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Role of phospho-calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase Ⅱ in the induction and maintenance of long-term potentiation of C-fiber-evoked field potentials in spinal dorsal horn of the rat

Xin Wenjun, Li Mingtao, Yang Hongwei, Zhang Hongmei, Hu Nengwei, Hu Xiaodong, Zhang Tong, Liu Xianguo

Department of Physiology,Zhongshan Medical School of Sun Yat-Sen University.Guangzhou 510089,Guangdong；China

Abstract

Our previous studies have shown that long-term potentiation (LTP) of C-fiber-evoked field potentials in the spinal dorsal horn is NMDA receptor dependent. it is known that elevation of Ca~(2+) in the postsynaptic neurons through NMDA receptor channels during high-frequency stimulation of the afferent fibers is crucial for LTP induction, but how this leads to a prolonged potentiation of synaptic transmission in the spinal dorsal horn is not clear. In the hippocampus, a rise of Ca~(2+) activates calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMK II) through autophosphorylation. Once this occurs, the kinase remains active, even when Ca~(2+) concentration returns to baseline level. Phosphorylated CaMK II potentiates synaptic transmission by enhancement of AMPA receptor channel function via phosphorylation of GluR1 subunit of the receptor and the addition of AMPA receptors to synapses.

Key words: calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMK II);KN-93;long-term potentiation (LTP);spinal dorsal cord;Western blot

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Citing This Article：

Xin Wenjun, Li Mingtao, Yang Hongwei, Zhang Hongmei, Hu Nengwei, Hu Xiaodong, Zhang Tong, Liu Xianguo. Role of phospho-calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase Ⅱ in the induction and maintenance of long-term potentiation of C-fiber-evoked field potentials in spinal dorsal horn of the rat. Acta Physiol Sin 2004; 56 (1): (in Chinese with English abstract).