Decrease In Input Conductance Research Articles

Putting heterosynaptic plasticity in its place - as easy as PIE.

Since Milner and Scoville published their observations of Henry Molaison's profound memory deficits following bilateral removal of the hippocampal formation (Scoville & Milner, 1957), generations of neuroscientists have sought to understand how the hippocampus executes its essential role in learning and memory. Central to that understanding is elaboration of the functions performed by the circuitry of the hippocampal CA3 region. A signature feature of CA3 is that its principal cells, the pyramidal cells (PCs), generate a highly recurrent network, by giving off and receiving excitatory collateral inputs to and from myriad other CA3 PCs. Inputs to this recurrent network come primarily from layer 2 neurons in nearby entorhinal cortex (EC) via the perforant pathway (PP), which bifurcates into two distinct excitatory pathways: a monosynaptic pathway onto the distal apical dendrites of the PCs; and a disynaptic pathway, where EC inputs synapse onto granule cells in the dentate gyrus, which, in turn, synapse onto the proximal apical dendrites of CA3 PCs via mossy fibre (MF) axons. Owing to their strength and location, the MF inputs strongly drive activity in the PCs despite there being only several dozen of these inputs per neuron (as opposed to thousands of inputs from the PP and recurrent collaterals).

Is hyperexcitability really guilty in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis?

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a lethal disorder characterized by the gradual degeneration of brainstem and spinal motoneurons as well as lateral cortico-spinal tracts. The onset generally occurs during the adult age except for some juvenile aggressive forms. Until recently, the vast majority of the cases (90%) were deemed sporadic. Mutations in the SOD1 gene have been for a long time the only ones reported in familiar forms of ALS. However, the recent implication of new genes of little known function cast a new view on this disease. C9ORF72, for example, is now recognized to account for 30% of the familial cases. Overall, ALS has been linked to 20 different genes, many also associated with other degenerative diseases (frontotemporal dementia, Alzheimer or ataxia). Some of these genes are involved in RNA maturation (FUS, TARBD). Clinical observation of human patients and mouse models suggests that all motor pools and motoneurons are not equally affected (see Kanning et al., 2010). The disease usually starts in motor pools controlling the limbs or in the bulbar area before expanding to other motor pools, with the exception of a few resistant ones (Onuf's and oculomotor nuclei). Within a vulnerable motor pool, motoneurons subtypes also exhibit differential vulnerability and follow an orderly degeneration; starting with the motoneurons innervating fast-contracting fatigable motor units (FF motoneurons) and followed by the ones innervating fast-contractile fatigue-resistant motor units (FR motoneurons). The motoneurons innervating slow motor units (S motoneurons) appear resistant to the disease. Although the mechanisms leading to the orderly degeneration are not known, many hypotheses have been raised (Ilieva et al., 2009).

Patch-clamp study of neurones in rat olfactory cortex slices: properties of a slow post-stimulus afterdepolarizing current (IADP).

Whole-cell recordings were made from neurones in slices of rat olfactory cortex (10-19 days old), using potassium methylsulphate-filled pipettes. Positive commands applied from -60 mV in the presence of oxotremorine-M (10-20 microgramM, 20 of 30 cells) or trans-ACPD (10-50 microgramM, 4 of 9 cells) evoked a slow inward tail current similar to the K+ -mediated tail current (I K,ADP) recorded with sharp electrodes. I ADP was reduced by hyperpolarization, showed a 27% decrease in input conductance at its peak and was depressed by Cd(2+), 4AP or high K+ but unaffected by Cs+, Ba(2+) or TEA (5 mM). IADP was significantly larger in cells between postnatal days 13 and 15 than in younger neurones (10-12 days). These data show that stable whole-cell recordings of I ADP can be made from olfactory neurones in cortical slices, and support our hypothesis that IADP is a slowly reactivating, Ca(2+) -sensitive K+ conductance.

