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P Congar

Publications and source records attributed to P Congar.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Presynaptic action of neurotensin on cultured ventral tegmental area dopaminergic neurones.

Dopamine-containing neurones of the ventral tegmental area express neurotensin receptors which are involved in regulating cell firing and dopamine release. Although indirect evidence suggests that some neurotensin receptors may be localised on the nerve terminals of dopaminergic neurones in the striatum and thus locally regulate dopamine release, a clear demonstration of such a mechanism is lacking and a number of indirect sites of action are possible. We have taken advantage of a simplified preparation in which cultured rat ventral tegmental area dopaminergic neurones establish nerve terminals that co-release glutamate to determine whether neurotensin can act at presynaptic sites. We recorded glutamate-mediated synaptic currents that were generated by dopaminergic nerve terminals as an index of presynaptic function. The neurotensin receptor agonist NT(8-13) caused an inward current and an enhancement of the firing rate of dopaminergic neurones together with an increase in the frequency of spontaneous glutamate receptor-mediated excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs). Incompatible with a direct excitatory action on nerve terminals, NT(8-13) failed to change the amplitude of individual action potential-evoked EPSCs or the frequency of miniature EPSCs recorded in the presence of tetrodotoxin. However, NT(8-13) reduced the ability of terminal D2 dopamine receptors to inhibit action potential-evoked EPSCs in isolated dopaminergic neurones. Taken together, our results suggest that in addition to its well-known somatodendritic excitatory effect leading to an increase in firing rate, neurotensin also acts on nerve terminals. The main effect of neurotensin on nerve terminals is not to produce a direct excitation, but rather to decrease the effectiveness of D2 receptor-mediated presynaptic inhibition.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Permanent reduction of seizure threshold in post-ischemic CA3 pyramidal neurons.

The effects of ischemia were examined on CA3 pyramidal neurons recorded in hippocampal slices 2-4 mo after a global forebrain insult. With intracellular recordings, CA3 post-ischemic neurons had a more depolarized resting membrane potential but no change of the input resistance, spike threshold and amplitude, fast and slow afterhyperpolarization (AHP) or ADP, and firing properties in response to depolarizing pulses. With both field and whole-cell recordings, synaptic responses were similar in control and post-ischemic neurons. Although there were no spontaneous network-driven discharges, the post-ischemic synaptic network had a smaller threshold to generate evoked and spontaneous synchronized burst discharges. Thus lower concentrations of convulsive agents (kainate, high K(+)) triggered all-or-none network-driven synaptic events in post-ischemic neurons more readily than in control ones. Also, paired-pulse protocol generates, in post-ischemics but not controls, synchronized field burst discharges when interpulse intervals ranged from 60 to 100 ms. In conclusion, 2-4 mo after the insult, the post-ischemic CA3 pyramidal cells are permanently depolarized and have a reduced threshold to generate synchronized bursts. This may explain some neuropathological and behavioral consequences of ischemia as epileptic syndromes observed several months to several years after the ischemic insult.

6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione↗
PubMed1999

Subthalamic nucleus neurons switch from single-spike activity to burst-firing mode.

The modification of the discharge pattern of subthalamic nucleus (STN) neurons from single-spike activity to mixed burst-firing mode is one of the characteristics of parkinsonism in rat and primates. However, the mechanism of this process is not yet understood. Intrinsic firing patterns of STN neurons were examined in rat brain slices with intracellular and patch-clamp techniques. Almost half of the STN neurons that spontaneously discharged in the single-spike mode had the intrinsic property of switching to pure or mixed burst-firing mode when the membrane was hyperpolarized from -41.3 +/- 1.0 mV (range, -35 to -50 mV; n = 15) to -51.0 +/- 1.0 mV (range, -42 to -60 mV; n = 20). This switch was greatly facilitated by activation of metabotropic glutamate receptors with 1S,3R-ACPD. Recurrent membrane oscillations underlying burst-firing mode were endogenous and Ca2+-dependent because they were largely reduced by nifedipine (3 microM), Ni2+ (40 microM), and BAPTA-AM (10-50 microM) at any potential tested, whereas TTX (1 microM) had no effect. In contrast, simultaneous application of TEA (1 mM) and apamin (0.2 microM) prolonged burst duration. Moreover, in response to intracellular stimulation at hyperpolarized potentials, a plateau potential with a voltage and ionic basis similar to those of spontaneous bursts was recorded in 82% of the tested STN neurons, all of which displayed a low-threshold Ni2+-sensitive spike. We propose that recurrent membrane oscillations during bursts result from the sequential activation of T/R- and L-type Ca2+ currents, a Ca2+-activated inward current, and Ca2+-activated K+ currents.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1998

Neuronal migration disorders: heterotopic neocortical neurons in CA1 provide a bridge between the hippocampus and the neocortex.

