Local generation of multineuronal spike sequences in the hippocampal CA1 region

Sequential activity of multineuronal spiking can be observed during theta and high-frequency ripple oscillations in the hippocampal CA1 region and is linked to experience, but the mechanisms underlying such sequences are unknown. We compared multineuronal spiking during theta oscillations, spontaneous ripples, and focal optically induced high-frequency oscillations (“synthetic” ripples) in freely moving mice. Firing rates and rate modulations of individual neurons, and multineuronal sequences of pyramidal cell and interneuron spiking, were correlated during theta oscillations, spontaneous ripples, and synthetic ripples. Interneuron spiking was crucial for sequence consistency. These results suggest that participation of single neurons and their sequential order in population events are not strictly determined by extrinsic inputs but also influenced by local-circuit properties, including synapses between local neurons and single-neuron biophysics.A hypothesized hallmark of cognition is self-organized sequential activation of neuronal assemblies (1). Self-organized neuronal sequences have been observed in several cortical structures (2–5) and neuronal models (6–7). In the hippocampus, sequential activity of place cells (8) may be induced by external landmarks perceived by the animal during spatial navigation (9) and conveyed to CA1 by the upstream CA3 region or layer 3 of the entorhinal cortex (10). Internally generated sequences have been also described in CA1 during theta oscillations in memory tasks (4, 11), raising the possibility that a given neuronal substrate is responsible for generating sequences at multiple time scales. The extensive recurrent excitatory collateral system of the CA3 region has been postulated to be critical in this process (4, 7, 12, 13).The sequential activity of place cells is “replayed” during sharp waves (SPW) in a temporally compressed form compared with rate modulation of place cells (14–20) and may arise from the CA3 recurrent excitatory networks during immobility and slow wave sleep. The SPW-related convergent depolarization of CA1 neurons gives rise to a local, fast oscillatory event in the CA1 region (“ripple,” 140–180 Hz; refs. 8 and 21). Selective elimination of ripples during or after learning impairs memory performance (22–24), suggesting that SPW ripple-related replay assists memory consolidation (12, 13). Although the local origin of the ripple oscillations is well demonstrated (25, 26), it has been tacitly assumed that the ripple-associated, sequentially ordered firing of CA1 neurons is synaptically driven by the upstream CA3 cell assemblies (12, 15), largely because excitatory recurrent collaterals in the CA1 region are sparse (27). However, sequential activity may also emerge by local mechanisms, patterned by the different biophysical properties of CA1 pyramidal cells and their interactions with local interneurons, which discharge at different times during a ripple (28–30). A putative function of the rich variety of interneurons is temporal organization of principal cell spiking (29–32). We tested the “local-circuit” hypothesis by comparing the probability of participation and sequential firing of CA1 neurons during theta oscillations, natural spontaneous ripple events, and “synthetic” ripples induced by local optogenetic activation of pyramidal neurons.     

钙结合蛋白在老年人海马CA1和CA3区的分布

目的　探讨老年人海马中钙结合蛋白 (CalbindinD 2 8K ,CaBP)的分布及表达 ,并分析其在人衰老过程中对神经元的生理、病理变化的影响。方法　收集 12例 6 0岁以上老年人非脑部疾病尸检左侧大脑半球的海马组织 ,经病理常规处理后 ,切片 ,用免疫组织化学ABC染色法检测海马CA1与CA3区CaBP的分布。结果　CaBP阳性产物出现在神经元的细胞质中 ,CA1区的CaBP免疫阳性细胞数多于CA3区。结论　CaBP在老年人海马CA1、CA3中均有表达 ,但有差别。提示CaBP在老年人海马的功能活动中可能起重要作用。     

