Production of superoxide anions in the incubation medium of hippocampal slices can induce long-term potentiation (LTP). Other reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as hydrogen peroxide are able to modulate LTP and are likely to be involved in aging mechanisms. The present study explored whether intracerebro-ventricular (ICV) injection of oxidant or antioxidant molecules could affect LTP in vivo. With this aim in mind, field excitatory post-synaptic potentials (fEPSPs) elicited by stimulation of the perforant pathway were recorded in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampal formation in urethane-anesthetized rats. N-acetyl-L-cysteine, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) or hypoxanthine/xanthine-oxidase solution (a superoxide producing system) were administrated by ICV injection. The control was represented by a group injected with saline ICV. Ten minutes after the injection, LTP was induced in the granule cells of the dentate gyrus by high frequency stimulation of the perforant pathway. Neither the H(2)O(2) injection or the N-acetyl-L-cysteine injection caused any variation in the fEPSP at the 10-min post-injection time point, whereas the superoxide generating system caused a significant increase in the fEPSP. Moreover, at 60 min after tetanic stimulation, all treatments attenuated LTP compared with the control group. These results show that ICV administration of oxidant or antioxidant molecules can modulate LTP in vivo in the dentate gyrus. Particularly, a superoxide producing system can induce potentiation of the synaptic response. Interestingly, ICV injection of oxidants or antioxidants prevented a full expression of LTP compared to the saline injection.

Department of Experimental Medicine 2nd University of Naples Naples

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