Inward rectification and low threshold calcium conductance in rat cerebellar Purkinje cells. An in vitro study

Contrasting effects of urethane and pentobarbitone anaesthesia on the electrical properties of rat jaw-elevator motoneurones

Our main finding is that elevator motoneurones do not show sustained firing to intracellular injections of depolarising current pulses in rats anaesthetised with urethane. In contrast, virtually all elevator motoneurones show sustained firing in pentobarbitone-anaesthetised rats. The differences in firing are not associated with significant differences in membrane potential, spike amplitudes, AHP amplitude or duration, input resistance, time constant or rheobase (P greater than 0.06 in all cases). However, there are clear differences in the extent of sag seen under the two anaesthetics and so we tentatively suggest that the anaesthetics may differ in their effects on the inward rectifier.

Inward Rectification (I) in Immunocytochemically-ldentified Vasopressin and Oxytocin Neurons of Guinea-Pig Supraoptic Nucleus

Intracellular recordings of magnocellular neurons from the supraoptic nucleus of guinea-pigs were made with KCI/K citrate- and biocytin-filled electrodes. Fifty of 99 cells exhibited a time-dependent inward rectification (TDR). The TDR was activated during hyperpolarizing current pulses to membrane potentials more hyperpolarized than -75 mV. In voltage-clamp recordings, an inward current appeared at voltage steps more hyperpolarized than -75 mV, with properties similar to the slow inward rectifier (I(h)) described in other tissues. The I(h) was blocked by 2 mM CsCI. BaCI(2) (100 to 500 muM) did not block the I(h). Immunocytochemical identification of the recorded cells revealed that both vasopressin (AVP)- and oxytocin (OT)- containing neurons exhibited an I(h).

Ionic control of intracellular pH in rat cerebellar Purkinje cells maintained in culture

1. Intracellular pH (pHi) was measured in single rat cerebellar Purkinje cells maintained in primary culture using microspectrofluorescence analysis of the intracellularly trapped pH-sensitive dye 2',7'-bis-(2-carboxyethyl)-5 (and -6)-carboxyfluorescein (BCECF). 2. The ratio of the fluorescence signals measured at 530 nm in response to an alternating excitation at 450 and 490 nm was calibrated using the K(+)-H+ ionophore nigericin. This calibration gave a steady-state pHi of 7.06 +/- 0.02 (S.E.M., n = 17) when cells were perfused by a 5% CO2-25 mM-HCO3(-)-buffered solution at an external pH of 7.40 at 37 degrees C. 3. Replacement of external chloride with gluconate in the presence of bicarbonate induced a cytoplasmic alkalinization of about 0.3 pH unit. This alkalinization was independent of external sodium and was greatly reduced by 0.5 mM-DIDS, indicating the presence of a chloride-bicarbonate exchange. 4. In bicarbonate-free (HEPES-buffered) solution the steady-state pHi was 7.37 +/- 0.02 (n = 19), significantly higher than in bicarbonate-buffered solution. Recovery from an intracellular acid load brought about by the ammonium chloride pre-pulse technique was blocked by the removal of external sodium or the addition of 1.5 mM-amiloride, indicating the presence of a sodium-hydrogen exchange. 5. In bicarbonate-buffered solution pHi recovery after an acid load was also completely blocked by addition of 1.5 mM-amiloride indicating the absence of a bicarbonate-dependent acid extrusion mechanism. 6. Addition of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA, 100 nM) induced an amiloride-sensitive alkalinization of about 0.3 pH unit in bicarbonate-buffered solution but had no effect in HEPES-buffered solution. This observation suggests that in cultured Purkinje cells the sodium-hydrogen exchanger could be activated through a protein kinase C pathway only when pHi is maintained at a low physiological value by the activity of the chloride-bicarbonate exchange.

Spatial and temporal analysis of calcium-dependent electrical activity in guinea pig Purkinje cell dendrites

We have used the calcium indicator dye arsenazo III, together with a photodiode array, to record intracellular calcium changes simultaneously from all regions of individual guinea pig cerebellar Purkinje cells in slices. The optical signals, recorded with millisecond time resolution, are good indicators of calcium-dependent electrical events. For many cells the sensitivity of the recordings was high enough to detect signals from each array element without averaging. Consequently, it was possible to use these signals to follow the complex spatial and temporal patterns of plateau and spike potentials. Calcium entry corresponding to action potentials was detected from all parts of the dendritic field including the fine spiny branchlets, demonstrating that calcium action potentials spread over the entire arbor. Usually, the entire dendritic tree fired at once. But sometimes only restricted areas had signals at any one moment with transients detected in different regions at other times. In one cell, six separate zones were distinguished. These results show that calcium action potentials could be regenerative in some dendrites and could fail to propagate into others. Signals from plateau potentials were also detected from extensive areas in the dendritic field but were always smaller than those caused by a burst of action potentials.

A voltage-clamp study of the electrophysiological characteristics of the intramural neurones of the rat trachea

