Studies on stress-induced modulation of long term potentiation in rodent hippocampus: what can we learn about pathogenesis of depression?

Abstract

Long-term potentiation (LTP) reflecting continuous changes in synaptic efficacy is regarded as a cellular model of learning and memory. In this mini-review the data relating to hippocampal LTP alterations in rodent models of depression are analyzed to learn whether disturbances in LTP may be reliable markers of synaptic plasticity impairments underlying depressive and anxiety states. LTP disturbances result from synaptic reorganizations induced by multiple inter-related and mutually dependent events: hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis disfunction; malfunction of neurotransmitter systems; failure to maintain the balance of neurotrophic systems; neuroinflammatory processes; disturbance in neurogenesis. Stable deficits in hippocampal LTP reflect the synapse-related basic mechanisms for cognitive and emotional behavioral deficits characterisic for depression/anxiety, and altered LTP is indicative of the development of stress-induced psychopathology.