缺氧使非洲电鱼小脑浦肯野细胞之间的GABA能突触传递长时程增强

目的:研究急性缺氧对非洲电鱼小脑浦肯野细胞(Pc)之间γ-氨基丁酸(GABA)能突触传递的影响。方法:采用配对全细胞膜片钳记录法,记录电鱼小脑Pc-Pc之间的抑制性突触后电流(IPSC),观察急性缺氧对Pc-Pc IPSC的影响,以及GABA_A受体拮抗剂和谷氨酸α-氨基-3-羟基-5-甲基-4-异噁唑丙酸(AMPA)受体拮抗剂对Pc-Pc IPSC缺氧反应的调节作用。结果:短暂缺氧使Pc-Pc IPSC的幅值显著增大,表现为长时程增强(LTP);GABA_A受体拮抗剂荷包牡丹碱逆转了Pc-Pc IPSC的LTP,表现为长时程抑制;AMPA受体拮抗剂6-氰基-7-硝基喹喔啉-2,3-二酮(CNQX)阻断了Pc-Pc IPSC的LTP,表现为短时程增强。结论:急性缺氧引起电鱼小脑Pc之间的GABA能突触活动持续增强,GABAA受体和AMPA受体共同介导这种反应,提示GABA能和谷氨酸能突触活动的平衡可能是电鱼以及其他缺氧耐受动物缺氧保护反应的关键机制。     

芍药苷抑制大鼠小脑浦肯野细胞对急性缺氧的功能反应

目的:研究芍药苷(paeoniflorin,Pae)对大鼠小脑浦肯野细胞(Purkinje cells,PCs)急性缺氧电生理反应的影响。方法:采用全细胞膜片钳记录法,记录大鼠小脑PCs膜电位、兴奋性和平行纤维(parallel fibre,PF)-PC兴奋性突触后电流(excitatory postsynaptic currents,EPSCs),观察急性缺氧和芍药苷对上述电生理功能的影响。结果:缺氧后PCs首先表现为短暂的超极化,继之以短暂的去极化和持续超极化,芍药苷完全阻断了PCs的缺氧性超极化,并使PCs缺氧性去极化的幅度减小,持续时间缩短;缺氧上调了PCs兴奋性,芍药苷对缺氧引起的PCs的高兴奋性无显著影响;急性缺氧引起了PF-PC EPSCs的长时程抑制(long-term depression,LTD);芍药苷可部分逆转缺氧引起的PF-PC EPSCs衰减。结论:芍药苷显著减轻了大鼠小脑PCs的缺氧反应,可能增强了PCs对急性缺氧的耐受性。     

白藜芦醇对人脑皮层锥体神经元Na~+电流缺氧性变化的影响

目的:研究人脑皮层锥体神经元Na~+电流的急性缺氧反应特征以及白藜芦醇(resveratrol,RES)对Na~+电流缺氧反应的影响。方法:采用全细胞膜片钳记录法,在人脑皮层脑片上记录锥体神经元对TTX敏感的电压依赖性Na~+电流,观察急性缺氧和白藜芦醇对Na~+电流幅值和激活性质的影响。结果:(1)急性缺氧使人脑皮层脑片上的锥体神经元Na~+电流呈现短暂的小幅增大后,出现长时程抑制(P0.05),并使Na~+电流的I-V曲线左移(向超极化方向漂移)。(2)AMPA受体阻断剂NBQX阻断了缺氧引起的Na~+电流短暂增大(P0.01),并加剧了Na~+电流的缺氧后抑制(P0.01);GABA_A受体阻断剂Bicuculline对Na~+电流的缺氧性增大和缺氧后抑制无显著性影响(P0.05);二者对缺氧引起的Na~+电流I-V曲线左移均无显著影响。(3)50μmol/L白藜芦醇阻断了Na~+电流的缺氧性增大(P0.01),增强了Na~+电流的缺氧后抑制(P0.05);100μmol/L白藜芦醇显著延迟了Na~+电流的缺氧性反应,使Na~+电流的缺氧性增大现象消失,并使Na~+电流的缺氧后抑制现象衰减(P0.05)。50μmol/L和100μmol/L白藜芦醇均使Na~+电流激活曲线右移,接近正常。结论:人脑皮层锥体神经元Na~+电流对急性缺氧的反应主要表现为长时程抑制;AMPA受体活动可影响Na~+通道对急性缺氧的反应。白藜芦醇对人脑皮层锥体神经元Na~+电流缺氧反应的调节作用与剂量有关,小剂量可模拟NBQX的作用,而大剂量可降低Na~+通道对低氧的敏感性。     