1. The electrophysiological characteristics of intramural neurones from the paratracheal ganglia of 14- to 18-day-old rats were studied in vitro using intracellular, single-electrode current- and voltage-clamp techniques. 2. Resting membrane potentials ranged between -50 and -73 mV. In 50-60% of all neurones, random and occasionally patterned bursts of spontaneous, fast synaptic potentials were observed. In all cases, superfusion with either hexamethonium (100 microM), or Ca2(+)-free, high-magnesium-containing solutions abolished all synaptic activity. 3. Two distinct patterns of spike discharge were observed in response to prolonged intrasomal current injection. Most cells (65-75%) fired rhythmic, high-frequency (50-90 Hz) bursts of action potentials, with interburst intervals of between 300 and 500 ms, throughout the period of current stimulation. A further 10-15% of cells fired tonically at low frequencies (10-15 Hz) for the duration of the applied stimulus. In both cell types, trains of action potentials were followed by a pronounced calcium-dependent after-hyperpolarization which persisted for up to 3 s. The magnitude of the after-hyperpolarization following a single spike in tonic-firing cells was considerably larger than in burst-firing cells. Both the action potential and the after-hyperpolarization in all cells displayed a calcium-dependent, tetrodotoxin-resistant component which was abolished by the removal of the extracellular calcium. 4. The spike after-hyperpolarization resulted from activation of an outward calcium-dependent potassium current which reversed at -86.5 mV. This value was shifted by 63.6 mV for a 10-fold increase in extracellular potassium concentration. 5. All of the cells studied exhibited marked outward rectification when depolarized. This resulted from activation of a time- and voltage-dependent M-current. The slow inward current relaxations associated with the M-current became faster at more negative potentials and reversed around -85 mV. Raising the extracellular potassium concentration shifted the reversal potential for the current relaxations to more depolarized potentials in a manner predicted by the Nernst equation for a current carried by potassium ions. Both the outward current at depolarized potentials and the slow current relaxations were potently inhibited by extracellular BaCl2 (1 mM) but were unaffected by CsCl (1-3 mM). 6. Inward rectification at hyperpolarized potentials was a characteristic of all cells. Membrane hyperpolarization revealed inward rectification in the 'instantaneous' current-voltage relationship at membrane potentials greater than -80 mV.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Inward rectification in neonatal rat spinal motoneurones

1. Inward rectifying currents were recorded, using tight-seal, whole-cell voltage-clamp methods, from motoneurones visually identified in thin slices of neonatal rat spinal cord. 2. When motoneurones were hyperpolarized from holding potentials near the resting potential (-60 to -70 mV), a slow inward-going current was recorded. After the hyperpolarizing command pulses, inward tail currents were recorded. Amplitudes of the inward current at the end of hyperpolarizing pulses as well as those of the tail current increased non-linearly with the membrane hyperpolarization, showing an inward rectification in the current-voltage relation. 3. Neither the amplitude nor the kinetics of the inward rectifying current (IIR) was appreciably affected by replacement of extracellularly Ca2+ with Mg2+ combined with the application of tetrodotoxin (1 microM), tetraethylammonium (30 mM), and 4-aminopyridine (4 mM). The current was relatively resistant to Ba2+, being only slightly suppressed at 2 but not at 0.2 mM. However, it was completely and reversibly abolished by Cs+ (2 mM). 4. When the external K+ concentration was raised, IIR was augmented. However, the activation curve of IIR constructed from relative tail current amplitudes in high K+ solutions was indistinguishable from that in normal solution. The chord conductance of IIR at various membrane potentials was similar for both normal and high K+ solutions. Thus the whole-cell conductance of inward rectification in motoneurones depends on the membrane potential but not appreciably on the external K+ concentration ([K+]o). 5. The reversal potential of IIR was estimated by measuring the tail currents. In standard solution ([K+]o = 3 mM), the reversal potential was about -44 mV. Increasing [K+]o shifted the reversal potential toward positive potentials by 22 mV for a tenfold change in potassium concentration. 6. A fivefold reduction in the external Na+ concentration shifted the reversal potential of IIR in a negative direction by about 7 mV, suggesting that Na+ may carry part of IIR. A fivefold reduction in external Cl- concentration shifted the reversal potential by about 2 mV but in a negative direction, the opposite of the expected shift in the Cl- equilibrium potential. 7. When external Cl- was substituted with isethionate or gluconate, IIR was markedly and reversibly suppressed. 8. It is concluded that in spinal motoneurones, IIR is carried by both K+ and Na+ ions and that external Cl- might be required to maintain the inward rectifier current.

Current-clamp analysis of a time-dependent rectification in rat optic nerve

1. Rat optic nerves were studied using intra-axonal and whole-nerve recording techniques in a sucrose-gap chamber. Constant-current pulses were applied across the outer compartments of the chamber to achieve a current clamp. 2. The nerves displayed a prominent time-dependent conductance increase elicited by a hyperpolarizing constant-current pulse, as evidenced by a relaxation or 'sag' in membrane potential towards resting potential. The inward current began at about 80 ms and reached a steady level over the next 100-200 ms. Its magnitude progressively increased with increasing levels of hyperpolarization. 3. The inward current elicited by hyperpolarization was reduced, but not abolished, when Na+ was reduced from the normal bath concentration of 151 mM to 0 mM. In Na(+)-free solutions the bath K+ concentration, [K+]o, was varied between 0 and 5 mM; the inward current was greatest when [K+]o was 5 mM and was abolished when [K+]o was zero. 4. The inward current was not abolished by tetrodotoxin (TTX), tetraethylammonium (TEA) or 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) suggesting that conventional voltage-dependent sodium and potassium channels do not underlie the time-dependent conductance increase. Low concentrations of Cs+ completely blocked the inward current, and Ba2+ induced a partial block. External application of divalent cations (Cd2+ and Mg2+) did not block the inward current. These properties are similar to the inwardly rectifying conductance observed in a central nervous system neurone. 5. Stimulus-response curves obtained during the hyperpolarization pulse, before and during the conductance increase, indicate that excitability is increased during the conductance increase. This along with the intra-axonal recordings demonstrates that the origin of the increased conductance is axonal and not glial. 6. It is concluded that central nervous system myelinated fibres in rat optic nerve display a prominent time-dependent conductance increase in response to hyperpolarization that depends on both Na+ and K+ and is blocked by Cs+. This conductance is similar to an inward rectifier described for a variety of neurone types. The increased axonal excitability observed during the conductance increase suggests that its functional role may be to maintain or stabilize axonal excitability during periods of intense action potential activity.

