Endocannabinoid-mediated metaplasticity in the hippocampus

Vivien Chevaleyre, Pablo E. Castillo

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

250 Scopus citations

Abstract

Repetitive activation of glutamatergic fibers that normally induces long-term potentiation (LTP) at excitatory synapses in the hippocampus also triggers long-term depression at inhibitory synapses (I-LTD) via retrograde endocannabinoid signaling. Little is known, however, about the physiological significance of I-LTD. Here, we show that synaptic-driven release of endocannabinoids is a highly localized and efficient process that strongly depresses cannabinoid-sensitive inhibitory inputs within the dendritic compartment of CA1 pyramidal cells. By removing synaptic inhibition in a restricted area of the dendritic tree, endocannabinoids selectively "primed" nearby excitatory synapses, thereby facilitating subsequent induction of LTP. This induction of local metaplasticity is a novel mechanism by which endocannabinoids can contribute to the storage of information in the brain.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)871-881
Number of pages11
JournalNeuron
Volume43
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 16 2004

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience

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