Store-Operated Calcium Entry Is Required for mGluR-Dependent Long Term Depression in Cortical Neurons

Store-operated calcium entry (SOCE) is a Calcium (Ca(2+)) influx pathway activated by depletion of intracellular stores that occurs in eukaryotic cells. In neurons, the presence and functions of SOCE are still in question. Here, we show evidences for the existence of SOCE in primary mouse cortical neurons. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-Ca(2+) depletion using thapsigargin (Tg) triggered a maintained cytosolic Ca(2+) increase, which rapidly returned to basal level in the presence of the SOCE blockers 2-Aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2-APB) and YM-58483. Neural SOCE is also engaged by activation of metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) with (S)-3,5-dihydroxyphenylglycine (DHPG) (agonist of group I mGluRs), being an essential mechanism to maintain the mGluR-driven Ca(2+) signal. Activation of group I of mGluRs triggers long-term depression (LTD) in many brain regions, but the underlying mechanism and, specifically, the necessity of Ca(2+) increase in the postsynaptic neuron is controversial. In primary cortical neurons, we now show that the inhibition of Ca(2+) influx through SOCE impaired DHPG-LTD, pointing out a key function of calcium and SOCE in synaptic plasticity.