Non-monotonic decay of excitatory synaptic transmission in the frog optic tectum following repetitive stimulation of the optic nerve in vitro

1994 ◽  
Vol 102 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Atzori ◽  
Andrea Nistri
1959 ◽  
Vol 1 (6) ◽  
pp. 534-555 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.O. Bishop ◽  
W. Burke ◽  
W.R. Hayhow

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhou Yu ◽  
J. Michael McIntosh ◽  
Soroush Sadeghi ◽  
Elisabeth Glowatzki

ABSTRACTIn the vestibular peripheral organs, type I and type II hair cells (HCs) transmit incoming signals via glutamatergic quantal transmission onto afferent nerve fibers. Additionally, type I HCs transmit via ‘non-quantal’ transmission to calyx afferent fibers, by accumulation of glutamate and potassium in the synaptic cleft. Vestibular efferent inputs originating in the brainstem contact type II HCs and vestibular afferents. Here, we aimed at characterizing the synaptic efferent inputs to type II HCs using electrical and optogenetic stimulation of efferent fibers combined with in vitro whole-cell patch clamp recording from type II HCs in the rodent vestibular crista. Properties of efferent synaptic currents in type II HCs were similar to those found in cochlear hair cells and mediated by activation of α9/α10 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) and SK potassium channels. While efferents showed a low probability of release at low frequencies of stimulation, repetitive stimulation resulted in facilitation and increased probability of release. Notably, the membrane potential of type II HCs measured during optogenetic stimulation of efferents showed a strong hyperpolarization even in response to single pulses and was further enhanced by repetitive stimulation. Such efferent-mediated inhibition of type II HCs can provide a mechanism to adjust the contribution of signals from type I and type II HCs to vestibular nerve fibers. As a result, the relative input of type I hair cells to vestibular afferents will be strengthened, emphasizing the phasic properties of the incoming signal that are transmitted via fast non-quantal transmission.New and NoteworthyType II vestibular hair cells (HCs) receive inputs from efferent fibers originating in the brainstem. We used in vitro optogenetic and electrical stimulation of efferent fibers to study their synaptic inputs to type II HCs. Efferent inputs inhibited type II HCs, similar to cochlear efferent effects. We propose that efferent inputs adjust the contribution of signals from type I and type II HCs that report different components of the incoming signal to vestibular nerve fibers.


2002 ◽  
Vol 88 (6) ◽  
pp. 2899-2908 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory A. Kinney ◽  
William J. Spain

The presence, magnitude, and time course of GABA transporter currents were investigated in electrophysiologically characterized neocortical astrocytes in an in vitro slice preparation. On stimulation with a bipolar-tungsten stimulating electrode placed nearby, the majority of cells tested displayed long-lasting GABA transporter currents using both single and repetitive stimulation protocols. Using subtype-specific GABA transporter antagonists, long-lasting GABA transporter currents were identified in neocortical astrocytes that originated from at least two subtypes of GABA transporters: GAT-1 and GAT-2/3. These transporter currents displayed slow rise times and long decay times, contrasting the time course observed for glutamate transporter currents, and are indicative of a long extracellular time course of GABA as well as a role for glial GABA transporters during synaptic transmission.


1999 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 889-893 ◽  
Author(s):  
STEPHEN A. GEORGE ◽  
GANG-YI WU ◽  
WEN-CHANG LI ◽  
SHU-RONG WANG

We analyzed postsynaptic potentials and dye-labeled morphology of tectal neurons responding to electrical stimulation of the optic nerve and of the nucleus isthmi in a reptile, Gekko gekko, in order to compare with previously reported interactions between the optic tectum and the nucleus isthmi in amphibians and birds. The results indicate that isthmic stimulation exerts inhibitory and excitatory actions on tectal cells, similar to dual isthmotectal actions in amphibians. It appears that dual actions of the isthmotectal pathway in amphibians and reptiles are shared by two subdivisions of the nucleus isthmi in birds. The morphology of tectal cells responding to isthmic stimulation is generally similar to that of tectoisthmic projecting neurons, but they differ particularly in that some tectoisthmic cells bear numerous varicosities whereas cells receiving isthmic afferents do not. Thus, it is likely that at least some tectoisthmic cells may not be in the population of tectal cells that can be affected by isthmic stimulation. Forty-four percent of injections resulted in dye-coupled labeling, suggesting extensive electrical connections between tectal cells in reptiles.


1977 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 225-243 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Maeda ◽  
P. C. Magherini ◽  
W. Precht

1. Intracellular responses in neck and forelimb motoneurons to electrical stimulation of the vestibular nerve, the optic tectum, and the optic nerve were studied in frog. 2. Stimulation of the anterior branch of the vestibular nerve typically produced EPSPs, bilaterally, in neck, shoulder (DOR), and forelimb extensor (TRI, RAD) motoneurons, and bilateral IPSPs in forelimb adductor (PED) and flexor (ULN, COR) motoneurons. 3. Latencies of PSPs recorded in neck, shoulder, and proximal extensor motoneurons (TRI) were mostly in the disynaptic range, whereas many of those recorded in distal extensor (RAD) and in adductor and flexor motoneurons involved three synapses. 4. Lesion of the vestibulospinal fibers greatly reduced the vestibular nerve-evoked field potentials in the spinal cord and the occurrence of PSPs in forelimb motoneurons. These results as well as the latency measurements suggest that the pathway linking vestibular nerve and forelimb motoneurons mainly consists of vestibulospinal fibers, though involvement of other structures for production of later PSPs could not be completely ruled out. Hemisection of the brain stem at its most caudal level showed that the pathway to the contralateral motoneurons crosses at the level of brain stem as well as in the spinal cord. 5. Stimulation of the optic tectum produced EPSPs, IPSPs, and a mixture of EPSPs and IPSPs in neck, shoulder, and forelimb motoneurons, bilaterally. Most frequently, a combination of an excitation and inhibition was observed. The pathway from the optic tectum to neck and limb motoneurons is at least dysnaptic in nature. 6. Stimulation of the optic nerve produced IPSPs and a mixture of EPSPs and IPSPs in neck and forelimb motoneurons. Impulses originating from the optic nerve descend as far as to lumbar motoneurons producing EPSP-IPSP sequences bilaterally. 7. Interaction studies suggested that the vestibular and optic pathways to neck and forelimb motoneurons are separate from each other so that the site of integration of vestibular and visual input occurs at the level of motoneurons. 8. Evidence for electronic coupling among forelimb motoneurons and electrical synaptic transmission in th pathway linking vestibular nerve and forelimb motoneurons is presented.


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