Protein kinase C is selectively involved in the mechanisms of long-term synaptic plasticity.

Sensitization produced by intracellular administration of a specific protein kinase C inhibitor chelerythrine selectively inhibits synaptic facilitation in the response of LPl1 neurons to tactile sensory stimulation of snail head. Synaptic facilitation in the response to chemical stimulation of the head or tactile stimulation of the foot did not differ from that observed in neurons of control sensitized animals. Our findings suggest that protein kinase C plays a key role in the induction of long-term genetic regulation of sensory input in command neurons from mechanoreceptors on the head.