SK Channel Regulation of Dendritic Excitability and Dendrodendritic Inhibition in the Olfactory Bulb

2005 ◽  
Vol 94 (6) ◽  
pp. 3743-3750 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brady J. Maher ◽  
Gary L. Westbrook

Small-conductance calcium-activated potassium channels (SK) regulate dendritic excitability in many neurons. In the olfactory bulb, regulation of backpropagating action potentials and dendrodendritic inhibition depend on the dendritic excitability of mitral cells. We report here that SK channel currents are present in mitral cells but are not detectable in granule cells in the olfactory bulb. In brain slices from PND 14–21 mice, long step depolarizations (100 ms) in the mitral cell soma evoked a cadmium- and apamin-sensitive outward SK current lasting several hundred milliseconds. Block of the SK current unmasked an inward N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) autoreceptor current due to glutamate released from mitral cell dendrites. In low extracellular Mg2+ (100 μM), brief step depolarizations (2 ms) evoked an apamin-sensitive current that was reduced by d,l-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid. In current- clamp, block of SK channels increased action potential firing in mitral cells as well as dendrodendritic inhibition. Our results indicate that SK channels can be activated either by calcium channels or NMDA channels in mitral cell dendrites, providing a mechanism for local control of dendritic excitability.

2007 ◽  
Vol 97 (4) ◽  
pp. 3136-3141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Heinbockel ◽  
Kathryn A. Hamilton ◽  
Matthew Ennis

In the main olfactory bulb, several populations of granule cells (GCs) can be distinguished based on the soma location either superficially, interspersed with mitral cells within the mitral cell layer (MCL), or deeper, within the GC layer (GCL). Little is known about the physiological properties of superficial GCs (sGCs) versus deep GCs (dGCs). Here, we used patch-clamp recording methods to explore the role of Group I metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) in regulating the activity of GCs in slices from wildtype and mGluR−/− mutant mice. In wildtype mice, bath application of the selective Group I mGluR agonist DHPG depolarized and increased the firing rate of both GC subtypes. In the presence of blockers of fast synaptic transmission (APV, CNQX, gabazine), DHPG directly depolarized both GC subtypes, although the two GC subtypes responded differentially to DHPG in mGluR1−/− and mGluR5−/− mice. DHPG depolarized sGCs in slices from mGluR5−/− mice, although it had no effect on sGCs in slices from mGluR1−/− mice. By contrast, DHPG depolarized dGCs in slices from mGluR1−/− mice but had no effect on dGCs in slices from mGluR5−/− mice. Previous studies showed that mitral cells express mGluR1 but not mGluR5. The present results therefore suggest that sGCs are more similar to mitral cells than dGCs in terms of mGluR expression.


1970 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 631-651
Author(s):  
J. L. PRICE ◽  
T. P. S. POWELL

A description is given of the mitral and short axon cells of the olfactory bulb of the rat from Golgi material examined with the light microscope and from material examined with the electron microscope. The mitral cells are large neurons with primary and secondary dendrites which both extend into the overlying external plexiform layer, although only the primary dendrite enters the glomerular formations. No predominant antero-posterior orientation of the secondary dendrites has been found. Within the glomeruli the mitral cell dendrites are in synaptic contact with the olfactory nerves and also with the periglomerular cells, but elsewhere the only synapses on the mitral cells are the ‘reciprocal synapses’ with the granule cells. Synaptic-type vesicles are found in all parts of the mitral cells, including the axon initial segments; they appear to be especially concentrated in the distal portions of the dendrites. Several types of short axon cells have been found in the granule cell layer in Golgi-impregnated material. Their cell bodies can also be distinguished with the electron microscope, and from previous work it is probable that the axons of at least some of these cells form flattened-vesicle symmetrical synapses upon the granule cells.


1999 ◽  
Vol 81 (1) ◽  
pp. 345-355 ◽  
Author(s):  
Changping Jia ◽  
Wei R. Chen ◽  
Gordon M. Shepherd

