Glutamate-Induced Transient Modification of the Postsynaptic Density

Depolarization of rat hippocampal neurons with a high concentration of external potassium induces a thickening of postsynaptic densities (PSDs) within 1.5-3 min. After high-potassium treatment, PSDs thicken 2.1-fold in cultured neurons and 1.4-fold in hippocampal slices compared with their respectiv...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS 2001-08, Vol.98 (18), p.10428-10432
Main Authors: Dosemeci, Ayse, Tao-Cheng, Jung-Hwa, Vinade, Lucia, Winters, Christine A., Pozzo-Miller, Lucas, Reese, Thomas S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Antibodies
Behavioral neuroscience
Biological Sciences
Biology
Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2
Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases - metabolism
Cell culture techniques
Cells, Cultured
Cultural groups
Density
Depolarization
Glutamic Acid - pharmacology
Hippocampus - cytology
Hippocampus - drug effects
Hippocampus - metabolism
Microscopy, Immunoelectron
Nerve Tissue Proteins - metabolism
Neurology
Neurons
Neurons - drug effects
Neurons - metabolism
Neurons - ultrastructure
Neuroscience
Postsynaptic density
Potassium - pharmacology
Rats
Rodents
Synapses
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Summary:Depolarization of rat hippocampal neurons with a high concentration of external potassium induces a thickening of postsynaptic densities (PSDs) within 1.5-3 min. After high-potassium treatment, PSDs thicken 2.1-fold in cultured neurons and 1.4-fold in hippocampal slices compared with their respective controls. Thin-section immunoelectron microscopy of hippocampal cultures indicates that at least part of the observed thickening of PSDs can be accounted for by an accumulation of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) on their cytoplasmic faces. Indeed, PSD-associated gold label for CaMKII increases 5-fold after depolarization with potassium. The effects of high-potassium treatment on the composition and structure of the PSDs are mimicked by direct application of glutamate. In cultures, glutamate-induced thickening of PSDs and the accumulation of CaMKII on PSDs are reversed within 5 min of removal of glutamate and Ca2+from the extracellular medium. These results suggest that PSDs are dynamic structures whose thickness and composition are subject to rapid and transient changes during synaptic activity.
ISSN:0027-8424
1091-6490
DOI:10.1073/pnas.181336998