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.

The effects of glycine and GABA on isolated horizontal cells from the salamander retina

1991 ◽  
Vol 66 (6) ◽  
pp. 2002-2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. A. Gilbertson ◽  
S. Borges ◽  
M. Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Horizontal Cell ◽  
Horizontal Cells ◽  
Gamma Aminobutyric Acid ◽  
Light Responses ◽  
Whole Cell Patch Clamp ◽  
Synaptic Interactions ◽  
Outward Currents ◽  
Na Currents ◽  
Inward Currents ◽  
Kinetics Of

1. Horizontal cells, identified by their morphology, were isolated from the salamander retina and examined in whole cell patch clamp. 2. All cells showed large outward currents activating positive to about -50 mV, and a minority of cells showed fast, tetrodotoxin-suppressible Na+ currents. Slow inward currents that might shape the light responses were never observed. 3. All cells showed conductance increases to both gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glycine that were completely blocked by bicuculline and strychnine, respectively. No cross-blocking by these antagonists was observed. Partial replacements of Cl- with large, impermeant anions indicated that both GABA- and glycine-evoked currents were carried by Cl- ions. 4. Responses to both GABA and glycine desensitized strongly with time constants of approximately 2 s. 5. Responses to glutamate were not enhanced by glycine. Similarly, responses to GABA were not enhanced by glutamate. 6. GABA-mediated synaptic interactions between horizontal cells may account for the changes in the kinetics of horizontal cell light responses seen when glycine is applied to the intact retina.

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.

Activation of subfornical organ neurons in rats through pre- and postsynaptic α-adrenoceptors

2006 ◽  
Vol 290 (6) ◽  
pp. R1646-R1653 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eiko Honda ◽  
Kentaro Ono ◽  
Shinji Kataoka ◽  
Kiyotoshi Inenaga
Keyword(s):  
Gaba Receptor ◽  
Membrane Conductance ◽  
Subfornical Organ ◽  
Patch Clamp Recording ◽  
Pcr Assay ◽  
Whole Cell Patch Clamp ◽  
Outward Currents ◽  
Current Clamp Mode ◽  
Inward Currents ◽  
Pulse Stimulation

The effects of noradrenaline (NA) and its analogs on subfornical organ (SFO) neurons in rat slice preparations were investigated by using whole cell patch-clamp recording. In the current-clamp mode, the application of NA at 10–100 μM produced membrane depolarization (63%, 17 responsive neurons/27 neurons tested) and hyperpolarization (22%, 6/27 neurons). In the voltage-clamp mode, NA application at 1–100 μM produced inward currents (69%, 42/61 neurons) and outward currents (23%, 14/61 neurons). These currents remained in the presence of TTX or both glutamate and GABA receptor antagonists. In most of the neurons (25/31 neurons) showing inward currents in the presence of NA, the membrane conductance was not changed by voltage ramps or hyperpolarizing pulse stimulation. Similar responses were obtained by the application of the α1-agonist phenylephrine. The phenylephrine-induced inward currents were inhibited by the α1-antagonist prazosin. The α2-agonist clonidine decreased the frequency of spontaneous GABAergic inhibitory postsynaptic currents (4/10 neurons). In addition, RT-PCR assay and immunohistochemical staining showed the existence of α1-adrenoceptors in the SFO. The results suggest that SFO neurons in rats are activated postsynaptically through α1-adrenoceptors and that the activation is enhanced by suppressing GABAergic inhibitory synaptic inputs through presynaptic α2-adrenoceptors.

scholarly journals Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels and Voltage-Dependent Sodium Channels in Human Cementoblasts

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Satomi Kamata ◽  
Maki Kimura ◽  
Sadao Ohyama ◽  
Shuichiro Yamashita ◽  
Yoshiyuki Shibukawa
Keyword(s):  
Alveolar Bone ◽  
Attachment Site ◽  
Ionic Currents ◽  
Ionic Channels ◽  
Patch Clamp Recording ◽  
Physiological Processes ◽  
Whole Cell Patch Clamp ◽  
Outward Currents ◽  
Voltage Dependent ◽  
Inward Currents

Cementum, which is excreted by cementoblasts, provides an attachment site for collagen fibers that connect to the alveolar bone and fix the teeth into the alveolar sockets. Transmembrane ionic signaling, associated with ionic transporters, regulate various physiological processes in a wide variety of cells. However, the properties of the signals generated by plasma membrane ionic channels in cementoblasts have not yet been described in detail. We investigated the biophysical and pharmacological properties of ion channels expressed in human cementoblast (HCEM) cell lines by measuring ionic currents using conventional whole-cell patch-clamp recording. The application of depolarizing voltage steps in 10 mV increments from a holding potential (Vh) of −70 mV evoked outwardly rectifying currents at positive potentials. When intracellular K+ was substituted with an equimolar concentration of Cs+, the outward currents almost disappeared. Using tail current analysis, the contributions of both K+ and background Na+ permeabilities were estimated for the outward currents. Extracellular application of tetraethylammonium chloride (TEA) and iberiotoxin (IbTX) reduced the densities of the outward currents significantly and reversibly, whereas apamin and TRAM-34 had no effect. When the Vh was changed to −100 mV, we observed voltage-dependent inward currents in 30% of the recorded cells. These results suggest that HCEM express TEA- and IbTX-sensitive large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels and voltage-dependent Na+ channels.

