Enhancement of long-term potentiation at CA1-subiculum synapses in MK-801-treated rats.
Neuroscience letters January 9, 2006 Nadine Buck, Sebat Cali, Joachim Behr
The subiculum relays information from the hippocampus to brain regions involved in schizophrenia. Using the MK-801 model of psychosis in rats, the study examined changes in synaptic transmission and plasticity at CA1-subiculum synapses 4 hours, 24 hours, and 4 weeks after treatment. Systemic MK-801 facilitated long-term potentiation (LTP) at 24 hours compared to controls, but LTP returned to normal levels after 4 weeks. This delayed facilitation suggests a novel form of metaplasticity, offering insight into how NMDA receptor antagonists affect synaptic efficacy over time.