Plasticity in an electrosensory system. I. General features of a dynamic sensory filter

1996 ◽  
Vol 76 (4) ◽  
pp. 2483-2496 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Bastian
Keyword(s):  
Synaptic Plasticity ◽  
Pyramidal Cell ◽  
Electric Fish ◽  
Pyramidal Cells ◽  
Afferent Input ◽  
Firing Frequency ◽  
Negative Image ◽  
Local Stimulus ◽  
Adaptive Cancellation ◽  
Apical Dendrites

1. In this study we describe changes in neuronal responses within the primary electrosensory processing nucleus of a weakly electric fish that occur when the fish are exposed to repetitive patterns of electrosensory stimuli. Extracellular single-unit recordings show that pyramidal cells within the electrosensory lateral line lobe develop, over a time course of several minutes, an insensitivity to repetitive stimuli applied to a cell's receptive field (local stimulus). The pyramidal cell response cancellation only develops if the local stimulus is applied simultaneously with a diffuse pattern of electrosensory stimulation that affects the entire fish, or with proprioceptive stimuli. 2. The mechanism by which responses to repetitive afferent inputs are canceled relies on the central generation of "negative image inputs" that provide increased inhibitory input to a cell's apical dendrites at times when excitatory afferent input is increased. The negative image input becomes excitatory when afferent excitation is reduced or when input from inhibitory interneurons is predominant. The integration of a specific pattern of receptor afferent input with the complementary negative image input results in strong attenuation of pyramidal cell responses. The negative image inputs are plastic, so that a single pyramidal cell can learn to reject a variety of afferent input patterns. 3. These electric fish commonly experience repetitive electrosensory signals as a result of changes in posture. Because the electric organ is located in the trunk and tail, cyclical movements associated with exploratory behaviors result in amplitude modulations (AMs) of the electric field, and these AMs alter electroreceptor afferent firing frequency but not the firing frequency of second-order pyramidal cells. The adaptive cancellation mechanism described in this study can account for the insensitivity of pyramidal cells to reafferent electrosensory stimulation caused by tail movements and other postural changes. 4. The tail movements generate proprioceptive as well as electrosensory inputs, and either of these signals alone provides sufficient information for the generation of negative image inputs. The size of the negative image is larger, however, if both inputs are active. 5. The synaptic plasticity underlying the development of negative image inputs has a long-term component; under appropriate conditions changes in synaptic efficacy persist for > 30 min. 6. Normally functioning glutamatergic synapses are necessary for the expression of the synaptic plasticity associated with this cancellation mechanism. The development of negative image responses is blocked by micropressure ejection of the glutamate antagonist 6,7-dinitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione into the neighborhood of the pyramidal cell apical dendrites. 7. The adaptive cancellation of repetitive inputs is based on anti-Hebbian mechanisms; that is, correlated pre- and postsynaptic activity lead to a reduction in the excitatory input provided by the plastic synapses. As has been shown for several other systems, the cancellation mechanism reduces the cells responses to reafferent patterns of sensory input. In addition, the results of this study indicate that the mechanism may be more general, enabling the system to also cancel patterns of input resulting from exogenous stimuli.

Plasticity in an electrosensory system. II. Postsynaptic events associated with a dynamic sensory filter

1996 ◽  
Vol 76 (4) ◽  
pp. 2497-2507 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Bastian
Keyword(s):  
Pyramidal Cell ◽  
Cell Activity ◽  
Pyramidal Cells ◽  
Afferent Input ◽  
Current Injection ◽  
Inhibitory Input ◽  
Tetanic Stimulation ◽  
Negative Image ◽  
Postsynaptic Potentials ◽  
Stimulation Of

