Physiological correlates of responses to gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) recorded from rat visual cortical neurons in vitro

In Vivo Voltage-Sensitive Dye Study of Lateral Spreading of Cortical Activity in Mouse Primary Visual Cortex Induced by a Current Impulse

In the mammalian primary visual cortex (V1), lateral spreading of excitatory potentials is believed to be involved in spatial integrative functions, but the underlying cortical mechanism is not well understood. Visually-evoked population-level responses have been shown to propagate beyond the V1 initial activation site in mouse, similar to higher mammals. Visually-evoked responses are, however, affected by neuronal circuits prior to V1 (retina, LGN), making the separate analysis of V1 difficult. Intracortical stimulation eliminates these initial processing steps. We used in vivo RH1691 voltage-sensitive dye (VSD) imaging and intracortical microstimulation in adult C57BL/6 mice to elucidate the spatiotemporal properties of population-level signal spreading in V1 cortical circuits. The evoked response was qualitatively similar to that measured in single-cell electrophysiological experiments in rodents: a fast transient fluorescence peak followed by a fast and a slow decrease or hyperpolarization, similar to EPSP and fast and slow IPSPs in single cells. The early cortical response expanded at speeds commensurate with long horizontal projections (at 5% of the peak maximum, 0.08–0.15 m/s) however, the bulk of the VSD signal propagated slowly (at half-peak maximum, 0.05–0.08 m/s) suggesting an important role of regenerative multisynaptic transmission through short horizontal connections in V1 spatial integrative functions. We also found a tendency for a widespread and fast cortical response suppression in V1, which was eliminated by GABA_A-antagonists gabazine and bicuculline methiodide. Our results help understand the neuronal circuitry involved in lateral spreading in V1.

Depression of synaptic transmission by vascular endothelial growth factor in adult rat hippocampus and evidence for increased efficacy after chronic seizures

In addition to its potent effects on vasculature, it has become clear that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has effects on both neurons and glia, and recent studies suggest that it can be neuroprotective. To determine potential mechanisms underlying this neuroprotection, recombinant human VEGF was bath applied to adult rat hippocampal slices, and both extracellular and intracellular recordings were used to examine intrinsic properties and synaptic responses of hippocampal principal neurons. Initial studies in area CA1 showed that VEGF significantly reduced the amplitude of responses elicited by Schaffer collateral stimulation, without influencing membrane properties. Similar effects occurred in CA3 pyramidal cells and dentate gyrus granule cells when their major glutamatergic afferents were stimulated. Because VEGF expression is increased after seizures, effects of VEGF were also examined in rats with recurrent spontaneous seizures. VEGF reduced spontaneous discharges in slices from these rats but had surprisingly little effect on epileptiform discharges produced by disinhibition of slices from control rats. These results demonstrate a previously unknown effect of VEGF on neuronal activity and also demonstrate a remarkable potency in the epileptic brain. Based on this, we suggest that VEGF or VEGF-related targets could provide useful endpoints to direct novel therapeutic strategies for epilepsy.

Inhibition evoked from primary afferents in the electrosensory lateral line lobe of the weakly electric fish (Apteronotus leptorhynchus)

Inhibition evoked from primary afferents in the electrosensory lateral line lobe of the weakly electric fish (Apteronotus leptorhynchus). J. Neurophysiol. 80: 3173-3196, 1998. The responses of two types of projection neurons of the electrosensory lateral line lobe, basilar (BP) and nonbasilar (NBP) pyramidal cells, to stimulation of primary electrosensory afferents were determined in the weakly electric fish, Apteronotus leptorhynchus. Using dyes to identify cell type, the response of NBP cells to stimulation of primary afferents was inhibitory, whereas the response of BP cells was excitation followed by inhibition. gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) applications produced biphasic (depolarization then hyperpolarization) responses in most cells. GABAA antagonists blocked the depolarizing effect of GABA and reduced the hyperpolarizing effect. The GABAB antagonists weakly antagonized the hyperpolarizing effect. The early depolarization had a larger increase in cell conductance than the late hyperpolarization. The conductance changes were voltage dependent, increasing with depolarization. In both cell types, baclofen produced a slow small hyperpolarization and reduced the inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs) evoked by primary afferent stimulation. Tetanic stimulation of primary afferents at physiological rates (100-200 Hz) produced strongly summating compound IPSPs (approximately 500-ms duration) in NBP cells, which were usually sensitive to GABAA but not GABAB antagonists; in some cells there remained a slow IPSP that was unaffected by GABAB antagonists. BP cells responded with excitatory or mixed excitatory + inhibitory responses. The inhibitory response had both a fast (approximately 30 ms, GABAA) and long-lasting slow phase (approximately 800 ms, mostly blocked by GABAA antagonists). In some cells there was a GABAA antagonist-insensitive slow IPSP (approximately 500 ms) that was sensitive to GABAB antagonists. Application of glutamate ionotropic receptor antagonists blocked the inhibitory response of NBP cells to primary afferent stimulation and the excitatory response of BP cells but enhanced the BP cell slow IPSP; this remaining slow IPSP was reduced by GABAB antagonists. Unit recordings in the granule cell layer and computer simulations of pyramidal cell inhibition suggested that the duration of the slow GABAA inhibition reflects the prolonged firing of GABAergic granule cell interneurons to primary afferent input. Correlation of the results with known GABAergic circuitry in the electrosensory lobe suggests that the GABAergic type 2 granule cell input to both pyramidal cell types is via GABAA receptors. The properties of the GC2 GABAA input are well suited to their putative role in gain control, regulation of phasicness, and coincidence detection. The slow GABAB IPSP evoked in BP cells is likely due to ovoid cell input to their basal dendrites.

