Metabotropic glutamate receptors and calcium signalling in dendrites of hippocampal CA1 neurones

Neuropharmacology. 1993 Nov;32(11):1229-37. doi: 10.1016/0028-3908(93)90017-w.

Abstract

We have combined patch-clamp recording with confocal microscopy to investigate how the synaptic activation of metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) may participate in the modulation of intracellular free calcium (Ca2+) in the dendrites of single CA1 pyramidal neurones, within hippocampal slices. Tetanic stimulation (100 Hz, 1 sec) of the Schaffer collateral-commissural pathway led to a transient rise in Ca2+ in the dendrites of neurones voltage- clamped at -35 mV, as determined using the fluorescent indicator fluo-3. The specific mGluR antagonist (+)-alpha-methyl-4-carboxyphenylglycine (MCPG), applied at a concentration of 250 or 500 microM, reduced the size of the Ca2+ transient whilst either producing a small reduction or, more commonly, having no effect on the synaptic current evoked by the tetanus. These data suggest that the synaptic activation of mGluRs can contribute to Ca2+ signalling in hippocampal neurones.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Calcium / physiology*
  • Dendrites / drug effects*
  • Electric Stimulation
  • Hippocampus / cytology
  • Hippocampus / drug effects*
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Long-Term Potentiation / drug effects
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Neurons, Afferent / drug effects*
  • Rats
  • Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate / drug effects
  • Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate / physiology*
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects*
  • Synapses / drug effects

Substances

  • Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate
  • 2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate
  • Calcium