刺激三叉上核引起三叉神经中脑核神经元的突触反应(英文)

目的:旨在研究三叉上核(Su5)对三叉神经中脑核(Me5)神经元的活动是否发挥着重要的调节作用,从而参与对颌运动的调节。方法:本研究通过全细胞电流钳技术,刺激生后30～43d大鼠脑片上三叉上核并记录Me5神经元反应。结果:Me5神经元静息膜电位为(-53.5±0.5)mV;所有Me5神经元在超极化和去极化时分别显示为内向、外向整流;同时去极化引起神经元放电。刺激三叉上核引起4种类型的Me5神经元的反应,即逆向动作电位、GABAA、AMPA/kainate和NMDA等受体介导的反应,这些反应各占32%、36%、20%和12%。钳制电位在-60mV左右时,诱发的GABA能突触后电位为(1.08±0.45)mV,膜电位水平时;刺激引起的AMPA/Kainate受体介导的电流大小为(0.98±0.51)mV;钳制电位在-45mV左右时,NMDA受体介导的谷氨酸电流为(2.40±0.75)mV。结论:三叉上核神经元可通过突触由GABA和谷氨酸信号系统调节Me5神经元活动。     

刺激延髓背角诱发的小鼠脑干网状结构内向Vmo投射的GABA能神经元突触后反应的电生理学研究

本实验利用谷氨酸脱羧酶67-绿色荧光蛋白(GAD67-GFP)基因敲入小鼠制备离体脑片,结合TMR逆行束路追踪技术,在荧光镜和红外镜头下,利用膜片钳全细胞记录的方法对电刺激延髓背角(即三叉神经脊束核尾侧亚核,Vc)诱发的小鼠小细胞网状结构(PCRt)内GABA能和TMR逆标的运动前神经元的突触后反应及其反应类型、药理学特征进行系统的研究。结果显示:(1)高频刺激(20 Hz)Vc,在PCRt内GFP和TMR双标的运动前神经元上可记录到兴奋性的突触后电流(EP-SCs),波形显示为单突触反应;(2)电压钳记录模式下,α-氨基羟甲基恶唑丙酸受体(AMPA受体)拮抗剂氨基-2-硝基喹啉-2,3-二酮(CNQX)及N-甲基-D-天冬氨酸受体(NMDA受体)阻断剂D,L-2-氨基-5-磷酸基戊酸(AP-5)均可显著降低刺激Vc所诱发的小鼠PCRt内GFP和TMR双标神经元的EPCSs的幅值;(3)电流钳模式下,刺激Vc,在PCRt内GFP和TMR双标的神经元上记录到兴奋性突触后电位,其幅度与刺激强度在一定范围内呈正相关。以上结果提示,小鼠PCRt内向三叉神经运动核(Vmo)发出投射的GABA能运动前神经元可通过其细胞膜上AMPA受体或NMDA受体的介导,对口面部伤害性信息发挥整合和调控作用,以实现对口面部伤害性反射活动的精确调节。     

大鼠睁眼前初级视皮层2/3层锥体神经元突触自身稳态可塑性的变化特征

目的：通过对Wistar大鼠睁眼前初级视皮层2/3层锥体神经元突触AMPA（α-氨基-3-羧基-5-甲基异恶唑-4-丙酸）介导的微小兴奋性突触后电流 (mEPSCs)的测定分析,研究突触自身稳态可塑性在生后早期初级视皮层的作用特点。方法: 采用红外可视膜片钳技术全细胞模式记录生后4-11(d)（P4-11）Wistar大鼠初级视皮层脑片2/3层锥体神经元AMPA介导的mEPSCs,钳制电位-70 mV。人工脑脊液中加入河豚毒素（TTX）、荷包牡丹碱（BMI）及2-氨基-5-磷酸基戊酸（AP-5）分离出AMPA介导的mEPSCs,加入阻断剂6-氰基-7-硝基喹喔啉-2,3二酮 (CNQX）可消除mEPSCs。使用Clampfit 9.0进行数据分析。结果: P4至P11,大鼠初级视皮层2/3层锥体神经元AMPA介导的mEPSCs的波幅呈现上升趋势,频率自P7至P11逐渐增加,上升时间常数及下降时间常数均呈缩短趋势,以下降时间常数变化为著。P4至P7可见“单通道样”电流形态。结论: 在大鼠睁眼前初级视皮层2/3层锥体神经元亦存在突触自身稳态可塑性调节机制,其作用特点不同于睁眼后。     