Cyclic AMP regulates an inward rectifying sodium-potassium current in dissociated bull-frog sympathetic neurones

1. Bull-frog sympathetic neurones in primary culture were voltage clamped in the whole-cell configuration. The pipette solution contained ATP (5 mM). 2. A hyperpolarization-activated sodium-potassium current (H-current: IH) was separated from other membrane currents in a nominally calcium-free solution containing cobalt (2 mM), magnesium (4 mM), barium (2 mM), tetraethylammonium (20 mM), tetrodotoxin (3 microM), apamin (30 nM) and 4-aminopyridine (1 mM). IH was selectively blocked by caesium (10-300 microM). 3. The steady-state activation of IH occurred between -60 and -130 mV. The H-conductance was 4.1-6.6 nS at the half-activation voltage of -90 mV. With the concentrations of potassium and sodium ions in the superfusate at 20 and 70 mM, respectively, the reversal potential of IH was about -20 mV. IH was activated with a time constant of 2.8 s at -90 mV and 22 degrees C. The Q10 between 16 and 26 degrees C was 4.3. 4. A non-hydrolysable ATP analogue in the pipette solution did not support IH activation. Intracellular 'loading' of GTP-gamma-S (30-500 microM) led to a progressive activation of IH. 5. Forskolin (10 microM) increased the maximum conductance of IH by 70%. This was associated with a depolarizing shift in the half-activation voltage (5-10 mV) and in the voltage dependence of the activation/deactivation time constant of IH. 6. Essentially the same results as with forskolin were obtained by intracellular 'loading' with cyclic AMP (3-10 microM) or bath application of 8-bromo cyclic AMP (0.1-1 mM), dibutyryl cyclic AMP (1 mM) and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (0.1-1 mM). 7. The protein kinase inhibitor H-8 (1-10 microM) decreased the peak amplitude of IH. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (10 microM), a protein kinase C activator, was without effect. 8. It is concluded that a voltage-dependent cation current can be regulated by the basal activity of adenylate cyclase, presumably through protein kinase A, in vertebrate sympathetic neurones.

Neurotensin-induced excitation of neurons of the rat's frontal cortex studied intracellularly in vitro

The actions of neurotensin (NT) on frontal pyramidal neurons were studied in vitro in slices of rat cerebral cortex using current clamp and single electrode voltage clamp (SEVC) techniques. Bath application of NT (0.1 microM-10 microM) induced a depolarization (2-13 mV) in 88% of the pyramidal cells, this effect was associated with a decrease in input conductance of 5-35% and its reversal potential was estimated at -88 +/ -9.7 mV. Typically, this depolarizing effect of NT was transient, since no cell responded to a second application of the peptide within 20 min after the first one. NT also induced an increase in the rate of firing of pyramidal cells evoked by direct stimulation, even when an hyperpolarizing current was applied to prevent the depolarization induced by NT. This effect could neither be explained by a decrease of the post-spike after-hyperpolarization, nor by an increase of the persistent sodium current which sustains the spiking of pyramidal cells, since the former was not affected consistently by NT and the later was insensitive to the peptide. This excitation of pyramidal neurons by NT persisted after blockade of synaptic transmission. On the other hand, NT also enhanced the synaptic noise recorded in pyramidal cells in standard perfusing medium. Furthermore, dopaminergic antagonists and noradrenergic antagonists failed to block these effects of NT. Finally, the inactive fragment of the peptide, NT(1-8), did not affect membrane properties of pyramidal cells. All together, these results suggest that NT excites frontal cortical neurons through the activation of specific NT receptors.

Excitation of locus coeruleus neurons by vasoactive intestinal peptide: evidence for a G-protein-mediated inward current

Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) caused a reversible increase in the firing rate of locus coeruleus (LC) neurons. Voltage-clamp at -60 mV revealed that VIP induced an inward current associated with a small increase in conductance. The inward current persisted in the presence of Co2+ (to block Ca2+ channels) or tetrodotoxin (to block fast voltage-dependent Na+ channels). Substitution (80%) of Na+ with choline or Tris reduced the VIP-elicited inward current by approximately 75%. Changing external K+ concentrations did not alter the effect of VIP. The inward current induced by VIP became irreversible after the intracellular administration of GTP gamma S, a hydrolysis-resistant analog of GTP which can cause a prolonged activation of G-proteins. The intracellular application of GDP beta S, which can interfere with G-protein activation, attenuated the effect of VIP. Pertussis toxin, an inactivator of certain G-proteins, did not block the effect of VIP. We conclude that VIP directly excites LC neurons by inducing a largely Na-dependent inward current. As this effect became irreversible in the presence of intracellular GTP gamma S, was attenuated by GDP beta S, and was not eliminated by pertussis toxin, mediation through a pertussis toxin-insensitive G-protein is suggested.

Noradrenaline and serotonin selectively modulate thalamic burst firing by enhancing a hyperpolarization-activated cation current

Neurons in many regions of the mammalian nervous system generate action potentials in two distinct modes: rhythmic oscillations in which spikes cluster together in a cyclical manner, and single spike firing in which action potentials occur relatively independently of one another. Which mode of action potential generation a neuron displays often varies with the behavioural state of the animal. For example, the shift from slow-wave sleep to waking and attentiveness is associated with a change in thalamic neurons from rhythmic burst firing to repetitive single spike activity, and a greatly increased responsiveness to excitatory synaptic inputs. This marked change in firing pattern and excitability is controlled in part by ascending noradrenergic and serotonergic inputs from the brainstem, although the cellular mechanisms of this effect have remained largely unknown. Here we report that noradrenaline and serotonin enhance a mixed Na+/K+ current which is activated by hyperpolarization (Ih) and that this enhancement may be mediated by increases in intracellular concentration of cyclic AMP. This novel action of noradrenaline and serotonin reduces the ability of thalamic neurons to generate rhythmic burst firing and promotes a state of excitability that is conducive to the thalamocortical synaptic processing associated with cognition.

