Inhibition of long-term potentiation of the hippocampal CA1 EPSP by a negative cooperativity

Expression, control, and probable functional significance of the neuronal theta-rhythm

The data on theta-modulation of neuronal activity in the hippocampus and related structures, obtained by the author and her colleagues have been reviewed. Analysis of extracellularly recorded neuronal activity in alert rabbits, intact and after various brain lesions, in slices and transplants of the hippocampus and septum allow one to make the following conclusions. Integrity of the medial septal area (MS-DB) and its efferent connections are indispensable for theta-modulation of neuronal activity and EEG of the hippocampus. The expression of hippocampal theta depends on the proportion of the MS-DB cells involved in the rhythmic process, and its frequency in the whole theta-range, is determined by the corresponding frequencies of theta-burst in the MS-DB. The neurons of the MS-DB have the properties of endogenous rhythmic burst and regular single spike oscillators. Input signals ascending to the MS-DB from the pontomesencephalic reticular formation increase both the frequency of the MS-DB theta-bursts and the proportion of neurons involved in theta-activity; serotonergic midbrain raphe nuclei have the opposite effect on the MS-DB rhythmic activity and hippocampal EEG theta. Increase of endogenous acetylcholine (by physostigmine) also increases the proportion of the MS-DB neurons discharging in theta-bursts (both in intact and basally-undercut septum), but does not influence the theta-frequency. The primary effect of the MS-DB on hippocampal neurons (pyramidal and non-pyramidal) consists in GABAergic reset inhibition. Reset inhibition, after which theta-modulation follows in constant phase relation, is triggered also by sensory stimuli. About two-thirds of the hippocampal pyramidal neurons are tonically inhibited by sensory stimuli which evoke EEG theta, while others are excited, or do not change their activity. Anticholinergic drugs restrict the population of rhythmic neurons but do not completely suppress theta-bursts in the MS-DB and hippocampus. Under their action, EEG theta can be evoked (presumably through GABAergic MS-DB influences) by strong reticular or sensory stimuli with corresponding high frequency. However information processing in this condition is defective: expression of reset is increased, responses to electrical stimulation of the perforant path and to sensory stimuli are often augmented, habituation to sensory stimuli is absent and tonic responses are curtailed. On a background of continuous theta induced by increase of endogenous acetylcholine, reset is absent or reduced, responsiveness of the hippocampal neurons to electrical and sensory stimulation is strongly reduced.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Acetylcholine modulates averaged sensory evoked responses and perforant path evoked field potentials in the rat dentate gyrus

The effect of localized application of acetylcholine (ACh) on well characterized components of sensory evoked and electrically induced potentials in the dentate gyrus was investigated in rats while performing a tone discrimination task. Local pressure application of ACh to the granule cell layer of the dentate gyrus through the recording pipette increased the amplitude of perforant path evoked population spikes without changing the amplitude of the field EPSP. When the pipette was relocated to the outer molecular layer of the dentate gyrus (OM), ACh application decreased the amplitude of the perforant path field EPSP. Two major components of the averaged auditory evoked potential (AEP) recorded during criterion performance of the discrimination task were significantly changed by dendritic application of ACh. The N1 component of the OM AEP which has been shown to reflect perforant path synaptic activity decreased in amplitude while the N2 component which represents activity from septal connections, was significantly increased. These effects were not due to the pressure ejection procedure nor drug related changes in behavioral performance of the task. The results suggest that ACh may act to differentially modulate the synaptic excitability of dentate granule cells, allowing them to acquire responses to sensory stimulation during the establishment and maintenance of discrimination learning.