5-HT2A receptor or α1-adrenoceptor activation induces excitatory postsynaptic currents in layer V pyramidal cells of the medial prefrontal cortex

1999 ◽  
Vol 367 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 197-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerard J Marek ◽  
George K Aghajanian
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Medial Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Pyramidal Cells ◽  
Excitatory Postsynaptic Currents ◽  
Postsynaptic Currents ◽  
Layer V

Multiple Forms of Short-Term Plasticity at Excitatory Synapses in Rat Medial Prefrontal Cortex

2000 ◽  
Vol 83 (5) ◽  
pp. 3031-3041 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris M. Hempel ◽  
Kenichi H. Hartman ◽  
X.-J. Wang ◽  
Gina G. Turrigiano ◽  
Sacha B. Nelson
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Medial Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Dynamic Properties ◽  
Specific Property ◽  
Pyramidal Cells ◽  
Excitatory Synapses ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Short Term Plasticity ◽  
Layer V

Short-term synaptic plasticity, in particular short-term depression and facilitation, strongly influences neuronal activity in cerebral cortical circuits. We investigated short-term plasticity at excitatory synapses onto layer V pyramidal cells in the rat medial prefrontal cortex, a region whose synaptic dynamic properties have not been systematically examined. Using intracellular and extracellular recordings of synaptic responses evoked by stimulation in layers II/III in vitro, we found that short-term depression and short-term facilitation are similar to those described previously in other regions of the cortex. In additition, synapses in the prefrontal cortex prominently express augmentation, a longer lasting form of short-term synaptic enhancement. This consists of a 40–60% enhancement of synaptic transmission which lasts seconds to minutes and which can be induced by stimulus trains of moderate duration and frequency. Synapses onto layer III neurons in the primary visual cortex express substantially less augmentation, indicating that this is a synapse-specific property. Intracellular recordings from connected pairs of layer V pyramidal cells in the prefrontal cortex suggest that augmentation is a property of individual synapses that does not require activation of multiple synaptic inputs or neuromodulatory fibers. We propose that synaptic augmentation could function to enhance the ability of a neuronal circuit to sustain persistent activity after a transient stimulus. This idea is explored using a computer simulation of a simplified recurrent cortical network.

Excitatory and Inhibitory Postsynaptic Currents in a Rat Model of Epileptogenic Microgyria

2005 ◽  
Vol 93 (2) ◽  
pp. 687-696 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. M. Jacobs ◽  
D. A. Prince
Keyword(s):  
Rat Model ◽  
Pyramidal Neurons ◽  
Intractable Epilepsy ◽  
Pyramidal Cells ◽  
Excitatory Input ◽  
Inhibitory Neurons ◽  
Cell Group ◽  
Excitatory Postsynaptic Currents ◽  
Postsynaptic Currents ◽  
Layer V

Developmental cortical malformations are common in patients with intractable epilepsy; however, mechanisms contributing to this epileptogenesis are currently poorly understood. We previously characterized hyperexcitability in a rat model that mimics the histopathology of human 4-layered microgyria. Here we examined inhibitory and excitatory postsynaptic currents in this model to identify functional alterations that might contribute to epileptogenesis associated with microgyria. We recorded isolated whole cell excitatory postsynaptic currents and GABAA receptor-mediated inhibitory currents (EPSCs and IPSCs) from layer V pyramidal neurons in the region previously shown to be epileptogenic (paramicrogyral area) and in homotopic control cortex. Epileptiform-like activity could be evoked in 60% of paramicrogyral (PMG) cells by local stimulation. The peak conductance of both spontaneous and evoked IPSCs was significantly larger in all PMG cells compared with controls. This difference in amplitude was not present after blockade of ionotropic glutamatergic currents or for miniature (m)IPSCs, suggesting that it was due to the excitatory afferent activity driving inhibitory neurons. This conclusion was supported by the finding that glutamate receptor antagonist application resulted in a significantly greater reduction in spontaneous IPSC frequency in one PMG cell group (PMGE) compared with control cells. The frequency of both spontaneous and miniature EPSCs was significantly greater in all PMG cells, suggesting that pyramidal neurons adjacent to a microgyrus receive more excitatory input than do those in control cortex. These findings suggest that there is an increase in numbers of functional excitatory synapses on both interneurons and pyramidal cells in the PMG cortex perhaps due to hyperinnervation by cortical afferents originally destined for the microgyrus proper.

Development of Excitatory Circuitry in the Hippocampus

1998 ◽  
Vol 79 (4) ◽  
pp. 2013-2024 ◽  
Author(s):  
Albert Y. Hsia ◽  
Robert C. Malenka ◽  
Roger A. Nicoll
Keyword(s):  
Synaptic Transmission ◽  
Action Potentials ◽  
Pyramidal Cells ◽  
Excitatory Synaptic Transmission ◽  
Developmental Strategy ◽  
Excitatory Postsynaptic Currents ◽  
Postsynaptic Currents ◽  
Quantal Size ◽  
Physiological Approach ◽  
Local Circuitry

Hsia, Albert Y., Robert C. Malenka, and Roger A. Nicoll. Development of excitatory circuitry in the hippocampus. J. Neurophysiol. 79: 2013–2024, 1998. Assessing the development of local circuitry in the hippocampus has relied primarily on anatomic studies. Here we take a physiological approach, to directly evaluate the means by which the mature state of connectivity between CA3 and CA1 hippocampal pyramidal cells is established. Using a technique of comparing miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs) to EPSCs in response to spontaneously occurring action potentials in CA3 cells, we found that from neonatal to adult ages, functional synapses are created and serve to increase the degree of connectivity between CA3-CA1 cell pairs. Neither the probability of release nor mean quantal size was found to change significantly with age. However, the variability of quantal events decreases substantially as synapses mature. Thus in the hippocampus the developmental strategy for enhancing excitatory synaptic transmission does not appear to involve an increase in the efficacy at individual synapses, but rather an increase in the connectivity between cell pairs.

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