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Neurotrophins have been shown to play a critical role in activity-dependent synaptic plasticity such as long-term potentiation (LTP) in the hippocampus. Although the role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its tyrosine kinase receptor [tyrosine receptor kinase B (TrkB)] is well documented, it still remains unresolved whether presynaptic or postsynaptic activation of TrkB is involved in the induction of LTP. To address this question, we locally and specifically interfered with a downstream target of the TrkB receptor, phospholipase Cgamma (PLCgamma). We prevented PLCgamma signaling by overexpression of the PLCgamma pleckstrin homology (PH) domain with a Sindbis virus vector. The isolated PH domain has an inhibitory effect and thereby blocks endogenous PLCgamma signaling and consequently also IP3 production. Surprisingly, concurrent presynaptic and postsynaptic blockade of PLCgamma signaling was required to reduce LTP to levels comparable with those in TrkB and BDNF knock-out mice. Blockade of presynaptic or postsynaptic signaling alone did not result in a significant reduction of LTP.

Original publication

DOI

10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3792-05.2006

Type

Journal article

Journal

J Neurosci

Publication Date

29/03/2006

Volume

26

Pages

3496 - 3504

Keywords

Animals, Cells, Cultured, Hippocampus, Long-Term Potentiation, Mice, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Neurons, Protein Kinase C, Receptor, trkB, Signal Transduction, Synapses, Synaptic Transmission