Target cell-specific modulation of transmitter release at terminals from a single axon

Target cell-specific modulation of transmitter release at terminals from a single axon

^*Laboratoire de Physiologie, Ecole Supérieure de Physique et Chimie Industrielles, F-75231 Paris, France; and ^‡Brain Research Institute, University of Zurich, CH-8029 Zurich, Switzerland

Edited by Harald Reuter, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland, and approved July 8, 1998 (received for review May 8, 1998)

Abstract

In the hippocampus, a CA3 pyramidal cell forms excitatory synapses with thousands of other pyramidal cells and inhibitory interneurons. By using sequential paired recordings from three connected cells, we show that the presynaptic properties of CA3 pyramidal cell terminals, belonging to the same axon, differ according to the type of target cell. Activation of presynaptic group III metabotropic glutamate receptors decreases transmitter release only at terminals contacting CA1 interneurons but not CA1 pyramidal cells. Furthermore, terminals contacting distinct target cells show different frequency facilitation. On the basis of these results, we conclude that the pharmacological and physiological properties of presynaptic terminals are determined, at least in part, by the target cells.

Footnotes

↵ † To whom reprint requests should be sent at present address: Brain Research Institute, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland. e-mail: massimo{at}atlas.bio.espci.fr.
This paper was submitted directly (Track II) to the Proceedings Office.
ABBREVIATIONS:

CV,

coefficient of variation;

EPSC,

excitatory postsynaptic current;

EPSP,

excitatory postsynaptic potential;

fEPSP,

field EPSP;

IPSP,

inhibitory postsynaptic potential;

L-AP4,

l(+)-2-amino-4-phosphonobutyric acid;

mGLUR,

metabotropic glutamate receptor;

NBQX,

6-nitro-7-sulfamoylbenzo(f)quinoxaline-2,3-dione;

PPR,

paired pulse ratio;

NMDAR,

N-methyl-d-aspartic acid receptor;

AMPA,

[alpha]-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxalozolepropionic acid