Figure 6. Proposed Model for Presynaptic NMDAR-regulated BDNF Secretion and LTP Induction.
A schematic illustration of presynaptic NMDAR-dependent BDNF secretion from presynaptic axon terminals in response to TBS. We propose that the temporal coincidence in the presence of extracellular glutamate and presynaptic axon depolarization during TBS allows effective activation of presynaptic NMDARs, causing global axonal Ca2+ elevation and downstream signaling that induces exocytosis of BDNF-containing granules, a process essential for the induction of corticostriatal LTP.