Selective effects of serotonin upon excitatory amino acid-induced depolarizations of Purkinje cells in cerebellar slices from young rats

The effects of serotonin on responses induced in Purkinje cells (PCs) by microiontophoretic administration of excitatory amino acids (EAAs) in their dendritic fields were tested in vitro by extracellular recording and by single electrode voltage clamp methods in cerebellar slices from rats aged 16-22 days. Serotonin diminished excitations produced by glutamate (Glu) and quisqualate (Quis) selectively, those caused by N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) being affected much less. These suppressions of Glu- and Quis-induced responses generally occurred without there being any effect on intrinsic membrane properties of PCs, although on occasion serotonin increased membrane conductance slightly and/or induced an outward current in the recorded cells. All these effects of serotonin were maintained in the presence of tetrodotoxin and reversed upon removal of the amine. On the few occasions when serotonin enhanced Quis-induced responses, the effect was mimicked by ejection from a control solution of saline, made up at the same pH as the drug solution of serotonin.

Kinetics and distribution of voltage-gated Ca, Na and K channels on the somata of rat cerebellar Purkinje cells

Voltage gated ion channels on the somatic membrane of rat cerebellar Purkinje cells were studied in dissociated cell culture with the combination of cell-attached and whole-cell variation of patch clamp technique. The method enables us to record local somatic membrane current under an improved space clamp condition. Transient (fast-inactivating) and steady (slow inactivating) Ca channel currents, Na current, transient (fast-inactivating) and steady (slow-inactivating) K currents, were observed. Transient and steady Ca channel currents were activated at test potentials more positive than -40 mV and -20 mV, respectively (in 50 mM external Ba). The transient current inactivated with a half-decay time of 10-30 ms during maintained depolarizing pulses, while the steady current showed relatively little inactivation. Na current was activated at more positive potentials than -60 mV, and inactivated with a half-decay time of less than 5 ms. Transient and steady K outward currents were recorded at more positive potential than -20 mV and -40 mV, respectively. The transient current inactivated with a half-decay time of 2-8 ms. Ca, Na and K channels showed different patterns of distribution on the somatic membrane. Steady Ca channels tended to cluster compared with Na or K channels.

Repetitive firing properties of medial pontine reticular formation neurones of the rat recorded in vitro

1. Intracellularly recorded neurones in nucleus reticularis pontis caudalis of the medial pontine reticular formation (mPRF) in the in vitro slice preparation were analysed for repetitive firing properties in response to intracellularly applied constant-current pulses. 2. Three neuronal classes were defined by this procedure: (1) non-burst neurones, which had only a non-burst firing pattern; (2) low-threshold burst neurones, which had either a low-threshold burst pattern or a non-burst pattern; (3) high-threshold burst neurones, which had either a high-threshold burst pattern or a non-burst pattern. 3. Histological characterization of electrophysiologically identified mPRF neurones with carboxyfluorescein showed no definite morphological difference between the first two classes. There was a trend for low-threshold burst neurones to have larger somata. 4. The low-threshold burst was generated by a slow calcium-dependent low-threshold spike, revealed in the presence of tetrodotoxin. The size of the low-threshold spike and thus the number of fast action potentials in the low-threshold burst was controlled by at least five factors including: activation; inactivation; amplitude of low-threshold conductance available to be activated; delayed outward conductance; and early transient outward conductance. 5. The non-burst pattern examined in both non-burst and low-threshold burst neurones appeared to be controlled primarily by one or more calcium-dependent potassium conductances sensitive to the removal of calcium and tetraethyl-ammonium. In the presence of tetrodotoxin (TTX), the addition of antagonists to calcium-dependent potassium current revealed a slow high-threshold calcium spike which was distinguished from the low-threshold spike by its threshold, lack of inactivation (at potentials negative to -40 mV) and insensitivity to Mg2+. A long-duration after-hyperpolarization (greater than 0.5 s) was not observed in any of these cells. 6. An early transient outward rectification sensitive to 4-aminopyridine and probably mediated by A-current was apparent in low-threshold burst and non-burst neurones and affected both the low-threshold burst and non-burst firing patterns. 7. Alteration of resting membrane potential, such as occurs in vivo during the depolarization associated with desynchronized sleep, may inactivate the low-threshold spike and the transient outward conductance responsible for the distinctive responses observed from more hyperpolarized membrane potentials and produce a more homogeneous non-burst response pattern. Membrane potential effects on intrinsic conductances thus may furnish an important mechanism for changes in mPRF neuronal responsivene

Cholinergic responses in human neocortical neurones

Neurones in deeper layers of slices of temporal or frontal human neocortex maintained in vitro were impaled with microelectrodes and responses to cholinergic agonists were studied under current and voltage clamp conditions. A range of membrane currents were identifiable: inactivating and persistent Na(+)-conductances, inactivating and persistent Ca2(+)-conductances, two types of inward currents activated by hyperpolarization (IQ and If.i.r.) and voltage and Ca2(+)-activated K(+)-conductances, which were distinguished on the grounds of their characteristic voltage or pharmacological specificity. The cholinergic agonists muscarine or carbachol were applied in the medium superfusing the slices. Two major effects were observed: consistently, the time and voltage-dependent noninactivating K(+)-conductance IM was suppressed and, when Ca2(+)-influx was permitted (in the absence of Ca2(+)-channel blockers), a Ca2(+)-activated K(+)-conductance was transiently or persistently potentiated. Consistent with a suppression of IM, muscarine excited human neocortical neurones only when applied during a period of membrane depolarization to a potential at which IM would be expected to exert a braking effect on excitability. Applied at a potential negative to the M-current activation range, muscarine had no excitatory or even an inhibitory effect on the cell. Collectively, these results demonstrate that in the human, IM can be a target for cholinergic regulation and, in addition, complex effects of ACh on other conductances could modulate cell firing patterns.

