An electrophysiological characterization of inhibitions and postsynaptic potentials in rat hippocampal CA3 neurones in vitro

1985 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
S.J. Kehl ◽  
H. McLennan
2013 ◽  
Vol 110 (5) ◽  
pp. 1227-1245 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arij Daou ◽  
Matthew T. Ross ◽  
Frank Johnson ◽  
Richard L. Hyson ◽  
Richard Bertram

The nucleus HVC (proper name) within the avian analog of mammal premotor cortex produces stereotyped instructions through the motor pathway leading to precise, learned vocalization by songbirds. Electrophysiological characterization of component HVC neurons is an important requirement in building a model to understand HVC function. The HVC contains three neural populations: neurons that project to the RA (robust nucleus of arcopallium), neurons that project to Area X (of the avian basal ganglia), and interneurons. These three populations are interconnected with specific patterns of excitatory and inhibitory connectivity, and they fire with characteristic patterns both in vivo and in vitro. We performed whole cell current-clamp recordings on HVC neurons within brain slices to examine their intrinsic firing properties and determine which ionic currents are responsible for their characteristic firing patterns. We also developed conductance-based models for the different neurons and calibrated the models using data from our brain slice work. These models were then used to generate predictions about the makeup of the ionic currents that are responsible for the different responses to stimuli. These predictions were then tested and verified in the slice using pharmacological manipulations. The model and the slice work highlight roles of a hyperpolarization-activated inward current ( Ih), a low-threshold T-type Ca2+ current ( ICa-T), an A-type K+ current ( IA), a Ca2+-activated K+ current ( ISK), and a Na+-dependent K+ current ( IKNa) in driving the characteristic neural patterns observed in the three HVC neuronal populations. The result is an improved characterization of the HVC neurons responsible for song production in the songbird.


1991 ◽  
Vol 260 (3) ◽  
pp. F311-F316 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Yoshitomi ◽  
M. Imai

The upper portion of the descending limb of long-looped nephron (LDLu) of the hamster is characterized by high water and ion permeabilities. Although the paracellular route is considered to be the major pathway representing cation permselectivity of this segment, ion transport mechanisms through the transcellular pathway are unknown. To study this issue; we applied cable analysis and conventional microelectrode technique to the hamster LDLu perfused in vitro. The transmural voltage (VT) was not different from zero, and transmural resistance (RT) was very low, 18.3 +/- 2.0 omega.cm2 (n = 12). The basolateral membrane voltage was -80 +/- 2 mV (n = 55), and fractional apical membrane resistance was 0.92 +/- 0.23 (n = 5). Ouabain (0.1 mM) in the bath decreased basolateral membrane voltage (VB) by 23 +/- 3 mV (n = 6, P less than 0.001). Increase in K+ concentration in bath and in lumen from 5 to 50 mM decreased VB by 39 +/- 2 (n = 7, P less than 0.01) and apical membrane voltage (VA) by 10 +/- 1 mV (n = 7, P less than 0.001), respectively. Addition of 2 mM Ba2+ to bath and to lumen decreased VB by -47 +/- 2 (n = 11, P less than 0.001) and decreased VA by 8 +/- 1 mV, respectively. Reduction of HCO3- in bath from 25 to 2.5 mM decreased VB by 4 +/- 1 mV (n = 7, P less than 0.005). Reduction of bath Cl- did not cause any rapid deflection of VB. No appreciable Na+ conductance was detected in the apical membrane.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


2018 ◽  
Vol 150 (4) ◽  
pp. 637-646 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura-Marie Winterstein ◽  
Kerri Kukovetz ◽  
Oliver Rauh ◽  
Daniel L. Turman ◽  
Christian Braun ◽  
...  

Recent studies have shown that membrane proteins can be efficiently synthesized in vitro before spontaneously inserting into soluble nanoscale lipid bilayers called nanodiscs (NDs). In this paper, we present experimental details that allow a combination of in vitro translation of ion channels into commercially available NDs followed by their direct reconstitution from these nanobilayers into standard bilayer setups for electrophysiological characterization. We present data showing that two model K+ channels, Kcv and KcsA, as well as a recently discovered dual-topology F− channel, Fluc, can be reliably reconstituted from different types of NDs into bilayers without contamination from the in vitro translation cocktail. The functional properties of Kcv and KcsA were characterized electrophysiologically and exhibited sensitivity to the lipid composition of the target DPhPC bilayer, suggesting that the channel proteins were fully exposed to the target membrane and were no longer surrounded by the lipid/protein scaffold. The single-channel properties of the three tested channels are compatible with studies from recordings of the same proteins in other expression systems. Altogether, the data show that synthesis of ion channels into NDs and their subsequent reconstitution into conventional bilayers provide a fast and reliable method for functional analysis of ion channels.


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