Jia, Changping, Wei R. Chen, and Gordon M. Shepherd. Synaptic organization and neurotransmitters in the rat accessory olfactory bulb. J. Neurophysiol. 81: 345–355, 1999. The accessory olfactory bulb (AOB) is the first relay station in the vomeronasal system and may play a critical role in processing pheromone signals. The AOB shows similar but less distinct lamination compared with the main olfactory bulb (MOB). In this study, synaptic organization of the AOB was analyzed in slice preparations from adult rats by using both field potential and patch-clamp recordings. Stimulation of the vomeronasal nerve (VN) evoked field potentials that showed characteristic patterns in different layers of the AOB. Current source density (CSD) analysis of the field potentials revealed spatiotemporally separated loci of inward current (sinks) that represented sequential activation of different neuronal components: VN activity (period I), synaptic excitation of mitral cell apical dendrites (period II), and activation of granule cells by mitral cell basal dendrites (period III). Stimulation of the lateral olfactory tract also evoked field potentials in the AOB, which indicated antidromic activation of the mitral cells (period I and II) followed by activation of granule cells (period III). Whole cell patch recordings from mitral and granule cells of the AOB supported that mitral cells are excited by VN terminals and subsequently activate granule cells through dendrodendritic synapses. Both CSD analysis and patch recordings provided evidence that glutamate is the neurotransmitter at the vomeronasal receptor neuron; mitral cell synapses and both NMDA and non-NMDA receptors are involved. We also demonstrated electrophysiologically that reciprocal interaction between mitral and granule cells in the AOB is through the dendrodendritic reciprocal synapses. The neurotransmitter at the mitral-to-granule synapses is glutamate and at the granule-to-mitral synapse is γ-aminobutyric acid. The synaptic interactions among receptor cell terminals, mitral cells, and granule cells in the AOB are therefore similar to those in the MOB, suggesting that processing of chemosensory information in the AOB shares similarities with that in the MOB.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahua Chatterjee ◽  
Fernando Perez de los Cobos Pallares ◽  
Alex Loebel ◽  
Michael Lukas ◽  
Veronica Egger

During odor sensing the activity of principal neurons of the mammalian olfactory bulb, the mitral and tufted cells (MTCs), occurs in repetitive bursts that are synchronized to respiration, reminiscent of hippocampal theta-gamma coupling. Axonless granule cells (GCs) mediate self- and lateral inhibitory interactions between the excitatory MTCs via reciprocal dendrodendritic synapses. We have explored long-term plasticity at this synapse by using a theta burst stimulation (TBS) protocol and variations thereof. GCs were excited via glomerular stimulation in acute brain slices. We find that TBS induces exclusively long-term depression in the majority of experiments, whereas single bursts (“single-sniff paradigm”) can elicit both long-term potentiation and depression. Statistical analysis predicts that the mechanism underlying this bidirectional plasticity involves the proportional addition or removal of presynaptic release sites. Gamma stimulation with the same number of APs as in TBS was less efficient in inducing plasticity. Both TBS- and “single-sniff paradigm”-induced plasticity depend on NMDA receptor activation. Since the onset of plasticity is very rapid and requires little extra activity, we propose that these forms of plasticity might play a role already during an ongoing search for odor sources. Our results imply that components of both short-term and long-term olfactory memory may be encoded at this synapse.


2002 ◽  
Vol 88 (1) ◽  
pp. 64-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graeme Lowe

The mammalian olfactory bulb is a geometrically organized signal-processing array that utilizes lateral inhibitory circuits to transform spatially patterned inputs. A major part of the lateral circuitry consists of extensively radiating secondary dendrites of mitral cells. These dendrites are bidirectional cables: they convey granule cell inhibitory input to the mitral soma, and they conduct backpropagating action potentials that trigger glutamate release at dendrodendritic synapses. This study examined how mitral cell firing is affected by inhibitory inputs at different distances along the secondary dendrite and what happens to backpropagating action potentials when they encounter inhibition. These are key questions for understanding the range and spatial dependence of lateral signaling between mitral cells. Backpropagating action potentials were monitored in vitro by simultaneous somatic and dendritic whole cell recording from individual mitral cells in rat olfactory bulb slices, and inhibition was applied focally to dendrites by laser flash photolysis of caged GABA (2.5-μm spot). Photolysis was calibrated to activate conductances similar in magnitude to GABAA-mediated inhibition from granule cell spines. Under somatic voltage-clamp with CsCl dialysis, uncaging GABA onto the soma, axon initial segment, primary and secondary dendrites evoked bicuculline-sensitive currents (up to −1.4 nA at −60 mV; reversal at ∼0 mV). The currents exhibited a patchy distribution along the axon and dendrites. In current-clamp recordings, repetitive firing driven by somatic current injection was blocked by uncaging GABA on the secondary dendrite ∼140 μm from the soma, and the blocking distance decreased with increasing current. In the secondary dendrites, backpropagated action potentials were measured 93–152 μm from the soma, where they were attenuated by a factor of 0.75 ± 0.07 (mean ± SD) and slightly broadened (1.19 ± 0.10), independent of activity (35–107 Hz). Uncaging GABA on the distal dendrite had little effect on somatic spikes but attenuated backpropagating action potentials by a factor of 0.68 ± 0.15 (0.45–0.60 μJ flash with 1-mM caged GABA); attenuation was localized to a zone of width 16.3 ± 4.2 μm around the point of GABA release. These results reveal the contrasting actions of inhibition at different locations along the dendrite: proximal inhibition blocks firing by shunting somatic current, whereas distal inhibition can impose spatial patterns of dendrodendritic transmission by locally attenuating backpropagating action potentials. The secondary dendrites are designed with a high safety factor for backpropagation, to facilitate reliable transmission of the outgoing spike-coded data stream, in parallel with the integration of inhibitory inputs.


eLife ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liyi Li ◽  
Sébastien Sultan ◽  
Stefanie Heigele ◽  
Charlotte Schmidt-Salzmann ◽  
Nicolas Toni ◽  
...  

