Glutamatergic Synaptic Plasticity in the Periaqueductal Gray Governs Fear-induced Depression-like Behavior in Rats

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S633-S633 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y.C. Ho ◽  
M.C. Hsieh ◽  
C.Y. Lai ◽  
H.Y. Peng
Keyword(s):  
Synaptic Transmission ◽  
Learned Helplessness ◽  
Depressive Disorders ◽  
Glutamate Release ◽  
Brain Slices ◽  
Periaqueductal Gray ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Patch Clamp Recording ◽  
Whole Cell Patch Clamp ◽  
Competing Interest

IntroductionMajor depressive disorder affecting more than 110 million people worldwide every year is a heterogeneous illness influenced by a variety of factors, including repeated stressful factors. Despite widely research during the past several decades, the pathophysiology and neurobiological mechanisms of depressive disorders remain unclear. Ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (vlPAG), a midbrain nucleus, has been considered as an important part of the circuitry that involves in stress-induced depression-like behaviors. Dysregulation of glutamatergic neurotransmission in depressed patients suggests that glutamate-mediated excitatory system is critical involved in the depressive disorders.ObjectivesIt is still unclear that whether vlPAG involves in fear condition-elicited depression-like behavior.AimsWe investigated the synaptic transmission in the vlPAG to examine whether vlPAG participates in fear-induced depression-like behavior in rats.MethodsDepression-like behaviors, in the rats, were induced by learned helplessness procedure. The synaptic transmission was conducted by whole-cell patch-clamp recording in the rat brain slices containing periaqueductal gray.ResultsRats receiving learned helplessness procedure displayed high failure rate in the escapable foot-shock test compared to control group. Both amplitude and frequency of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents were significant reduced compared to control group, suggesting reduced presynaptic glutamate release and postsynaptic responses were involved in the learned helplessness procedure-induced depression behavior in rats.ConclusionsReduced glutamatergic transmission in the vlPAG contributes to learned helplessness procedure-induced depression-like behavior in rats through pre – and post-synaptic mechanisms.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

scholarly journals Orexin depolarizes rat hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus neurons

2001 ◽  
Vol 281 (4) ◽  
pp. R1114-R1118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tetsuro Shirasaka ◽  
Satoshi Miyahara ◽  
Takato Kunitake ◽  
Qing-Hua Jin ◽  
Kazuo Kato ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Paraventricular Nucleus ◽  
Brain Slices ◽  
Hypothalamic Paraventricular Nucleus ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Patch Clamp Recording ◽  
Concentration Dependent Manner ◽  
Whole Cell Patch Clamp ◽  
Orexin Receptors ◽  
Bath Application

Orexins, also called hypocretins, are newly discovered hypothalamic peptides that are thought to be involved in various physiological functions. In spite of the fact that orexin receptors, especially orexin receptor 2, are abundant in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN), the effects of orexins on PVN neurons remain unknown. Using a whole cell patch-clamp recording technique, we investigated the effects of orexin-B on PVN neurons of rat brain slices. Bath application of orexin-B (0.01–1.0 μM) depolarized 80.8% of type 1 ( n = 26) and 79.2% of type 2 neurons tested ( n = 24) in the PVN in a concentration-dependent manner. The effects of orexin-B persisted in the presence of TTX (1 μM), indicating that these depolarizing effects were generated postsynaptically. Addition of Cd2+(1 mM) to artificial cerebrospinal fluid containing TTX (1 μM) significantly reduced the depolarizing effect in type 2 neurons. These results suggest that orexin-B has excitatory effects on the PVN neurons mediated via a depolarization of the membrane potential.

