Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Simultaneous LTP of non-NMDA- and LTD of NMDA-receptor-mediated responses in the nucleus accumbens

Nature volume 368, pages 242–246 (1994)Cite this article

Abstract

THE nucleus accumbens (NA), a ventral extension of the striatum, plays a role in several complex behaviour patterns1 and also is a major site of action of drugs of abuse such as cocaine1–3. Intrinsic NA cells are predominantly quiescent4,5 and their activity depends on excitatory input from cortical and subcortical limbic afferents6,7. Here we examine the mechanisms of synaptic plasticity at the synapse between prelimbic cortical afferents and cells in the core region of the NA8–10. Manipulations that induce a Ca2+-dependent long-term potentiation (LTP) of non-NMDA (N-methyl-d-aspartate)-receptor-mediated responses also produce a simultaneous long-term depression (LTD) of NMDA-receptor-mediated responses. These results indicate that in a single cell the same change in postsynaptic Ca2+ concentration can have opposite effects on non-NMDA- and NMDA-receptor-mediated synaptic responses. This may be particularly important in the NA, where NMDA receptors are critical for mediating the behavioural actions of drugs of abuse11–13.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Swerdlow, N. R. & Koob, G. F. Behavl Brain Sci. 10, 197–245 (1987).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Nestler, E. J. J. Neurosci. 12, 2439–2450 (1992).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Koob, G. F. & Bloom, F. E. Science 242, 715–723 (1988).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Uchimura, N., Higashi, H. & Nishi, S. J. Neurophysiol. 61, 769–779 (1989).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Pennartz, C. M. A., Boeijinga, P. H., Kitai, S. T. & Lopez da Silva, F. H. Expl Brain Res. 86, 190–198 (1991).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Christie, M. J., Summers, R. J., Stephenson, J. A., Cook, C. J. & Beart, P. M. Neuroscience 22, 425–439 (1987).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Phillipson, O. T. & Griffiths, A. C. Neuroscience 16, 275–296 (1985).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Uchimura, N. & North, R. A. J. Pharmac. exp. Ther. 258, 663–668 (1991).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. O'Donnell, P. & Grace, A. A. Synapse 13, 135–160 (1993).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Pennartz, C. M. A., Dolleman-Van der Weel, M. J. & Lopes da Silva, F. H. Neurosci. Lett. 136, 109–112 (1992).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Kelly, A. E. & Throne, L. C. Brain Res. Bull. 29, 247–254 (1992).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Pulvirenti, L., Swerdlow, N. R. & Koob, G. F. Pharmac. Biochem. Behav. 40, 841–845 (1991).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Pulvirenti, L., Maldonado-Lopez, R. & Koob, G. F. Brain Res. 594, 327–330 (1992).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Chang, H. T. & Kitai, S. T. Brain Res. 366, 392–396 (1986).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Pennartz, C. M. A., Ameerun, R. F., Groenewegen, H. J. & Lopez da Silva, F. H. Eur. J. Neurosci. 5, 107–117 (1993).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Bliss, T. V. P. & Collingridge, G. L. Nature 361, 31–39 (1993).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Bear, M. F. & Kirkwood, A. Curr. Opin. Neurobiol. 3, 197–202 (1993).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Lisman, J. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 86, 9574–9578 (1989).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Artola, A. & Singer, W. Trends Neurosci. 16, 480–487 (1993).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Hestrin, S., Nicoll, R. A., Perkel, D. J. & Sah, P. J. Physiol. Lond. 422, 203–225 (1990).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Perkel, D. J. & Nicoll, R. A. J. Physiol. Lond. 471, 481–500 (1993).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Chen, L. & Mae Huang, L.-Y. Nature 356, 521–523 (1992).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Mayer, M. L., Wesbrook, G. L. & Guthrie, P. B. Nature 309, 261–263 (1984).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Nowak, L., Bregestovski, P., Ascher, P., Herbet, A. & Prochiantz, Z. Nature 307, 462–465 (1984).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Dudek, S. M. & Bear, M. F. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 89, 4363–4367 (1992).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Mulkey, R. M. & Malenka, R. C. Neuron 9, 967–975 (1992).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. McBain, C. J. & Dingledine, R. J. Physiol., Lond. 462, 373–392 (1993).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Monyer, H. et al. Science 256, 1217–1221 (1992).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Blanton, M., Lo Turco, J. & Kriegstein, A. J. Neurosci. Meth. 30, 203–210 (1989).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Malenka, R. C. et al. Nature 340, 554–557 (1989).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Robert C. Malenka: To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Psychiatry and Physiology, University of California, LPPI, Box 0984, San Francisco, California, 94143-0984, USA

    Samuel B. Kombian & Robert C. Malenka

Authors
  1. Samuel B. Kombian
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Robert C. Malenka
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kombian, S., Malenka, R. Simultaneous LTP of non-NMDA- and LTD of NMDA-receptor-mediated responses in the nucleus accumbens. Nature 368, 242–246 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1038/368242a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/368242a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing