-eight rats were grouped and treated as follows: 1) control (saline), 2) LPS, 3) LPS-N. sativa,and 4) N. sativa. In a Morris water maze test, the escape latency and traveled path to find t...

Hyperexcitability of the Hippocampal CA1 and the Dentate Gyrus in Rats Subchronically Exposed to a Substitute for Chlorofluorocarbons, 1-Bromopropane Vapor: Yukiko FUETA, et al. The First Department of Medical Technology, School of Health Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health—To investigate the effects on the central nervous system of subchronic exposure to 1-bromopropan...

Dentate spikes (DSs) are positive-going field potential transients that occur intermittently in the hilar region of the dentate gyrus during alert wakefulness and slow-wave sleep. The function of dentate spikes is unknown; they have been suggested to be triggered by perforant path input and are associated with firing of hilar interneurons and inhibition of CA3 pyramidal cells. Here we investiga...

Although hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) is generally assumed to be a cellular mechanism of learning and memory, there has not been de®nitive evidence for this hypothesis. In the present study, therefore, we addressed the possible relationship between spatial learning ability and LTP by using rats with bilateral ®mbria±fornix lesions. The animals were tested for spatial performance in ...

Background Interactions between the Aβ with intra- and extra-cellular molecules disrupt neuronal structures functions, leading to cognitive dysfunction in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We previously have shown that competitively inhibits microtubule motor protein KIF11 (Kinesin-5/Eg5), which regulates dynamics, cellular trafficking, migration, important for learning memory. In vitro cell culture ex...

The scandal of melamine-contamination has not been quite blown out, since the toxicity of melamine continues to raise concerns for public health. It has been well known that fetus and infant periods play the most important roles in brain development, whereas little has been done on the harmful effects of melamine on the center nervous system (CNS) of children. In the present study, we investiga...

Objectives Cholecystokinin (CCK) has been proposed as a mediator in stress. However, it is still not fully documented what are its effects. We aimed to evaluate the effects of systemic administration of CCK exactly before induction of stress on spatial memory and synaptic plasticity at CA1 in rats. Materials and Methods Male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups: the control, the control-CCK...