突触后突触结合蛋白在长时程增强过程中介导AMPA受体的胞吐作用

<正>N-甲基-D-天冬氨酸(N-methyl-D-aspartate,NMDA)受体依赖性长时程增强(long-term potentiation,LTP)引起的突触联系增强具有重塑神经环路及调节学习和记忆的作用。在NMDA受体依赖性LTP诱导过程中,Ca2+内流会刺激突触α-氨基-3-羟基-5-甲基-4-异噁唑丙酸(α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid,AMPA)受体的募集,从而强化突触联系。然而,Ca2+诱导AMPK受体募集的机制尚未明确。Wu等的研究发现,在小鼠海马CA1区的锥体神经元中同时阻断突触结合蛋     

卢非酰胺选择性抑制大鼠C纤维介导的伤害性初级传入发挥镇痛作用

目的:探讨抗癫痫药物卢非酰胺(rufinamide,RUF)对脊髓背角II层胶状质(substantia gelatinosa,SG)神经元兴奋性和突触传递的影响及其在神经病理性疼痛动物模型上的镇痛作用。方法:利用膜片钳技术,对SG神经元进行全细胞记录,观察卢非酰胺对神经元动作电位(action potentials,AP)发放频率及后根刺激诱发的兴奋性突触后电流(evoked excitatory postsynaptic currents,e EPSC)幅度及自发性兴奋性突触后电流(spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents,s EPSC)的影响。制备大鼠腰5脊神经结扎模型(spinal nerve ligation,SNL),观察腹腔注射卢非酰胺对机械性缩足反射阈值(paw withdrawal mechanical threshold,PWMT)的影响。结果:电生理结果显示:灌注卢非酰胺可明显抑制由C纤维介导的单突触e EPSC幅值,这一作用经洗脱可恢复至加药前,但对Aδ纤维介导的e EPSC幅度的抑制作用无统计学意义。卢非酰胺还可减少II层胶状质神经元动作电位的发放频率,减弱神经元的兴奋性,同时降低s EPSC的频率,但对其幅度没有影响。在大鼠SNL模型上,卢非酰胺能有效缓解由神经结扎引起的病理性疼痛,且镇痛作用具有浓度依赖性。结论:卢非酰胺可以通过减少SG神经元动作电位的发放频率,选择性的抑制脊髓背角浅层C纤维介导的伤害性初级传入而发挥镇痛作用。     

快速老化小鼠P8海马神经元突触可塑性相关的AMPA受体表达异常

目的比较快速老化小鼠P8(SAMP8)与抗快速老化小鼠R1(SAMR1)海马神经元突触可塑性相关的谷氨酸α-氨基-3-羟基-5-甲基-4-异唑丙酸(AMPA)受体表达差异,为阿尔兹海默病(AD)的发病机制提供实验依据。方法取雄性10月龄SAMP8 10只和SAMR1 9只,应用Morris水迷宫实验评价动物学习记忆能力,透射电子显微镜观察海马CA1区神经元突触界面超微结构,蛋白质免疫印迹法检测海马AMPA受体亚基GluR1、GluR2的表达。结果与SAMR1比较,SAMP8逃避潜伏期延长,目标象限时间百分比下降,穿台次数减少;海马CA1区神经元突触后致密带变薄,突触间隙增宽,突触界面曲率下降;海马GluR2含量下降,GluR1含量有下降趋势,但差异无统计学意义。结论海马AMPA受体异常可能是导致突触可塑性受损,引发SAMP8认知障碍的原因之一,AMPA受体在AD的发病中可能占有重要地位。     

