Plasticity of intrinsic excitability during LTD is mediated by bidirectional changes in h-channel activity

The polarity of excitability changes associated with induction of Long-Term synaptic Depression (LTD) in CA1 pyramidal neurons is a contentious issue. Postsynaptic neuronal excitability after LTD induction is found to be reduced in certain cases (i.e. synergistic changes) but enhanced in others (i.e. compensatory or homeostatic). We examined here whether these divergent findings could result from the activation of two separate mechanisms converging onto a single learning rule linking synergistic and homeostatic plasticity. We show that the magnitude of LTD induced with low frequency stimulation (LFS) of the Schaffer collaterals determines the polarity of intrinsic changes in CA1 pyramidal neurons. Apparent input resistance (R(in)) is reduced following induction of moderate LTD (<20–30%). In contrast, R(in) is increased after induction of large LTD (>40%) induced by repetitive episodes of LFS. The up-regulation of I (h) observed after moderate LTD results from the activation of NMDA receptors whereas the down-regulation of I (h) is due to activation of mGluR1 receptors. These changes in R(in) were associated with changes in intrinsic excitability. In conclusion, our study indicates that changes in excitability after LTD induction follow a learning rule describing a continuum linking synergistic and compensatory changes in excitability.