Neuronal migration disorders have been involved in various pathologies, including epilepsy, but the properties of the neural networks underlying disorders have not been determined. In the present study, patch clamp recordings were made from intrahippocampal heterotopic as well as from neocortical and hippocampal neurons from brain slices of rats with prenatally methylazoxymethanol-induced cortical malformation. We report that heterotopic neurons have morphometrical parameters and cellular properties of neocortical supragranular neurons and are integrated in both neocortical and hippocampal networks. Thus, stimulation of the white matter induces both antidromic and orthodromic response in heterotopic and neocortical neurons. Stimulation of hippocampal afferents evokes a monosynaptic response in the majority of heterotopic neurons and a polysynaptic all-or-none epileptiform burst in the presence of bicuculline to block gamma-aminobutyric acid type A inhibition. Furthermore, hippocampal paroxysmal activity generated by bath application of bicuculline can spread directly to the neocortex via the heterotopia in methylazoxymethanol-treated but not in naive rats. We conclude that heterotopias form a functional bridge between the limbic system and the neocortex, providing a substrate for pathological conditions.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1997

A long-lasting calcium-activated nonselective cationic current is generated by synaptic stimulation or exogenous activation of group I metabotropic glutamate receptors in CA1 pyramidal neurons.

We have shown previously that a selective metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) agonist, 1S,3R-1-aminocyclo-pentane-1, 3-dicarboxylate (1S,3R-ACPD), evokes an inward current in CA1 pyramidal neurons of rat hippocampal slices in the presence of K+ channel blockers (). This current has been characterized as a Ca2+-activated nonselective cationic (CAN) current. Using whole-cell patch-clamp recordings and intracellular dialysis, we now have identified the mGluR subtype and the mechanisms underlying the CAN current (ICAN) and report for the first time the presence of a synaptic ICAN in the mammalian CNS. First, we have shown pharmacologically that activation of ICAN by 1S,3R-ACPD involves the group I mGluRs (and not the groups II and III) and a G-protein-dependent process. We also report that ICAN is modulated by the divalent cations (Mg2+, Cd2+, and Zn2+). Second, we have isolated a slow synaptic inward current evoked by a high-frequency stimulation in the presence of K+ channel blockers, ionotropic glutamate, and GABAA receptor antagonists. This current shows similar properties to the exogenously evoked ICAN: its reversal potential is close to the reversal potential of the 1S, 3R-ACPD-evoked ICAN, and it is G-protein- and Ca2+-dependent. Because the amplitude and duration of ICAN increased in the presence of a glutamate uptake blocker, we suggest that this synaptic current is generated via the activation of mGluRs. We propose that the synaptic ICAN, activated by a brief tetanic stimulation and leading to a long-lasting inward current, may be involved in neuronal plasticity and synchronized network-driven oscillations.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Postnatal maturation of gamma-aminobutyric acidA and B-mediated inhibition in the CA3 hippocampal region of the rat.

In the adult central nervous system, GABAergic synaptic inhibition is known to play a crucial role in preventing the spread of excitatory glutamatergic activity. This inhibition is achieved by a membrane hyperpolarization through the activation of postsynaptic gamma-aminobutyric acidA (GABAA) and GABAB receptors. In addition, GABA also depress transmitter release acting through presynaptic GABAB receptors. Despite the wealth of data regarding the role of GABA in regulating the degree of synchronous activity in the adult, little is known about GABA transmission during early stages of development. In the following we report that GABA mediates most of the excitatory drive at early stages of development in the hippocampal CA3 region. Activation of GABAA receptors induces a depolarization and excitation of immature CA3 pyramidal neurons and increases intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i)] during the first postnatal week of life. During the same developmental period, the postsynaptic GABAB-mediated inhibition is poorly developed. In contrast, the presynaptic GABAB-mediated inhibition is well developed at birth and plays a crucial role in modulating the postsynaptic activity by depressing transmitter release at early postnatal stages. We have also shown that GABA plays a trophic role in the neuritic outgrowth of cultured hippocampal neurons.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Direct demonstration of functional disconnection by anoxia of inhibitory interneurons from excitatory inputs in rat hippocampus.

