Identification of the kainate receptor subunits underlying modulation of excitatory synaptic transmission in the CA3 region of the hippocampus

A. Contractor*, G. T. Swanson, A. Sailer, S. O'Gorman, S. F. Heinemann

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

159 Scopus citations

Abstract

To understand the physiological role of kainate receptors and their participation in seizure induction in animal models of epilepsy, it will be necessary to develop a comprehensive description of their action in the CA3 region of the hippocampus. Activation of presynaptic kainate receptors depresses excitatory synaptic transmission at mossy fiber and associational-commissural inputs to CA3 pyramidal neurons (Vignes et al., 1998; Bortolotto et al., 1999; Kamiya and Ozawa, 2000). In this study, we use gene-targeted mice lacking glutamate receptor 5 (GluR5) or GluR6 kainate receptor subunits to identify the receptor subunits that comprise the kainate receptors responsible for presynaptic modulation of CA3 transmission. We found that bath application of kainate (3 μM) profoundly reduced EPSCs at mossy fiber and collateral synapses in neurons from wild-type and GluR5(-/-) mice but had no effect on EPSCs in neurons from GluR6(-/-) mice. These results therefore contrast with previous studies that supported a role for GluR5-containing receptors at mossy fiber and associational-commissural synapses (Vignes et al., 1998; Bortolotto et al., 1999). Surprisingly, at perforant path synapses kainate receptor activation enhanced transmission; this potentiation was abolished in both GluR5 and GluR6 knockout mice. Kainate receptors thus play multiple and complex roles to modulate excitatory synaptic transmission in the CA3 region of the hippocampus.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)8269-8278
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Neuroscience
Volume20
Issue number22
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 15 2000

Keywords

  • CA3 pyramidal neurons
  • Excitatory synaptic transmission
  • Hippocampus
  • Kainate receptor knock-out mice
  • Mossy fiber
  • Presynaptic kainate receptors

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience

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