A general model of hippocampal and dorsal striatal learning and decision making

Humans and other animals use multiple strategies for making decisions. Reinforcement-learning theory distinguishes between stimulus–response (model-free; MF) learning and deliberative (model-based; MB) planning. The spatial-navigation literature presents a parallel dichotomy between navigation strategies. In “response learning,” associated with the dorsolateral striatum (DLS), decisions are anchored to an egocentric reference frame. In “place learning,” associated with the hippocampus, decisions are anchored to an allocentric reference frame. Emerging evidence suggests that the contribution of hippocampus to place learning may also underlie its contribution to MB learning by representing relational structure in a cognitive map. Here, we introduce a computational model in which hippocampus subserves place and MB learning by learning a “successor representation” of relational structure between states; DLS implements model-free response learning by learning associations between actions and egocentric representations of landmarks; and action values from either system are weighted by the reliability of its predictions. We show that this model reproduces a range of seemingly disparate behavioral findings in spatial and nonspatial decision tasks and explains the effects of lesions to DLS and hippocampus on these tasks. Furthermore, modeling place cells as driven by boundaries explains the observation that, unlike navigation guided by landmarks, navigation guided by boundaries is robust to “blocking” by prior state–reward associations due to learned associations between place cells. Our model, originally shaped by detailed constraints in the spatial literature, successfully characterizes the hippocampal–striatal system as a general system for decision making via adaptive combination of stimulus–response learning and the use of a cognitive map.

Behavioral and neuroscientific studies suggest that animals can apply multiple strategies to the problem of maximizing future reward, referred to as the reinforcement-learning (RL) problem (1, 2). One strategy is to build a model of the environment that can be used to simulate the future to plan optimal actions (3) and the past for episodic memory (4–6). An alternative, model-free (MF) approach uses trial and error to estimate a direct mapping from the animal’s state to its expected future reward, which the agent caches and looks up at decision time (7, 8), potentially supporting procedural memory (9). This computation is thought to be carried out in the brain through prediction errors signaled by phasic dopamine responses (10). These strategies are associated with different tradeoffs (2). The model-based (MB) approach is powerful and flexible, but computationally expensive and, therefore, slow at decision time. MF methods, in contrast, enable rapid action selection, but these methods learn slowly and adapt poorly to changing environments. In addition to MF and MB methods, there are intermediate solutions that rely on learning useful representations that reduce burdens on the downstream RL process (11–13).In the spatial-memory literature, a distinction has been observed between “response learning” and “place learning” (14–16). When navigating to a previously visited location, response learning involves learning a sequence of actions, each of which depends on the preceding action or sensory cue (expressed in egocentric terms). For example, one might remember a sequence of left and right turns starting from a specific landmark. An alternative place-learning strategy involves learning a flexible internal representation of the spatial layout of the environment (expressed in allocentric terms). This “cognitive map” is thought to be supported by the hippocampal formation, where there are neurons tuned to place and heading direction (17–19). Spatial navigation using this map is flexible because it can be used with arbitrary starting locations and destinations, which need not be marked by immediate sensory cues.We posit that the distinction between place and response learning is analogous to that between MB and MF RL (20). Under this view, associative reinforcement is supported by the DLS (21, 22). Indeed, there is evidence from both rodents (23–25) and humans (26, 27) that spatial-response learning relies on the same basal ganglia structures that support MF RL. Evidence also suggests an analogy between MB reasoning and hippocampus (HPC)-based place learning (28, 29). However, this equivalence is not completely straightforward. For example, in rodents, multiple hippocampal lesion and inactivation studies failed to elicit an effect on action-outcome learning, a hallmark of MB planning (30–35). Nevertheless, there are indications that HPC might contribute to a different aspect of MB RL: namely, the representation of relational structure. Tasks that require memory of the relationships between stimuli do show dependence on HPC (36–42).Here, we formalize the perspective that hippocampal contributions to MB learning and place learning are the same, as are the dorsolateral striatal contributions to MF and response learning. In our model, HPC supports flexible behavior by representing the relational structure among different allocentric states, while dorsolateral striatum (DLS) supports associative reinforcement over egocentric sensory features. The model arbitrates between the use of these systems by weighting each system’s action values by the reliability of the system, as measured by a recent average of prediction errors, following Wan Lee et al. (43). We show that HPC and DLS maintain these roles across multiple task domains, including a range of spatial and nonspatial tasks. Our model can quantitatively explain a range of seemingly disparate findings, including the choice between place and response strategies in spatial navigation (23, 44) and choices on nonspatial multistep decision tasks (45, 46). Furthermore, it explains the puzzling finding that landmark-guided navigation is sensitive to the blocking effect, whereas boundary-guided navigation is not (27), and that these are supported by the DLS and HPC, respectively (26). Thus, different RL strategies that manage competing tradeoffs can explain a longstanding body of spatial navigation and decision-making literature under a unified model.     

Fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF2) augmentation early in life alters hippocampal development and rescues the anxiety phenotype in vulnerable animals

Individuals with mood disorders exhibit alterations in the fibroblast growth factor system, including reduced hippocampal fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF2). It is difficult, however, to pinpoint whether these alterations are a cause or consequence of the disorder. The present study asks whether FGF2 administered the day after birth has long-lasting effects on hippocampal development and emotionality. We show that early-life FGF2 shifts the pace of neurogenesis, with an early acceleration around weaning followed by a deceleration in adulthood. This, in turn, results in a denser dentate gyrus with more neurons. To assess the impact of early-life FGF2 on emotionality, we use rats selectively bred for differences in locomotor response to novelty. Selectively bred low-responder (bLR) rats show low levels of novelty-induced locomotion and exhibit high levels of anxiety- and depression-like behavior compared with their selectively bred high-responder counterparts. Early-life FGF2 decreased anxiety-like behavior in highly anxious bLRs without altering other behaviors and without affecting high-responder rats. Laser capture microscopy of the dentate gyrus followed by microarray analysis revealed genes that were differentially expressed in bLRs exposed to early-life FGF2 vs. vehicle-treated bLRs. Some of the differentially expressed genes that have been positively associated with anxiety were down-regulated, whereas genes that promote cell survival were up-regulated. Overall, these results show a key role for FGF2 in the developmental trajectory of the hippocampus as well as the modulation of anxiety-like behavior in adulthood, and they point to potential downstream targets for the treatment of anxiety disorders.     

CA3 size predicts the precision of memory recall

There is enduring interest in why some of us have clearer memories than others, given the substantial individual variation that exists in retrieval ability and the precision with which we can differentiate past experiences. Here we report novel evidence showing that variation in the size of human hippocampal subfield CA3 predicted the amount of neural interference between episodic memories within CA3, which in turn predicted how much retrieval confusion occurred between past memories. This effect was not apparent in other hippocampal subfields. This shows that subtle individual differences in subjective mnemonic experience can be accurately gauged from measurable variations in the anatomy and neural coding of hippocampal region CA3. Moreover, this mechanism may be relevant for understanding memory muddles in aging and pathological states.Our memories often contain overlapping elements, because they tend to feature the same people and places that form the cornerstones of our lives. Nevertheless, we are generally able to recall many of these past experiences as distinct episodes, although we are not all equally adept at doing so. There is substantial individual variation in retrieval ability and the precision with which we can differentiate past events (1, 2). This is most acute as we age and in conditions such as dementia, where confusion about the past is often evident (2). There is keen interest, therefore, in elucidating the neural mechanisms that allow us to recollect numerous life experiences despite a high degree of intermemory similarity.We know little about how this is achieved in humans, but theoretical models propose that computations within hippocampal subfields facilitate the efficient storage and retrieval of similar memories (3–7). When we experience an event, pattern separation leads to the formation of a distinct neural representation within region CA3 (8–11). At retrieval, a previously stored memory representation within CA3 can be reactivated through the process of pattern completion (12, 13). However, when episodes are highly similar, the CA3 neuronal representations may not be completely distinct, leading to partial overlap (14). It is therefore not clear precisely what the limits of CA3 pattern separation might be. Here we directly tested the capacity of human CA3 to maintain distinct episodic representations in the presence of overlapping elements. We further investigated whether variation in this ability provides an explanatory account of individual differences in the precision of episodic memory retrieval.     

Development of hippocampal mossy fiber synaptic outputs by new neurons in the adult brain

New neurons are continuously generated in restricted regions of the adult mammalian brain. Although these adult-born neurons have been shown to receive synaptic inputs, little is known about their synaptic outputs. Using retrovirus-mediated birth-dating and labeling in combination with serial section electron microscopic reconstruction, we report that mossy fiber en passant boutons of adult-born dentate granule cells form initial synaptic contacts with CA3 pyramidal cells within 2 weeks after their birth and reach morphologic maturity within 8 weeks in the adult hippocampus. Knockdown of Disrupted-in-Schizophrenia-1 (DISC1) in newborn granule cells leads to defects in axonal targeting and development of synaptic outputs in the adult brain. Together with previous reports of synaptic inputs, these results demonstrate that adult-born neurons are fully integrated into the existing neuronal circuitry. Our results also indicate a role for DISC1 in presynaptic development and may have implications for the etiology of schizophrenia and related mental disorders.     