Intracellular studies in the facial nucleus illustrating a simple new method for obtaining viable motoneurons in adult rat brain slices

In general, it has been difficult to preserve electrophysiologically viable motoneurons in brain slices from adult mammals. The present study describes a new method for obtaining viable motoneurons in the facial nucleus of adult rat brain slices. The essence of the method was to use a modified artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF) in which NaCl was replaced initially by sucrose; the modified ACSF was used during 1) preparation and 2) a 1 hr recovery period. The rationale for the modification is discussed in terms of the proposed acute neurotoxic effects of passive chloride entry and subsequent cell swelling and lysis. The actual recordings were made only after switching back to normal ACSF. Use of this method yielded large numbers of viable motoneurons that were suitable for intracellular recording; no motoneurons survived when normal ACSF (i.e., with NaCl) was used during slice preparation. A survey of some electrophysiological and pharmacological properties of facial motoneurons in this preparation, by means of current-clamp and voltage-clamp recording, revealed close similarities to the properties of adult motoneurons previously observed in vivo (e.g., time-dependent inward rectification, apamin-sensitive afterhyperpolarization, and serotonin-induced slow depolarization).

Electrophysiological properties of hypoglossal motoneurons of guinea-pigs studied in vitro

Intracellular recordings were made from the hypoglossal nuclear complex in brain slices from guinea-pigs. Retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase from the tongue confirmed the identity of the visually identified hypoglossal nucleus. Eighteen neurons were stained by intracellular electrophoresis of Lucifer Yellow through the recording pipette. Two types of neurons were encountered, motoneurons with maximal discharge rates of 90 Hz and another type with maximal discharge rates of 250 Hz. Motoneurons were prevalent in the hypoglossal nucleus and the other type prevailed in the adjoining nucleus prepositus hypoglossi. In both nuclei the two types were mixed. Antidromic spikes elicited from hypoglossal root fibres had initial segment and somatodendritic components. Electrical stimulation of the reticular matter dorsolateral to the hypoglossal nucleus elicited excitatory postsynaptic potentials and strychnine sensitive inhibitory postsynaptic potentials. Motoneurons responded to depolarizing current pulses with a train of spikes. The initial spike interval was much shorter than the rest and fast adaptation occurred over three to four intervals. Slow adaptation was most prominent when the neuron was depolarized and discharged at a high rate. High threshold calcium spikes were evoked by depolarizing pulses when sodium spikes were blocked by tetrodotoxin and the potassium conductance reduced by tetraethylammonium bromide. Motoneurons discharged in a single range, inflections on the frequency-current plot being absent. Spikes and spike trains evoked by depolarizing pulses were followed by afterhyperpolarizations with fast and slow parts. The fast phase was eliminated by tetraethylammonium bromide, possibly because the delayed rectifier was involved. A calcium dependent potassium conductance was probably involved in the slow phase, because it was sensitive to inorganic calcium blockers. The amplitude of the afterhyperpolarization following trains of spikes depended on the frequency of the preceding spikes. At constant frequency, the amplitude depended, in addition, on the strength of stimuli arising from different hyperpolarized potentials. Afterdepolarizing potentials were absent. Lissajous plots of double ramp current stimulation showed anomalous rectification between resting potential and spike threshold. The rectification was sensitive to inorganic calcium blockers. Subthreshold responses showed initial sags and rebound responses in all healthy cells and these were eliminated by caesium. Barium, substituted for calcium, unleashed a depolarizing plateau potential sensitive to tetrodotoxin, indicating the presence of a persistent sodium conductance.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Muscarinic agonists and potassium currents in guinea-pig myenteric neurones

1. Intracellular electrophysiological recordings were obtained from single neurones of the guinea-pig myenteric plexus in vitro. Using single electrode voltage clamp techniques, four distinct potassium currents were described and the effects of muscarinic agonists on these currents were studied. 2. A calcium-dependent potassium current (gKCa) was present in AH neurones at rest, and was much increased following a brief depolarization (50 ms, to 0 mV). Muscarinic agonists reduced both the resting current and the current evoked by depolarization. Pirenzepine competitively antagonized the suppression by muscarine of the calcium-dependent potassium current (or after-hyperpolarization) following an action potential. The dissociation equilibrium constant for pirenzepine was about 10 nM. 3. The conductance of AH neurones increased two to three fold when they were hyperpolarized negative to -90 mV. This inward rectification was blocked by extracellular caesium (2 mM) or rubidium (2 mM), but not by tetraethylammonium (TEA, 40 mM), 4-aminopyridine (100 microM) or cobalt (2 mM). The inward rectification was unaffected by muscarinic agonists. 4. When AH neurones were depolarized from very negative holding potentials (less than -80 mV) a brief outward current was recorded with a duration of about 200 ms. This transient or A current was completely blocked by 4-aminopyridine (100 microM) but was not affected by tetrodotoxin (300 nM), TEA (40 mM) or cobalt (2 mM). Muscarinic agonists did not affect the A current. 5. In S neurones, and in AH neurones in calcium-free solutions, the potassium conductance (in TEA and caesium) behaved according to constant field assumptions. This background conductance was suppressed by muscarinic agonists. 6. It is concluded that the depolarization by muscarinic agonists of myenteric AH neurones is due to a suppression of both a calcium-dependent potassium conductance and a background potassium conductance. Muscarinic depolarization of S neurones results only from suppression of the background potassium conductance. Effects on both conductances result from M1-receptor activation. Inward rectifying and transient outward (A) potassium currents are unaffected.