Long-range horizontal connections between supragranular pyramidal cells in the extrastriate visual cortex of the rat

In this study, we examined the morphological structure and synaptic physiology of long-range axon projections among supragranular pyramidal cells in the extrastriate visual cortex of the rat. Intra- and extracellular recordings from layer II/III pyramidal cells were performed in brain slices of area 18a following extracellular stimulation of either the underlying white matter or within layer II/III. Neurons were injected with biocytin for two-dimensional reconstruction of their axon arborizations. The conduction velocity of afferent fibers (0.58 m/s) was twice as high as that of intracortical tangential fibers (0.28 m/s). Layer II/III cells were mainly di- or polysynaptically driven by afferent activation, but predominantly monosynaptically driven from intracortical stimulation sites. The afferent as well as intracortically evoked postsynaptic potentials showed a very similar time course and shape. From both stimulation sites, suprathreshold action potentials could be elicited. The current threshold for a postsynaptic response and the slope and width of excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) increased with the distance of lateral stimulation. The morphological properties of layer II/III pyramidal cell axon collaterals closely corresponded to the electrophysiological results. Long-range intraareal axon collaterals could be followed up to 1 mm within the supragranular layers. Their length-distance distribution showed an inverse relationship to the threshold currents of EPSPs. Pyramidal cells exhibited regularly spaced patches of horizontal axon collaterals with an interpatch distance of about 250 microns. We concluded that the supragranular horizontal network in the extrastriate visual cortex of the rat is qualitatively very similar to that of cats and monkeys. However, quantitative differences exist in its spatial extent and physiological characteristics.

Quantitative aspects of the GABA circuitry in the primary visual cortex of the adult rat

The number and size of synaptic contacts made by GABA-immunoreactive axonal boutons were estimated in each layer of the primary visual cortex (area Oc1M) of adult rats by using the dissector method. Immunoreactivity for GABA was detected with the postembedding immunogold technique on ultrathin sections. Targets of GABA synaptic contacts were also identified to predict the sites of GABA influence in the rat visual cortex. For the total cortical depth, 82 million out of an overall population of 666 million synaptic contacts per mm3 of tissue (or 1 in 8 contacts, 12%) were GABA. Layer IV averaged 62% more GABA contacts per unit volume than did any other cortical layer. Consequently, these represented a larger proportion (1 in 6, 17%) of the overall population of layer IV synaptic contacts. This higher number of GABA contacts was not due to a greater density of GABA boutons, but to an increased number of contacts made by each layer IV GABA bouton (mean of 1.4 contacts per bouton compared to 1.1 in other cortical layers). The total area occupied by the contacts on an average GABA bouton was similar in all layers; the higher number of contacts per GABA bouton in layer IV being compensated for by their smaller size. This observed constancy in the area of synaptic contacts suggests the presence of one or more regulatory mechanisms maintaining optimal numbers of the different macromolecules forming the synaptic contacts. The increased density of GABA contacts in layer IV compared to other cortical layers was due to their greater number targeting distal regions of the dendritic tree. Since layer IV receives the vast majority of thalamocortical terminals and since these axons preferentially target dendritic spines, the specific arrangement of GABA synaptic contacts in this layer could be designed to exert a precise inhibition near the site of the thalamic input and thus serve as the structural basis for the strong GABA-related hyperpolarization that followed the excitatory response after physiological stimulations of the thalamocortical pathway.

GABA-induced responses in Purkinje cell dendrites of the rabbit cerebellar slice

Pressure applications of GABA localized to Purkinje cell somas in a rabbit cerebellar slice produced uniphasic hyperpolarizing responses, whereas applications of GABA that were directed at the Purkinje cell dendrites produced complex, triphasic responses with hyperpolarizing and depolarizing components. Both somatic and dendritic application of GABA elicited fast hyperpolarization (GABAhf), but dendritic application also elicited a slower depolarization (GABAd) and a later, long-lasting hyperpolarization (GABAhl). All three types of responses were accompanied by increased conductance. Use of either GABA antagonist, bicuculline or picrotoxin, eliminated the GABAhf and GABAd responses but left the GABAhl response intact. Pressure delivery of the GABA agonist, baclofen, to the dendrites but not the soma elicited a GABAhl response. Application of baclofen paired with membrane depolarization sufficient to elicit local, calcium-dependent dendritic spiking produced a persistent reduction in the GABAhl response, whereas alternating presentations of baclofen and membrane depolarization or presentations of baclofen alone could not. The fact that GABA and baclofen inhibited Purkinje cell activity in the rabbit cerebellar slice and that picrotoxin and bicuculline eliminated some, but not all of the components of the GABA response suggests the presence of both GABAA and GABAB receptors. The ability of baclofen to inhibit Purkinje cells if it was applied to the dendrites but not if applied to the soma suggests that GABAB receptors are located predominantly on Purkinje cell dendrites. The pairing-specific change in the baclofen response suggests the existence of GABAB-mediated modifiability of Purkinje cell dendrites.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)