AUTHOR=Mango D. , Nisticò R. 

TITLE=Acid-Sensing Ion Channel 1a Is Involved in N-Methyl D-Aspartate Receptor-Dependent Long-Term Depression in the Hippocampus

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology

VOLUME=10

YEAR=2019

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2019.00555

DOI=10.3389/fphar.2019.00555

ISSN=1663-9812

ABSTRACT=<p>Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs), members of the degenerin/epithelial Na<sup>+</sup> channel superfamily, are largely expressed in the mammalian nervous system. ASIC1a is highly permeable to Ca<sup>2+</sup> and are involved in many physiological processes, including synaptic plasticity, learning, and memory. To clarify the role of ASIC1a in synaptic transmission and plasticity, we investigated N-methyl D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-dependent long-term depression (LTD) in the CA1 region of the hippocampus. We found that: (1) ASIC1a mediates a component of ASIC1a excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs); (2) ASIC1a plays a role in electrical LTD induced by LFS protocol both in P13-18 and P30-40 animals; (3) ASIC1a is involved in chemical LTD induced by brief bath application of NMDA both in P13-18 and P30-40 animals; and finally (4) a functional interaction between ASIC1a and NMDA receptors occurs during LTD. These findings suggest a new role for ASIC1a in specific forms of synaptic plasticity in the mouse hippocampus.</p>