Calcium currents in rat cerebellar Purkinje cells maintained in culture

Calcium permeabilities were examined in large cerebellar neurons maintained in culture, and morphologically identified as Purkinje cells. When cells were supplied with a Dulbecco Minimum Eagle's Medium with 10% horse serum added (5-10 days), somatic recordings revealed complex spikes and these were shown to be generated by Na and Ca components, the Na one being tetrodotoxin-sensitive. At the dendritic level, Ca currents were better resolved than at the soma. In dendrites, Ca entry was shown to occur through at least two distinct currents. The first was a low-threshold transient current (elicited above -60 mV from a holding potential of -80 mV) which was reduced by almost 30% by 50 microM cadmium. The second was a high-threshold current (above -20 mV) which gave rise to (1) a transient component exhibiting a steady-state inactivation and so requiring holding potentials at -80 mV, and (2) a sustained component. Both components were suppressed by 50 microns cadmium. We measured a total Ca current at the dendritic level reaching values of up to 1 nA. In another culture medium (Leibovitz medium) known to allow expression of three types of calcium currents in nodose cells we observed the development of the dendritic tree of Purkinje cells but with no simultaneous expression of the high-threshold Ca current.

Responses to ramp current stimulation of the neurons in substantia nigra pars compacta in vitro

The response to ramp current stimulation was studied in the pars compacta neurons in guinea pig substantia nigra slices. Although accommodation was not seen with current duration up to 1000 ms, a threshold peak emerged on the threshold-latency curve at 30-400 ms when the cell was hyperpolarized. The appearance of the peak was closely correlated with an inflection in the potential trajectory before the spike. A voltage-dependent, fast inactivating outward current may underlie these responses. They persisted in Ca2+-free solution, but disappeared when Cd2+ (0.4 mM) or Co2+ (5 mM) ions were applied extracellularly.

Electrotonic properties of neostriatal neurons are modulated by extracellular potassium

In order to assess the effects of [K+]o on the passive membrane properties of neostriatal neurons, the cable properties of these cells were determined at two extracellular potassium concentrations (6.25 and 3.0 mM). The effect of tetraethylammonium (TEA) on cable properties was also studied at 6.25 [K+]o. At 6.25 mM [K+]o, the mean input resistance at the resting membrane potential (RMP), and the mean membrane time constant (tau o) were 27 +/- 1.5 M omega and 6.9 +/- 0.5 ms respectively (n = 17), while at 3 mM [K+]o they were 62.9 +/- 4.8 M omega and 14.3 +/- 0.6 ms (n = 15) (mean +/- SEM). With one of the methods used to calculate the electronic parameters, the total electrotonic length of the dendrites (L) and the dendritic to somatic conductance ratio (rho) were 1.3 +/- 0.05 and 5 +/- 0.8 at the higher [K+]o respectively, while they were 0.95 +/- 0.04 and 3 +/- 0.7 at the lower [K+]o. Cells were depolarized in 6.25 as compared to 3 mM [K+]o (RMP = -66 +/- 1.3 mV vs RMP = -80.5 +/- 1.4 mV). After one hour exposure to TEA (10 mM), the input resistance and time constant tripled at 6.25 mM [K+]o. TEA slightly depolarized the cells bathed in 6.25 mM [K+]o. The results suggest that changes in [K+]o, within the physiological range, markedly affect the cable properties of neostriatal neurons, possibly modifying subthreshold, voltage-dependent K+-conductances. TEA seems to block some of these channels.

Electrophysiology of the mammalian cerebellar cortex in organ culture

A direct comparison was made between the electrical properties of rat Purkinje cells in cerebellar organotype cultures and those in acute slices from age-matched animals. Cultures were prepared from 9-11-day-old animals. Intracellular recordings were made 5-12 days later, at which time the folia architecture of the cerebellum was still well preserved. The resting membrane potentials and input resistances of Purkinje cells in cultured and acute slice preparations from young animals were comparable to those of mature Purkinje cells in slices. Neurons from animals younger than 14 days differed from mature Purkinje cells in that they fired at low frequencies in response to outward current pulses. The latter property was found in all cultured neurons studied, independent of their time in culture. These action potentials were generated by Na+ and Ca2+ conductances as shown by the application of selective channel blockers. Cultured or acute slice preparations from animals younger than 11 days shared other immature electroresponsive features. In both groups, Na+-dependent plateau depolarizations were observed in less than 10% of Purkinje cells unless K-conductances were blocked, and considerable membrane depolarization was often required to elicit Ca2+-dependent action potentials. These findings are compatible with the relative prominence of voltage-dependent outward currents in immature Purkinje cells, a property which may be enhanced in culture. The injection of hyperpolarizing current pulses revealed a marked time-dependent anomalous rectification in all Purkinje cells. At the breaks of such pulses, several events were observed. In all cells, a rebound conductance was identified which could generate post-anodal spike bursts. In cultured neurons, however, hyperpolarizing pulses were also followed by a slow return to resting potential. This membrane potential profile was similar to that produced by the activation of an A conductance. Experiments on acute slices from animals of different ages (P9-P17) showed that this A-like conductance was expressed only during a brief period in Purkinje cell development. A higher level of spontaneous synaptic activity was observed in cultured than in acute slice preparations. Both unitary excitatory postsynaptic potentials and inhibitory postsynaptic potentials could be elicited in the former by parallel fiber stimulation, and could be fully reversed by outward or inward transmembrane current injections, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Intrinsic determinants of firing pattern in Purkinje cells of the turtle cerebellum in vitro

1. The intrinsic response properties of turtle Purkinje cells and the underlying conductances have been investigated with intradendritic and intrasomatic recordings in a slice preparation. 2. The active generation site for fast Na+ spikes was confined to the soma and for slow Ca2+ spikes to the dendrites. The configuration and generation of Ca2+ spikes was more affected by the level of extracellular K+ than were Na+ spikes. 3. Sodium spikes had a lower threshold than Ca2+ spikes at all recording sites. Sodium spike firing was abruptly initiated during depolarizing current pulses and the spike frequency increased from an early minimum to a higher steady-state level over a period of seconds or until the occurrence of Ca2+ spikes. Calcium spikes were always delayed by at least 100 ms from the onset of a depolarizing current pulse from rest. 4. The abrupt onset of Na+ spike firing was due to a tetrodotoxin-sensitive plateau potential. The phase of accelerating firing frequency and the delayed occurrence of Ca2+ spikes was due to a transient hyperpolarization activated by depolarization from rest or from more negative membrane potentials. The transient hyperpolarization was inactivated by depolarized holding potentials and was most probably generate by a rapidly inactivating K+ channel. 5. It is concluded that turtle Purkinje cells display the basic firing properties and underlying conductances known from Purkinje cells of other vertebrates. In turtle Purkinje cells Ca2+ spikes are actively generated in spiny dendrites and it is suggested that spiny dendrites rather than branch points are 'hot spots'. 6. The transient hyperpolarization, not previously described in Purkinje cells, seems particularly important for regulating Ca2+-dependent excitability.

