Characterisation of the mechanisms underlying the special sensitivity of the CA2 hippocampal area to adenosine receptor antagonists

Recent studies have underscored the importance of the CA2 area in social memory formation. This area, a narrow transition zone between hippocampal CA3 and CA1 areas, is endowed with special connectivity and a distinctive molecular composition. In particular, adenosine A(1) receptors (AIR) are enriched in CA2, and based on the prominent synaptic potentiation induced by A(1)R antagonists (e.g., caffeine) in this area, it has been proposed that CA2 is under the strong tonic control of AiR activation. It is unclear whether this special sensitivity of CA2 to A(1)R antagonists is due to an elevated extracellular concentration of adenosine or to a different A(1)R function. Here, using the recording of field potentials evoked simultaneously in CA2 and CA(1) by Schaffer collateral stimulation, we confirm that the application of A(1)R antagonists, caffeine and DPCPX has a stronger effect on synaptic responses in CA2 than in those evoked in CA1. This difference was, at least partially, explained by the action of A(1)R antagonists on presynaptic A(1)Rs. We found that caffeine-induced potentiation in CA2 was restricted to Schaffer collateral synapses, but not to those formed by temporoammonic inputs. We also observed that the apparent affinity of an A(1)R agonist is similar for AIR in both CA2 and CA1 areas, which indicates that the tonic activation of A(1)R in both areas is comparable. Furthermore, we show that the direct activation of adenylyl cyclase with forskolin in the presence of rolipram, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, greatly enhances the synaptic potentials in CA2 compared to CA1. The forskolin-induced potentiation was exacerbated in the presence of caffeine or DPCPX, accentuating the differences between the two areas. These results indicate that the tonic activation of A(1)RS in area CA2 is not different to that of other hippocampal areas, but it is more efficiently coupled to the downstream effectors.