1. This report summarizes studies of the changes in postsynaptic potentials that occur as pyramidal cells within the primary electrosensory processing nucleus learn to reject repetitive patterns of afferent input. The rejection mechanism employs "negative image inputs" that oppose or cancel electroreceptor afferent inputs or patterns of pyramidal hyperpolarization or depolarization caused by intracellular current injection. Feedback pathways carrying descending electrosensory as well as other types of information provide the negative image inputs. This study focuses on the role of a directly descending projection from a second-order electrosensory nucleus the nucleus praeeminentialis (nP), which provides excitatory and inhibitory inputs to the apical dendrites of electrosensory lateral line lobe (ELL) pyramidal cells. 2. Electrical stimulation of the pathway linking the nP to the ELL was used to activate descending inputs to the pyramidal cells. Pyramidal cell activity was typically increased due to stimulation of this pathway. Tetanic stimulation of the descending pathway paired with either electrosensory stimuli that inhibited pyramidal cells, or hyperpolarizing current injection, increased the excitation provided by subsequent stimulation of this pathway. Pairing tetanic stimulation with excitatory electrosensory stimuli or depolarizing current injection had the opposite effect. Subsequent activation of the descending pathway inhibited pyramidal cells. 3. Intracellular recordings showed that the increased firing of pyramidal cells evoked by stimulation of the descending pathway following tetanic stimulation paired with postsynaptic hyperpolarization resulted from larger amplitude and longer-duration excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs). The shift in the effect of activity in this descending pathway to providing net inhibitory input to the pyramidal cells after paired presynaptic activity and postsynaptic depolarization probably results from the potentiation of inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs). The EPSP and IPSPs evoked by activity in this descending pathway can be continuously adjusted in amplitude, thereby counterbalancing patterns of pyramidal cell excitation and inhibition received from the periphery with the result that repetitive patterns of afferent activity are strongly attenuated.

Single-unit analysis of different hippocampal cell types during classical conditioning of rabbit nictitating membrane response

1983 ◽  
Vol 50 (5) ◽  
pp. 1197-1219 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. W. Berger ◽  
P. C. Rinaldi ◽  
D. J. Weisz ◽  
R. F. Thompson
Keyword(s):  
Classical Conditioning ◽  
Pyramidal Cell ◽  
Action Potentials ◽  
Pyramidal Cells ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Firing Frequency ◽  
Spontaneous Firing ◽  
Nictitating Membrane ◽  
Nictitating Membrane Response ◽  
Firing Characteristics

Extracellular single-unit recordings from neurons in the CA1 and CA3 regions of the dorsal hippocampus were monitored during classical conditioning of the rabbit nictitating membrane response. Neurons were classified as different cell types using response to fornix stimulation (i.e., antidromic or orthodromic activation) and spontaneous firing characteristics as criteria. Results showed that hippocampal pyramidal neurons exhibit learning-related neural plasticity that develops gradually over the course of classical conditioning. The learning-dependent pyramidal cell response is characterized by an increase in frequency of firing within conditioning trials and a within-trial pattern of discharge that correlates strongly with amplitude-time course of the behavioral response. In contrast, pyramidal cell activity recorded from control animals given unpaired presentations of the conditioned and unconditioned stimulus (CS and UCS) does not show enhanced discharge rates with repeated stimulation. Previous studies of hippocampal cellular electrophysiology have described what has been termed a theta-cell (19-21, 45), the activity of which correlates with slow-wave theta rhythm generated in the hippocampus. Neurons classified as theta-cells in the present study exhibit responses during conditioning that are distinctly different than pyramidal cells. theta-Cells respond during paired conditioning trials with a rhythmic bursting; the between-burst interval occurs at or near 8 Hz. In addition, two different types of theta-cells were distinguishable. One type of theta-cell increases firing frequency above pretrial levels while displaying the theta bursting pattern. The other type decreases firing frequency below pretrial rates while showing a theta-locked discharge. In addition to pyramidal and theta-neurons, several other cell types recorded in or near the pyramidal cell layer could be distinguished. One cell type was distinctive in that it could be activated with a short, invariant latency following fornix stimulation, but spontaneous action potentials of such neurons could not be collided with fornix shock-induced action potentials. These neurons exhibit a different profile of spontaneous firing characteristics than those of antidromically identified pyramidal cells. Nevertheless, neurons in this noncollidable category display the same learning-dependent response as pyramidal cells. It is suggested that the noncollidable neurons represent a subpopulation of pyramidal cells that do not project an axon via the fornix but project, instead, to other limbic cortical regions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Relationships Between Intracellular Calcium and Afterhyperpolarizations in Neocortical Pyramidal Neurons

2004 ◽  
Vol 91 (1) ◽  
pp. 324-335 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. J. Abel ◽  
J.C.F. Lee ◽  
J. C. Callaway ◽  
R. C. Foehring
Keyword(s):  
Intracellular Calcium ◽  
Linear Relationship ◽  
Pyramidal Neurons ◽  
Pyramidal Cells ◽  
Firing Frequency ◽  
Discharge Activity ◽  
Apical Dendrites ◽  
Neocortical Pyramidal Neurons

