Calcium is an intracellular mediator of the climbing fiber in induction of cerebellar long-term depression

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1990 May;87(9):3383-5. doi: 10.1073/pnas.87.9.3383.

Abstract

In cerebellar Purkinje cells, conjunctive stimulation of parallel fibers and the climbing fiber causes long-term depression of parallel fiber-Purkinje cell transmission. It has been postulated that calcium is an intracellular mediator of the climbing fiber to induce this synaptic modification. To directly test the hypothesis, a calcium-chelating agent, EGTA, was intracellularly injected into Purkinje cells. In these injected cells, conjunctive stimulation failed to induce depression. Instead, it caused potentiation similar to that observed after repetitive stimulation of parallel fibers alone.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Calcium / physiology*
  • Cerebellum / physiology*
  • Egtazic Acid / pharmacology
  • Electric Stimulation
  • Evoked Potentials / drug effects
  • Guinea Pigs
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Membrane Potentials / drug effects
  • Nerve Fibers / drug effects
  • Nerve Fibers / physiology*
  • Purkinje Cells / physiology*
  • Synaptic Transmission

Substances

  • Egtazic Acid
  • Calcium