1. We studied the effects of anoxia on excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs and IPSCs) evoked by electrical stimulation in the stratum radiatum in concomitantly recorded pyramidal cells and interneurons of the CA1 region of rat hippocampal slices. We used the blind whole cell patch-clamp technique, and anoxia was induced by switching perfusion of the slice from oxygenated artificial cerebral spinal fluid (ACSF) to ACSF saturated with 95% N2-5% CO2 for 4-6 min. 2. As in pyramidal neurons, anoxia induced in interneurons outward currents, during and shortly after the anoxic episode. Both currents were, however, significantly larger in interneurons than in pyramidal neurons. 3. EPSCs are more rapidly depressed by anoxia in interneurons than in simultaneously recorded pyramidal cells. 4. In pyramidal neurons, polysynaptic IPSCs (pIPSCs) evoked by conventional distant stimulation (> 1 mm) are more sensitive to anoxia then EPSCs. In contrast, in interneurons, anoxia blocks with a similar latency EPSCs and polysynaptic IPSCs. 5. To determine whether this block of pIPSCs in pyramidal cells is due to a shift in driving force or a change in conductance, we examined the current (I/V) relationships. The block by anoxia of pIPSCs is due to a reduction of IPSC conductance (> 98%) that occlude other events including the shift of IPSCs reversal potential (ECl).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Hippocampal CA1 lacunosum-moleculare interneurons: modulation of monosynaptic GABAergic IPSCs by presynaptic GABAB receptors.

1. Whole cell patch-clamp recordings were employed to characterize monosynaptic inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs) in morphologically and electrophysiologically identified interneurons located in the stratum lacunosum moleculare, or near the border of the stratum radiatum (LM interneurons), in the CA1 region of hippocampal slices taken from 3- to 4-wk-old rats. Monosynaptic IPSCs, evoked in the presence of glutamate receptor antagonists 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX; 20 microM) and D-2-amino-5-phosphopentanoate (APV; 50 microM) were biphasic. The gamma-aminobutyric acid-A (GABAA) receptor antagonist, bicuculline (20 microM), blocked the fast IPSC, and the slow IPSC was blocked by the GABAB receptor antagonist CGP35348 (500 microM). 2. Monosynaptic IPSCs were evoked by electrical stimulation in several distant regions including the stratum radiatum, the stratum oriens, the stratum lacunosum-moleculare, and the molecular layer of dentate gyrus, suggesting an extensive network of inhibitory interneurons in the hippocampus. In paired recordings of CA1 interneurons and pyramidal cells, IPSCs were evoked by electrical stimulation of most of these distal regions with the exception of the molecular layer of dentate gyrus, which evoked an IPSC only in LM interneurons. 3. Frequent (> 0.1 Hz) stimulation depressed the evoked IPSCs. With a paired-pulse protocol, the second IPSC was depressed and the maximal depression (40-50%) was observed with an interstimulus interval of 100-200 ms. 4. The GABAB receptor agonist baclofen (1 microM) reduced the amplitude of evoked IPSCs and the paired-pulse depression of the second IPSC. The GABAB receptor antagonist CGP35348 (0.5-1 mM) had no significant effect on the amplitude of isolated IPSCs. However, CGP35348 reduced but did not fully block paired-pulse depression, suggesting that this depression is partly due to the activation of presynaptic GABAB receptors. 5. The paired-pulse depression depended on the level of transmitter release. Potentiation of synaptic release of GABA, by increasing the extracellular Ca2+ concentration to 4 mM and reducing the extracellular Mg2+ concentration to 0.1 mM, enhanced the depression. Reduction of transmitter release by increasing extracellular Mg2+ concentration to 7 mM diminished the paired-pulse depression of IPSCs. After potentiation of transmitter release, CGP35348 was less efficient in reducing the paired-pulse depression, suggesting that enhancement of depression by high-calcium/low-magnesium medium was preferentially due to the potentiation of a GABAB-independent component. 6. In summary, monosynaptic IPSCs recorded in LM interneurons show similar features to those recorded in pyramidal cells. The strong correlation between the level of transmitter release and the degree of paired-pulse depression may have important physiological consequences, because in synapses with a high level of activity and a high level of GABA release, inhibition is powerful, but depression can develop more readily.

6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione↗
PubMed1995

Hippocampal CA1 lacunosum-moleculare interneurons: comparison of effects of anoxia on excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic currents.

1. The effects of anoxia on excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs and IPSCs, respectively) evoked by electrical stimulation in the stratum radiatum were studied in morphologically and electrophysiologicaly identified lacunosum-moleculare (LM) interneurons of the CA1 region of rat hippocampal slices. The blind whole cell patch-clamp technique was used, and anoxia was induced by superfusion of the slice with an anoxic artificial cerebral spinal fluid saturated with 95% N2-5% CO2 for 4-6 min. 2. In LM interneurons, anoxia generated currents similar to those in pyramidal cells, the most prominent being anoxic and postanoxic outward currents. The adenosine A1 type receptor antagonist 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine (DPCPX, 200 nM) did not significantly affect anoxia-generated currents. 3. EPSCs and polysynaptic IPSCs (pIPSCs) evoked in LM interneurons by "distant" stimulation (> 1 mm) in the stratum radiatum were strongly depressed by anoxia and recovered upon reoxygenation. 4. Responses to pressure application of glutamate, alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA), and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) were not significantly affected by anoxia, suggesting that the suppression of EPSCs is due to presynaptic mechanisms. 5. DPCPX (200 nM) prevented anoxia-induced suppression of EPSCs, suggesting that this suppression was mediated by presynaptic A1 adenosine receptors. 6. Monosynaptic IPSCs evoked by "close" stimulation (< 0.5 mm) in the stratum radiatum, in the presence of glutamate-receptor antagonists 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX; 20 microM) and D-2-amino-5-phosphopentanoate (APV; 50 microM), were reversibly depressed but not blocked by anoxia. 7. Anoxia depressed monosynaptic GABAA receptor-mediated IPSCs (monosynaptic IPSCAs) by inducing a positive shift in the reversal potential and a decrease in slope conductance. Responses to pressure-applied isoguvacine, a GABAA receptor agonist, were reversibly depressed by anoxia, again because of a positive shift in reversal potential and decrease in conductance. Anoxic effects on slope conductances and reversal potential of isoguvacine responses and monosynaptic IPSCA coincided, suggesting that evoked transmitter release from GABAergic terminals was not affected by anoxia. 8. Anoxic depression of monosynaptic GABAB receptor-mediated IPSCs (monosynaptic IPSCBs) was due to a decrease in the slope conductance of monosynaptic IPSCB. In contrast to EPSCs, DPCPX (200 nM) failed to prevent anoxia-induced depression of mIPSCA and mIPSCB. 9. Paired-pulse depression of monosynaptic IPSCs, partially mediated by presynaptic GABAB receptors, was not affected by anoxia. 10. These data provide direct evidence for the hypothesis that inhibitory interneurons of CA1 stratum LM are functionally disconnected from excitatory inputs by anoxia. This disconnection underlies the preferential block by anoxia of IPSCs recorded in pyramidal cells, and it may occult the postsynaptic modifications in GABAA and GABAB responses. This disconnection involves adenosine-dependent inhibition of glutamate release from excitatory terminals. GABA release and its modulation by presynaptic GABAB receptors, both known to be insensitive to adenosine, seems to be resistant to anoxia.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Toxin pharmacology of the large-conductance Ca(2+)-activated K+ channel in the apical membrane of rabbit proximal convoluted tubule in primary culture.

The patch-clamp technique was used to study the toxin pharmacology of the large-conductance Ca(2+)-activated K+ channel (BKCa) present in the apical membrane of rabbit proximal convoluted tubules (PCT) in primary culture. Experiments were performed with the inside-out configuration. This channel was very selective for K+ against Na+ and had a conductance of 180 pS with 140 mmol/l in the pipette and the bath. The action of toxins was studied on the extracellular side of the channel by using the pipette perfusion technique. Experimental conditions were 140 mmol/l KCl in the pipette and 140 mmol/l NaCl in the bath. Pipette potential was maintained at 0 mV. Perfusion of crude venom from Leiurus quinquestriatus hebraeus inhibited reversibly the open probability (Po) in a concentration-dependent fashion (IC50 = 0.8 mg/l; n = 3). The following synthetic or purified toxins were tested: synthetic charybdotoxin (ChTX) IC50 = 7.3 x 10(-9) M (n = 5); iberiotoxin (IbTX) IC50 = 5.5 x 10(-7) mol/l (n = 3); and kaliotoxin (KTX) IC50 = 4.8 x 10(-7) mol/l (n = 3). The suppression of the six first N-terminal amino-acids slightly reduced the affinity of ChTX (IC50 = 1.2 x 10(-8) mol/l, n = 4). Neither Dendroaspis polylepis venom nor purified alpha dendrotoxin modified Po even at high concentrations (20 mg/l and 10(-6) mol/l respectively). Apamin, which blocked the small-conductance K+ channel in cultured PCT, did not act on BKCa. These results indicate that ChTX is the most efficient known toxin against the epithelial BKCa in primary cultures of PCT.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