Calcium-Stimulated Adenylyl Cyclases Required for Long-Term Potentiation in the Anterior Cingulate Cortex

Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Submitted 22 November 2004; accepted in final form 30 January 2005 Activity-dependent long-term potentiation (LTP) in the CNS is thought to be important in learning, memory, development, and persistent pain. Here, we report that NMDA receptor-dependent LTP is the major form of long-term plasticity in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). In addition to N -methyl- D -aspartate (NMDA) receptors, L-type voltage-gated calcium channels are also required for inducing LTP. Activation of calcium-stimulated adenylyl cyclase subtype 1 (AC1) is essential for the induction of LTP in ACC neurons, while AC8 subunit partially contributes to forskolin-induced potentiation. Our results suggest that calcium-stimulated cAMP-dependent signaling pathways play a critical role in cingulate LTP. Address for reprint requests and other correspondence: M. Zhuo, Dept. of Physiology, Univ. of Toronto, Medical Science Bldg., Rm. 3342, 1 King’s College Circle, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada (E-mail: min.zhuo{at}utoronto.ca )