Afterhyperpolarization modulation in lumbar motoneurons during locomotor-like rhythmic activity in the neonatal rat spinal cord in vitro.

Motoneuron afterhyperpolarization (AHP) amplitude and somatic input conductance were monitored during pharmacologically induced, locomotor-like ventral root activity using an isolated neonatal rat spinal cord preparation (transected at the C1 level). Nonspontaneously firing motoneurons were selected for study. Single spikes were evoked at regular intervals by brief depolarizing current pulse injections, while somatic input conductance was monitored by hyperpolarizing current pulses. The induction of rhythmic ventral root activity was associated with tonic depolarization of motoneurons as well as superimposed rhythmically alternating membrane depolarization and hyperpolarization (locomotor drive potentials, LDPs). In 9 of 13 trials (six of eight cells) the peak amplitude of AHPs following current-evoked action potentials was reduced during both the hyperpolarized and the depolarized phases of the LDP, compared with the pre-locomotor condition. The peak AHP amplitude increased during the depolarized phase of the LDP in 4 of 13 trials (three of eight cells); however, in 3 of these 4 trials measurement of the AHP later in the course of its trajectory, using a half decay time (HDt) reference point, demonstrated AHP amplitude reduction during rhythmic activity compared with the pre-locomotor condition. In seven of eight motoneurons the induction of rhythmic activity was associated with a decrease in input conductance. The pattern of AHP amplitude and conductance modulation during the two phases of the LDP was consistent for individual trials; however, there was considerable intertrial variation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Actions of cisplatin on the electrophysiological properties of cultured dorsal root ganglion neurones from neonatal rats.

In this study we have employed the whole cell patch clamp technique to investigate the effects of an anti-cancer drug cisplatin on basic electrophysiological properties of cultured dorsal root ganglion neurones from neonatal rats. The results show that within the clinical concentration range, cisplatin (0.1 to 10 microM) caused a decrease in input conductance, and complex changes in resting membrane potential in these cultured sensory neurones. The dominant effects of cisplatin on input conductance may be due to inhibition of leak conductances. Transplatin (5 microM) was significantly less effective than cisplatin at reducing input conductance which suggests a degree of stereoselectivity. Cisplatin (1 to 5 microM) transiently increased excitability of the cultured neurones as reflected by a reduction in the threshold for activation of action potentials by 8 mV. The rise time, peak amplitude and duration of action potentials were not changed by acute application of 5 microM cisplatin. Long term treatment of neurones with cisplatin (5 microM), for up to 1 week reduced the viability of the cultures, and attenuated neurone excitability, although input conductance of the cells was significantly increased to 322 +/- 49 M omega (n = 9) compared with controls of 210 +/- 20 M omega (n = 30; P < 0.05). Acute and chronic treatment of cultured neurones with cisplatin therefore produced contrasting actions.

Early postnatal development of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) expression, TRH receptor binding, and TRH responses in neurons of rat brainstem

