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Distributed Network Actions by Nicotine Increase the Threshold for Spike-Timing-Dependent Plasticity in Prefrontal Cortex
Open accessAbstract
Nicotine enhances attention and working memory by activating nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is critical for these cognitive functions and is also rich in nAChR expression. Specific cellular and synaptic mechanisms underlying nicotine's effects on cognition remain elusive. Here we show that nicotine exposure increases the threshold for synaptic spike-timing-dependent potentiation (STDP) in layer V pyramidal neurons of the mouse PFC. During coincident presynaptic and postsynaptic activity, nicotine reduces dendritic calcium signals associated with action potential propagation by enhancing GABAergic transmission. This results from a series of presynaptic actions involving different PFC interneurons and multiple nAChR subtypes. Pharmacological block of nAChRs or GABA(A) receptors prevented nicotine's actions and restored STDP, as did increasing dendritic calcium signals with stronger postsynaptic activity. Thus, by activating nAChRs distributed throughout the PFC neuronal network, nicotine affects PFC information processing and storage by increasing the amount of postsynaptic activity necessary to induce STDP.
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“In contrast, in layer V pyramidal neurons, activation of presynaptic β2* nAChRs on glutamatergic inputs from the thalamus strongly enhances activity of these neurons (Gioanni et al. 1999; Lambe et al. 2003; Couey et al. 2007; Poorthuis et al. 2012).”
From Short- and Long-Term Consequences of Nicotine Exposure during Adolescence for Prefrontal Cortex Neuronal Network Function (2012) · cites this paper as Couey et al. 2007
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe source backs part of the claim, not all of it — or backs it for a different population, condition or comparison.
In the citing paper
“This may affect plasticity and refinement of cortical connections (Couey et al. 2007)”
From Short- and Long-Term Consequences of Nicotine Exposure during Adolescence for Prefrontal Cortex Neuronal Network Function (2012) · cites this paper as Couey et al. 2007
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe source backs part of the claim, not all of it — or backs it for a different population, condition or comparison.
In the citing paper
“In addition, nicotine in the mPFC changes the rules for spike-timing-dependent plasticity and thereby prevents synaptic potentiation (34).”
From Adolescent nicotine exposure transiently increases high-affinity nicotinic receptors and modulates inhibitory synaptic transmission in rat medial prefrontal cortex (2012) · cites this paper as [34]
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“the majority of interneurons express nAChRs that are composed of α4β2*, although they also express other subunits (34)”
From Adolescent nicotine exposure transiently increases high-affinity nicotinic receptors and modulates inhibitory synaptic transmission in rat medial prefrontal cortex (2012) · cites this paper as [34]
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“Increased inhibition can lead to blockade of long-term potentiation (LTP) induction in the hippocampus (Ji et al. 2001) and increase in the threshold for induction of spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP) (Couey et al. 2007).”
From Short- and Long-Term Consequences of Nicotine Exposure during Adolescence for Prefrontal Cortex Neuronal Network Function (2012) · cites this paper as Couey et al. 2007
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“nAChR, which enhances both excitatory and inhibitory synaptic transmission (Lambe et al. 2003; Couey et al. 2007; Poorthuis et al. 2012).”
From Short- and Long-Term Consequences of Nicotine Exposure during Adolescence for Prefrontal Cortex Neuronal Network Function (2012) · cites this paper as Couey et al. 2007
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“In addition, different types of PFC interneurons in the mPFC express both α7 and α4β2-containing nAChRs on their cell bodies (34), and nAChR stimulation increases GABAergic transmission (34).”
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“In contrast to the ability of nAChR stimulation to promote LTP in a number of brain areas, nAChR-mediated facilitation of GABA release reduces calcium levels in prefronto-cortical dendrites (Couey et al., 2007).”
From Acetylcholine as a Neuromodulator: Cholinergic Signaling Shapes Nervous System Function and Behavior (2012) · cites this paper as Couey et al., 2007
In the citing paper
“The fast inhibition is at least partially mediated by the actions of both nAChRs and mAChRs that increase the excitability and firing rates of dendrite-targeting GABAergic interneurons (Arroyo et al., 2012; Couey et al., 2007; Fanselow et al., 2008; Ferezou et al., 2002; Gulledge et al., 2007; Kawaguchi and Kubota, 1997).”
From Acetylcholine as a Neuromodulator: Cholinergic Signaling Shapes Nervous System Function and Behavior (2012) · cites this paper as Couey et al., 2007
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Metadata
- Authors
- Couey, J. J., Meredith, R. M., Spijker, S., Poorthuis, R. B., Smit, A. B., Brussaard, A. B., & Mansvelder, H. D.
- Affiliations
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (NL)
- Corresponding author
- Mansvelder, Huibert D.
- ORCID
- Venue
- Neuron
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2007-04
- Volume
- 54
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 73-87
- ISSN
- 0896-6273 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2077516679
- Cited by
- 253
- References
- 68
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 18 · 2017: 15 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 21 · 2013: 22 · 2012: 18
- FWCI
- 7.21
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
- www.elsevier.com/legal/tdmrep-license (tdm)
- www.elsevier.com/open-access/userlicense/1.0/ (vor, 2335 d)
- doi.org/10.15223/policy-017 (stm-asf)
- doi.org/10.15223/policy-037 (stm-asf)
- doi.org/10.15223/policy-012 (stm-asf)
- doi.org/10.15223/policy-029 (stm-asf)
- doi.org/10.15223/policy-004 (stm-asf)
- Locations
- Neuron (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- VU Research Portal (publishedVersion, other-oa)
- Digital Academic REpository of VU University Amsterdam (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) (submittedVersion)
- Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Funders
- Koninklijke Nederlandse Akademie van Wetenschappen
- ZonMw
- Medical Research Council
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors Study
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural dynamics and brain function
- Keywords
- nicotine, nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, spike-timing-dependent plasticity, prefrontal cortex, layer 5 pyramidal neurons, GABAergic neurotransmission, GABAA receptor, presynaptic inhibition, nAChR subtypes, working memory, attention
- MeSH terms
- Action Potentials, Animals, Animals, Newborn, Drug Interactions, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Models, Neurological, Nerve Net, Neuronal Plasticity, Neurons, Nicotine, Reaction Time, Receptors, Nicotinic, Prefrontal Cortex, Nicotinic Agonists, GABA Antagonists, Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials, Calcium Signaling, Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction, Mice, In Vitro Techniques
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