Modulation of hippocampal synaptic plasticity by the ERK/MAPK pathway

摘要

The extracellular signal-regulated kinase/mitogen-activated protein kinase (ERK/MAPK) pathway is a ubiquitous serine/threonine kinase cascade that plays a crucial role in cellular growth and differentiation in the vertebrate central nervous system. Recently it has also been implicated in neuronal plasticity as a major intervenient in long term potentiation (LTP) and long term memory (LTM) formation. The hippocampus, where MAPK is highly expressed, is commonly used as a model to study synaptic plasticity since it is involved in learning and memory. The role of the MAPK cascade in synaptic plasticity is not confined to the regulation of long-term events, A growing importance in short-term/rapid synaptic responses, such as those involved in the release of neurotransmitters, is emerging for this signaling pathway. Therefore, the duration of MAPK activation and its localization within the cell can determine whether nuclear or cytosolic targets are activated, and whether short term or more persistent cellular responses are triggered. In this review we will focus on the role of MAPK in the modulation of glutamatergic synaptic transmission in the hippocampus.