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Developmental and regional differences in the vulnerability of rat hippocampal slices to lack of glucose.

Field excitatory postsynaptic potentials were recorded in stratum radiatum of CA1 and CA3 in submerged hippocampal slices from adult or newborn (postnatal days 5-25) Wistar rats. In adult slices, excitatory postsynaptic potentials were depressed by glucose removal ("aglycemia") more rapidly and to a greater extent in CA1 than in CA3 [respective mean times to 50% reduction in peak amplitude were 7.5 +/- 0.83 (standard error) min and 12.5 +/- 0.27 (standard error) min]. Subsequent recovery of excitatory postsynaptic potentials in normoglycemic medium was correspondingly quicker in CA3 than in CA1. Transmission failure at the synapses was indicated by the preservation of the afferent volley, and sharp depression of synaptic input-output plots. In the early postnatal period, CA1 excitatory postsynaptic potentials were much more resistant to aglycemia, substantially persisting for as long as 75 min, with full subsequent recovery in normoglycemic medium. The higher resistance of slices from newborn rats progressively disappeared over the first two postnatal weeks.

Aging

The function of dendritic spines: a theoretical study.

A modeling procedure is proposed which introduces the cable equivalent of dendritic spines into the Rall model of spiny interneurons in the spinal cord. At this point combined morphological and physiological works have given some insight into the possible role of a single spine and the function of a single spine has been studied by theoretical computations [Jack, Noble and Tsien (1975) Electric Current Flow in Excitable Cells, pp. 218-223. Oxford University Press, Oxford; Koch and Poggio (1983) Trends Neurosci. 6, 80-83; Perkel (1983) J. Physiol., Paris 78, 695-699]. The goal of the present paper is two-fold: (a) to stress the gross function of the spine system in the excitability of dendrites; and (b) to emphasize the role of spines in the dynamic input/output function of neurons. The simulation procedure is based on the well-known compartmental method. (1) The kinetics of active somatic and dendritic compartments are taken from a currently available spinal interneuron model to match the physiological data of large dorsal horn neurons carrying spines. (2) Beside the prolongation of the somatic excitatory postsynaptic potential, the model suggests that the spiny neuron increases the differences in the latency and height of excitatory postsynaptic potential as a function of the electrotonic position of input. The characteristics of the excitatory postsynaptic potential can be modified by the changes in spine geometry and the ratio of cytoplasmic resistances of spine stalk to that of main dendritic shaft. (3) Dendritic electroresponsiveness, which was already postulated for dorsal horn neurons, is analysed by the model including calcium and slow potassium systems. It is concluded that the participation of the spine stalk in active processes can highly modify the input dependence of response pattern. Depolarization-dependent Ca2+ accumulation in spines may reflect the interaction of spine stalks. (4) Passive antidromic spread of action potential can be suppressed in spiny cells. Analysis of active antidromic spread shows the probable importance of spines located near the soma. Centripetal vs centrifugal conduction of dendritic action potential may depend on the spine distribution along the tree and change in electrical parameters of spines.

Action Potentials

Histamine H2 receptor mediates postsynaptic excitation and presynaptic inhibition in submucous plexus neurons of the guinea-pig.

Intracellular recordings were made from submucous plexus neurons of the guinea-pig cecum maintained in vitro. Histamine (0.3-10 microM) produced a dose-dependent membrane depolarization (congruent to 13 mV with 3 microM) in about 28% of the cells tested; most of these cells showed a prominent calcium-activated potassium conductance (AH cells). The depolarization was due primarily to an inactivation of potassium conductance which is available at the resting membrane potential of -60 mV. Peak amplitude of the fast excitatory postsynaptic potential was depressed by histamine (0.1-10 microM) in a dose-dependent manner (congruent to 62% depression with 1 microM). This was observed even in those cells in which histamine did not produce any membrane depolarizations (mostly S cells). The depression of the fast excitatory postsynaptic potential resulted from the presynaptic inhibition of acetylcholine release. Histamine also reduced the amplitude of the non-cholinergic, presumably peptidergic, slow excitatory postsynaptic potential by suppressing peptide release from presynaptic nerve terminals. Peak amplitude of the adrenergic inhibitory synaptic potential was not depressed by histamine suggesting that histamine receptors are not present on presynaptic terminals of sympathetic nerve fibres. Both postsynaptic and presynaptic actions of histamine were blocked by cimetidine or ranitidine but not by pyrilamine implying that H2 receptors are involved.

Action Potentials

Antagonists discriminate muscarinic excitation and inhibition in sympathetic ganglion.

The effect of muscarinic antagonists was studied on the muscarinic slow IPSP (inhibitory postsynaptic potential) and slow EPSP (excitatory postsynaptic potential) in bullfrog sympathetic ganglia using the sucrose-gap recording method. Pirenzepine, alcuronium and atropine reduced slow IPSP amplitude more than slow EPSP amplitude. The most selective antagonists studied were pancuronium and gallamine which blocked or substantially reduced the slow IPSP without significantly affecting slow EPSP amplitude. The results suggest that the muscarinic inhibitory response may involve a different muscarinic receptor subtype, and/or receptor-ion-channel complex, than the muscarinic excitatory response.

Alcuronium

The C-terminal glycopeptide of propressophysin potentiates excitatory transmission in the rat lateral septum.

Effects of peptides synthesized from the same precursor as vasopressin, i.e. the C-terminal 39-amino acid long glycopeptide and neurophysin II, were investigated for biological activities in electrophysiological experiments in brain slices of the rat lateral septum. These slices contained the glycopeptide as the predominant form and a fragment of it, amino acid sequence 22-39, as a minor form (8% of the glycopeptide 1-39), as shown by high performance liquid chromatography of extracts and by radioimmunoassay. None of the peptides, neurophysin II, the glycopeptide 1-39 and the fragment 22-39, tested in a concentration of 10(-12) M, had measurable effects on the resting membrane potential of the neurons. The glycopeptide and the fragment 22-39, however, increased, in some cells, for tens of minutes the excitatory postsynaptic potentials evoked in these neurons by stimulation of the fimbria fibers. The increase in input resistance, seen in many septal neurons treated with either of the peptides was not correlated with the excitatory postsynaptic potential increase. Neurophysin II affected neither the excitatory postsynaptic potentials nor the input resistance of the neurons. It is concluded that the glycopeptide 1-39 and the fragment 22-39 possess biological activities amongst which the facilitation of excitatory amino acid transmission on lateral septum neurons. Therefore, these peptides derived from the vasopressin precursor may act in concert with vasopressin to establish facilitation of excitatory transmission in the brain.

Animals

Presynaptic actions of 4-aminopyridine and gamma-aminobutyric acid on rat sympathetic ganglia in vitro.

Responses to bath-applications of 4-aminopyridine(4-AP) and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) were recorded intracellularly from neurones in the rat isolated superior cervical ganglion. 4-aminopyridine (0.1-1.0 mmol/l) usually induced spontaneous action potentials and excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs), which were blocked by hexamethonium. Membrane potential was unchanged; spike duration was slightly increased. Vagus nerve B- and C-fibre potentials were prolonged. In 4-AP solution (0.2-0.3 mmol/l), GABA (0.1 mmol/l), 3-aminopropanesulphonic acid or muscimol evoked "bursts" of spikes and EPSPs in addition to a neuronal depolarization. These "bursts", which were not elicited by glycine, glutamate, taurine or (+/-)-baclofen, were completely antagonised by hexamethonium, tetrodotoxin or bicuculline methochloride. It is concluded that: (a) 4-AP has a potent presynaptic action on sympathetic ganglia; (b) presynaptic actions of GABA can be recorded postsynaptically in the presence of 4-AP; and (c) the presynaptic GABA-receptors revealed in this condition are similar to those on the postsynaptic membrane.

Action Potentials

Effects of an inhibitor for calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatase, calcineurin, on induction of long-term potentiation in rat visual cortex.

A role of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatase (calcineurin) in induction of long-term potentiation (LTP) was investigated using its selective inhibitor, FK506, in visual cortical slices of young rats. Field potentials or excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) to test stimulation of white matter were recorded extra- or intracellularly from layer 2/3, and tetanic stimulation (tetanus) was applied to the white matter at 5 Hz. During the application of FK506 (1 microM), short tetanus (6 s) which had rarely induced LTP in the normal medium, became effective in inducing LTP. Tetanus for 1 min in the presence of FK506 induced LTP with higher probability than in the normal medium. To test possible involvement of presynaptic mechanisms, paired pulses at 50 ms intervals were given to the white matter. The facilitation ratio of the second to first EPSPs was not significantly changed by FK506 and after the induction of LTP, suggesting that the action of FK506 may not be presynaptic. To confirm this, FK506 was injected directly into neurons through recording electrodes. In cases in which stable EPSPs were recorded, the probability of LTP induction became higher than that obtained with normal electrodes. These results suggest that calcineurin plays a role in processes antagonizing the induction of LTP in visual cortex.

Animals

Effects of 4-aminopyridine on the action potential and the after-hyperpolarization of cat spinal motoneurons.

In cats under pentobarbital anaesthesia, intramotoneuronal administrations of 4-aminopyridine significantly prolong the falling phase of the antidromic action potential but have much less effect on the orthodromic action potential. 4-aminopyridine probably blocks the fast K channels involved in the repolarization of the membrane and indirectly activates ionic channels through enhancement of synaptic transmission, also suggested by the potentiation of excitatory postsynaptic potentials. In many cells, 4-aminopyridine depresses the amplitude and prolongs the time course of the after-hyperpolarization; therefore 4-aminopyridine may also partly block Ca2+-activated K+ channels.

4-Aminopyridine

Neurophysiological consequences of nitroxide antioxidants.

Nitroxides are antioxidant compounds that have been shown to provide radioprotection in vivo and in vitro. Radioprotection in vivo is limited by toxicity, which appears to be neurologic in nature. To further evaluate the toxicity of these compounds, three representative nitroxides, Tempol, Tempamine, and Tempo, were examined in slices of guinea pig hippocampus. Each nitroxide increased the population spike and caused potentiation of excitatory postsynaptic potential--spike coupling. Repetitive activity and epileptiform activity were observed at the highest concentrations of Tempo and Tempamine. Tempol was the least toxic compound in this system, followed by Tempamine and Tempo. Additional studies are necessary to further define the effects of nitroxides on the central nervous system and to develop strategies to mitigate these effects.

Animals

Electrical properties of the cerebral prothoracicotropic hormone cells in diapausing and non-diapausing pupae of the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta.

Prothoracicotropic hormone (PTTH) is an insect brain neuropeptide that is a primary factor regulating an insect development. Curtailment of its release is thought to be responsible for the pupal diapause of tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta. The cell synthesizing and secreting the PTTH has been identified as a pair of neurosecretory cells in the pars lateralis on each brain hemisphere. Using intracellular recording techniques, we have demonstrated electrical properties of the PTTH cells in different physiological status, i.e., diapausing and developing pupae. In diapausing pupae, they showed threshold value increasing and input resistance decreasing with the progress of diapausing state, indicating that they were getting unexcitable. Spontaneous action potentials and excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) were rarely observed in deeply diapausing state. Non-diapausing PTTH cells were almost silent except day-2, showing rather constant values of electrical properties. On day-2, a significant proportion of the cells had spontaneous action potentials, showing less negative membrane potential values than inactive cells. Exclusively inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs) were observed in significant numbers of the cells during the period from day-2 to day-5. On the basis of the results obtained, we proposed a working hypothesis that electrical activities of the PTTH cell may be primarily regulated by its membrane properties which are further modulated by the synaptic mediation.

Animals

Perspectives on physiological monitoring: junctional-type potentials in the food ventricle.

1. Many toads monitored throughout survival with no support other than protection against drying, pass terminally through a remarkable evolution which is described here in the full details of a single experiment lasting some 40 hours. 2. The essential features of this particular sequence is block of the Luciani-Wenckebach type affecting SA, AV, and intraventricular conduction. SA block was apparently the major cause of periods of arrest and of cycles of heart beats. Periodically PR delay based on progressive AV block was observed but it was not an outstanding feature. 3. Progressive, rate-determined intraventricular block during the cycles of ventricular beats was the first new feature of these observations. 4. As intraventricular block progressed, an initial ventricular deflection separated itself from the rest of QRS. 5. This initial deflection diminished in amplitude throughout each cycle of ventricular beats, its rate of rise diminished, and the interval separating it from the rest of the ventricular complex increased until the whole initial deflection was revealed. 6. Thereafter, with a small decrease in amplitude of the initial deflection, the remainder of the ventricular electrogram failed to follow and the complex stood alone. 7. Its polarity indicated its origin at the base of the ventricle, the interval separating it from the origin of P indicated that it was downstream from the AV conduction mechanism. 8. This deflection, now a local ventricular potential (LVP) then progressively declined in amplitude and disappeared. 9. The possibility has been discussed that the potential represents (a) a true action potential localized by block or (b) a local, nonpropagated potential akin to junctional potentials like: (1) end-plate potentials, (2) generator potentials, (3) excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs), or (c) a pacemaker potential. The experiments that have revealed the phenomenon have not provided other than suggestive but inconclusive information about its nature. 10. The observations are new or certainly not well known and further study should shed light on the problem of intracardial impulse formation and conduction.

Animals

Synaptic potentiation and depression in slices of mediorostral neostriatum-hyperstriatum complex, an auditory imprinting-relevant area in chick forebrain.

Long-term potentiation, a tetanic stimulation-evoked, persistent increase in synaptic efficiency, is the most extensively studied form of synaptic plasticity. Intracellular correlates of long-term potentiation have been analysed in mammalian hippocampus and cortex, but not in bird cortical analogues. We present here studies on long-term potentiation in slices of the chick forebrain area mediorostral neostriatum-hyperstriatum complex which receives thalamic afferents and is relevant for auditory filial imprinting. Following afferent tetanic stimulation, population spike potentiation was extracellularly recorded in 25% of the tested neurons for longer than 40 min. Using intracellular recordings, the membrane potential, the amplitude of excitatory postsynaptic potentials, the latency between the test stimulus and the evoked action potentials, and the cellular excitability (excitatory postsynaptic potential-spike relationship) were found to change after the tetanus. A long-term depression following the tetanus was also seen in some units in this area. Furthermore, the mechanisms underlying long-term potentiation were investigated. A large depolarization of resting membrane potential (approx. 36 mV) was characteristic after the tetanic stimulation. N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor channels are necessary for induction of this depolarization, as well as for long-term potentiation, as demonstrated by the effect of DL-2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid. After intracellular recordings, the cells were injected with Lucifer Yellow. The combination of electrophysiological characterization and morphological identification suggested that the potentiation came chiefly from type I neurons, which have the largest soma among the neuron types in this area and up to eight dendrites. The results demonstrate that the recognized major phenomena of long-term potentiation are found in an auditory imprinting-relevant area of the chick forebrain, and that this potentiation is dependent on N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor channels. It is noteworthy that behavioural imprinting was previously shown to induce a reduction of up to 47% of the spine frequency of type I neurons and a growth of the remaining spine synapses, all resembling a synaptic selection process. Therefore, the intriguing possibility emerges that mechanisms underlying long-term potentiation are instrumental for this selection process, which involves regressive and proliferative morphological changes.

Acoustic Stimulation

Amino acid receptor-mediated transmission at primary afferent synapses in rat spinal cord.

Intracellular recording techniques have been used to provide information on the identity of excitatory transmitters released at synapses formed between dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and spinal cord neurones in two in vitro preparations. Explants of embryonic rat DRG were added to dissociated cultures of embryonic dorsal horn neurones and synaptic potentials recorded intracellularly from dorsal horn neurones after DRG explant stimulation. More than 80% of dorsal horn neurones received at least one fast, DRG-evoked, monosynaptic input. In the presence of high divalent cation concentrations (5 mmol l-1 Ca2+, 3 mmol l-1 Mg2+) the acidic amino acid receptor agonists, L-glutamate, kainate (KA) and quisqualate (QUIS) excited all dorsal horn neurones which received a monosynaptic DRG neurone input, whereas L-aspartate and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) had little or no action. 2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate (APV), a selective NMDA receptor antagonist, was relatively ineffective at antagonizing DRG-evoked synaptic potentials and L-glutamate-evoked responses. In contrast, kynurenate was found to be a potent antagonist of amino acid-evoked responses and of synaptic transmission at all DRG-dorsal horn synapses examined. The blockade of synaptic transmission by kynurenate appeared to result from a postsynaptic action on dorsal horn neurones. Intracellular recordings from motoneurones in new-born rat spinal cord were used to study the sensitivity of the Ia excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) to antagonists of excitatory amino acids. Superfusion of the spinal cord with APV did not inhibit the Ia EPSP but did suppress later, polysynaptic components of the afferent-evoked response. Kynurenate was a potent and selective inhibitor of the Ia EPSP, acting via a postsynaptic mechanism. These findings indicate that L-glutamate, or a glutamate-like compound, but not L-aspartate, is likely to be the predominant excitatory transmitter that mediates fast excitatory postsynaptic potentials at primary afferent synapses with both dorsal horn neurones and motoneurones.

Afferent Pathways

The impaired long-term potentiation in the CA1 field of the hippocampus of cognitive deficient microencephalic rats is restored by D-serine.

Rat embryos exposed on gestational day 15 to methyl-azoxymethanol acetate develop a microencephaly characterized primarily by a hypoplasia of the neocortex and CA fields of the hippocampus that in adulthood is associated with disturbances in learning. In brain slices prepared from microencephalic rats, we have examined the field excitatory postsynaptic potentials and population spike in the CA1 field of the hippocampus evoked by stimulation of the stratum radiatum. These parameters did not differ from those obtained in slices from control rats. High frequency stimulation of the stratum radiatum afferent fibres, which readily induced long-term potentiation of the field excitatory postsynaptic potentials and population spike in the CA1 field of the hippocampus of control rats, failed to induce long-term potentiation in that of microencephalic rats. High frequency stimulation of the perforant path readily elicited long-term potentiation in the dentate gyrus of both control and microencephalic rats. Picrotoxin had no apparent effect on field excitatory postsynaptic potentials and population spike in the CA1 field of the microencephalic rats, indicating that little GABAergic inhibition was present in slices from these rats. D-2-Amino-phosphonovalerate suppressed the field potentials in slices from microencephalic rats by more than 50%, suggesting that N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors contributed markedly to the synaptic responses evoked by single stimuli. D-Serine, but not picrotoxin, restored long-term potentiation in the CA1 field of the microencephalic rats. The D-serine effect was prevented by pretreating the slices with either 7-chloro-kynurenate or D-2-amino-phosphonovalerate. The failure to induce long-term potentiation, if also found in vivo, may be among the factors related to the learning deficits displayed by these rats.

2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate

Molecular model of postsynaptic potential.

A molecular model of the excitatory postsynaptic membrane is given in terms of two biochemical cycles intimately associated: an acetylcholine cycle and a calcium cycle. The acetylcholine controls the Na ionophores while calcium ions control the tk ionophore. The two ionophores are spatially separated but interact in such a way that the variation in K conductance precedes that in Na conductance. Digital simulation shows that our model accounts quantitatively for both the evolution of excitatory postsynaptic potential and current in a variety of experimental conditions.

