Journal Article

Protons are a neurotransmitter that regulates synaptic plasticity in the lateral amygdala

Zha, Xiang-ming, Lu, Yuan, Price, Margaret P., Wemmie, John A., Du, Jianyang, Moninger, Thomas O., Welsh, Michael J., Reznikov, Leah R.

2014

Overview

Stimulating presynaptic terminals can increase the proton concentration in synapses. Potential receptors for protons are acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs), Na ⁺- and Ca ²⁺-permeable channels that are activated by extracellular acidosis. Those observations suggest that protons might be a neurotransmitter. We found that presynaptic stimulation transiently reduced extracellular pH in the amygdala. The protons activated ASICs in lateral amygdala pyramidal neurons, generating excitatory postsynaptic currents. Moreover, both protons and ASICs were required for synaptic plasticity in lateral amygdala neurons. The results identify protons as a neurotransmitter, and they establish ASICs as the postsynaptic receptor. They also indicate that protons and ASICs are a neurotransmitter/receptor pair critical for amygdala-dependent learning and memory.

• Publisher: National Academy of Sciences,National Acad Sciences
• Subject: Acid Sensing Ion Channel Blockers - chemistry / Acid Sensing Ion Channels - genetics / Acidosis / Amygdala / Amygdala - metabolism / Amygdala - physiology / Animals / Biological Sciences / Brain / Brain - metabolism / Electrodes / Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / Hydrogen-Ion Concentration / Ion channels / Ion Channels - chemistry / Learning / Long term potentiation / Memory / Mice / Mice, Inbred C57BL / Mice, Transgenic / Neuronal Plasticity / Neurons / Neurons - metabolism / neuroplasticity / Neurotransmitter Agents - metabolism / Neurotransmitters / Organ Culture Techniques / Patch-Clamp Techniques / Peptides - chemistry / Plasticity / Protons / Receptors / Spider Venoms - chemistry / Synapses / Synapses - physiology