Convergent Metabotropic Signaling Pathways Inhibit SK Channels to Promote Synaptic Plasticity in the Hippocampus

Cezar M Tigaret, Sophie E L Chamberlain, Josef H L Sadowski, Jeremy Hall, Michael Ashby, Jack Mellor

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle (Academic Journal)peer-review

16 Citations (Scopus)
314 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Hebbian synaptic plasticity at hippocampal Schaffer collateral synapses is tightly regulated by postsynaptic small conductance (SK) channels that restrict NMDA receptor activity. SK channels are themselves modulated by G-protein-coupled signaling pathways, but it is not clear under what conditions these are activated to enable synaptic plasticity. Here, we show that muscarinic M1 receptor (M1R) and type 1 metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR1) signaling pathways, which are known to inhibit SK channels and thereby disinhibit NMDA receptors, converge to facilitate spine calcium transients during the induction of long-term potentiation (LTP) at hippocampal Schaffer collateral synapses onto CA1 pyramidal neurons of male rats. Furthermore, mGluR1 activation is required for LTP induced by reactivated place-cell firing patterns that occur in sharp-wave ripple events during rest or sleep. In contrast, M1R activation is required for LTP induced by place-cell firing patterns during exploration. Thus, we describe a common mechanism that enables synaptic plasticity during both encoding and consolidation of memories within hippocampal circuits.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)9252-9262
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of Neuroscience
Volume38
Issue number43
Early online date24 Oct 2018
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 24 Oct 2018

Keywords

  • hippocampus
  • metabotropic glutamate receptors
  • muscarinic receptors
  • SK channels
  • spike timing-dependent plasticity
  • synaptic plasticity

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