Cholinergic neurotransmission and synaptic plasticity concerning memory processing

• Published in: Neurochemical research Vol. 22; no. 4; pp. 507 - 515
• Main Authors: JERUSALINSKY, D, KORNISIUK, E, IZQUIERDO, I
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Springer 01-04-1997; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animals; Behavioral psychophysiology; Biological and medical sciences; Choline - physiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid - metabolism; Humans; Memory - physiology; Neurology; Neuronal Plasticity - physiology; Neurons; Neurotransmission and behavior; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Receptors, Muscarinic - physiology; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate - physiology; Synaptic Transmission - physiology; Potentiation; Cholinergic receptor; Synaptic transmission; Memory; Synaptic plasticity; Muscarinic receptor; Review; Long term; Neurotransmission; Cholinergic transmission
• ISSN: 0364-3190; 1573-6903
• DOI: 10.1023/a:1027376230898

The brain is able to change the synaptic strength in response to stimuli that leave a memory trace. Long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD) are forms of activity-dependent synaptic plasticity proposed to underlie memory. The induction of LTP appears mediated by glutamate acting on AMPA and then on NMDA receptors. Cholinergic muscarinic agonists facilitate learning and memory. Acetylcholine depolarizes pyramidal neurons, reduces inhibition, upregulates NMDA channels and activates the phosphoinositide cascade. Postsynaptic Ca2+ rises and stimulates Ca-dependent PK, promoting synaptic changes. Electroencephalographic desynchronization and hippocampal theta rhythm are related to learning and memory, are inducible by cholinergic agonists and elicited by hippocampal cholinergic terminals. Their loss results in memory deficits. Hence, cholinergic pathways may act synergically with glutamatergic transmission, regulating and leading to synaptic plasticity. The stimulation that induces plasticity in vivo has not been established. The patterns for LTP/LTD induction in vitro may be due to the loss of ascending cholinergic inputs. As a rat explores pyramidal cells fire bursts that could be relevant to plasticity.