Describe the physical changes that occur in the synapses of the hippocampus that may provide a physiological basis for long-term potentiation (LTP)
What will be an ideal response?
Answer: LTP is an increased EPSP recorded from dentate cells to a single electrical pulse when that pulse was preceded by high-frequency electrical stimulation of axons that connect with the dentate gyrus cells. There is evidence that more glutamate may be released from the presynaptic terminal button (perhaps due to the influence of nitric oxide from the postsynaptic cell). On the postsynaptic side, LTP is accompanied by physical reorganization of the dendrite, which includes the insertion of AMPA receptors into the dendrite (more sensitivity to glutamate) and the formation of new dendritic spines, which would serve to increase the postsynaptic response to glutamate. Longer term potentiation involves changes in protein synthesis, in particular that of PKM-zeta.
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