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Synaptic Mechanisms Regulating the Activation of a Ca2+-Mediated Plateau Potential in Developing Relay Cells of the LGN
- Source :
- Journal of Neurophysiology. 87:1175-1185
- Publication Year :
- 2002
- Publisher :
- American Physiological Society, 2002.
-
Abstract
- Using intracellular recordings in an isolated (in vitro) rat brain stem preparation, we examined the synaptic responses of developing relay neurons in the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN). In newborn rats, strong stimulation of the optic tract (OT) evoked excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) that gave rise to a sustained (300–1,300 ms), slow-decaying (2+ channels. Synaptic activation of the plateau potential relied on N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-mediated activity and the spatial and/or temporal summation of retinally evoked EPSPs. Inhibitory postsynaptic responses (IPSPs) did not prevent the expression of the plateau potential. However, GABAA receptor activity modulated the intensity of optic tract stimulation needed to evoke the plateau potential, while GABAB receptor activity affected its duration. Expression of the plateau potential was developmentally regulated, showing a much higher incidence at P1–2 (90%) than at P19–20 (1%). This was in part due to the fact that developing relay cells show a greater degree of spatial summation than their mature counterparts, receiving input from as many as 7–12 retinal ganglion cells. Early spontaneous retinal activity is also likely to trigger the plateau potential. Repetitive stimulation of optic tract in a manner that approximated the high-frequency discharge of retinal ganglion cells led to a massive temporal summation of EPSPs and the activation of a sustained depolarization (>1 min) that was blocked by L-type Ca2+ channel antagonists. These age-related changes in Ca2+ signaling may contribute to the activity-dependent refinement of retinogeniculate connections.
- Subjects :
- Baclofen
Calcium Channels, L-Type
Physiology
Dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus
Action Potentials
Bicuculline
Plateau (mathematics)
law.invention
GABA Antagonists
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Receptors, GABA
Relay
law
Animals
Receptor
Neurons
Voltage-dependent calcium channel
Chemistry
Nitrendipine
General Neuroscience
Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials
Geniculate Bodies
Calcium Channel Blockers
Rat brain
In vitro
Rats
2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate
Synapses
Calcium
Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists
Neuroscience
Intracellular
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 15221598 and 00223077
- Volume :
- 87
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Journal of Neurophysiology
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....e81322c89aba8496a648726fa45f0496