We investigated the postnatal development of the thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)-containing raphe system in the brainstem of neonatal rats. Postnatal changes in TRH expression in nucleus (n.) raphe obscurus (ROb) and n. raphe pallidus (RPa) were evaluated by in situ hybridization using an 35S-labeled oligonucleotide probe complementary to TRH precursor mRNA. TRH mRNA expression was low at birth [postnatal day 0 (P0)], but was clearly evident by P7 and increased from that time to reach sustained high levels from P14 to P28. Consistent with this postnatal increase in TRH expression, we found increases in the density of TRH-immunoreactive (IR) fibers, which are derived from ROb and RPa, in the hypoglossal nucleus (nXII). TRH-IR fibers in nXII were very sparse at P0, but increased markedly over the first 2 postnatal weeks. The change in TRH innervation of nXII was closely matched by concomitant increases in 3H-methyl-TRH binding in nXII; specific TRH binding increased from very low levels at birth to high levels of P14. Finally, we recorded intracellularly the electrophysiological responses to TRH of hypoglossal motoneurons (HMs; n = 42) of neonatal rats (P0-P21) in a brainstem slice preparation. The response of neonatal HMs to TRH, in contrast to adult HMs, was highly variable. In some neonatal HMs, even at P0, TRH caused a depolarization with a decrease in input conductance (GN) that was characteristic of the response of all adult HMs. However, in other neonatal HMs, TRH was either without effect or caused a slight depolarization with no apparent change in GN, responses that were unlike those of adult HMs. A response was considered typical (i.e., "adult-like") if GN decreased to < 85% of control. The percentage of cells responding in a typical manner increased progressively from 25% at P0-P2 to 100% after P11. In addition, we found that the density of TRH-sensitive current (normalized to cell capacitance) increased with postnatal age in HMs that responded in a typical manner, suggesting that expression of the TRH-sensitive conductance is also developmentally regulated. Together, these data indicate that the TRH raphe neuronal system of the rat brainstem is not fully mature at the time of birth but develops over the first few postnatal weeks. This was true of levels of TRH mRNA in caudal raphe nuclei, density of TRH-IR fibers and 3H-methyl-TRH binding in nXII, and also the manner and magnitude of electrophysiological responses of HMs to exogenously applied TRH.

Opiates suppress a resting sodium-dependent inward current and activate an outward potassium current in locus coeruleus neurons

The opioid peptide met-enkephalin (met-ENK) produces an outward current with an increase in input conductance in locus coeruleus (LC) neurons. This current has been attributed to an opening of potassium channels. However, the opioid-induced current tends to reverse at potentials more negative than the expected potassium reversal potential (EK) or does not reverse at all. Since lack of reversal can occur if there is a simultaneous increase in one conductance and a decrease in a second conductance, we tested the possible contribution of a second conductance to the opioid-induced outward current in LC neurons. Biochemically, opiates inhibit adenylate cyclase in LC neurons and cAMP-active agents produce a sodium-dependent inward current in these neurons. This current is also present at rest, as sodium substitution hyperpolarizes LC neurons. By inhibiting adenylate cyclase, could opiates be turning off this current? To evaluate this possibility, we used intracellular voltage-clamp technique in rat LC slices, and studied the effect of sodium substitution on the opiate response. Replacement of external sodium (80%) with Tris or choline caused (1) an outward current with a decrease in input conductance and (2) an approximately 50% decrease in the met-ENK-induced outward current with a shift in its reversal potential toward EK. Extracellular Ba2+, a K+ channel blocker, also partially reduced the opiate response, but it shifted its reversal potential away from EK. The met-ENK-induced outward current was almost totally abolished by combined sodium substitution and extracellular Ba2+ in an additive manner.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Serotonin and noradrenaline excite GABAergic neurones of the guinea-pig and cat nucleus reticularis thalami.

