Analysis of heterosynaptic facilitation in identified giant neurons from cerebral ganglion of the pond snail Planorbis corneus

Abstract

1. The intracellular mechanism of heterosynaptic facilitation (HSF) formation in identified neurons from the snail Planorbis corneus has been studied. 2. Facilitation of excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSC) were induced by (a) stimulation of pallial nerve, and (b) addition to extracellular saline of serotonin, NaF, papaverine, theophylline, caffeine or dibutril-cAMP. 3. A depression of EPSC in solutions containing tolbutamide, a cAMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor was observed. 4. In some cases the similar facilitation or depression of the current induced by acetylcholine application (ACh-current) was found in the same neuron. 5. The effects on ACh-current were distorted in solutions containing caffeine, a well-known activator of calcium ions release from the intracellular depot. 6. According to our findings, we suggest that adenylate cyclase activity of postsynaptic cells could underlie the formation of HSF and it is likely that this activity was modulated by intracellular concentration of calcium ions.