Protein kinase activity and synaptic plasticity in a chick brain slice

Abstract

IN an in vitro slice preparation of the chick brain it is possible to record responses to single electrical stimuli from within the intermediate and medial part of the hyperstriatum ventrale (IMHV), a region known to be involved in learning. The amplitude of such responses is significantly increased by superfusion of the slice with 10 μM 4β-phorbol 12,13 diacetate (PDAc), a phorbol ester which stimulates protein kinase activity. The ability of PDAc to induce potentiation is greatest in chicks less than 6 days old. Administration of the kinase antagonist H7 prevents the induction of persistent potentiation and in fact produces a long lasting depression of response amplitude. H7 also produces a short term increase in excitability within the IMHV and results in increased expression of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor activity.