Electrophysiological demonstration of a synaptic integration of transplanted Purkinje cells into the cerebellum of the adult Purkinje cell degeneration mutant mouse

After implantation of solid pieces of cerebellar primordia from 12-day-old C57BL embryos into the cerebellar parenchyma of 3- to 4-month-old "Purkinje cell degeneration" mutant mice, Purkinje cells from the donor leave the implant and differentiate while migrating into the host molecular layer. Electrophysiological studies were performed using in vitro cerebellar slice preparations from "Purkinje cell degeneration" mutants 1-2 months after grafting, when grafted Purkinje cells have reached their final location in the host molecular layer and have completed their morphological differentiation. Intracellular recordings obtained from 45 Purkinje cells in mutant mice demonstrated that such grafted neurons have normal bioelectrical properties including sodium and calcium conductances and inward rectification. Moreover, all grafted Purkinje cells responded to electrical white matter stimulation by a typical all-or-none climbing fiber response. Responses mediated through the activation of mossy and parallel fibers, as well as inhibitory postsynaptic potentials, were also recorded in a significant number of grafted Purkinje cells. On the whole, all these excitatory and inhibitory responses in grafted "Purkinje cell degeneration" mutant mice have characteristics comparable to those in control mice. After electrophysiological studies, Purkinje cells were further characterized by their positive staining by calbindin antibody. Neurons of this class were dispersed throughout the molecular layer of the host folia in which the electrophysiological recordings had been performed. The ectopic location of their perikarya, the presence of dendritic trees spanning most of the molecular layer (without entering the granular layer), and the occasional presence of axons emerging from the ectopic neurons and forming loose bundles at the white matter axis of the folia, corroborate the grafted nature of the Purkinje cells studied. Therefore, these experiments demonstrate that embryonic Purkinje cells from the graft can complete differentiation in the adult host cerebellum, and establish specific synaptic contacts with the presynaptic elements previously impinging on the missing neurons of "Purkinje cell degeneration" mutants. This process leads to a qualitative functional synaptic restoration of the cortical cerebellar network.

Characterization of the ionic mechanism responsible for the hyperpolarization-activated current in frog sinus venosus

Voltage clamp experiments were carried out on the sinus venosus of the frog by means of the double mannitol gap technique. The ionic mechanism underlying the slowly hyperpolarization-activated inward current was investigated by changing the concentration and species of alkali cations and divalent cations in the bathing solution. Adding Rb or Cs in concentration of 10-20 mM to the control solution led to a dose-dependent increase in the inward current, as does elevating the external concentration of K from 2.5 to 25 mM. After the inward current had been nearly suppressed by completely substituting Tris for Na in the external medium, it was partially restored after a subsequent addition of K, Rb or Cs to the Na-free medium. Various alkaline earths or transition metals added to the bathing solution markedly depressed the magnitude of the inward current. This inhibitory effect varied with concentration and nature of divalent cations added. It also depended on the concentration and species of alkali cations present in the external solution. From these observations it was proposed that the conductance responsible for the inward rectification in frog sinus venosus does not discriminate among monovalent cations. The results support the existence of a weak-field-strength site located in the permeation pathway. Divalent cation may exert their inhibitory effect by competing with permeant ions for this site.

A low-voltage activated, transient calcium current is responsible for the time-dependent depolarizing inward rectification of rat neocortical neurons in vitro

Intracellular recordings were obtained from rat neocortical neurons in vitro. The current-voltage-relationship of the neuronal membrane was investigated using current- and single-electrode-voltage-clamp techniques. Within the potential range up to 25 mV positive to the resting membrane potential (RMP: -75 to -80 mV) the steady state slope resistance increased with depolarization (i.e. steady state inward rectification in depolarizing direction). Replacement of extracellular NaCl with an equimolar amount of choline chloride resulted in the conversion of the steady state inward rectification to an outward rectification, suggesting the presence of a voltage-dependent, persistent sodium current which generated the steady state inward rectification of these neurons. Intracellularly injected outward current pulses with just subthreshold intensities elicited a transient depolarizing potential which invariably triggered the first action potential upon an increase in current strength. Single-electrode-voltage-clamp measurements revealed that this depolarizing potential was produced by a transient calcium current activated at membrane potentials 15-20 mV positive to the RMP and that this current was responsible for the time-dependent increase in the magnitude of the inward rectification in depolarizing direction in rat neocortical neurons. It may be that, together with the persistent sodium current, this calcium current regulates the excitability of these neurons via the adjustment of the action potential threshold.

Voltage-dependency of the responses of cerebellar Purkinje cells to excitatory amino acids

The voltage-dependency of the responses of Purkinje cells to excitatory amino acids was examined in rat cerebellar slices, using intrasomatic recordings with the single electrode voltage-clamp. In standard perfusion medium, the depolarizations evoked in these neurones by ionophoretic pulse applications (less than 300 ms) of L-glutamate, L-aspartate and quisqualate in their dendritic fields had underlying inward currents which did not increase or even decreased, as the holding potential was shifted to values more negative than -65 mV. This 'abnormal' voltage-dependency was still present in Mg2+ -free solution but was abolished in the presence of CsCl2 (10 mM) in the perfusion medium. When TTX (5 microM) and CdCl2 (0.1 mM) were further added to the bath in order to block regenerative conductances, thus broadening the range of the clamp voltages to more positive values than -50 mV, the current-voltage relation between -80 and 0 mV for responses to L-glutamate and L-asparate was almost linear. Our results support the view that low doses of both amino acids act on Purkinje cells essentially via the activation of receptors which are not of the N-methyl-D-aspartate type.

