Memory reconsolidation and its maintenance depend on L-voltage-dependent calcium channels and CaMKII functions regulating protein turnover in the hippocampus

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2013 Apr 16;110(16):6566-70. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1302356110. Epub 2013 Apr 1.

Abstract

Immediate postretrieval bilateral blockade of long-acting voltage-dependent calcium channels (L-VDCCs), but not of glutamatergic NMDA receptors, in the dorsal CA1 region of the hippocampus hinders retention of long-term spatial memory in the Morris water maze. Immediate postretrieval bilateral inhibition of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaMK) II in dorsal CA1 does not affect retention of this task 24 h later but does hinder it 5 d later. These two distinct amnesic effects are abolished if protein degradation by proteasomes is inhibited concomitantly. These results indicate that spatial memory reconsolidation depends on the functionality of L-VDCC in dorsal CA1, that maintenance of subsequent reconsolidated memory trace depends on CaMKII, and these results also suggest that the role played by both L-VDCC and CaMKII is to promote the retrieval-dependent, synaptically localized enhancement of protein synthesis necessary to counteract a retrieval-dependent, synaptic-localized enhancement of protein degradation, which has been described as underlying the characteristic labilization of the memory trace triggered by retrieval. Thus, conceivably, L-VDCC and CaMKII would enhance activity-dependent localized protein renewal, which may account for the improvement of the long-term efficiency of the synapses responsible for the maintenance of reactivated long-term spatial memory.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Analysis of Variance
  • Animals
  • Calcium Channels / metabolism*
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2 / metabolism*
  • Hippocampus / physiology*
  • Long-Term Potentiation / physiology
  • Male
  • Maze Learning / physiology
  • Memory, Long-Term / physiology*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Calcium Channels
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2