Membrane Properties of Principal Neurons of the Lateral Superior Olive

2001 ◽  
Vol 86 (2) ◽  
pp. 922-934 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. J. Adam ◽  
P. G. Finlayson ◽  
D.W.F. Schwarz

In the lateral superior olive (LSO) the firing rate of principal neurons is a linear function of inter-aural sound intensity difference (IID). The linearity and regularity of the “chopper response” of these neurons have been interpreted as a result of an integration of excitatory ipsilateral and inhibitory contralateral inputs by passive soma-dendritic cable properties. To account for temporal properties of this output, we searched for active time- and voltage-dependent nonlinearities in whole cell recordings from a slice preparation of the rat LSO. We found nonlinear current-voltage relations that varied with the membrane holding potential. Repetitive regular firing, supported by voltage oscillations, was evoked by current pulses injected from holding potentials near rest, but the response was reduced to an onset spike of fixed short latency when the pulse was injected from de- or hyperpolarized holding potentials. The onset spike was triggered by a depolarizing transient potential that was supported by T-type Ca2+-, subthreshold Na+-, and hyperpolarization-activated ( I H) conductances sensitive, respectively, to blockade with Ni2+, tetrodotoxin (TTX), and Cs+. In the hyperpolarized voltage range, the I H, was largely masked by an inwardly rectifying K+ conductance ( I KIR) sensitive to blockade with 200 μM Ba2+. In the depolarized range, a variety of K+ conductances, including A-currents sensitive to blockade with 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) and additional tetraethylammonium (TEA)-sensitive currents, terminated the transient potential and firing of action potentials, supporting a strong spike-rate adaptation. The “chopper response,” a hallmark of LSO principal neuron firing, may depend on the voltage- and time-dependent nonlinearities. These active membrane properties endow the LSO principal neurons with an adaptability that may maintain a stable code for sound direction under changing conditions, for example after partial cochlear hearing loss.

Author(s):  
Eckhard Friauf ◽  
Elisa G. Krächan ◽  
Nicolas I.C. Müller

Auditory neurons in the mammalian brainstem are involved in several basic computation processes essential for survival; for example, sound localization. Differences in sound intensity between the two ears, so-called interaural level differences (ILDs), provide important spatial cues for localizing sound in the horizontal plane, particularly for animals with high-frequency hearing. The earliest center of ILD detection is the lateral superior olive (LSO), a prominent component of the superior olivary complex (SOC) in the medulla oblongata. LSO neurons receive input from both ears of excitatory and inhibitory nature and perform a subtraction-like process. The LSO has become a model system for studies addressing inhibitory synapses, map formation, and neural plasticity. This review aims to provide an overview of several facets of the LSO, focusing on its functional and anatomical organization, including development and plasticity. Understanding this important ILD detector is fundamental in multiple ways—among others, to analyze central auditory processing disorders and central presbyacusis.


2011 ◽  
Vol 106 (3) ◽  
pp. 1443-1453 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Walcher ◽  
Benjamin Hassfurth ◽  
Benedikt Grothe ◽  
Ursula Koch

Interaural intensity differences are analyzed in neurons of the lateral superior olive (LSO) by integration of an inhibitory input from the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB), activated by sound from the contralateral ear, with an excitatory input from the ipsilateral cochlear nucleus. The early postnatal refinement of this inhibitory MNTB-LSO projection along the tonotopic axis of the LSO has been extensively studied. However, little is known to what extent physiological changes at these inputs also occur after the onset of sound-evoked activity. Using whole-cell patch-clamp recordings of LSO neurons in acute brain stem slices, we analyzed the developmental changes of inhibitory synaptic currents evoked by MNTB fiber stimulation occurring after hearing onset. We compared these results in gerbils and mice, two species frequently used in auditory research. Our data show that neither the number of presumed input fibers nor the conductance of single fibers significantly changed after hearing onset. Also the amplitude of miniature inhibitory currents remained constant during this developmental period. In contrast, the kinetics of inhibitory synaptic currents greatly accelerated after hearing onset. We conclude that tonotopic refinement of inhibitory projections to the LSO is largely completed before the onset of hearing, whereas acceleration of synaptic kinetics occurs to a large part after hearing onset and might thus be dependent on proper auditory experience. Surprisingly, inhibitory input characteristics, as well as basic membrane properties of LSO neurons, were rather similar in gerbils and mice.