HIV-1包膜糖蛋白gp120对大鼠海马脑片电生理特性的影响

目的探讨人类免疫缺陷病毒I型(HIV-1)的包膜糖蛋白gp120对大鼠海马脑片CA1区神经元电生理特性及突触传递的影响。方法用盲法全细胞记录技术,观察gp120对大鼠海马脑片CA1区神经元电生理特性及对高频电刺激Schaffer侧支引起的鼠海马长时程增强效应(LTP)的影响。结果①在电流钳,gp120可使终末去极化电流激发快速动作电位的数目增加;②在电压钳,gp120对大鼠海马CA1区神经元的全细胞电流无明显作用;③将gp120(100 pmol/L)与海马脑片共孵育1h后,在钳制电压为-60 mV时,发现HFS后海马CA1区的兴奋性突触后电流(EPSC)显著减小,LTP的强度减少到(108.5±8.0)%(n=11,P<0.01)。结论gp120可使海马神经元的兴奋性增加,并可能通过抑制海马CA1区的LTP诱发参与艾滋病痴呆(HIV-1 associated dementia,HAD)的病理生理过程。     

Parasagittally aligned, mGluR1-dependent patches are evoked at long latencies by parallel fiber stimulation in the mouse cerebellar cortex in vivo

The parallel fibers (PFs) in the cerebellar cortex extend several millimeters along a folium in the mediolateral direction. The PFs are orthogonal to and cross several parasagittal zones defined by the olivocerebellar and corticonuclear pathways and the expression of molecular markers on Purkinje cells (PCs). The functions of these two organizations remain unclear, including whether the bands respond similarly or differentially to PF input. By using flavoprotein imaging in the anesthetized mouse in vivo, this study demonstrates that high-frequency PF stimulation, which activates a beamlike response at short latency, also evokes patches of activation at long latencies. These patches consist of increased fluorescence along the beam at latencies of 20-25 s with peak activation at 35 s. The long-latency patches are completely blocked by the type 1 metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR(1)) antagonist LY367385. Conversely, the AMPA and NMDA glutamate receptor antagonists DNQX and APV have little effect. Organized in parasagittal bands, the long-latency patches align with zebrin II-positive PC stripes. Additional Ca(2+) imaging demonstrates that the patches reflect increases in intracellular Ca(2+). Both the PLCβ inhibitor U73122 and the ryanodine receptor inhibitor ryanodine completely block the long-latency patches, indicating that the patches are due to Ca(2+) release from intracellular stores. Robust, mGluR(1)-dependent long-term potentiation (LTP) of the patches is induced using a high-frequency PF stimulation conditioning paradigm that generates LTP of PF-PC synapses. Therefore, the parasagittal bands, as defined by the molecular compartmentalization of PCs, respond differentially to PF inputs via mGluR(1)-mediated release of internal Ca(2+).     

Developmental changes in agonist-induced retrograde signaling at parallel fiber-Purkinje cell synapses: role of calcium-induced calcium release

In cerebellar Purkinje cells (PCs), activation of postsynaptic mGluR1 receptors inhibits parallel fiber (PF) to PC synaptic transmission by retrograde signaling. However, results were conflicting with respect to whether endocannabinoids or glutamate (Glu) is the retrograde messenger involved. Experiments in cerebellar slices from 10- to 12-day-old rats and mice confirmed that suppression of PF-excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) by mGluR1 agonists was entirely blocked by cannabinoid receptor antagonists at this early developmental stage. In contrast, suppression of PF-EPSCs by mGluR1 agonists was only partly blocked by cannabinoid receptor antagonists in 18- to 22-day-old rats, and the remaining suppression was accompanied by an increase in paired-pulse facilitation. This endocannnabinoidindependent suppression of PF-EPSCs was potentiated by the Glu uptake inhibitor D-threo-beta-benzyloxyaspartate (D-TBOA) and blocked by the desensitizing kainate (KA) receptors agonist SYM 2081, by nonsaturating concentrations of 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2-3-dione (CNQX) [but not by GYKI 52466 hydrochloride (GYKI)] and by dialyzing PCs with guanosine 5'-[beta-thio]diphosphate (GDP-betaS). An endocannnabinoid-independent suppression of PF-EPSCs was also present in nearly mature wild-type mice but was absent in GluR6(-/-) mice. The endocannnabinoid-independent suppression of PF-EPSCs induced by mGluR1 agonists and the KA-dependent component of depolarization-induced suppression of excitation (DSE) were blocked by ryanodine acting at a presynaptic level. We conclude that retrograde release of Glu by PCs participates in mGluR1 agonist-induced suppression of PF-EPSCs at nearly mature PF-PC synapses and that Glu operates through activation of presynaptic KA receptors located on PFs and prolonged release of calcium from presynaptic internal calcium stores.     

