[Transcription factors SRF (serum response factor) are selectively involved in mechanisms of long-term synapse-specific plasticity].

In our previous investigations, it was found that nociceptive sensitization is followed by translation- and transcription-dependent long-term facilitation of synaptic responses evoked by sensory stimulations in LP11 and LP11 command neuron of defence behavior in snail Helix lucorum. It was found that cAMP and C/EBP (CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein) immediate early gene transcription factors are involved in mechanisms of long-term facilitation of neural response evoked by chemical sensory stimulation of the snail "head", whereas proteinkinase C is involved in synaptic facilitation induction mechanisms from other sensory neural input tactile receptors of the snail "head". In present work, participation of serum response factor (SRF) immediate early gene transcription factor in mechanisms of synapse-specific plasticity in LP1 neuron during sensitization in snail Helix lucorum was studied. It was found that sensitizing stimulation during intracellular olygonucleotide (used as SRF specific inhibitors) injection resulted in selective suppression of synaptic facilitation in LP11 neuron responses evoked by tactile stimulation of the snail "head". At the same time, development of synaptic facilitation of the LP11 neuron responses evoked by chemical stimulation of the snail head or tactile stimulation of foot was the same as in the control sensitized snails. The experimental results suggest that the synapse-specific plasticity during learning can by supported by selective neurochemical "projection" of synaptic connections on neural genome.