Hippocampal Interneurons Are Excited Via Serotonin-Gated Ion Channels

1997 ◽  
Vol 78 (5) ◽  
pp. 2493-2502 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lori L. McMahon ◽  
Julie A. Kauer
Keyword(s):  
Ion Channels ◽  
Synaptic Transmission ◽  
Dentate Gyrus ◽  
Granule Cells ◽  
Brain Slices ◽  
Pyramidal Cells ◽  
Stratum Radiatum ◽  
Negative Slope ◽  
Patch Clamp Recording ◽  
Gated Ion Channels

McMahon, Lori L. and Julie A. Kauer. Hippocampal interneurons are excited via serotonin-gated ion channels. J. Neurophysiol. 78: 2493–2502, 1997. Serotonergic neurons of the median raphe nucleus heavily innervate hippocampal GABAergic interneurons located in stratum radiatum of area CA1, suggesting that this strong subcortical projection may modulate interneuron excitability. Using whole cell patch-clamp recording from interneurons in brain slices, we tested the effects of serotonin (5-HT) on the physiological properties of these interneurons. Serotonin produces a rapid inward current that persists when synaptic transmission is blocked by tetrodotoxin and cobalt, and is unaffected by ionotropic glutamate and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor antagonists. The 5-HT–induced current was independent of G-protein activation. Pharmacological evidence indicates that 5-HT directly excites these interneurons through activation of 5-HT3 receptors. At membrane potentials negative to −55 mV, the current-voltage ( I-V) relationship of the 5-HT current displays a region of negative slope conductance. Therefore the response of interneurons to 5-HT strongly depends on membrane potential and increases greatly as cells are depolarized. Removal of extracellular calcium, but not magnesium, increases the amplitude of 5-HT–induced currents and removes the region of negative slope conductance, thereby linearizing the I-V relationship. The axons of 5-HT–responsive interneurons ramify widely within CA1; some of these interneurons also project to and arborize extensively in the dentate gyrus. The organization of these inhibitory connections strongly suggests that these cells regulate excitability of both CA1 pyramidal cells and dentate granule cells. As our results indicate that 5-HT may mediate fast excitatory synaptic transmission onto these interneurons, serotonergic inputs can simultaneously modulate the output of both hippocampus and dentate gyrus.

Serotonergic modulation of neuronal activity in rat midbrain periaqueductal gray

2013 ◽  
Vol 109 (11) ◽  
pp. 2712-2719 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyo-Jin Jeong ◽  
Karen Lam ◽  
Vanessa A. Mitchell ◽  
Christopher W. Vaughan
Keyword(s):  
Brain Slices ◽  
Periaqueductal Gray ◽  
Membrane Excitability ◽  
Inhibitory Effects ◽  
Whole Cell Patch Clamp ◽  
Outward Currents ◽  
Selective Ligands ◽  
Inward Currents ◽  
Subtype Selective ◽  
Serotonergic Modulation

Serotonin (5-HT) modulates pain and anxiety from within the midbrain periaqueductal gray (PAG). In the present study, the effects of 5-HT- and 5-HT1/2 subtype-selective ligands on rat PAG neurons were examined using whole cell patch-clamp recordings in brain slices. In voltage clamp, 5-HT produced outward and inward currents in distinct subpopulations of neurons that varied throughout different subregions of the PAG. The 5-HT1A agonist R(+)-8-OH-DPAT (1 μM) produced outward currents in subpopulations of PAG neurons. By contrast, sumatriptan (1 μM) and other 5-HT1B, -D, and -F subtype agonists had little or no postsynaptic activity. The 5-HT2A/C agonists DOI (3 μM) and TCB-2 (1 μM) produced inward currents in subpopulations of PAG neurons, and DOI enhanced evoked inhibitory postsynaptic currents via a presynaptic mechanism. In current clamp, both R(+)-8-OH-DPAT and sumatriptan produced an excitatory increase in evoked mixed postsynaptic potentials (PSPs). In addition, R(+)-8-OH-DPAT, but not sumatriptan, directly hyperpolarized PAG neurons. By contrast, the 5-HT2 agonist DOI depolarized subpopulations of neurons and produced an inhibitory decrease in evoked mixed PSPs. These findings indicate that 5-HT1A and 5-HT1B/D ligands have partly overlapping inhibitory effects on membrane excitability and synaptic transmission within the PAG, which are functionally opposed by 5-HT2A/C actions in specific PAG subregions.

