BRYOSTATIN-1 PROMOTES LONG-TERM POTENTIATION VIA ACTIVATION OF PKC alpha AND PKC epsilon IN THE HIPPOCAMPUS

Abstract

Activation of protein kinase C (PKC) by bryostatin-1 affects various functions of the central nervous system. We explored whether bryostatin-1 influenced synaptic plasticity via a process involving PKC. Our purpose was to examine whether bryostatin-1 affected the induction of hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) in Schaffer-collateral fibers (CA1 fibers) of the hippocampus, and/or influenced the intracellular Ca2+ level of hippocampal neurons. We also determined the PKC isoforms involved in these processes. We found that bryostatin-1 strongly facilitated LTP induction, in a dose-dependent manner, upon single-theta burst stimulation (TBS). Further, intracellular Ca2+ levels also increased with increasing concentration of bryostatin-1. The facilitative effects of bryostatin-1 in terms of LTP induction and enhancement of intracellular Ca2+ levels were blocked by specific inhibitors of PKCa and PKCE, but not of PKGS. Our results suggest that bryostatin-1 is involved in neuronal functioning and facilitates induction of LTP via activation of PKC alpha and/or PKCE. (c) 2012 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.