We examined the effects of recent discharge activity on [Ca2+]i in neocortical pyramidal cells. Our data confirm and extend the observation that there is a linear relationship between plateau [Ca2+]i and firing frequency in soma and proximal apical dendrites. The rise in [Ca2+] activates K+ channels underlying the afterhyperpolarization (AHP), which consists of 2 Ca2+-dependent components: the medium AHP (mAHP) and the slow AHP (sAHP). The mAHP is blocked by apamin, indicating involvement of SK-type Ca2+-dependent K+ channels. The identity of the apamin-insensitive sAHP channel is unknown. We compared the sAHP and the mAHP with regard to: 1) number and frequency of spikes versus AHP amplitude; 2) number and frequency of spikes versus [Ca2+]i; 3) IAHP versus [Ca2+]i. Our data suggest that sAHP channels require an elevation of [Ca2+]i in the cytoplasm, rather than at the membrane, consistent with a role for a cytoplasmic intermediate between Ca2+ and the K+ channels. The mAHP channels appear to respond to a restricted Ca2+ domain.

Regulation of IPSP Theta Rhythm by Muscarinic Receptors and Endocannabinoids in Hippocampus

2005 ◽  
Vol 94 (6) ◽  
pp. 4290-4299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian G. Reich ◽  
Miranda A. Karson ◽  
Sergei V. Karnup ◽  
Lauren M. Jones ◽  
Bradley E. Alger
Keyword(s):  
Pyramidal Cell ◽  
Acetylcholine Receptors ◽  
Theta Rhythm ◽  
Pyramidal Cells ◽  
Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptors ◽  
Mammalian Brain ◽  
Ca1 Region ◽  
Theta Frequency ◽  
Hippocampal Theta ◽  
Apical Dendrites

Theta rhythms are behaviorally relevant electrical oscillations in the mammalian brain, particularly the hippocampus. In many cases, theta oscillations are shaped by inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs) that are driven by glutamatergic and/or cholinergic inputs. Here we show that hippocampal theta rhythm IPSPs induced in the CA1 region by muscarinic acetylcholine receptors independent of all glutamate receptors can be briefly interrupted by action potential–induced, retrograde endocannabinoid release. Theta IPSPs can be recorded in CA1 pyramidal cell somata surgically isolated from CA3, subiculum, and even from their own apical dendrites. These results suggest that perisomatic-targeting interneurons whose output is subject to inhibition by endocannabinoids are the likely source of theta IPSPs. Interneurons having these properties include the cholecystokinin-containing cells. Simultaneous recordings from pyramidal cell pairs reveal synchronous theta-frequency IPSPs in neighboring pyramidal cells, suggesting that these IPSPs may help entrain or modulate small groups of pyramidal cells.

Oscillatory and burst discharge across electrosensory topographic maps

1996 ◽  
Vol 76 (4) ◽  
pp. 2364-2382 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. W. Turner ◽  
J. R. Plant ◽  
L. Maler
Keyword(s):  
Electric Fields ◽  
Pyramidal Cell ◽  
Unit Activity ◽  
Pyramidal Cells ◽  
Average Frequency ◽  
Afferent Input ◽  
Weakly Electric Fish ◽  
Burst Discharge

1. Three parallel maps of the distribution of tuberous electroreceptor inputs are found in the medullary electrosensory lateral line lobe (ELL) of weakly electric fish. Pyramidal cells in each map are known to respond differentially to the frequency of amplitude modulations (AMs) of external electric fields in vivo. We used an in vitro ELL slice preparation of Apteronotus leptorhynchus to compare the characteristics of spontaneously active single units across the three tuberous maps. It was our objective to determine whether spontaneous bursting activity of pyramidal cells in each map correlates with the known AM frequency selectivities of pyramidal cells in vivo. 2. Single-unit discharges were recorded from the pyramidal cell layer of the centromedial segment (CMS), centrolateral segment (CLS), and lateral segment (LS) of the ELL. Stochastic analysis of interspike intervals (ISIs) was used to identify bursting and nonbursting unit activity, and to separately analyze intra- and interburst ISIs. Four ISI patterns were identified as 1) bursting, 2) regular spiking, 3) irregular spiking, and 4) highly irregular spiking. This work focuses primarily on the characteristics of bursting units across the ELL segments. 3. Spontaneous bursting discharge was identified in all three maps (68 of 97 units), with several characteristics changing in a gradual manner across the maps. The coefficient of variation (CV) of ISIs and intraburst ISIs decreased significantly from the CMS to the LS, whereas the CV of burst periods increased significantly from the CMS to the LS. Autocorrelations and power spectral density analysis identified units discharging in an oscillatory manner with the following ratio: CMS, 75%; CLS, 4%; LS, 8%. 4. The mean period of spike bursts decreased significantly across the segments (CMS, 2.7 s; CLS, 1.2 s; LS, 1.1 s) primarily because of a shortening of mean burst duration (CMS, 1.0 s; CLS, 0.1 s; LS, 0.05 s). The average number of spikes per burst decreased significantly across the maps (CMS, 61; CLS, 8; LS, 8), whereas the average frequency of spikes per burst increased (CMS, 90 Hz; CLS, 130 Hz; LS, 178 Hz), mainly through an increase in the maximal frequencies attained by units within each map. 5. Bursts in the CMS were unstructured in that the intraburst ISIs were serially independent, whereas for many units in the CLS and especially the LS there were serial dependencies of successive spikes, with alternating short and long ISIs during the burst. 6. These data reveal that the characteristics of bursting unit activity differ between the CMS, CLS, and LS maps in vitro, implying a modulation of the factors underlying burst discharge across multiple sensory maps. Because the pattern of change in burst activity between these maps parallels that of pyramidal cell AM frequency selectivity in vivo, oscillatory and burst discharge may represent the cellular mechanism used to tune these cells to specific frequencies of afferent input during electrolocation and electrocommunication.