大剂量苯巴比妥对惊厥幼鼠浦肯野细胞电生理功能的影响

 目的：研究单次大剂量苯巴比妥对惊厥幼鼠小脑浦肯野细胞(Purkinje cells, PCs)电生理功能的影响。方法：将健康新生7 d (P7) SD幼鼠随机分为正常对照组、惊厥模型组和苯巴比妥组。给予幼鼠腹腔注射戊四氮60 mg/kg制作惊厥模型。苯巴比妥按120 mg/kg一次性腹腔注射。采用全细胞膜片钳记录法在小脑脑片上记录小脑PCs动作电位及PCs兴奋性突触后电流（excitatory postsynaptic current, EPSC）的长时程抑制（long-term depression, LTD）。结果：（1）苯巴比妥组幼鼠小脑PCs诱发动作电位的阈值降低,频率增高。（2）苯巴比妥组幼鼠小脑PCs EPSC幅值在低频刺激后15 min内降低的幅度显著大于其它2组。结论:单次大剂量苯巴比妥增加了惊厥幼鼠小脑PCs的兴奋性,并改变了小脑PCs的突触功能。     

Hypoxia induces an excitotoxic-type of dark cell degeneration in cerebellar Purkinje neurons.

In the rat cerebellar slice preparation, exposure to hypoxia elicited by a 30 min exposure to artificial cerebrospinal fluid continuously gassed with 95% N(2): 5% CO(2) induced a characteristic type of toxicity of Purkinje cells (PCs) resembling excitotoxic-mediated dark cell degeneration (DCD). Morphologically, PCs exhibited marked rounded appearance with cytoplasmic darkening, nuclear condensation and cytoplasmic vacuoles. Using gel electrophoresis, genomic DNA obtained from the cerebellar slice exhibited fragmentation. However, PCs failed to exhibit apoptotic bodies or evidence of phagocytosis, spherical- or crescent-shaped chromatin aggregations or TUNEL-positive staining. Ultrastructural analyses of granule cells revealed the presence of apoptotic bodies and discrete spherical collection of chromatin clumping as well as phagocytosis suggesting that the oligonucleosomal-sized DNA fragments primarily were derived from granule cells. PC-elicited toxicity was attenuated significantly in the presence of the competitive AMPA and NMDA antagonists CNQX and APV, respectively. The present study extends the involvement of excitotoxic processes in mediating hypoxic-induced toxicity of PCs in postnatal rats and suggests, in contrast to DCD elicited by direct application of excitotoxic agents, that DCD associated with acute hypoxic insults in PCs does not resemble classical apoptosis.     

Reduction of GABAA receptor-mediated inhibition by the non-NMDA receptor antagonist 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione in cultured neurons of rat brain.

The action of the non-N-methyl-D-aspartate (non-NMDA) receptor antagonist 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX) on gamma-aminobutyric acid-A (GABAA) receptor-mediated currents was studied in dissociated rat midbrain and hypothalamic cultures using whole-cell recording. Spontaneous synaptic activity consisted of excitatory (EPSCs) and inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs). Bicuculline (20 microM) blocked IPSCs and increased the frequency of EPSCs. CNQX (1 microM) reduced both EPSCs and IPSCs. In the presence of 0.3 microM tetrodotoxin (TTX), CNQX (1-20 microM) blocked miniature EPSCs and reduced IPSCs. In TTX, increasing K+ (20 mM) evoked EPSCs and IPSCs in a Ca-dependent manner. CNQX (10 microM) blocked evoked EPSCs and diminished evoked IPSCs similarly as miniature IPSCs. Muscimol-(0.2-5 microM) induced currents were dose-dependently reduced by CNQX (10-50 microM). It is concluded that CNQX reduces GABAA receptor-mediated inhibition primarily by reducing the excitatory drive in the evolving network, but, in addition, has a significant blocking effect on the GABAA receptor-channel complex.     

Excitatory synapse in the rat hippocampus in tissue culture and effects of aniracetam.

