The Effects of Different Concentrations of the α2-Adrenoceptor Agonist Medetomidine on Basal Excitatory Synaptic Transmission and Synaptic Plasticity in Hippocampal Slices of Adult Mice

BACKGROUND:α2-Adrenoceptor agonists are used frequently in human and veterinary anesthesia as sedative/analgesic drugs. However, they can impair cognition. Little is known about the concentration-dependent effects of α2-adrenoceptor agonists on synaptic plasticity, the neurophysiological basis of learning and memory. Therefore, we investigated the effects of different concentrations of medetomidine, an α2-adrenoceptor agonist, on basal excitatory synaptic transmission and on 2 forms of synaptic plasticitypaired-pulse facilitation (PPF) and long-term potentiation (LTP). METHODS:Evoked field excitatory postsynaptic potentials were recorded in Schaffer fibers-CA1 pyramidal cell synapses of mouse hippocampal slices, and the initial field excitatory postsynaptic potentials slope was measured. For basal synaptic transmission and PPF, increasing concentrations of medetomidine (1–200 μM) were applied to each slice. For LTP experiments, individual slices were used for each tested concentration of medetomidine (0.1–0.4 μM), where LTP induction and LTP maintenance were measured. RESULTS:The lower tested concentrations of medetomidine decreased LTP in a concentration-dependent manner, whereas greater concentrations were required to decrease fiber volley amplitude and basal excitatory synaptic transmission. PPF was only affected by the greatest concentration (200 μM). CONCLUSIONS:Medetomidine decreased LTP in the mouse hippocampus, in accordance with the ability of medetomidine to induce memory deficits.