Mapping calcium transients in the dendrites of Purkinje cells from the guinea-pig cerebellum in vitro

1. A 10 X 10 photodiode array was used to detect stimulation-dependent absorbance changes simultaneously from many positions in the dendrite field of guinea-pig Purkinje cells which had been injected with the calcium indicator Arsenazo III in thin cerebellar slices. Signals from each element of the array were matched to positions on the cells by mapping them onto fluorescence photographs of Lucifer Yellow which had been co-injected into the cells with the Arsenazo III. 2. In response to intrasomatic stimulation the rising phase of the absorbance signals corresponded in time with the calcium spikes recorded with an intracellular electrode. There was no increase in absorbance during bursts of fast sodium spikes. Absorbance signals persisted after the sodium spikes were blocked by tetrodotoxin (TTX). In addition, the signals were largest at 660 nm and small signals of opposite polarity were found at 540 nm. These results indicate that the absorbance signals came from calcium entry into the cell resulting from the turning on of voltage-dependent calcium conductances. 3. In these experiments signals were usually seen all over the dendritic field and were weak or totally absent over the soma. In some cases signals were seen over a more restricted area. With a spatial resolution of 25 microns we were not able to see any evidence for highly localized sites of calcium entry. 4. Sometimes the rising phase of the calcium signals was separated by almost 13 ms in different parts of the dendritic field, too long to be explained by active propagation delay. This suggests that calcium spikes causing these signals can be evoked separately in different regions of the Purkinje cell dendritic field by long-lasting potentials which may reach local threshold at different times. 5. Calcium signals resulting from slow plateau after-potentials and the calcium spikes produced by them were also detected in all locations in the dendritic field. The relative distribution of amplitudes from these plateau signals was different from the distribution of evoked signals during current injection. 6. Climbing fibre synaptic activation produced calcium signals which were distributed over the dendritic arborization, but larger at the main dendritic tree where most of the synaptic contacts are located. 7. Calcium signals were also detected from the dendrites of other neurone types in the in vitro slice preparation. Thus, it is likely that these kind of measurements can be used to analyse the electroresponsiveness of many kinds of neurones in the mammalian brain.

Alpha-adrenergic inhibition of rat cerebellar Purkinje cells in vitro: a voltage-clamp study

1. The effects of the alpha 2-adrenergic agonist clonidine on the membrane properties of Purkinje cells were analysed in sagittal slices of adult rat cerebellum by the use of intracellular recordings performed at a somatic level in the single-electrode voltage-clamp mode. 2. In preliminary current-clamp experiments, clonidine elicited in all cells a hyperpolarization 3-8 mV in amplitude, accompanied by a 15-35% increase of the input resistance when it was added to the bath at a concentration of 2-5 microM. 3. In voltage-clamped cells at a potential of -65 mV. the same concentration of clonidine always induced an outward shift of the holding current (0.2-0.5 nA in amplitude), thus corresponding to the hyperpolarization seen in current-clamp experiments, and this effect was accompanied by a clear increase of membrane resistance. Furthermore, clonidine markedly depressed the inward relaxations induced by hyperpolarizing commands of amplitude less than 10-20 mV whereas those induced by larger steps were much less affected. All these effects of clonidine were reversible when the drug was washed out. 4. When the slices were bathed in a medium containing 10 mM-Cs and 5 X 10(-6) M-tetrodotoxin, the inward relaxations induced by hyperpolarizing steps were abolished. However, a small inward current was still present when the membrane potential was stepped back to -65 mV, which was in turn blocked by the Ca-channel blocker Cd. This inward Ca current was also blocked by 2-5 microM-clonidine in the bath. 5. All these effects of clonidine were abolished by the alpha 1-adrenergic antagonists prazosin and phentolamine at concentrations of 0.5 and 40 microM respectively in the bath. In contrast, they were only weakly antagonized or unaffected by 2 microM of the alpha 2-adrenergic antagonist yohimbine. 6. On the basis of these results and of a previous work on the ionic basis of the inward rectification of Purkinje cells (Crepel & Penit-Soria, 1986), it appears that these neurones exhibit a well developed alpha (possibly alpha 1)-adrenergic inhibition of a low-threshold Ca conductance and a Ca-dependent K conductance operating near resting potential.

Excitation of locus coeruleus neurons by an adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate-activated inward current: extracellular and intracellular studies in rat brain slices

The firing rate of locus coeruleus (LC) neurons in rat brain slices was increased reversibly by agents that either elevate intracellular levels of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) or mimic its actions (e.g., forskolin, and activator of adenylate cyclase, 8-Br-cAMP, a membrane permeable analog of cAMP, and Ro20-1724, a preferential inhibitor of cAMP-phosphodiesterase). Intracellular recordings showed that 8-Br-cAMP and forskolin induce a depolarization of LC neurons, accompanied by a decrease in input resistance. The 8-Br-cAMP- and forskolin-elicited depolarization persisted in the presence of cobalt, a calcium channel blocker. Steady-state current-voltage curves revealed that in the voltage range of -50 to -120 mV, 8-Br-cAMP and forskolin induced an inward current, which did not reverse at the potassium equilibrium potential and could not be blocked by tetrodotoxin. Partial replacement of sodium with Tris or choline markedly reduced the depolarization elicited by 8-Br-cAMP. We conclude that 8-Br-cAMP and forskolin act through a common mechanism to increase the firing rate of locus coeruleus neurons by inducing a cAMP-activated inward current, carried out at least in part by sodium ions.