Function of NMDA Receptors and Persistent Sodium Channels in a Feedback Pathway of the Electrosensory System

2001 ◽  
Vol 86 (4) ◽  
pp. 1612-1621 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neil Berman ◽  
Robert J. Dunn ◽  
Leonard Maler
Keyword(s):  
Nmda Receptors ◽  
Sodium Channels ◽  
Pyramidal Cell ◽  
Voltage Dependence ◽  
Late Phase ◽  
Pyramidal Cells ◽  
Receptor Component ◽  
Voltage Dependent ◽  
Gymnotiform Fish ◽  
Apical Dendrites

Voltage-dependent amplification of ionotropic glutamatergic excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) can, in many vertebrate neurons, be due either to the intrinsic voltage dependence of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, or voltage-dependent persistent sodium channels expressed on postsynaptic dendrites or somata. In the electrosensory lateral line lobe (ELL) of the gymnotiform fish Apteronotus leptorhynchus,glutamatergic inputs onto pyramidal cell apical dendrites provide a system where both amplification mechanisms are possible. We have now examined the roles for both NMDA receptors and sodium channels in the control of EPSP amplitude at these synapses. An antibody specific for the A. leptorhynchus NR1 subunit reacted strongly with ELL pyramidal cells and were particularly abundant in the spines of pyramidal cell apical dendrites. We have also shown that NMDA receptors contributed strongly to the late phase of EPSPs evoked by stimulation of the feedback fibers terminating on the apical dendritic spines; further, these EPSPs were voltage dependent. Blockade of NMDA receptors did not, however, eliminate the voltage dependence of these EPSPs. Blockade of somatic sodium channels by local somatic ejection of tetrodotoxin (TTX), or inclusion of QX314 (an intracellular sodium channel blocker) in the recording pipette, reduced the evoked EPSPs and completely eliminated their voltage dependence. We therefore conclude that, in the subthreshold range, persistent sodium currents are the main contributor to voltage-dependent boosting of EPSPs, even when they have a large NMDA receptor component.

Plasticity in an Electrosensory System. III. Contrasting Properties of Spatially Segregated Dendritic Inputs

1998 ◽  
Vol 79 (4) ◽  
pp. 1839-1857 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Bastian
Keyword(s):  
Pyramidal Cell ◽  
Pyramidal Cells ◽  
Tetanic Stimulation ◽  
Postsynaptic Potentials ◽  
Electrosensory System ◽  
Cell Responses ◽  
Hebbian Plasticity ◽  
Efferent Neurons ◽  
Apical Dendrites ◽  
Stimulation Of

