TY - JOUR
T1 - SK channels and NMDA receptors form a Ca2+-mediated feedback loop in dendritic spines
AU - Ngo-Anh, Thu Jennifer
AU - Bloodgood, Brenda L.
AU - Lin, Michael
AU - Sabatini, Bernardo L.
AU - Maylie, James
AU - Adelman, John P.
N1 - Funding Information:
We thank T. Tzounopoulos and C. Jahr for helpful discussions. We also thank G. Banker and S. Kaech-Petrie for assistance with hippocampal cultures. This work was supported by National Institutes of Health grants to J.M. and J.P.A., and by grants to B.L.S. from the Whitaker Foundation and the Searle Scholar’s program.
PY - 2005/5
Y1 - 2005/5
N2 - Small-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels (SK channels) influence the induction of synaptic plasticity at hippocampal CA3-CA1 synapses. We find that in mice, SK channels are localized to dendritic spines, and their activity reduces the amplitude of evoked synaptic potentials in an NMDA receptor (NMDAR)-dependent manner. Using combined two-photon laser scanning microscopy and two-photon laser uncaging of glutamate, we show that SK channels regulate NMDAR-dependent Ca2+ influx within individual spines. SK channels are tightly coupled to synaptically activated Ca2+ sources, and their activity reduces the amplitude of NMDAR-dependent Ca2+ transients. These effects are mediated by a feedback loop within the spine head; during an excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP), Ca2+ influx opens SK channels that provide a local shunting current to reduce the EPSP and promote rapid Mg2+ block of the NMDAR. Thus, blocking SK channels facilitates the induction of long-term potentiation by enhancing NMDAR-dependent Ca2+ signals within dendritic spines.
AB - Small-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels (SK channels) influence the induction of synaptic plasticity at hippocampal CA3-CA1 synapses. We find that in mice, SK channels are localized to dendritic spines, and their activity reduces the amplitude of evoked synaptic potentials in an NMDA receptor (NMDAR)-dependent manner. Using combined two-photon laser scanning microscopy and two-photon laser uncaging of glutamate, we show that SK channels regulate NMDAR-dependent Ca2+ influx within individual spines. SK channels are tightly coupled to synaptically activated Ca2+ sources, and their activity reduces the amplitude of NMDAR-dependent Ca2+ transients. These effects are mediated by a feedback loop within the spine head; during an excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP), Ca2+ influx opens SK channels that provide a local shunting current to reduce the EPSP and promote rapid Mg2+ block of the NMDAR. Thus, blocking SK channels facilitates the induction of long-term potentiation by enhancing NMDAR-dependent Ca2+ signals within dendritic spines.
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U2 - 10.1038/nn1449
DO - 10.1038/nn1449
M3 - Article
C2 - 15852011
AN - SCOPUS:17844385283
SN - 1097-6256
VL - 8
SP - 642
EP - 649
JO - Nature Neuroscience
JF - Nature Neuroscience
IS - 5
ER -