Excitatory synaptic connections between rat hippocampal neurons were established in tissue culture. The electrophysiological and pharmacological properties of these synapses were studied with the use of the tight-seal whole-cell recording technique. The excitatory postsynaptic current (EPSC) in a dissociated CA1 neuron evoked by stimulation of an explant from the CA3/CA4 region of the hippocampus had two distinct components in Mg(2+)-free medium. The fast component was abolished by the non-NMDA receptor antagonist 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX) (2 microM), whereas the slow component was abolished by the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist D-2-amino-5-phosphonovalerate (D-APV) (50 microM). In solution containing 1 mM Mg2+, the peak amplitude of the fast component was almost linearly related to the membrane potential. In contrast, the conductance change underlying the slow component of the EPSC was voltage-dependent with a region of negative-slope conductance in the range of -80 to -20 mV. A nootropic drug, aniracetam, increased both the amplitude and duration of the fast component of the EPSC in a concentration-dependent manner in the range of 0.1-5 mM, whereas it had no potentiating effect on the slow component. Aniracetam (0.1-5 mM) similarly increased current responses of the postsynaptic neuron to alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid (AMPA). Current responses to quisqualate and glutamate in the presence of D-APV were also potentiated by aniracetam. However, neither NMDA- nor kainate-induced current was potentiated by 1 mM aniracetam.     

LTP regulates burst initiation and frequency at mossy fiber-granule cell synapses of rat cerebellum: experimental observations and theoretical predictions

Long-term potentiation (LTP) is a synaptic change supposed to provide the cellular basis for learning and memory in brain neuronal circuits. Although specific LTP expression mechanisms could be critical to determine the dynamics of repetitive neurotransmission, this important issue remained largely unexplored. In this paper, we have performed whole cell patch-clamp recordings of mossy fiber-granule cell LTP in acute rat cerebellar slices and studied its computational implications with a mathematical model. During LTP, stimulation with short impulse trains at 100 Hz revealed earlier initiation of granule cell spike bursts and a smaller nonsignificant spike frequency increase. In voltage-clamp recordings, short AMPA excitatory postsynaptic current (EPSC) trains showed short-term facilitation and depression and a sustained component probably generated by spillover. During LTP, facilitation disappeared, depression accelerated, and the sustained current increased. The N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) current also increased. In agreement with a presynaptic expression caused by increased release probability, similar changes were observed by raising extracellular [Ca(2+)]. A mathematical model of mossy fiber-granule cell neurotransmission showed that increasing release probability efficiently modulated the first-spike delay. Glutamate spillover, by causing tonic NMDA and AMPA receptor activation, accelerated excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) temporal summation and maintained a sustained spike discharge. The effect of increasing neurotransmitter release could not be replicated by increasing receptor conductance, which, like postsynaptic manipulations enhancing intrinsic excitability, proved very effective in raising granule cell output frequency. Independent regulation of spike burst initiation and frequency during LTP may provide mechanisms for temporal recoding and gain control of afferent signals at the input stage of cerebellar cortex.     

Redox modulation of synaptic responses and plasticity in rat CA1 hippocampal neurons

Effects of redox reagents on excitatory and inhibitory synaptic responses as well as on the bidirectional plasticity of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-propionic acid (AMPA) andN-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-mediated synaptic responses were studied in CA1 pyramidal neurons in rat hippocampal slices. The oxidizing agent 5,5′-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB, 200 μM) did not affect AMPA, GABA_A or GABA_B receptor-mediated synaptic responses or the activation of presynaptic metabotropic receptors. However, DTNB irreversibly decreased (by approximately 50%) currents evoked by focal application of NMDA. DTNB also decreased the NMDA component of the EPSC. The reversal potential of NMDA currents and the Mg²⁺ block were not modified. In the presence of physiological concentrations of Mg²⁺ (1.3 mM), DTNB did not affect the NMDA receptor-dependent induction of long-term potentiation (LTP) or long-term depression (LTD) expressed by AMPA receptors. In contrast, DTNB fully prevented LTP and LTD induced and expressed by NMDA receptors. Plasticity of NMDA receptor-mediated synaptic responses could be reinstated by the reducing agenttris-(2-carboxyethyl) phosphine (TCEP, 200 μM). These results suggest that persistent, bidirectional changes in synaptic currents mediated by NMDA receptors cannot be evoked when these receptors are in an oxidized state, whereas NMDA-dependent LTP and LTD are still expressed by AMPA receptors. Our observations raise the possibility of developing therapeutic agents that would prevent persistent excitotoxic enhancement of NMDA receptor-mediated events without blocking long-term modifications of AMPA receptor-mediated synaptic responses, thought to underlie memory processes.