In adult neurogenesis young neurons connect to the existing network via formation of thousands of new synapses. At early developmental stages, glutamatergic synapses are sparse, immature and functionally 'silent', expressing mainly NMDA receptors. Here we show in 2- to 3-week-old young neurons of adult mice, that brief-burst activity in glutamatergic fibers is sufficient to induce postsynaptic AP firing in the absence of AMPA receptors. The enhanced excitability of the young neurons lead to efficient temporal summation of small NMDA currents, dynamic unblocking of silent synapses and NMDA-receptor-dependent AP firing. Therefore, early synaptic inputs are powerfully converted into reliable spiking output. Furthermore, due to high synaptic gain, small dendritic trees and sparse connectivity, neighboring young neurons are activated by different distinct subsets of afferent fibers with minimal overlap. Taken together, synaptic recruitment of young neurons generates sparse and orthogonal AP firing, which may support sparse coding during hippocampal information processing.


1993 ◽  
Vol 69 (6) ◽  
pp. 1948-1965 ◽  
Author(s):  
U. S. Bhalla ◽  
J. M. Bower

1. Detailed compartmental computer simulations of single mitral and granule cells of the vertebrate olfactory bulb were constructed using previously published geometric data. Electrophysiological properties were determined by comparing model output to previously published experimental data, mainly current-clamp recordings. 2. The passive electrical properties of each model were explored by comparing model output with intracellular potential data from hyperpolarizing current injection experiments. The results suggest that membrane resistivity in both cells is nonuniform, with somatas having a substantially lower resistivity than the dendrites. 3. The active properties of these cells were explored by incorporating active ion channels into modeled compartments. On the basis of evidence from the literature, the mitral cell model included six channel types: fast sodium, fast delayed rectifier (Kfast), slow delayed rectifier (K), transient outward potassium current (KA), voltage- and calcium-dependent potassium current (KCa), and L-type calcium current. The granule cell model included four channel types: rat brain sodium, K, KA, and the non-inactivating muscarinic potassium current (KM). Modeled channels were based on the Hodgkin-Huxley formalism. 4. Representative kinetics for each of the channel classes above were obtained from the literature. The experimentally unknown spatial distributions of each included channel were obtained by systematic parameter searches. These were conducted in two ways: large-scale simulation series, in which each parameter was varied in turn, and an adaptation of a multidimensional conjugate gradient method. In each case, the simulated results were compared wtih experimental data using a curve-matching function evaluating mean squared differences of several aspects of the simulated and experimental voltage waveforms. 5. Systematic parameter variations revealed a single distinct region of parameter space in which the mitral cell model best fit the data. This region of parameter space was also very robust to parameter variations. Specifically, optimum performance was obtained when calcium and slow K channels were concentrated in the glomeruli, with a lower density in the soma and proximal secondary dendrites. The distribution of sodium and fast potassium channels, on the other hand, was highest at the soma and axon, with a much lighter distribution throughout the secondary dendrites. The KA and KCa channels were also concentrated near the soma. 6. The parameter search of the granule cell model was much less restrained by experimental data. Several parameter regimes were found that gave a good match to the data.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)


2003 ◽  
Vol 90 (3) ◽  
pp. 1737-1746 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graeme Lowe

It is widely held that the soma and basal dendrites of olfactory bulb mitral cells receive exclusively inhibitory synaptic input from local interneurons. However, the mitral somatodendritic membrane exhibits immunoreactivity for a variety of glutamate receptors, and blocking GABA receptors unmasks mitral cell self-excitation. This excitation is proposed to be mediated either by diffuse spillover of the mitral cells' own released glutamate, or by punctate transmission from glutamate-releasing granule cells. This study examined the pharmacology and kinetics of glutamate sensitivity of mitral cells by flash photolysis of nitroindoline caged glutamates, which facilitate reliable activation of receptors in the synaptic cleft. Wide-field laser uncaging (3.5-ms flash) of approximately 0.5–1 mM glutamate onto the soma activated large currents with fast (3.4-ms rise, 7.5-ms decay) and slow (64-ms rise, >10-s decay) components. In 100 μM APV, slow currents were reduced to 53% of control (257-ms rise, 2-s decay), displayed outward rectification in 1.3 mM Mg2+, and blocked by 15 μM 5,7-dichlorokynurenate. Responses to ≲100 μM glutamate were fully antagonized by 100 μM APV, consistent with competitive inhibition at high-affinity NMDA receptors. An APV-resistant NMDA receptor was not observed, refuting the punctate transmission model. Fast currents were blocked by 10 μM NBQX, boosted 3.28-fold by 100 μM cyclothiazide, and resolved into AMPA (40%) and kainate (60%) receptor components by 100 μM SYM2206. The results suggest that self-excitation depends on AMPA, kainite, and conventional NMDA autoreceptors on the mitral cell.


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