Two forms of long-term depression in a polysynaptic pathway in the leech CNS: one NMDA receptor-dependent and the other cannabinoid-dependent

J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol. 2009 Sep;195(9):831-41. doi: 10.1007/s00359-009-0462-3. Epub 2009 Aug 6.

Abstract

Although long-term depression (LTD) is a well-studied form of synaptic plasticity, it is clear that multiple cellular mechanisms are involved in its induction. In the leech, LTD is observed in a polysynaptic connection between touch mechanosensory neurons (T cells) and the S interneuron following low frequency stimulation. LTD elicited by 450 s low frequency stimulation was blocked by N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor antagonists. However, LTD elicited by 900 s low frequency stimulation was insensitive to NMDA receptor antagonists and was instead dependent on cannabinoid signaling. This LTD was blocked by both a cannabinoid receptor antagonist and by inhibition of diacylglycerol lipase, which is necessary for the synthesis of the cannabinoid transmitter 2-arachidonyl glycerol (2-AG). Bath application of 2-AG or the cannabinoid receptor agonist CP55 940 also induced LTD at this synapse. These results indicate that two forms of LTD coexist at the leech T-to-S polysynaptic pathway: one that is NMDA receptor-dependent and another that is cannabinoid-dependent and that activation of either form of LTD is dependent on the level of activity in this circuit.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arachidonic Acids / metabolism
  • Cannabinoids / metabolism*
  • Central Nervous System / drug effects
  • Central Nervous System / metabolism*
  • Electric Stimulation
  • Endocannabinoids
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / pharmacology
  • Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials
  • Glycerides / metabolism
  • Leeches / drug effects
  • Leeches / metabolism*
  • Lipoprotein Lipase / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Lipoprotein Lipase / metabolism
  • Long-Term Synaptic Depression* / drug effects
  • Mechanotransduction, Cellular
  • Neural Pathways / metabolism
  • Neurons / drug effects
  • Neurons / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Cannabinoid / metabolism
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / metabolism*
  • Synaptic Transmission* / drug effects

Substances

  • Arachidonic Acids
  • Cannabinoids
  • Endocannabinoids
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists
  • Glycerides
  • Receptors, Cannabinoid
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate
  • glyceryl 2-arachidonate
  • Lipoprotein Lipase