Abstract
EVIDENCE that carbon monoxide can serve as an intercellular messenger in brain1–3, a role much like that demonstrated for nitric oxide in various tissues4, prompted us to investigate whether carbon monoxide participates in long-term potentiation (LTP), the cellular mechanism that may underlie certain forms of learning and memory. Although LTP is triggered in the postsynaptic neuron, at least some fraction of LTP is expressed presynaptically as an increase in the quantity of neurotransmitter released5–14. Thus, a retrograde signal must form the communication link between the postsynaptic site of induction and the presynaptic site of expression. To test whether carbon monoxide might act as a retrograde signal in LTP, we have investigated the effect on LTP of inhibitors of the enzyme haem oxygenase-2, which catalyses the production of carbon monoxide in the brain. We find that these inhibitors prevent the induction of LTP and have no effect on one form of long-term depression. Furthermore, they will reverse LTP that is already established.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Verma, A. D. J., Glatt, C. E., Ronnett, G. V. & Snyder, S. H. Science 259, 381–384 (1993).
Marks, G. S., Brien, J. F., Nakatsu, K. & McLaughlin, B. E. Trends pharmac. Sci. 12, 185–188 (1991).
Ewing, J. F. & Maines, M. D. Molec. cell. Neurosci. 3, 559–570 (1992).
Culotta, E. & Koshland, D. E. Jr Science 258, 1862 (1992).
Bliss, T. V. P., Douglas, R. M., Errington, M. L. & Lynch, M. A. J. Physiol. 377, 391–418 (1986).
Voronin, L. L. in Synaptic Plasticity in the Hippocampus (eds Haas, H. L. & Buzsaki, G.) 27–30 (Springer, Berlin, 1988).
Malinow, R. & Tsien, R. W. Nature 346, 177–180 (1990).
Bekkers, J. M. & Stevens, C. F. Nature 346, 724–729 (1990).
Baskys, A., Carlen, P. L. & Wojtowicz, J. M. Neurosci. Lett. 127, 169–172 (1991).
Malinow, R. Science 252, 722–724 (1991).
Malgaroli, A. & Tsien, R. W. Nature 357, 134–139 (1992).
Kullmann, D. M. & Nicoll, R. A. Nature 357, 240–244 (1992).
Larkman, A., Hannay, T., Stratford, K. & Jack, J. Nature 360, 70–73 (1992).
Liao, D., Jones, A. & Malinow, R. Neuron 9, 1089–1097 (1992).
Maines, M. D. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 673, 339–350 (1981).
Vreman, H. J., Lee, O. K. & Stevenson, D. K. Med. Sci. 302, 335–341 (1991).
Mayer, M. L. & Vyklicky, L. Jr J. Physiol. 415, 351–365 (1989).
Dudek, S. M. & Bear, M. F. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 89, 4363–4367 (1992).
Mulkey, R. M. & Malenka, R. C. Neuron 9, 967–975 (1992).
Malinow, R., Madison, D. V. & Tsien, R. W. Nature 335, 820–824 (1988).
Bloomer, J. R., Reuter, R. J. & Morton, K. O. Gasteroenterology 85, 663–668 (1983).
Ignarro, L. J., Ballot, B. & Wood, K. S. J. Biol. Chem. 259, 6201–6207 (1984).
Zhou, M., Small, S. A., Kandel, E. A. & Hawkins, R. D. Science (in the press).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Stevens, C., Wang, Y. Reversal of long-term potentiation by inhibitors of haem oxygenase. Nature 364, 147–149 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1038/364147a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/364147a0
- Springer Nature Limited
This article is cited by
-
Central nervous system effects of 5-HT7 receptors: a potential target for neurodegenerative diseases
Molecular Medicine (2022)
-
Hydrogen sulfide: its production, release and functions
Amino Acids (2011)
-
Glutamate receptors and signal transduction in learning and memory
Molecular Biology Reports (2011)
-
Antiamnesic Effect of B. monniera on L-NNA Induced Amnesia Involves Calmodulin
Neurochemical Research (2010)
-
Expression of gLTP in Sympathetic Ganglia of Obese Zucker Rats In Vivo: Molecular Evidence
Journal of Molecular Neuroscience (2008)