Muscarinic stimulation increases basal Ca2+ and inhibits spontaneous Ca2+ transients in murine colonic myocytes

2001 ◽  
Vol 280 (3) ◽  
pp. C689-C700 ◽  
Author(s):  
Orline Bayguinov ◽  
Brian Hagen ◽  
Kenton M. Sanders
Keyword(s):  
Nonselective Cation Channel ◽  
Inhibitory Effects ◽  
Patch Clamp Recording ◽  
Fk 506 ◽  
Whole Cell Patch Clamp ◽  
Outward Currents ◽  
Receptor Interactions ◽  
Muscarinic Stimulation ◽  
Spontaneous Transient Outward Currents ◽  
Stimulation Of

Localized Ca2+ transients in isolated murine colonic myocytes depend on Ca2+ release from inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) receptors. Localized Ca2+ transients couple to spontaneous transient outward currents (STOCs) and mediate hyperpolarization responses in these cells. We used confocal microscopy and whole cell patch-clamp recording to investigate how muscarinic stimulation, which causes formation of IP3, can suppress Ca2+ transients and STOCs that might override the excitatory nature of cholinergic responses. ACh (10 μM) reduced localized Ca2+ transients and STOCs, and these effects were associated with a rise in basal cytosolic Ca2+. These effects of ACh were mimicked by generalized rises in basal Ca2+ caused by ionomycin (250–500 nM) or elevated external Ca2+ (6 mM). Atropine (10 μM) abolished the effects of ACh. Pretreatment of cells with nicardipine (1 μM), or Cd2+ (200 μM) had no effect on responses to ACh. An inhibitor of phospholipase C, U-73122, blocked Ca2+ transients and STOCs but did not affect the increase in basal Ca2+ after ACh stimulation. Xestospongin C (Xe-C; 5 μM), a membrane-permeable antagonist of IP3 receptors, blocked spontaneous Ca2+ transients but did not prevent the increase of basal Ca2+ in response to ACh. Gd3+(10 μM), a nonselective cation channel inhibitor, prevented the increase in basal Ca2+ after ACh and increased the frequency and amplitude of Ca2+ transients and waves. Another inhibitor of receptor-mediated Ca2+ influx channels, SKF-96365, also prevented the rise in basal Ca2+after ACh and increased Ca2+ transients and development of Ca2+ waves. FK-506, an inhibitor of FKBP12/IP3 receptor interactions, had no effect on the rise in basal Ca2+ but blocked the inhibitory effects of increased basal Ca2+ and ACh on Ca2+transients. These results suggest that the rise in basal Ca2+ that accompanies muscarinic stimulation of colonic muscles inhibits localized Ca2+ transients that could couple to activation of Ca2+-activated K+channels and reduce the excitatory effects of ACh.

scholarly journals Opioid-Mediated Astrocyte–Neuron Signaling in the Nucleus Accumbens

Cells ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 586 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Corkrum ◽  
Patrick E. Rothwell ◽  
Mark J. Thomas ◽  
Paulo Kofuji ◽  
Alfonso Araque
Keyword(s):  
Nucleus Accumbens ◽  
Opioid Receptor ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Brain Slices ◽  
Receptor Activation ◽  
Receptor Expression ◽  
Whole Cell Patch Clamp ◽  
Inward Currents ◽  
Μ Opioid Receptor ◽  
Patch Clamp Electrophysiology

Major hallmarks of astrocyte physiology are the elevation of intracellular calcium in response to neurotransmitters and the release of neuroactive substances (gliotransmitters) that modulate neuronal activity. While μ-opioid receptor expression has been identified in astrocytes of the nucleus accumbens, the functional consequences on astrocyte–neuron communication remains largely unknown. The present study has investigated the astrocyte responsiveness to μ-opioid signaling and the regulation of gliotransmission in the nucleus accumbens. Through the combination of calcium imaging and whole-cell patch clamp electrophysiology in brain slices, we have found that μ-opioid receptor activation in astrocytes elevates astrocyte cytoplasmic calcium and stimulates the release of the gliotransmitter glutamate, which evokes slow inward currents through the activation of neuronal N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. These results indicate the existence of molecular mechanisms underlying opioid-mediated astrocyte–neuron signaling in the nucleus accumbens.

scholarly journals Serotonergic Modulation of Persistent Inward Currents in Serotonergic Neurons of Medulla in ePet-EYFP Mice