Bastian, J. Plasticity in an electrosensory system. III. Contrasting properties of spatially segregated dendritic inputs. J. Neurophysiol. 79: 1839–1857, 1998. Efferent neurons of the first-order electrosensory processing center of the brain, the electrosensory lateral line lobe (ELL), receive electroreceptor afferent input as well as feedback inputs descending from higher centers. These ELL efferents, pyramidal cells, adaptively filter predictable patterns of sensory input while preserving sensitivity to novel stimuli. The filter mechanism involves integration of centrally generated predictive inputs with the afferent inputs being canceled. The predictive inputs, referred to as “negative image” inputs, terminate on pyramidal cell apical dendrites and generate responses that are opposite those resulting from the predictable afference, hence integration of these signals results in attenuation of pyramidal cell responses. The system also shows a robust form of plasticity; the pyramidal cells learn, with a time course of a few minutes, to cancel new patterns of repetitive inputs. This is accomplished by adjusting the strength of excitatory and inhibitory apical dendritic inputs according to an anti-Hebbian learning rule. This study focuses on the properties of two separate pathways that convey descending information to pyramidal cell apical dendrites. One pathway terminates proximally, nearer to the pyramidal cell body, whereas the other terminates distally. Recordings of ELL evoked potentials, extracellular pyramidal cell spike responses, and intracellularly recorded synaptic potentials show that the pyramidal cells respond oppositely to moderate-frequency (> ∼8 Hz) single pulse stimulation or repeated (1/s) tetanic activation of these two pathways. Repetitive activation of the proximally terminating pathway results in highly facilitating responses due to potentiation of pyramidal cell excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs). These same stimuli applied to the distally terminating pathway result in a reduction of pyramidal cell responses due to depression of EPSPs and potentiation of inhibitatory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs). Anti-Hebbian plasticity was demonstrated by pairing tetanic stimulation of either pathway with changes in the postsynaptic cell's membrane potential. After stabilization of the response potentiation due to tetanic stimulation of the proximally terminating pathway, paired postsynaptic hyperpolarization resulted in further increases in spike responses and additional potentiation of pyramidal cell EPSPs. Paired postsynaptic depolarization reduced subsequent responses to the tetanus, depressed EPSP amplitudes, and, in many cases, potentiated IPSPs. The same pattern of plasticity was observed when postsynaptic hyper- or depolarization was paired with tetanic stimulation of the distally terminating pathway except that the plasticity was superimposed on the depressed pyramidal cell responses resulting from stimulating this pathway alone. Modulation of a postsynaptic form of synaptic depression is proposed to account for the anti-Hebbian plasticity associated with both pathways.

Control of layer 5 pyramidal cell spiking by oscillatory inhibition in the distal apical dendrites: a computational modeling study

2013 ◽  
Vol 109 (11) ◽  
pp. 2739-2756 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiumin Li ◽  
Kenji Morita ◽  
Hugh P. C. Robinson ◽  
Michael Small
Keyword(s):  
Pyramidal Cell ◽  
Pyramidal Neurons ◽  
Pyramidal Cells ◽  
Recurrent Inhibition ◽  
Aspartate Receptor ◽  
Coupled Cells ◽  
Single Spike ◽  
Cell Firing ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Apical Dendrites

The distal apical dendrites of layer 5 pyramidal neurons receive cortico-cortical and thalamocortical top-down and feedback inputs, as well as local recurrent inputs. A prominent source of recurrent inhibition in the neocortical circuit is somatostatin-positive Martinotti cells, which preferentially target distal apical dendrites of pyramidal cells. These electrically coupled cells can fire synchronously at various frequencies, including over a relatively slow range (5∼30 Hz), thereby imposing oscillatory inhibition on the pyramidal apical tuft dendrites. We examined how such distal oscillatory inhibition influences the firing of a biophysically detailed layer 5 pyramidal neuron model, which reproduced the spatiotemporal properties of sodium, calcium, and N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor spikes found experimentally. We found that oscillatory synchronization strongly influences the impact of distal inhibition on the pyramidal cell firing. Whereas asynchronous inhibition largely cancels out the facilitatory effects of distal excitatory inputs, inhibition oscillating synchronously at around 10∼20 Hz allows distal excitation to drive axosomatic firing, as if distal inhibition were absent. Underlying this is a switch from relatively infrequent burst firing to single spike firing at every period of the inhibitory oscillation. This phenomenon depends on hyperpolarization-activated cation current-dependent membrane potential resonance in the dendrite, but also, in a novel manner, on a cooperative amplification of this resonance by N-methyl-d-aspartate-receptor-driven dendritic action potentials. Our results point to a surprising dependence of the effect of recurrent inhibition by Martinotti cells on their oscillatory synchronization, which may control not only the local circuit activity, but also how it is transmitted to and decoded by downstream circuits.

scholarly journals Does Preservation of Perisomatic Inhibition in Epileptic Hippocampus Contribute to Seizures?