盐酸多奈哌齐对血管性痴呆大鼠海马CA1区神经细胞凋亡及NMDAR-2B表达的影响

目的观察盐酸多奈哌齐治疗的血管性痴呆（VD）：大鼠海马CA1区神经细胞凋亡及N-甲基-D-天门冬氨酸受体2B（NMDAR-2B）的变化,探讨其在VD治疗中的作用机制。方法采用永久性结扎双侧颈总动脉法制作大鼠VD模型,将120只SD大鼠随机分为假手术组、手术对照组、药物治疗组各4JD只,每组分别在1个月和2个月处死20只大鼠,应用Morris水迷宫检测大鼠的学习记忆能力,用免疫组化染色方法检测大鼠海马CAl区NMDAR-2B表达,用TUNEL染色检测神经细胞凋亡。结果治疗组大鼠学习记忆能力明显高于手术对照组,海马CA1区NMDAR-2B表达明显高于手术对照组,海马区神经细胞凋亡明显少于手术对照组（P均〈0．01）;与假手术组比较均无统计学差异（P〉0．05）。结论盐酸多奈哌齐能上调VD大鼠海马CA1区NMDAR-2B表达,减轻EAA的毒性作用,保护神经细胞,有助于增强和调节学习记忆能力。     

Parallel memory processing by the CA1 region of the dorsal hippocampus and the basolateral amygdala

There is abundant literature on the role of the basolateral amygdala (BLA) and the CA1 region of the hippocampus in memory formation of inhibitory avoidance (IA) and other behaviorally arousing tasks. Here, we investigate molecular correlates of IA consolidation in the two structures and their relation to NMDA receptors (NMDArs) and beta-adrenergic receptors (beta-ADrs). The separate posttraining administration of antagonists of NMDAr and beta-ADr to BLA and CA1 is amnesic. IA training is followed by an increase of the phosphorylation of calcium and calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) and ERK2 in CA1 but only an increase of the phosphorylation of ERK2 in BLA. The changes are blocked by NMDAr antagonists but not beta-ADr antagonists in CA1, and they are blocked by beta-ADr but not NMDAr antagonists in BLA. In addition, the changes are accompanied by increased phosphorylation of tyrosine hydroxylase in BLA but not in CA1, suggesting that beta-AD modulation results from local catecholamine synthesis in the former but not in the latter structure. NMDAr blockers in CA1 do not alter the learning-induced neurochemical changes in BLA, and beta-ADr blockade in BLA does not hinder those in CA1. When put together with other data from the literature, the present findings suggest that CA1 and BLA play a role in consolidation, but they operate to an extent in parallel, suggesting that each is probably involved with different aspects of the task studied.     

Age-related deterioration of long-term potentiation in the CA3 and CA1 regions of hippocampal slices from the senescence-accelerated mouse

Long-term potentiation (LTP) is one candidate for the mechanism underlying memory storage. In the present study, we carried out electrophysiological studies on hippocampal slices prepared from the senescence-accelerated mouse (SAM-P/8), a strain which shows accelerated senescence and failure of certain types of learning in behavioral tests. The findings were compared with those noted in the SAM-R/1 substrain without severe symptoms of senescence. No significant differences were found between SAM-R/1 and SAM-P/8 of the same ages in responses in the absence of tetanic stimulation, and in LTP after tetanic stimulation. However, there were marked decreases in the degree of potentiation with aging in both strains.     

体外同期放疗 化疗抵抗结直肠癌细胞模型的建立及其mRNA表达谱的变化探讨

目的构建体外同期放疗、化疗抵抗结直肠癌细胞模型,探讨其mRNA表达谱的变化。方法模拟临床高剂量疗法获到HCT116同期放疗、化疗后残癌细胞株(HCT116 colorectal cancer radiation resistance cell,HCT116 CRR),应用mRNA芯片比较模型细胞与其野生型细胞的mRNA表达谱的变化情况,初步筛选与结直肠癌同期放疗、化疗抵抗相关的mRNA。结果成功构建HCT116 CRR细胞株,与野生型HCT116细胞相比,mRNA芯片共检测出变化差异在2倍以上的mRNA共3832条(13.88%)。其中,2倍以上上调的共1847条;2倍以上下调的共1985条;10倍以上上调的共35条;10倍以上下调的共50条。结论与其野生型HCT116细胞相比,HCT116 CRR细胞株的mRNA表达谱发生显著变化,差异性表达的mRNA可能参与了结直肠癌放疗、化疗抵抗产生的分子调节过程。     

