The consolidation of changes following activity-dependent neural plasticity are believed to involve specific patterns of gene expression. In the hippocampus, immediate early genes are thought to contribute to long-term synaptic plasticity (LTP and LTD) and this may occur also in the cerebellum, in which the transcription factors c-Fos and p-CREB have been identified. The cerebellum granular layer (GL) can manifest both LTP and LTD following a Theta Burts Stimulus (TBS) delivered to the mossy fibers. In this study we have employed VSD imaging in rat cerebellar slices (P18-24) in order to map the spatial distribution of LTP and LTD in the cerebellum GL. Fluorescence changes were correlated to LTP or LTD in two different post-TBS time ranges (15-120 min). Slices were then fixed and processed for immunohystochemistry in order to identify the level of c-Fos and p-CREB expression. The induction of long-term plasticity increased the average level of p-CREB both at 15 min (+39±4.9, p<0.01%) and 120 min (+24±7.2, p<0.05%) after TBS. The level of c-Fos was unaltered at 15 min, while it significantly increased at 120 min (+37±8.9, p<0.05%). By spatially correlating long-term synaptic plasticity with the corresponding variation of p-CREB and c-Fos, we observed that regions showing LTP well correlated (p<0.05) with positive variations of p-CREB and c-Fos. Conversely, areas showing LTD correlated exclusively (p<0.05) with negative variations of p-CREB. Slices were also treated with in situ hybridization reactions and a similar analysis was performed. The levels of fos and CREB mRNA expression and their spatial correlation with the sign of long-term synaptic plasticity corresponded with the immunoistochemical results. Therefore, LTP and LTD in the cerebellar granular layer are accompanied by gene expression providing the basis for the consolidation of this form of plasticity.

Correlation of LTP and LTD with gene expression in the cerebellar cortex.

GANDOLFI, DANIELA;TRITTO, SIMONA;Blandini F.;D'ANGELO, EGIDIO UGO
2012-01-01

Abstract

The consolidation of changes following activity-dependent neural plasticity are believed to involve specific patterns of gene expression. In the hippocampus, immediate early genes are thought to contribute to long-term synaptic plasticity (LTP and LTD) and this may occur also in the cerebellum, in which the transcription factors c-Fos and p-CREB have been identified. The cerebellum granular layer (GL) can manifest both LTP and LTD following a Theta Burts Stimulus (TBS) delivered to the mossy fibers. In this study we have employed VSD imaging in rat cerebellar slices (P18-24) in order to map the spatial distribution of LTP and LTD in the cerebellum GL. Fluorescence changes were correlated to LTP or LTD in two different post-TBS time ranges (15-120 min). Slices were then fixed and processed for immunohystochemistry in order to identify the level of c-Fos and p-CREB expression. The induction of long-term plasticity increased the average level of p-CREB both at 15 min (+39±4.9, p<0.01%) and 120 min (+24±7.2, p<0.05%) after TBS. The level of c-Fos was unaltered at 15 min, while it significantly increased at 120 min (+37±8.9, p<0.05%). By spatially correlating long-term synaptic plasticity with the corresponding variation of p-CREB and c-Fos, we observed that regions showing LTP well correlated (p<0.05) with positive variations of p-CREB and c-Fos. Conversely, areas showing LTD correlated exclusively (p<0.05) with negative variations of p-CREB. Slices were also treated with in situ hybridization reactions and a similar analysis was performed. The levels of fos and CREB mRNA expression and their spatial correlation with the sign of long-term synaptic plasticity corresponded with the immunoistochemical results. Therefore, LTP and LTD in the cerebellar granular layer are accompanied by gene expression providing the basis for the consolidation of this form of plasticity.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11571/583727
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