2005 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 174-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrey M. Mazarati
Keyword(s):  
Pyramidal Cell ◽  
Light And Electron Microscopy ◽  
Pyramidal Cells ◽  
Epileptic Seizures ◽  
Cell Loss ◽  
Afferent Input ◽  
Inhibitory Input ◽  
Ca1 Pyramidal Cells ◽  
Ca1 Region ◽  
Perisomatic Inhibition

Surviving CA1 Pyramidal Cells Receive Intact Perisomatic Inhibitory Input in the Human Epileptic Hippocampus Wittner L, Eross L, Czirjak S, Halasz P, Freund TF, Magloczky Z Brain 2005;128:138–152 Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is known to be linked to an impaired balance of excitation and inhibition. Whether inhibition is decreased or preserved in the human epileptic hippocampus, beside the excess excitation, is still a debated question. In the present study, quantitative light and electron microscopy has been performed to analyze the distribution, morphology, and input–output connections of parvalbumin (PV)-immunopositive interneurons, together with the entire perisomatic input of pyramidal cells, in the human control and epileptic CA1 region. Based on the degree of cell loss, the patients with therapy-resistant TLE formed four pathologic groups. In the nonsclerotic CA1 region of TLE patients, where large numbers of pyramidal cells are preserved, the number of PV-immunopositive cell bodies decreased, whereas axon terminal staining and the distribution of their postsynaptic targets was not altered. The synaptic coverage of CA1 pyramidal cell axon initial segments (AISs) remained unchanged in the epileptic tissue. The somatic inhibitory input also is preserved; it has been decreased only in the cases with patchy pyramidal cell loss in the CA1 region (control, 0.637; epileptic with mild cell loss, 0.642; epileptic with patchy cell loss, 0.424- μm synaptic length/100- μm soma perimeter). The strongly sclerotic epileptic CA1 region, where pyramidal cells can hardly be seen, contains a very small number of PV-immunopositive elements. Our results suggest that perisomatic inhibitory input is preserved in the epileptic CA1 region as long as pyramidal cells are present. Basket and axoaxonic cells survive in epilepsy if their original targets are present, although many of them lose their PV content or PV immunoreactivity. An efficient perisomatic inhibition is likely to take part in the generation of abnormal synchrony in the nonsclerotic epileptic CA1 region, and thus participate in the maintenance of epileptic seizures driven, for example, by hyperactive afferent input.

Dendritic Modulation of Burst-Like Firing in Sensory Neurons

2001 ◽  
Vol 85 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Bastian ◽  
Jerry Nguyenkim
Keyword(s):  
Spike Train ◽  
Sensory Neurons ◽  
Lateral Line ◽  
Interspike Interval ◽  
Pyramidal Cells ◽  
Spike Trains ◽  
Firing Frequency ◽  
Dendritic Morphology ◽  
Spontaneous Firing ◽  
Apical Dendrites

This report describes the variability of spontaneous firing characteristics of sensory neurons, electrosensory lateral line lobe (ELL) pyramidal cells, within the electrosensory lateral line lobe of weakly electric fish in vivo. We show that these cells' spontaneous firing frequency, measures of spike train regularity (interspike interval coefficient of variation), and the tendency of these cells to produce bursts of action potentials are correlated with the size of the cell's apical dendritic arbor. We also show that bursting behavior may be influenced or controlled by descending inputs from higher centers that provide excitatory and inhibitory inputs to the pyramidal cells' apical dendrites. Pyramidal cells were classified as “bursty” or “nonbursty” according to whether or not spike trains deviated significantly from the expected properties of random (Poisson) spike trains of the same average firing frequency, and, in the case of bursty cells, the maximum within-burst interspike interval characteristic of bursts was determined. Each cell's probability of producing bursts above the level expected for a Poisson spike train was determined and related to spontaneous firing frequency and dendritic morphology. Pyramidal cells with large apical dendritic arbors have lower rates of spontaneous activity and higher probabilities of producing bursts above the expected level, while cells with smaller apical dendrites fire at higher frequencies and are less bursty. The effect of blocking non- N-methyl-d-aspartate (non-NMDA) glutamatergic synaptic inputs to the apical dendrites of these cells, and to local inhibitory interneurons, significantly reduced the spontaneous occurrence of spike bursts and intracellular injection of hyperpolarizing current mimicked this effect. The results suggest that bursty firing of ELL pyramidal cells may be under descending control allowing activity in electrosensory feedback pathways to influence the firing properties of sensory neurons early in the processing hierarchy.

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