Induction of Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor-Mediated Long-Term Depression in the Hippocampal Schaffer Collateral Pathway of Aging Rats

Scientific progress in the understanding of the molecular mechanisms of aging in the brain is essential for the identification of novel targets for the treatment and prevention of age-associated cognitive disorders. Electrophysiological analysis of synaptic plasticity using extracellular field recordings in rodent hippocampal slices is a well-established method for investigating molecular mechanisms of learning and memory. These methods can be applied to the study of aging in the brain by utilizing hippocampal slices from aged animals. However, this application can be challenging as it is difficult to ensure and maintain the health of slices originating from aged animals. The technique described in this chapter outlines the procedure for measuring metabotropic glutamate receptor-mediated long-term depression in hippocampal slices using extracellular field recordings and includes specific details for the application of this technique in the study of neuronal aging.