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi Cheng ◽  
Nan Song ◽  
Renkai Ge ◽  
Yue Dai
Keyword(s):  
Morphological Data ◽  
Repetitive Firing ◽  
Patch Clamp Technique ◽  
Serotonergic Neurons ◽  
Persistent Inward Currents ◽  
Functional Roles ◽  
Whole Cell Patch Clamp ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Inward Currents ◽  
Serotonergic Modulation

Serotonergic (5-HT) neurons in the medulla play multiple functional roles associated with many symptoms and motor activities. The descending serotonergic pathway from medulla is essential for initiating locomotion. However, the ionic properties of 5-HT neurons in the medulla remain unclear. Using whole-cell patch-clamp technique, we studied the biophysical and modulatory properties of persistent inward currents (PICs) in 5-HT neurons of medulla in ePet-EYFP transgenic mice (P3–P6). PICs were recorded by a family of voltage bi-ramps (10-s duration, 40-mV peak step), and the ascending and descending PICs were mirrored to analyze the PIC hysteresis. PICs were found in 77% of 5-HT neurons (198/258) with no significant difference between parapyramidal region (n = 107) and midline raphe nuclei (MRN) (n = 91) in either PIC onset (−47.4 ± 10 mV and −48.7 ± 7 mV; P = 0.44) or PIC amplitude (226.9 ± 138 pA and 259.2 ± 141 pA; P = 0.29). Ninety-six percentage (191/198) of the 5-HT neurons displayed counterclockwise hysteresis and four percentage (7/198) exhibited the clockwise hysteresis. The composite PICs could be differentiated as calcium component (Ca_PIC) by bath application of nimodipine (25 μM), sodium component (Na_PIC) by tetrodotoxin (TTX, 2 μM), and TTX- and dihydropyridine-resistance component (TDR_PIC) by TTX and nimodipine. Ca_PIC, Na_PIC and TDR_PIC all contributed to upregulation of excitability of 5-HT neurons. 5-HT (15 μM) enhanced the PICs, including a 26% increase in amplitude of the compound currents of Ca_PIC and TDR_PIC (P < 0.001, n = 9), 3.6 ± 5 mV hyperpolarization of Na_PIC and TDR_PIC onset (P < 0.05, n = 12), 30% increase in amplitude of TDR_PIC (P < 0.01), and 2.0 ± 3 mV hyperpolarization of TDR_PIC onset (P < 0.05, n = 18). 5-HT also facilitated repetitive firing of 5-HT neurons through modulation of composite PIC, Na_PIC and TDR_PIC, and Ca_PIC and TDR_PIC, respectively. In particular, the high voltage-activated TDR_PIC facilitated the repetitive firing in higher membrane potential, and this facilitation could be amplified by 5-HT. Morphological data analysis indicated that the dendrites of 5-HT neurons possessed dense spherical varicosities intensively crossing 5-HT neurons in medulla. We characterized the PICs in 5-HT neurons and unveiled the mechanism underlying upregulation of excitability of 5-HT neurons through serotonergic modulation of PICs. This study provided insight into channel mechanisms responsible for the serotonergic modulation of serotonergic neurons in brainstem.

scholarly journals The Entorhinal Cortical Alvear Pathway Differentially Excites Pyramidal Cells and Interneuron Subtypes in Hippocampal CA1

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen A Bell ◽  
Rayne Delong ◽  
Priyodarshan Goswamee ◽  
A Rory McQuiston
Keyword(s):  
Brain Slices ◽  
Pyramidal Cells ◽  
Excitatory Input ◽  
Theta Burst Stimulation ◽  
Ca1 Pyramidal Cells ◽  
Whole Cell Patch Clamp ◽  
Hippocampal Ca1 ◽  
Physiological Impact ◽  
Theta Burst ◽  
Synaptic Responses

Abstract The entorhinal cortex alvear pathway is a major excitatory input to hippocampal CA1, yet nothing is known about its physiological impact. We investigated the alvear pathway projection and innervation of neurons in CA1 using optogenetics and whole cell patch clamp methods in transgenic mouse brain slices. Using this approach, we show that the medial entorhinal cortical alvear inputs onto CA1 pyramidal cells (PCs) and interneurons with cell bodies located in stratum oriens were monosynaptic, had low release probability, and were mediated by glutamate receptors. Optogenetic theta burst stimulation was unable to elicit suprathreshold activation of CA1 PCs but was capable of activating CA1 interneurons. However, different subtypes of interneurons were not equally affected. Higher burst action potential frequencies were observed in parvalbumin-expressing interneurons relative to vasoactive-intestinal peptide-expressing or a subset of oriens lacunosum-moleculare (O-LM) interneurons. Furthermore, alvear excitatory synaptic responses were observed in greater than 70% of PV and VIP interneurons and less than 20% of O-LM cells. Finally, greater than 50% of theta burst-driven inhibitory postsynaptic current amplitudes in CA1 PCs were inhibited by optogenetic suppression of PV interneurons. Therefore, our data suggest that the alvear pathway primarily affects hippocampal CA1 function through feedforward inhibition of select interneuron subtypes.

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.

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