Synaptic Transmission in Hippocampal Neurons: Numerical Reconstruction of Quantal IPSCs

1990 ◽  
Vol 55 (0) ◽  
pp. 69-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Busch ◽  
B. Sakmann
Keyword(s):  
Synaptic Transmission ◽  
Hippocampal Neurons ◽  
Numerical Reconstruction

Two Mechanisms That Raise Free Intracellular Calcium in Rat Hippocampal Neurons During Hypoosmotic and Low NaCl Treatment

2000 ◽  
Vol 83 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aren J. Borgdorff ◽  
George G. Somjen ◽  
Wytse J. Wadman
Keyword(s):  
Synaptic Transmission ◽  
Intracellular Calcium ◽  
Hippocampal Neurons ◽  
Pyramidal Neurons ◽  
Hippocampal Slices ◽  
Cell Swelling ◽  
Tissue Slices ◽  
Extracellular Medium ◽  
Calcium Activity ◽  
Hippocampal Pyramidal Neurons

Previous studies have shown that exposing hippocampal slices to low osmolarity (πo) or to low extracellular NaCl concentration ([NaCl]o) enhances synaptic transmission and also causes interstitial calcium ([Ca2+]o) to decrease. Reduction of [Ca2+]o suggests cellular uptake and could explain the potentiation of synaptic transmission. We measured intracellular calcium activity ([Ca2+]i) using fluorescent indicator dyes. In CA1 hippocampal pyramidal neurons in tissue slices, lowering πo by ∼70 mOsm caused “resting” [Ca2+]i as well as synaptically or directly stimulated transient increases of calcium activity (Δ[Ca2+]i) to transiently decrease and then to increase. In dissociated cells, lowering πo by ∼70 mOsm caused [Ca2+]i to almost double on average from 83 to 155 nM. The increase of [Ca2+]i was not significantly correlated with hypotonic cell swelling. Isoosmotic (mannitol- or sucrose-substituted) lowering of [NaCl]o, which did not cause cell swelling, also raised [Ca2+]i. Substituting NaCl with choline-Cl or Na-methyl-sulfate did not affect [Ca2+]i. In neurons bathed in calcium-free medium, lowering πo caused a milder increase of [Ca2+]i, which was correlated with cell swelling, but in the absence of external Ca2+, isotonic lowering of [NaCl]o triggered only a brief, transient response. We conclude that decrease of extracellular ionic strength (i.e., in both low πo and low [NaCl]o) causes a net influx of Ca2+ from the extracellular medium whereas cell swelling, or the increase in membrane tension, is a signal for the release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores.

scholarly journals Hippocampal neurons in direct contact with astrocytes exposed to amyloid β25-35 exhibit reduced excitatory synaptic transmission

IBRO Reports ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 34-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kohei Oyabu ◽  
Hiroki Kiyota ◽  
Kaori Kubota ◽  
Takuya Watanabe ◽  
Shutaro Katsurabayashi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Synaptic Transmission ◽  
Hippocampal Neurons ◽  
Direct Contact ◽  
Excitatory Synaptic Transmission

scholarly journals MmTX1 and MmTX2 from coral snake venom potently modulate GABAA receptor activity

2015 ◽  
Vol 112 (8) ◽  
pp. E891-E900 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Pierre Rosso ◽  
Jürgen R. Schwarz ◽  
Marcelo Diaz-Bustamante ◽  
Brigitte Céard ◽  
José M. Gutiérrez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Membrane ◽  
Synaptic Transmission ◽  
Snake Venom ◽  
Hippocampal Neurons ◽  
Hippocampal Neuron ◽  
Costa Rican ◽  
Coral Snake ◽  
Receptor Sensitivity ◽  
Common Receptor ◽  
Receptor Family

GABAA receptors shape synaptic transmission by modulating Cl− conductance across the cell membrane. Remarkably, animal toxins that specifically target GABAA receptors have not been identified. Here, we report the discovery of micrurotoxin1 (MmTX1) and MmTX2, two toxins present in Costa Rican coral snake venom that tightly bind to GABAA receptors at subnanomolar concentrations. Studies with recombinant and synthetic toxin variants on hippocampal neurons and cells expressing common receptor compositions suggest that MmTX1 and MmTX2 allosterically increase GABAA receptor susceptibility to agonist, thereby potentiating receptor opening as well as desensitization, possibly by interacting with the α+/β− interface. Moreover, hippocampal neuron excitability measurements reveal toxin-induced transitory network inhibition, followed by an increase in spontaneous activity. In concert, toxin injections into mouse brain result in reduced basal activity between intense seizures. Altogether, we characterized two animal toxins that enhance GABAA receptor sensitivity to agonist, thereby establishing a previously unidentified class of tools to study this receptor family.

Role of Presynaptic L-Type Ca2+ Channels in GABAergic Synaptic Transmission in Cultured Hippocampal Neurons

1999 ◽  
Vol 81 (3) ◽  
pp. 1225-1230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimmo Jensen ◽  
Morten Skovgaard Jensen ◽  
John D. C. Lambert
Keyword(s):  
Synaptic Transmission ◽  
Transmitter Release ◽  
Hippocampal Neurons ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Tetanic Stimulation ◽  
Vesicle Release ◽  
Gabaergic Synaptic Transmission ◽  
Cultured Hippocampal Neurons ◽  
40 Hz

Role of presynaptic L-type Ca2+ channels in GABAergic synaptic transmission in cultured hippocampal neurons. Using dual whole cell patch-clamp recordings of monosynaptic GABAergic inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs) in cultured rat hippocampal neurons, we have previously demonstrated posttetanic potentiation (PTP) of IPSCs. Tetanic stimulation of the GABAergic neuron leads to accumulation of Ca2+ in the presynaptic terminals. This enhances the probability of GABA-vesicle release for up to 1 min, which underlies PTP. In the present study, we have examined the effect of altering the probability of release on PTP of IPSCs. Baclofen (10 μM), which depresses presynaptic Ca2+ entry through N- and P/Q-type voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels (VDCCs), caused a threefold greater enhancement of PTP than did reducing [Ca2+]o to 1.2 mM, which causes a nonspecific reduction in Ca2+ entry. This finding prompted us to investigate whether presynaptic L-type VDCCs contribute to the Ca2+ accumulation in the boutons during spike activity. The L-type VDCC antagonist, nifedipine (10 μM), had no effect on single IPSCs evoked at 0.2 Hz but reduced the PTP evoked by a train of 40 Hz for 2 s by 60%. Another L-type VDCC antagonist, isradipine (5 μM), similarly inhibited PTP by 65%. Both L-type VDCC blockers also depressed IPSCs during the stimulation (i.e., they increased tetanic depression). The L-type VDCC “agonist” (−)BayK 8644 (4 μM) had no effect on PTP evoked by a train of 40 Hz for 2 s, which probably saturated the PTP process, but enhanced PTP evoked by a train of 1 s by 91%. In conclusion, the results indicate that L-type VDCCs do not participate in low-frequency synchronous transmitter release, but contribute to presynaptic Ca2+ accumulation during high-frequency activity. This helps maintain vesicle release during tetanic stimulation and also enhances the probability of transmitter release during the posttetanic period, which is manifest as PTP. Involvement of L-type channels in these processes represents a novel presynaptic regulatory mechanism at fast CNS synapses.

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