CB1 Cannabinoid Receptor Inhibits Synaptic Release of Glutamate in Rat Dorsolateral Striatum

2001 ◽  
Vol 85 (1) ◽  
pp. 468-471 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory Gerdeman ◽  
David M. Lovinger
Keyword(s):  
Basal Ganglia ◽  
Synaptic Transmission ◽  
Neurotransmitter Release ◽  
Cannabinoid Receptors ◽  
Glutamate Release ◽  
Brain Slices ◽  
Cb1 Receptor ◽  
Motor Deficits ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Dorsolateral Striatum

CB1 cannabinoid receptors in the neostriatum mediate profound motor deficits induced when cannabinoid drugs are administered to rodents. Because the CB1 receptor has been shown to inhibit neurotransmitter release in various brain areas, we investigated the effects of CB1 activation on glutamatergic synaptic transmission in the dorsolateral striatum of the rat where the CB1 receptor is highly expressed. We performed whole cell voltage-clamp experiments in striatal brain slices and applied the CB1 agonists HU-210 or WIN 55,212–2 during measurement of synaptic transmission. Excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs), evoked by electrical stimulation of afferent fibers, were significantly reduced in a dose-dependent manner by CB1 agonist application. EPSC inhibition was accompanied by an increase in two separate indices of presynaptic release, the paired-pulse response ratio and the coefficient of variation, suggesting a decrease in neurotransmitter release. These effects were prevented by application of the CB1 antagonist SR141716A. When Sr2+ was substituted for Ca2+ in the extracellular solution, application of HU-210 (1 μM) significantly reduced the frequency, but not amplitude, of evoked, asynchronous quantal release events. Spontaneous release events were similarly decreased in frequency with no change in amplitude. These findings further support the interpretation that CB1 activation leads to a decrease of glutamate release from afferent terminals in the striatum. These results reveal a novel potential role for cannabinoids in regulating striatal function and thus basal ganglia output and may suggest CB1-targeted drugs as potential therapeutic agents in the treatment of Parkinson's disease and other basal ganglia disorders.

Early anoxia-induced vesicular glutamate release results from mobilization of calcium from intracellular stores

1993 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. N. Katchman ◽  
N. Hershkowitz
Keyword(s):  
Calcium Influx ◽  
Glutamate Release ◽  
Hippocampal Slices ◽  
Calcium Currents ◽  
Patch Clamp Recording ◽  
Ca1 Neurons ◽  
Whole Cell Patch Clamp ◽  
Mepsc Frequency ◽  
Synaptic Changes

1. The cause of the increased frequency of glutamatergic miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs) resulting from anoxia was investigated in CA1 neurons of the in vitro rat hippocampal slice. These neurons were examined by whole-cell patch-clamp recording, and hypoxia was induced by switching the perfusion of the slice from oxygenated artificial cerebral spinal fluid (ACSF) to ACSF saturated with 95% N2-5% O2. Except where noted, experiments were carried out in ACSF containing 1 microM tetrodotoxin (TTX). 2. Although anoxia resulted in a significant increase in the frequency of mEPSCs, the amplitude, rise time, and half-decay time of the mEPSCs were unchanged. This increase in frequency indicates that there is a change in presynaptic neurotransmitter release mechanisms, probably an increase in calcium concentration, soon after the onset of anoxia. The unchanged kinetics and amplitude of the mEPSCs indicate that anoxic-induced synaptic changes are not a result of changes in the postsynaptic glutamate receptor. 3. When hippocampal slices were exposed to anoxic conditions in ACSF with calcium excluded, an increase in mEPSC frequency equal to that in normal ACSF was observed. When 0.2 mM of CdCl2 was added to the zero-calcium ACSF, anoxia still resulted in increases in mEPSC frequency equal to those of normal ACSF. It is therefore concluded that the anoxia-induced increase in mEPSC frequency does not result from an increase in a transmembrane calcium influx. The zero-calcium plus 0.2 mM CdCl2 ACSF solution completely abolished orthodromically elicited synaptic potential (in the absence of TTX), indicating that calcium currents that mediate normal orthodromic transmitter release were completely abolished in the latter experiments.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

scholarly journals Presynaptic and Postsynaptic NMDA Receptors Mediate Distinct Effects of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor on Synaptic Transmission

2008 ◽  
Vol 100 (6) ◽  
pp. 3175-3184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph C. Madara ◽  
Eric S. Levine
Keyword(s):  
Synaptic Transmission ◽  
Nmda Receptors ◽  
Neurotrophic Factor ◽  
Developmental Plasticity ◽  
Granule Cells ◽  
Slow Component ◽  
Glutamate Release ◽  
Brain Slices ◽  
Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor ◽  
Cellular Mechanisms

In addition to its effects on neuronal survival and differentiation, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays an important role in modulating synaptic transmission and plasticity in many brain areas, most notably the neocortex and hippocampus. These effects may underlie a role for BDNF in learning and memory as well as developmental plasticity. Consistent with localization of the tropomyosin-related kinase B receptor to both sides of the synapse, BDNF appears to have pre- and postsynaptic effects, but the underlying cellular mechanisms are unclear and it is not known whether pre- and postsynaptic modulations by BDNF occur simultaneously. To address these issues, we recorded dual-component (α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid [AMPA] and N-methyl-d-aspartate [NMDA]) miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs) from cortical and hippocampal pyramidal neurons and dentate gyrus granule cells from acute brain slices. BDNF had no effect on the fast component of mEPSC decay or on the peak amplitude, suggesting that BDNF did not modulate postsynaptic AMPA receptors, although BDNF rapidly modulated NMDA receptors, as seen by an enhancement of the slow component of mEPSC decay that was prevented by blocking postsynaptic NMDA receptors. At the same time, BDNF acted presynaptically to enhance mEPSC frequency. Surprisingly, the effect on frequency was also NMDA receptor dependent, but required activation of presynaptic, not postsynaptic, NMDA receptors. BDNF also enhanced action potential–dependent glutamate release via presynaptic NMDA receptors, an effect that was unmasked when voltage-gated calcium channels were partially inhibited. Our results indicate that BDNF acutely modulates presynaptic release and postsynaptic responsiveness through simultaneous effects on pre- and postsynaptic NMDA receptors.

scholarly journals Opioid withdrawal abruptly disrupts amygdala circuit function by reducing peptide actions

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabrielle C Gregoriou ◽  
Sahil D Patel ◽  
Sebastian Pyne ◽  
Bryony L Winters ◽  
Elena E Bagley
Keyword(s):  
Drug Use ◽  
Synaptic Transmission ◽  
Basolateral Amygdala ◽  
Glutamate Release ◽  
Brain Slices ◽  
Opioid Withdrawal ◽  
Endogenous Opioids ◽  
Endogenous Opioid ◽  
Patch Clamp Electrophysiology ◽  
Dependent Learning

Opioid withdrawal drives relapse and contributes to compulsive drug use through disruption of endogenous opioid dependent learning circuits in the amygdala. Normally, endogenous opioids control these circuits by inhibiting glutamate release from basolateral amygdala principal neurons onto GABAergic intercalated cells. Using patch-clamp electrophysiology in rat brain slices, we reveal that opioid withdrawal dials down this endogenous opioid inhibition of synaptic transmission. Peptide activity is dialled down due to a protein kinase A dependent increase in the activity of the peptidase, neprilysin. This disrupts peptidergic control of both GABAergic and glutamatergic transmission through multiple amygdala circuits, including reward-related outputs to the nucleus accumbens. This likely disrupts peptide-dependent learning processes in the amygdala during withdrawal. and may direct behaviour towards compulsive drug use. Restoration of endogenous peptide activity during withdrawal may be a viable option to normalise synaptic transmission in the amygdala and restore normal reward learning.