1. The actions of serotonin (5-HT) and noradrenaline (NA) in the cat perigeniculate nucleus (PGN) and the guinea-pig nucleus reticularis thalami (NRT) were investigated with extracellular and intracellular recordings obtained from neurones in thalamic slices maintained in vitro. 2. Single, local application of either 5-HT or NA resulted in pronounced (5-50 Hz) and prolonged (2-10 min) excitation associated with the occurrence of single-spike activity. Serotoninergic excitation was specifically blocked by the 5-HT2/5-HT1C antagonists ketanserin and ritanserin, but not by the 5-HT1A antagonist pindolol or the 5-HT3 antagonist ICS 205-930. Furthermore, the 5-HT response was mimicked by alpha-methyl-5-HT, but not by the 5-HT1A agonist 8-hydroxydipropylaminotetralin (8-OHDPAT) or the 5-HT3 agonist 2-methyl-5-HT. Together, these results indicate that this excitatory response is mediated through 5-HT2 receptors with the possible involvement of 5-HT1C receptors. 3. Noradrenergic excitation was specifically blocked by the alpha 1-antagonist prazosin, but not by the beta-antagonist propranolol or the alpha 2-antagonist yohimbine. Similarly, the response was mimicked by the alpha-agonist phenylephrine, but not by the beta-agonist isoprenaline. These results indicate that the noradrenergic excitation is mediated by alpha 1-adrenoceptors. 4. Block of synaptic transmission either by lowering external calcium concentration ([Ca2+]o) to 0.5 mM and raising external magnesium concentration ([Mg2+]o) to 10 mM or by local application of tetrodotoxin failed to block the excitatory or depolarizing response to 5-HT or NA indicating that these responses are direct and not mediated through the release of other neurotransmitters. 5. Intracellular recordings revealed that the 5-HT- and NA-induced excitations are mediated by a pronounced slow depolarization associated with an apparent decrease in input conductance and an increase in the membrane time constant. Current versus voltage plots obtained under voltage clamp before and during the presence of 5-HT and NA revealed that these neurotransmitters induced an inward current which reversed to an outward current at -107 and -110 mV, respectively, in 2.5 mM external potassium concentration ([K+]o). This reversal potential was identical to that associated with an increase in potassium conductance activated by acetylcholine (-110 mV) in the same neurones. Plots of the amplitude of the 5-HT- or NA-induced current versus membrane potential revealed a linear relationship in the voltage range from -140 to -60 mV.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Neurotensin-induced excitation of neurons of the rat's frontal cortex studied intracellularly in vitro.

The actions of neurotensin (NT) on frontal pyramidal neurons were studied in vitro in slices of rat cerebral cortex using current clamp and single electrode voltage clamp (SEVC) techniques. Bath application of NT (0.1 microM-10 microM) induced a depolarization (2-13 mV) in 88% of the pyramidal cells, this effect was associated with a decrease in input conductance of 5-35% and its reversal potential was estimated at -88 +/ -9.7 mV. Typically, this depolarizing effect of NT was transient, since no cell responded to a second application of the peptide within 20 min after the first one. NT also induced an increase in the rate of firing of pyramidal cells evoked by direct stimulation, even when an hyperpolarizing current was applied to prevent the depolarization induced by NT. This effect could neither be explained by a decrease of the post-spike after-hyperpolarization, nor by an increase of the persistent sodium current which sustains the spiking of pyramidal cells, since the former was not affected consistently by NT and the later was insensitive to the peptide. This excitation of pyramidal neurons by NT persisted after blockade of synaptic transmission. On the other hand, NT also enhanced the synaptic noise recorded in pyramidal cells in standard perfusing medium. Furthermore, dopaminergic antagonists and noradrenergic antagonists failed to block these effects of NT. Finally, the inactive fragment of the peptide, NT(1-8), did not affect membrane properties of pyramidal cells. All together, these results suggest that NT excites frontal cortical neurons through the activation of specific NT receptors.

The dependence of motoneurone membrane potential on extracellular ion concentrations studied in isolated rat spinal cord.

