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Microiontophoresis as a technique to investigate Spike Timing Dependent Plasticity

Dutta-Moscato, Joyeeta (2008) Microiontophoresis as a technique to investigate Spike Timing Dependent Plasticity. Master's Thesis, University of Pittsburgh. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

Spike timing dependent plasticity (STDP) is a form of synaptic plasticity that depends on the relative time of activation of a presynaptic neuron and its postsynaptic neuron. STDP in the synapses made by Schaffer collateral afferents onto hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons (CA3-CA1 synapses) is NMDA receptor dependent. The objective of the current study was to develop and test a technique of glutamate iontophoresis that could replace the role of presynaptic neurotransmitter release at the CA3-CA1 synapse, so that the postsynaptic mechanisms involved in the induction of STDP could be isolated for study. Therefore, this document describes: (1) fabrication of electrodes that could be used for millisecond-level microiontophoresis in acute slice preparations of the juvenile rat hippocampus; (2) characterization of the properties and limitations of microiontophoresis in slice tissue, specifically for activation of postsynaptic ionotropic glutamate receptors at the CA3-CA1 synapse; (3) induction of STDP by pairing microiontophoresis with postsynaptic depolarization; (4) characterization of the properties and limitations of microiontophoretically induced STDP. It was determined that microiontophoresis is a viable technique to study the postsynaptic mechanisms of STDP at the CA3-CA1 synapse. My results also show that microiontophoretically induced STDP exhibits many of the same general properties as STDP induced either synaptically or by exogenously applied agonists. Microiontophoretically induced STDP also exhibits other features that will need to be considered during the design and interpretation of further experiments.


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Details

Item Type: University of Pittsburgh ETD
Status: Unpublished
Creators/Authors:
CreatorsEmailPitt UsernameORCID
Dutta-Moscato, Joyeetajod30@pitt.eduJOD30
ETD Committee:
TitleMemberEmail AddressPitt UsernameORCID
Committee ChairKandler, Karlkkarl@pitt.eduKKARL
Committee MemberBarth, Alisonbarth@cmu.edu
Committee MemberBi, Guoqianggqbi@pitt.eduGQBI
Committee MemberJohnson, Jonjjohnson@pitt.eduJJOHNSON
Date: 17 January 2008
Date Type: Completion
Defense Date: 15 November 2007
Approval Date: 17 January 2008
Submission Date: 7 December 2007
Access Restriction: No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately.
Institution: University of Pittsburgh
Schools and Programs: Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences > Neuroscience
Degree: MS - Master of Science
Thesis Type: Master's Thesis
Refereed: Yes
Uncontrolled Keywords: hippocampus; iontophoresis; LTD; LTP; plasticity; STDP
Other ID: http://etd.library.pitt.edu/ETD/available/etd-12072007-143442/, etd-12072007-143442
Date Deposited: 10 Nov 2011 20:08
Last Modified: 15 Nov 2016 13:53
URI: http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/10157

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