1995 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 486-506 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. R. Murphey ◽  
L. E. Moore ◽  
J. T. Buchanan

Parameter optimization methods were used to quantitatively analyze frequency-domain-voltage-clamp data of NMDA-activated lamprey spinal neurons simultaneously over a wide range of membrane potentials. A neuronal cable model was used to explicitly take into account receptors located on the dendritic trees. The driving point membrane admittance was measured from the cell soma in response to a Fourier synthesized point voltage clamp stimulus. The data were fitted to an equivalent cable model consisting of a single lumped soma compartment coupled resistively to a series of equal dendritic compartments. The model contains voltage-dependent NMDA sensitive (INMDA), slow potassium (IK), and leakage (IL) currents. Both the passive cable properties and the voltage dependence of ion channel kinetics were estimated, including the electrotonic structure of the cell, the steady-state gating characteristics, and the time constants for particular voltage- and time-dependent ionic conductances. An alternate kinetic formulation was developed that consisted of steady-state values for the gating parameters and their time constants at half-activation values as well as slopes of these parameters at half-activation. This procedure allowed independent restrictions on the magnitude and slope of both the steady-state gating variable and its associated time constant. Quantitative estimates of the voltage-dependent membrane ion conductances and their kinetic parameters were used to solve the nonlinear equations describing dynamic responses. The model accurately predicts current clamp responses and is consistent with experimentally measured TTX-resistant NMDA-induced patterned activity. In summary, an analysis method is developed that provides a pragmatic approach to quantitatively describe a nonlinear neuronal system.


1988 ◽  
Vol 59 (5) ◽  
pp. 1590-1612 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. H. Griffith

1. Neurons in the nucleus of the diagonal band of Broca (nDBB) and ventral portion of the medial septum (MS) were studied using intracellular recording and single-electrode voltage clamp (SEVC) techniques in an in vitro brain slice preparation. Cell types could be operationally divided into three categories: cells with a slow postspike afterhyperpolarization (SAHP cell, 40%), neurons with a fast AHP (FAHP cells, 53%), and a third cell group recorded infrequently (7% of the cells) that fired in a burst pattern. Double-labeling techniques have shown that SAHP cells stain positively for acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and are presumably cholinergic (22). The present study provides a more detailed analysis of the passive and active membrane properties of SAHP and FAHP types within these forebrain nuclei. 2. SAHP cells were characterized by a postspike afterhyperpolarization (AHP) with an amplitude of 10-20 mV and duration of approximately 600 ms at -65 mV. In the voltage range of -60--70 mV, the AHP decayed as a single exponential function with a time constant of 170 +/- 53 ms (n = 10). However, many neurons at these membrane potentials exhibited an AHP decay that was a multiple exponential function lasting for seconds. The null potential of the SAHP was approximately -90 mV and shifted by 25 mV in 9 mM KCl, a value closely predicted for a potassium (K+) conductance. The SAHP was reversibly blocked by cadmium (Cd2+), suggesting the SAHP was mediated by a calcium (Ca2+)-activated K+ conductance. 3. FAHP cells displayed afterhyperpolarizations of smaller amplitude (5-10 mV) and duration (5-50 ms) that reversed at approximately -85 mV. Elevating extracellular K+ concentration [Ko] to 6 mM shifted the reversal 13 mV more positive. Cd2+ also reduced the AHP in these cells suggesting a second faster Ca2+-activated K+ conductance may be present. 4. Both SAHP and FAHP cells had similar input resistances and resting membrane potentials but markedly different action-potential characteristics. SAHP cells had a spike duration of 1.4 ms and a prominent shoulder on the falling phase of the SAHP cell action potentials that was reduced by Cd2+. In contrast, FAHP cells had an average spike duration of 0.63 ms that was unaffected by Cd2+. 5. The passive electrical cable properties of both cell types were characterized. Equivalent electrotonic length of the dendrites (L) and the dendritic-to-somatic conductance ratio (rho) were calculated for different cell groups. SAHP cells displayed average L values of 0.61, and the average rho was 2.13. Similar values of 0.69 and 2.14 were calculated for L and rho, respectively, in FAHP cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)


Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (16) ◽  
pp. 4385
Author(s):  
Ehsan Raza ◽  
Fakhra Aziz ◽  
Arti Mishra ◽  
Noora Jabor Al-Thani ◽  
Zubair Ahmad

The current work proposed the application of methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI3) perovskite microrods toward photo resistor switches. A metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) configuration with a structure of silver-MAPbI3(rods)-silver (Ag/MAPbI3/Ag) based photo-resistor was fabricated. The MAPbI3 microrods were prepared by adopting a facile low-temperature solution process, and then an independent MAPbI3 microrod was employed to the two-terminal device. The morphological and elemental compositional studies of the fabricated MAPbI3 microrods were performed using FESEM and EDS, respectively. The voltage-dependent electrical behavior and electronic conduction mechanisms of the fabricated photo-resistors were studied using current–voltage (I–V) characteristics. Different conduction mechanisms were observed at different voltage ranges in dark and under illumination. In dark conditions, the conduction behavior was dominated by typical trap-controlled charge transport mechanisms within the investigated voltage range. However, under illumination, the carrier transport is dominated by the current photogenerated mechanism. This study could extend the promising application of perovskite microrods in photo-induced resistor switches and beyond.


1990 ◽  
Vol 259 (3) ◽  
pp. C402-C408 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. P. Burke ◽  
K. M. Sanders

Previous studies have suggested that the membrane potential gradient across the circular muscle layer of the canine proximal colon is due to a gradient in the contribution of the Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase. Cells at the submucosal border generate approximately 35 mV of pump potential, whereas at the myenteric border the pump contributes very little to resting potential. Results from experiments in intact muscles in which the pump is blocked are somewhat difficult to interpret because of possible effects of pump inhibitors on membrane conductances. Therefore, we studied isolated colonic myocytes to test the effects of ouabain on passive membrane properties and voltage-dependent currents. Ouabain (10(-5) M) depolarized cells and decreased input resistance from 0.487 +/- 0.060 to 0.292 +/- 0.040 G omega. The decrease in resistance was attributed to an increase in K+ conductance. Studies were also performed to measure the ouabain-dependent current. At 37 degrees C, in cells dialyzed with 19 mM intracellular Na+ concentration [( Na+]i), ouabain caused an inward current averaging 71.06 +/- 7.49 pA, which was attributed to blockade of pump current. At 24 degrees C or in cells dialyzed with low [Na+]i (11 mM), ouabain caused little change in holding current. With the input resistance of colonic cells, pump current appears capable of generating at least 35 mV. Thus an electrogenic Na+ pump could contribute significantly to membrane potential.


2019 ◽  
Vol 597 (8) ◽  
pp. 2269-2295 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander U. Fischer ◽  
Nicolas I. C. Müller ◽  
Thomas Deller ◽  
Domenico Del Turco ◽  
Jonas O. Fisch ◽  
...  

1982 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 914-937 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. F. Russell ◽  
D. K. Hartline

1. Neurons in the central pattern generator for the "pyloric" motor rhythm of the lobster stomatogastric ganglion were investigated for the possible involvement of regenerative membrane properties in their membrane-potential oscillations and bursting output patterns. 2. Evidence was found that each class of pyloric-system neurons can possess a capability for generating prolonged regenerative depolarizations by a voltage-dependent membrane mechanism. Such responses have been termed plateau potentials. 3. Several tests were applied to determine whether a given cell possessed a plateau capability. First among these was the ability to trigger all-or-none bursts of nerve impulses by brief depolarizing current pulses and to terminate bursts in an all-or-none fashion with brief hyperpolarizing current pulses. Tests were made under conditions of a high level of activity in the pyloric generator, often in conjunction with the use of hyperpolarizing offsets to the cell under test to suppress ongoing bursting. 4. For each class, the network of synaptic interconnections among the pyloric-system neurons was shown to not be the cause of the regenerative responses observed. 5. Plateau potentials are viewed as a driving force for axon spiking during bursts and as interacting with the synaptic network in the formation of the pyloric motor pattern.


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