Direct Actions of Cannabinoids on Synaptic Transmission in the Nucleus Accumbens: A Comparison With Opioids

2001 ◽  
Vol 85 (1) ◽  
pp. 72-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander F. Hoffman ◽  
Carl R. Lupica
Keyword(s):  
Nucleus Accumbens ◽  
Synaptic Transmission ◽  
Drugs Of Abuse ◽  
Glutamate Release ◽  
Brain Slices ◽  
Resting Membrane Potential ◽  
Projection Neurons ◽  
Whole Cell ◽  
Postsynaptic Currents ◽  
Abused Drugs

The nucleus accumbens (NAc) represents a critical site for the rewarding and addictive properties of several classes of abused drugs. The medium spiny GABAergic projection neurons (MSNs) in the NAc receive innervation from intrinsic GABAergic interneurons and glutamatergic innervation from extrinsic sources. Both GABA and glutamate release onto MSNs are inhibited by drugs of abuse, suggesting that this action may contribute to their rewarding properties. To investigate the actions of cannabinoids in the NAc, we performed whole cell recordings from MSNs located in the shell region in rat brain slices. The cannabinoid agonist WIN 55,212-2 (1 μM) had no effect on the resting membrane potential, input resistance, or whole cell conductance, suggesting no direct postsynaptic effects. Evoked glutamatergic excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) were inhibited to a much greater extent by [Tyr-d-Ala2, N-CH3-Phe4, Gly-ol-enkephalin] (DAMGO, ∼35%) than by WIN 55,212-2 (<20%), and an analysis of miniature EPSCs suggested that the effects of DAMGO were presynaptic, whereas those of WIN 55,212-2 were postsynaptic. However, electrically evoked GABAergic inhibitory postsynaptic currents (evIPSCs), were reduced by WIN 55,212-2 in every neuron tested (EC50 = 123 nM; 60% maximal inhibition), and the inhibition of IPSCs by WIN 55,212-2 was completely antagonized by the CB1 receptor antagonist SR141716A (1 μM). In contrast evIPSCs were inhibited in ∼50% of MSNs by the μ/δ opioid agonistd-Ala2-methionine2-enkephalinamide and were completely unaffected by a selective μ-opioid receptor agonist (DAMGO). WIN 55,212-2 also increased paired-pulse facilitation of the evIPSCs and did not alter the amplitudes of tetrodotoxin-resistant miniature IPSCs, suggesting a presynaptic action. Taken together, these data suggest that cannabinoids and opioids differentially modulate inhibitory and excitatory synaptic transmission in the NAc and that the abuse liability of marijuana may be related to the direct actions of cannabinoids in this structure.

scholarly journals Circadian Rhythm in Inhibitory Synaptic Transmission in the Mouse Suprachiasmatic Nucleus

2004 ◽  
Vol 92 (1) ◽  
pp. 311-319 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason Itri ◽  
Stephan Michel ◽  
James A. Waschek ◽  
Christopher S. Colwell
Keyword(s):  
Circadian Rhythm ◽  
Synaptic Transmission ◽  
Suprachiasmatic Nucleus ◽  
Constant Darkness ◽  
Patch Clamp Recording ◽  
Inhibitory Synaptic Transmission ◽  
Whole Cell Patch Clamp ◽  
Light:Dark Cycle ◽  
Brain Slice Preparation ◽  
Deficient Mice

It is widely accepted that most suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) neurons express the neurotransmitter GABA and are likely to use this neurotransmitter to regulate excitability within the SCN. To evaluate the possibility that inhibitory synaptic transmission varies with a circadian rhythm within the mouse SCN, we used whole cell patch-clamp recording in an acute brain slice preparation to record GABA-mediated spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (sIPSCs). We found that the sIPSC frequency in the dorsal SCN (dSCN) exhibited a TTX-sensitive daily rhythm that peaked during the late day and early night in mice held in a light:dark cycle. We next evaluated whether vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) was responsible for the observed rhythm in IPSC frequency. Pretreatment of SCN slices with VPAC1/VPAC2- or VPAC2-specific receptor antagonists prevented the increase in sIPSC frequency in the dSCN. The rhythm in sIPSC frequency was absent in VIP/peptide histidine isoleucine (PHI)-deficient mice. Finally, we were able to detect a rhythm in the frequency of inhibitory synaptic transmission in mice held in constant darkness that was also dependent on VIP and the VPAC2 receptor. Overall, these data demonstrate that there is a circadian rhythm in GABAergic transmission in the dorsal region of the mouse SCN and that the VIP is required for expression of this rhythm.

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