Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

The expression mechanism of long-term potentiation (LTP) remains controversial. Here we combine electrophysiology and Ca(2+) imaging to examine the role of silent synapses in LTP expression. Induction of LTP fails to change p(r) at these synapses but instead mediates an unmasking process that is sensitive to the inhibition of postsynaptic membrane fusion. Once unmasked, however, further potentiation of formerly silent synapses leads to an increase in p(r). The state of the synapse thus determines how LTP is expressed.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.neuron.2006.10.007

Type

Journal article

Journal

Neuron

Publication Date

22/11/2006

Volume

52

Pages

649 - 661

Keywords

Animals, Animals, Newborn, Calcium Signaling, Electric Stimulation, Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials, Fluorescent Dyes, Glutamic Acid, Hippocampus, Long-Term Potentiation, Magnesium, Male, Membrane Fusion, Neural Pathways, Optics and Photonics, Organ Culture Techniques, Patch-Clamp Techniques, Rats, Rats, Wistar, Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate, Synapses, Synaptic Membranes, Synaptic Transmission, Synaptic Vesicles