1. Intracellular recordings from ninety-nine motoneurones have been made in an in vitro hemisected spinal cord preparation. Their mean resting membrane potential in normal artificial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was -71 +/- 0.5 mV (+/- S.E.M.). The mean amplitude of the action potential was 84.0 +/- 1.4 mV (n = 50), and the mean input conductance was 101 +/- 7 nS (n = 49). 2. Both membrane potential and input conductance were sensitive to changes in [K+]o, [Na+]o, [Cl-]o and [Ca2+]o. 3. Replacement of extracellular Ca2+ by Mn2+ resulted in less than 1 mV hyperpolarization and a decrease in input conductance from 102 +/- 7 to 93 +/- 6 nS (n = 15). 4. At high [K+]o (greater than 10 mM) the membrane potential followed the potential predicted by the Nernst equation for K+ ions with a slope of 58 mV per 10-fold change in [K+]o. At low [K+]o (less than 10 mM) there was significant deviation from K+ equilibrium potential (EK). 5. [K+]i was found to be 106 mM when estimated from the reversal potential of the after-hyperpolarization of the antidromic action potential. 6. The reversal potential of the recurrent inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP) in normal CSF was used to calculate [Cl-]i. This was 6.6 mM, which is less than would be expected if Cl- was passively distributed, indicating the presence of an outwardly directed Cl- pump. 7. Decreasing [Cl-]o from control (134 mM) to 4 mM resulted in a depolarization of 6.9 +/- 0.9 mV and a decrease in input conductance from 102 +/- 5 to 90 +/- 5 nS (n = 14) in 3 mM [K+]o. 8. Decreasing [Na+]o from 156 to 26 mM by substitution with choline resulted in a 6.2 +/- 0.5 mV hyperpolarization and a decrease in input conductance from from 102 +/- 4 to 76 +/- 4 nS (n = 5) in 3 mM [K+]o. 9. The input conductances for Na+, Cl- and K+ at the resting potential were calculated. After allowing for a microelectrode leak conductance, the relative input conductances were gNa/gK = 0.13 and gCl/gK = 0.25.

Noradrenergic modulation of firing pattern in guinea pig and cat thalamic neurons, in vitro.

1. The electrophysiological actions of norepinephrine (NE) in the guinea pig and cat thalamus were investigated using intracellular recordings from neurons of in vitro thalamic slices. 2. Application of NE to neurons of the lateral and medial geniculate nuclei, nucleus reticularis, anteroventral nucleus, and the parataenial (PT) nucleus resulted in a slow depolarization associated with a 2- to 15-nS decrease in input conductance and an increase in the slow membrane time constant from an average of 27.7 to 37.7 ms. The slow depolarization was not abolished by blockade of synaptic transmission, indicating that it was a direct (postsynaptic) effect. 3. The reversal potential of the NE-induced slow depolarization varied as a Nernstian function of extracellular potassium concentration ([K]o), indicating that it is due to a decrease in potassium conductance. This conclusion was supported by the finding that the amplitude of the NE-evoked depolarization was affected by changes in [K]o between 0.5 and 5.0 mM as expected for a K-mediated response. 4. Neurons of the PT nucleus displayed unusually large afterhyperpolarizations (AHPs) in comparison to cells in other thalamic nuclei. NE application to PT neurons caused not only a marked slow depolarization and decreased conductance, but also selectively reduced the slow AHP. 5. The NE-induced slow depolarization effectively suppressed burst firing and promoted the occurrence of single spike activity. NE-induced reduction of the slow AHP in PT neurons was accompanied by a decrease in spike frequency accommodation and the emergence of a slow afterdepolarization. 6. We suggest that through these electrophysiological actions, NE can effectively inhibit the generation of thalamocortical rhythms and greatly facilitate the faithful transfer of information through the thalamus to the cerebral cortex.

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone mimics descending slow synaptic potentials in rat spinal motoneurons.

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) produced a depolarization in lumbar motoneurons of neonatal rats. The depolarization by TRH persisted after extracellular Ca2+ was replaced by Mg2+ or Mn2+, indicating its direct action upon motoneurons. Stimulation of the ventral descending tract at the lower thoracic segment evoked slow excitatory postsynaptic potentials (e.p.s.ps) lasting 20-30 s in every motoneuron. Both the TRH-induced depolarization and descending slow e.p.s.p. were accompanied by a decrease in input conductance of motoneurons. When the membrane potential of the motoneuron was shifted, both the TRH-induced depolarization and slow e.p.s.p. became larger in amplitude during depolarization and smaller during hyperpolarization. However, they could not be reversed in polarity by hyperpolarization. During the depolarization of motoneuron produced by TRH application, the slow e.p.s.p. was markedly reduced in amplitude, suggesting the involvement of identical ionic mechanisms in the two responses. After incubation of the isolated spinal cord with antisera to TRH, the depolarizing response produced by TRH as well as the descending slow e.p.s.p. was greatly diminished. In contrast, monosynaptic reflexes evoked by dorsal root stimulation remained unchanged under this condition. These results suggest that TRH serves as a neurotransmitter mediating the descending slow e.p.s.p. in motoneurons.