间歇缺氧大鼠海马神经元凋亡及其机制

目的探讨间歇缺氧对大鼠海马组织氧化应激状态及海马神经元凋亡的影响及其可能的机制。方法将36只雄性Wistar大鼠随机分为间歇缺氧组、持续缺氧组和正常对照组，每组12只。采用化学比色法测定海马组织丙二醛和超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）水平，应用Western免疫印迹法检测海马CA1区磷酸化C—JUN氨基末端激酶（p-JNK）、磷酸化c-jun（p-c-jun）的表达水平，应用缺口末端标记（TUNEL）法检测海马CA1区神经元凋亡率。结果间歇缺氧组大鼠海马CAl区丙二醛水平为（1．61±0．39）nmol／mg蛋白，显著高于正常对照组的[（1．25±0．29）nmol／mg蛋白]和持续缺氧组的[（1．34±0．24）nmol／mg蛋白]；间歇缺氧组大鼠海马CAl区SOD水平为（45±13）NU／mg蛋白，显著低于正常对照组[（58±12）NU／mg蛋白]和持续缺氧组[（56±10）NU／mg蛋白]；持续缺氧组与正常对照组的差异均无统计学意义。间歇缺氧组p-JNK、p—c-jun表达显著增高，分别是正常对照组的2．1倍及2．3倍；间歇缺氧组海马CA1区神经元凋亡率为（0．30±0．16）％，显著高于正常对照组[（0．12±0．07）％]和持续缺氧组[（0．17±0．09）]。结论间歇缺氧可导致海马CA1区氧化应激状态，从而激活JNK信号传导通路，介导海马神经元凋亡，这可能是阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征患者神经功能障碍的病理生理基础之一。【     

Melatonin increases dendritogenesis in the hilus of hippocampal organotypic cultures

Neuropsychiatric disorders are characterized by hippocampus decreased volume and loss of dendrite arborizations in the subiculum and prefrontal cortex. These structural changes are associated with diminished memory performance. Hilar neurons of the hippocampus integrate spatial memory and are lost in dementia. They receive information from dentate gyrus neurons through dendrites, while they send axonal tracts to the CA3 region. Dendrites are complex structures of neurons that receive chemical information from presynaptic and postsynaptic terminals. Melatonin, the main product of the pineal gland, has neuroprotective actions through its free radical-scavenging properties and decreases neuronal apoptosis. Recently, we found that melatonin increases dendrite maturation and complexity in new neurons formed in the dentate gyrus of mice. In addition, in N1E-115 cultured cells, the indole stimulates early stages of neurite formation, a process that is known to antecede dendrite formation and maturation. Thus, in this study, we explored whether melatonin stimulates dendrite formation and complexity in the adult rat hippocampus in organotypic slice cultures, which is a model that preserves the hippocampal circuitry and their tridimensional organizations of connectivity. The effects of melatonin were studied in nonpathological conditions and in the absence of harmful agents. The results showed that the indole at nocturnal concentrations reached in the cerebrospinal fluid stimulates dendritogenesis at formation, growth, and maturation stages. Also, data showed that dendrites formed became competent to form presynaptic specializations. Evidence strongly suggests that melatonin may be useful in the treatment of neuropsychiatric diseases to repair the loss of dendrites and re-establish lost synaptic connections.     

天麻乙酸乙酯提取物对血管性痴呆大鼠海马CA1区锥体细胞的影响

目的观察天麻乙酸乙酯提取物对血管性痴呆模型大鼠海马CA1区锥体细胞的影响。方法采用双侧颈总动脉永久性结扎法,造成慢性脑灌注不足所致SD大鼠血管性痴呆模型。造模6周后,40只大鼠随机分为5组,假手术组、模型组、尼莫地平组、天麻乙酸乙酯提取物高剂量组(高剂量组)和天麻乙酸乙酯提取物低剂量组(低剂量组),每组8只。给药3周后,HE染色检测海马锥体细胞的变化。结果与假手术组比较,模型组大鼠海马CA1区锥体细胞数目明显减少(P<0.01);与模型组比较,尼莫地平组和高剂量组大鼠海马CA1区锥体细胞数目明显增多(P<0.01),低剂量组大鼠海马CA1区锥体细胞数目无明显变化(P>0.05)。结论天麻乙酸乙酯提取物能改善血管性痴呆大鼠脑组织海马CA1区锥体细胞的病理改变。     

Effect of unsaturated fat intake from Mediterranean diet on rat liver mRNA expression profile: selective modulation of genes involved in lipid metabolism

