HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 576/2/341    most recent jphysiol.2006.110270v1 Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Gordon, G. R. J. Articles by Bains, J. S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Gordon, G. R. J. Articles by Bains, J. S. Related Collections Review articles

¹ Hotchkiss Brain Institute and the Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada T2N 4 N1

Alterations in synaptic strength are thought to represent the cellular basis of learning and memory. While such processes appear to be fundamental to all synapses, until recently there has been a relative dearth of information regarding synaptic ‘memory’ processes in autonomic circuits. Here we examine recent advances in our understanding of plasticity at glutamatergic synapses onto magnocellular neurosecretory cells in the hypothalamus, paying particular attention to the contributions of noradrenaline in coding long-lasting pre- and postsynaptic changes in efficacy. We also highlight recent work demonstrating that glial cells play a crucial role in the induction of long-term potentiation. Based on the work reviewed here, we have a clearer picture of the synaptic and cellular mechanisms that allow autonomic pathways to learn and remember.

(Received 23 March 2006; accepted after revision 17 July 2006; first published online 20 July 2006)
Corresponding author J. S. Bains: Hotchkiss Brain Institute and the Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada T2N 4 N1. Email: jsbains{at}ucalgary.ca