Membrane responses and changes in cAMP levels in Aplysia sensory neurons produced by serotonin, tryptamine, FMRFamide and small cardioactive peptide B (SCP B)

While recent evidence indicates a role for serotonin (5-HT) in modulating the defensive tail-withdrawal reflex in Aplysia, little information exists concerning the specificity of these 5-HT effects. As a first-step in addressing this issue we have examined the dose-response relationship for one aspect of the 5-HT modulation (enhancement of cAMP levels in isolated clusters of sensory neurons) and compared the effects of 5-HT with three potential neurotransmitters: tryptamine, FMRFamide (Phe-Met-Arg-Phe-NH 2) and small cardioactive peptide B (SCP B). Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels were enhanced as a graded function of the concentration of 5-HT with an EC 50 of 14 μM. At a concentration of 5 μM, both 5-HT and SCP B produced nearly identical increases in the cAMP content of sensory neurons. In contrast, 5 μM tryptamine or 5 μM FMRFamide had little or no effect on cAMP levels. We also examined the effects of these agents on membrane currents and membrane conductance. Both 5-HT and SCP B produced an inward current associated with a decrease in input conductance. Tryptamine had little or no effect, while FMRFamide produced a response opposite to that of 5-HT and SCP B; an outward current associated with an increase in membrane conductance.

Analysis of decreased conductance serotonergic response in Aplysia ink motor neurons.

Micropressure ejection of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) produced excitatory responses in the L14 ink motor neurons of Aplysia that depended on the site of application. Ejection of 5-HT onto the cell body produced a slow response that showed variability in voltage sensitivity between preparations. In contrast, ejection of 5-HT onto the neuropil underneath the cell body produced a response whose amplitude was consistently a linear function of the holding potential, reversing near the predicted potassium equilibrium potential. Subsequent analyses focused on this second response. The neuropil response induced by 5-HT had a linear current-voltage relationship (reversing at ca. -80 mV), was associated with a decrease in input conductance, and was sensitive to changes in the concentration of extracellular K+. Serotonin application in artificial seawater (ASW) containing 30 mM K+ produced a response that reversed close to the altered Nernst potential for K+. The 5-HT response did not appear to be due to secondary activation of interneurons or to depend primarily on extracellular Ca2+, since ejection of 5-HT onto cells bathed in ASW containing 30 mM Co2+ produced responses comparable to, although somewhat attenuated from, those observed in ASW. Serotonin responses similar to those produced in ASW were obtained after perfusing the ganglion with ASW containing Co2+, 4-aminopyridine (4-AP), and tetraethylammonium (TEA). This suggests that the 5-HT-sensitive current is separate from the Ca2+-activated, fast, and delayed rectifying K+ currents. The 5-HT response appeared to be mediated by changes in levels of cAMP. Bath application of the phosphodiesterase inhibitors IBMX (3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine) or Ro 20-1724, or the adenylate cyclase activator forskolin mimicked the 5-HT response by producing a slow inward current associated with a decrease in membrane conductance. Alteration of cellular cAMP metabolism modulated the response to 5-HT. Exposure of the ganglion to low concentrations of either Ro 20-1724 or forskolin potentiated the 5-HT response. Higher concentrations of these agents largely blocked the response to subsequent 5-HT applications. Bath application of the 8-bromo derivative of either cAMP or cGMP produced a slow inward current associated with a decrease in membrane conductance in cells voltage clamped at the resting potential. Responses to 5-HT were blocked, however, after exposure to 8-bromo-cAMP, but not to 8-bromo-cGMP. These results suggest that 5-HT produces a voltage-independent decrease in a steady-state potassium conductance that may be mediated by cAMP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)