Erythropoietin Induces Homeostatic Plasticity at Hippocampal Synapses.

ABSTRACT: The cytokine erythropoietin (EPO) is the master regulator of erythropoiesis. Intriguingly, many studies have shown that the cognitive performance of patients receiving EPO for its hematopoietic effects is enhanced, which prompted the growing interest in the use of EPO-based strategies to treat neuropsychiatric disorders. EPO plays key roles in brain development and maturation, but also modulates synaptic transmission. However, the mechanisms underlying the latter have remained elusive. Here, we show that acute (40-60 min) exposure to EPO presynaptically downregulates spontaneous and afferent-evoked excitatory transmission, without affecting basal firing of action potentials. Conversely, prolonged (3 h) exposure to EPO, if followed by a recovery period (1 h), is able to elicit a homeostatic

SUBMITTER: Dias RB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6117472 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature