Effects of maturation on synaptic potentials in the locust flight system

Abstract

We have measured parameters of identified excitatory postsynaptic potentials from flight interneurons in immature and mature adult locusts (Locusta migratoria) to determine whether parameters change during imaginal maturation. The presynaptic cell was the forewing stretch receptor. The postsynaptic cells were flight interneurons that were filled with Lucifer Yellow and identified by their morphology. Excitatory postsynaptic potentials from different postsynaptic cells had characteristic amplitudes. The amplitude, time to peak, duration at half amplitude and the area above the baseline of excitatory postsynaptic potentials did not change with maturation. The latency from action potentials in the forewing stretch receptor to onset of excitatory postsynaptic potentials decreased significantly with maturation. We suggest this was due to an increase in conduction velocity of the forewing stretch receptor. We also measured morphological parameters of the postsynaptic cells and found that they increased in size with maturation. Growth of the postsynaptic cell should cause excitatory postsynaptic potential amplitude to decrease as a result of a decrease in input resistance, however, this was not the case. Excitatory postsynaptic potentials in immature locusts depress more than in mature locusts at high frequencies of presynaptic action potentials. This difference in frequency sensitivity of the immature excitatory postsynaptic potentials may account in part for maturation of the locust flight rhythm generator.