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The lipid content of Mediterranean diet is mostly accounted for its disease preventive action. We investigated whether the short term nutritional effect of a fat quota mainly derived from olive and fish oil affects liver mRNA expression profile in rats. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study was carried out using DNA microarray techniques. The effect was evaluated at liver mRNA expression level to identify genes whose expression was regulated by dietary modifications. Two groups of six rats were alternatively supplied for two weeks with either a control or with an experimental diet. Both diets were semisynthetic and isocaloric, with identical major nutrients composition (protein 20%, carbohydrates 56% and lipids 22% of total energy) being different only in the quality of fats. The lipid quota of the control diet contained exclusively saturated animal fats, derived from butter, while in the experimental diet some unsaturated fats were present, being derived also from olive and fish oil (10% and 6% of total energy, respectively). Out of 26,334 genes analyzed, 11,292 were found expressed in the liver, 72 were induced and 180 were inhibited from the experimental diet. Out of these, 33 of the induced and 59 of the inhibited species have a well known function. CONCLUSIONS: The diet with olive and fish oil modulates several genes related to lipolysis or lipogenesis and newly identified responders from other metabolisms. Some of these genes are also reported to be similarly modulated by the action of fibrates, but without the complete gene activation typical of these PPARalpha ligands.     

Learning and hippocampal synaptic plasticity in streptozotocin-diabetic rats: interaction of diabetes and ageing

Abstract Aims/hypothesis. Diabetes mellitus leads to functional and structural changes in the brain which appear to be most pronounced in the elderly. Because the pathogenesis of brain ageing and that of diabetic complications show close analogies, it is hypothesized that the effects of diabetes and ageing on the brain interact. Our study examined the effects of diabetes and ageing on learning and hippocampal synaptic plasticity in rats.?Methods. Young adult (5 months) and aged (2 years) rats were examined after 8 weeks of streptozotocin-diabetes. Learning was tested in a Morris water maze. Synaptic plasticity was tested ex vivo, in hippocampal slices, in response to trains of stimuli of different frequency (0.05 to 100 Hz).?Results. Statiscally significant learning impairments were observed in young adult diabetic rats compared with controls. These impairments were even greater in aged diabetic animals. In hippocampal slices from young adult diabetic animals long-term potentiation induced by 100 Hz stimulation was impaired compared with controls (138 vs 218 % of baseline). In contrast, long-term depression induced by 1 Hz stimulation was enhanced in slices from diabetic rats compared with controls (79 vs 92 %). In non-diabetic aged rats synaptic responses were 149 and 93 % of baseline in response to 100 and 1 Hz stimulation, compared with 106 and 75 % in aged diabetic rats.?Conclusion/interpretation. Both diabetes and ageing affect learning and hippocampal synaptic plasticity. The cumulative deficits in learning and synaptic plasticity in aged diabetic rats indicate that the effects of diabetes and ageing on the brain could interact. [Diabetologia (2000) 43: 500–506] Received: 18 October 1999 and in revised form: 6 December 1999     

Postsynaptic protein kinase C essential to induction and maintenance of long-term potentiation in the hippocampal CA1 region.

Previous studies on the effects of protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors intracellularly introduced into the postsynaptic neuron on long-term potentiation (LTP) in the hippocampal CA1 region showed that given before the tetanic stimulation they only blocked the development of the maintenance phase of LTP and that given after the tetanus they did not affect the continued maintenance of established LTP. We now report different results in such experiments obtained by looking into the dose-effect relationship of the inhibitors given to the postsynaptic neuron and making use of a synergistic effect of two inhibitors given together. We used the following three PKC inhibitors: polymyxin B (PMB), PKC-(19-31), and H7. With the intracellular delivery of the inhibitor(s) beginning 30 min before the tetanus, PMB in adequate dosage or a combination of PMB and PKC-(19-31), each at a low dosage, could block the development of LTP completely including its initial induction phase. With the delivery beginning at the time of the tetanus, PKC-(19-31) or H7 slowly caused the established LTP to decline to the baseline; this decline was greatly accelerated when PMB and PKC-(19-31) or PMB and H7 were given together. PMB and PKC-(19-31) given together 75-90 min or even 3 h after the tetanus caused a decline of the maintained LTP similar to the decline observed when both inhibitors were given at the time of the tetanus. These results show that postsynaptic PKC is essentially involved in both the initial induction and the subsequent maintenance of LTP, contrary to current views on the subject.