Acetylcholine

Associative induction of posttetanic and long-term potentiation in CA1 neurons of rat hippocampus.

Electrical stimulation of fibers in the stratum radiatum causes an excitatory postsynaptic potential in CA1 neurons of the hippocampus. Other excitatory inputs to or direct depolarization of these CA1 neurons during stimulation of the stratum radiatum caused a subsequent increase in the excitatory postsynaptic potential. This enhancement was characterized as a brief potentiation (2 to 3 minutes, similar to posttetanic potentiation) and a long-term potentiation (presumed to be involved in learning and memory). These potentiations are probably induced by an interaction of the postsynaptic cell or other presynaptic terminals with the test presynaptic terminals.

Action Potentials

Mechanisms regulating the activity of facial nucleus motoneurones--2. Synaptic activation from the caudal trigeminal nucleus.

Field and postsynaptic potentials of facial motoneurones evoked by stimulation of the caudal trigeminal nucleus were studied in cats by means of extra- and intracellular recording. Mono- and polysynaptic input onto facial motoneurones from the caudal trigeminal nucleus were shown. Four types of responses were distinguished: excitatory postsynaptic potentials generating a single action potential; a gradual shift of depolarization inducing multiple discharges; a rhythmic discharge of action potentials appearing at a low level of depolarization; excitatory postsynaptic potentials or a sequence of excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic potentials. Multiple discharge was shown to appear as a result of effective summation of high frequency excitatory influences from efferent neurones of the caudal trigeminal nucleus projecting into the facial nucleus. Factors facilitating the development of gradual depolarization are: dendritic localization of synaptic terminals, dendritic origin of after-depolarizing processes and the high input resistance of the facial motoneurone membrane. It is thought that specific features of facial motoneurones and properties of afferent inputs are supposed to provide high sensitivity of neuronal organization of the facial nucleus to afferent signals as well as wide diversity in controlling its activity.

Animals

Increases in non-N-methyl-D-aspartate glutamatergic transmission, but no change in gamma-aminobutyric acidB transmission, in CA1 neurons during withdrawal from in vivo chronic ethanol treatment.

Evoked fast excitatory postsynaptic potentials and slow inhibitory postsynaptic potentials were measured in mouse CA1 neurons in hippocampal slices after chronic ethanol treatment in vivo. Intracellular recordings were made 2, 4 and 6 hr after ethanol withdrawal, i.e., after the beginning of slice preparation. The resting membrane potentials were standardized to -60 mV by using constant current injection. The fast excitatory postsynaptic potentials were isolated by adding DL-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid, bicuculline and nitrendipine to the bathing solution and injecting QX-314 into the recording cell; stimulation then evoked a monophasic depolarization with a maximum of 16.3 mV at about 30 msec after stimulation, which was inhibited by 6-cyano-7-nitroquinozaline-2,3-dione. At 4 and 6 hr after withdrawal, but not at 2 hr, the estimated fast excitatory postsynaptic potential conductance in slices from ethanol-treated mice was significantly larger than in those from control animals. There were no changes in stimulus/response relation or voltage-dependency of the depolarization. In the presence of these blocking agents, the thresholds for elicitation of field potentials was decreased at 6 hr from withdrawal. The slow inhibitory postsynaptic potentials were isolated by adding DL-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid, 6-cyano-7-nitroquinozaline- 2,3-dione and bicuculline to the bathing solution; stimulation of the Schaffer collateral fibers then evoked a monophasic hyperpolarization with a maximum of 5.7 mV at about 180 msec after stimulation, which was inhibited by the gamma-aminobutyric acidB antagonist saclofen. At the three time points, the stimulus/response relation, voltage dependency of the hyperpolarization and estimated slow inhibitory postsynaptic conductance in ethanol-treated mice did not differ from control animals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals