Adaptive distortions in the generator potential of semicircular canal sensory afferents

Transmission between type II hair cells and bouton afferents in the turtle posterior crista

Synaptic activity was recorded with sharp microelectrodes during rest and during 0.3-Hz sinusoidal stimulation from bouton afferents identified by their efferent-mediated inhibitory responses. A glutamate antagonist, 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX) decreased quantal size (qsize) while lowering external Ca(2+) decreased quantal rate (qrate). Miniature excitatory postsynaptic potentials (mEPSPs) had effective durations (qdur) of 3.5-5 ms. Their timing was consistent with Poisson statistics. Mean qsizes ranged in different units from 0.25 to 0.73 mV and mean qrates from 200 to 1,500/s; there was an inverse relation across the afferent population between qrate and qsize. qsize distributions were consistent with the independent release of variable-sized quanta. Channel noise, measured during AMPA-induced depolarizations, was small compared with quantal noise. Excitatory responses were larger than inhibitory responses. Peak qrates, which could approach 3,000/s, led peak excitatory mechanical stimulation by 40 degrees . Quantal parameters varied with stimulation phase with qdur and qsize being maximal during inhibitory stimulation. Voltage modulation (vmod) was in phase with qrate and had a peak depolarization of 1.5-3 mV. On average, 80% of vmod was accounted for by quantal activity; the remaining 20% was a nonquantal component that persisted in the absence of quantal activity. The extracellular accumulation of glutamate and K(+) are potential sources of nonquantal transmission and may provide a basis for the inverse relation between qrate and qsize. Comparison of the phases of synaptic and spike activity suggests that both presynaptic and postsynaptic mechanisms contribute to variations across afferents in the timing of spikes during sinusoidal stimulation.

Recovery of semicircular canal primary afferent activity in the pigeon after streptomycin ototoxicity

Recovery of semicircular canal primary afferent activity in the pigeon after streptomycin ototoxicity. J. Neurophysiol. 80: 3297-3311, 1998. The electrophysiological activity of horizontal semicircular canal primary afferents (HSCPA) was investigated in vivo in the barbiturate-anesthetized pigeon by means of extracellular single-fiber vestibular nerve action potential recordings. The spontaneous and driven discharges to pulse (step/trapezoid waveform, peak velocity = 120 degrees/s) and sum-of-sines (0.03, 0.09, 0.21, 0.39, 0.93, 1.83 Hz, peak velocity = 30 degrees/s for each frequency) rotations were measured both in normal control animals and a group of animals at 30, 40, 50, 60, 71, and 150 days postinjection sequence (PIS) of streptomycin sulfate. Prior to 30 days PIS, the activity in the nerve was not appropriately modulated during and after rotation. At 30 days PIS and thereafter, the responses resembled those observed in control animals but with systematic changes in parameters of fitted pulse responses and fitted Bode plots as days PIS increased. The return of parameters characterizing the neural dynamics of the semicircular canals were monotonic and could be best described by either linear or exponential functions. After 30 days PIS, the mechanical cupula-endolymph system, the function of which can be inferred from the cupula long time constant (tauL) following step velocity, did not change systematically (tauL = 6.92 +/- 3.96, 8.64 +/- 5.52, 8.35 +/- 4.21, 10.00 +/- 2.79, 9.05 +/- 3.67, 7.05 +/- 2.72; means +/- SD). However, the mean gain (G) of the HSCPA response to pulse rotation nearly doubled between 30 and 150 days PIS (from 1.31 +/- 0. 39 to 2.40 +/- 1.04) and returned linearly to control values (G = 2. 39 +/- 0.77) over this time period [G = 1.33 + 0.009(PIS-30), R2 = 0. 92, P < 0.05]. Meanwhile, neural adaptation as quantitated using a fractional operator, k, decayed exponentially (single exponential) to an asymptote. The time constant of this exponential was approximately 55 days [k = 0.034 + 0.33e-(PIS-30)/55.4, R2 = 0.99, P < 0.01]. Features of the spontaneous discharge previously shown to be correlated with k changed appropriately. That is, the coefficient of variation (CV) and frequency of firing (FF) decayed and grew asymptotically, respectively. These parameters also exhibited an exponential time course of return to control values from 30 to 150 days PIS [CV = 0.44 + 0.65e-(PIS-30)/21.5, R2 = 0.96, P < 0.01, and FF = 39.97 + 101.42(1 - e-(PIS-30)/32.6), R2 = 0.97, P < 0.01]. The trends of recovery for G, k, and tauL derived from analysis of the pulse response were confirmed by strong positive correlations with best fitted parameters obtained from analysis of the sum-of-sines frequency domain response of HSCPAs. There were statistically significant correlations (r = 0.90, P < 0.05 and r = 0.93, P < 0.05) between parameters (G, k) derived from pulse responses and those (G', k') from sum-of-sines responses, respectively. The cupula time constant based on sum-of-sines' data (tau'L) showed no statistically significant change between 30 and 150 days PIS (P > 0.05, analysis of variance). Thus the results in present study indicate that both the spontaneous discharge and the driven response to rotation of pigeon HSCPAs recovered their normal physiological status between 30 and 150 days PIS after hair cell death due to aminoglycoside ototoxicity. The recovery was systematic for the parameters chosen to be tested with the exception of the cupula long time constant, tauL. The mechanisms (changes in ciliary dynamics, changes in hair cell ionic currents, changes in bouton terminals, etc.) underlying these changes await further morphophysiological studies.

Morphophysiology of synaptic transmission between type I hair cells and vestibular primary afferents. An intracellular study employing horseradish peroxidase in the lizard, Calotes versicolor

Intracellular records with glass microelectrodes filled with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) were taken from primary afferents of the horizontal semicircular canal in the lizard, Calotes versicolor. A coefficient of variation (CV) of the interspike intervals of spontaneous action potentials (APs) was calculated and correlated with the terminal morphologies of afferents within the canal crista. Irregular fibers with CV greater than 0.4 always correlated with a nerve chalice or calyx afferent terminal expansion surrounding one or more type I hair cells; more regular fibers with CV less than 0.4 always correlated with a dimorphic or bouton only terminal expansion of afferents. Afferents with a CV greater than 0.4 demonstrated miniature excitatory postsynaptic potentials (mEPSPs) that summated to initiate APs. APs were blocked by tetrodotoxin and mEPSP frequency was modulated by caloric stimulation. Cobalt application reversibly blocked mEPSPs. Electron microscopic examination of physiologically studied afferents with CV greater than 0.4 revealed synaptic profiles consisting of typical synaptic bodies and synaptic vesicles in the type I hair cell presynaptic to the nerve chalice. Examples of the interspike baseline in regular and irregular afferents suggest differential modes of impulse initiation in these two fiber types.

High perilymphatic potassium and rubidium levels modulate the sensory resting discharge in the isolated frog labyrinth

The effects of high perilymphatic K+ and Rb+ concentrations (20 mM) on the posterior canal resting discharge have been examined in the isolated frog labyrinth. Both K+ and Rb+ produced an increase in spike frequency which is sustained by a parallel increase in the excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) emission rate. High K+ and Rb+ levels reduce the size of the afferent spike, broaden its time course but do not induce repetitive activity at the axon level. The K+ and Rb+ facilitation proved to be inversely related to the fibre's initial resting activity. The facilitation produced by increased K+ was usually larger than that in Rb+ solution. High sensitive and low sensitive units with similar low resting discharge were detected in relation to their response either to K+ or Rb+. The effects of both ions can be explained on the basis of their interactions with the presynaptic hair cell currents.

The effect of barium and some channel blockers on sensory discharge of the frog labyrinth posterior canal recorded at rest and during rotation

The effect on the afferent synaptic transmission of Ba2+, Sr2+, tetraethylammonium (TEA) and 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) has been investigated in the isolated frog labyrinth by intracellularly recording the posterior canal resting and evoked receptor discharge. BaCl2 (0.3 mM) or SrCl2 (1.8 mM) substitution for normal external CaCl2 restored the afferent activity without affecting the membrane potential of the sensory fibres. On further increasing Ba2+ concentration (0.5-5 mM) a dose-dependent increase in the EPSP and spike discharges was observed in all the units examined. Ba2+ (1.8-4 mM) removed the depression of the sensory activity operated by CoCl2 (3 mM), while its facilitatory effect was completely antagonized by raising Ca2+ concentration (up to 10 mM). TEA (20 mM) elicited a clear-cut increase in the EPSP and spike discharges which, however, was less consistent than that produced by Ba2+ (1 mM). The increment in spike frequency produced by TEA and Ba2+ proved to be inversely related to the initial resting firing level of the different units. The 4-AP (4-20 mM) effect resulted in a decrease of the sensory activity, which was fully restored by TEA or Ba2+. In normal saline a linear relationship was found between the mean unit resting discharge and the respective excitatory peak response during sinusoidal rotation (0.1-0.3 Hz). This result suggest that the mechanical response is mainly determined by the unit resting level. Consistent evoked responses were obtained under TEA and Ba2+ treatment which proved to depend linearly on the new mean resting discharge of the different units. Conversely, a reduced evoked response was invariably observed in all the fibres tested in the presence of 4-AP. The present results suggest that Ba2+ and Sr2+ may substitute for Ca2+ in the transmitter release process at the cyto-neural junction, the ability of Ba2+ being even larger than that of Sr2+ and Ca2+ itself. The effects of TEA and 4-AP are discussed in the light of their possible interaction with the presynaptic K+-currents recently described in hair cells.

The influence of temporal bone anatomical variation upon the caloric stimulus

This study involved a comparison of temperature changes occurring in isolated cadaveric temporal bones as a result of caloric stimulation, with information gained from radiological examination of the bones by means of high resolution computed tomographic scanning. This was performed in order to investigate the complex nature of heat transfer within the temporal bone and the influence which anatomical variations may have upon the accuracy of evaluation of vestibular function by means of the caloric test. No significant correlation could be found between the maximum temperature change occurring across the lateral semicircular canal and any of the parameters obtained from radiological assessment except for the diameter of the internal auditory meatus. It was deduced that an intra-subject difference in the diameters of the internal auditory meatus of 0.5 mm would introduce an absolute error in the evaluation of percentage canal paresis of 10%. Since normal intra-subject differences in internal meatus diameter can exceed 0.5 mm, this finding was considered to be highly significant.

Recording of short-latency vestibular evoked potentials induced by acceleration impulses in experimental animals: current status of the method and its applications

The short-latency vestibular evoked potential (VsEP) induced by angular acceleration impulses (maximal amplitude 30,000 deg/sec2, rise time 2-3 msec) was recorded by skin electrodes in intact cats after various surgical and pharmacological procedures. The normal VsEP consists of 5-8 waves, several microvolts in amplitude, during the first 10 msec. The latency of the first wave (P1) is about 2 msec with respect to the start of head acceleration. The first and the second waves (P1 and P2) were shown to originate from the vestibular nerve and nucleus, respectively. The VsEP disappears permanently after bilateral labyrinthectomy, excision of the 8th nerves, or administration of large doses of gentamicin. Temporary disappearance is caused by anoxia induced for a brief period of time or injection of lidocaine (4%) into the vestibular nerve or into the inner ear after contralateral labyrinthectomy. The VsEPs in the intact cat are similar whether clockwise or counterclockwise stimuli are used and are not affected by changing the position of the head. Unilaterally labyrinthectomized animals, however, show asymmetric response whereby excitatory stimulation of any of the intact semicircular canals evokes prominent P1 and P2 waves which are absent with inhibitory stimulation. The rate and input-output intensity functions of the VsEP are described. The threshold of the VsEP was found to be 1000-1500 deg/sec2. In addition to the neurogenic waves, 2 other potentials appear occasionally in the response: large-amplitude and longer-duration waves with latencies of 8-20 msec, which are of myogenic origin, and smaller waves with shorter latency which probably represent vestibular microphonics and generator potentials. Extracellular recordings of the responses of single second-order neurons in the vestibular nuclei to the same acceleration impulses confirmed that the kinetic vestibular neurons can respond to these stimuli with a latency as short as 3.5 msec. This method for inducing and recording VsEPs has proved to be a powerful tool for the evaluation of vestibular function in experimental animal models.

Differences between cats in response properties of horizontal semicircular canal primary afferents

The response properties of cat horizontal canal afferents (N = 81) were characterized by three parameters: their long time constants (tau), low frequency gain constants (G1), and middle frequency gain constants (Gm). An average value of each of these parameters was calculated for each of eight animals and comparisons were made across animals. There were significant differences between individual animals in their average values of tau and Gm. There was also a significant negative correlation between tau's and Gm's. An animal with a larger average tau tended to have a smaller average Gm. We also used anatomic data on membranous canal duct diameter from the literature to independently estimate the potential effect of interanimal anatomic variability on the predicted range of tau and Gm values in a population. We then compared the data from our 81 afferents with the predictions from the anatomic data.

Activation of the efferent system in the isolated frog labyrinth: effects on the afferent EPSPs and spike discharge recorded from single fibres of the posterior nerve

Intra-axonal recordings were obtained from single afferent fibres of the posterior nerve in the isolated labyrinth of the frog (Rana esculenta). EPSPs and spike discharge were recorded both at rest and during rotatory stimulation of the canal. Electrical stimulation of either the distal end of the cut posterior nerve or of the central stumps of the anterior-horizontal nerves elicited a frequency-dependent inhibitory effect on the afferent discharge arising from the posterior canal. Denervation experiments revealed that inhibition is mediated by efferent fibres exhibiting a high degree of branching in the proximal part of the eighth nerve. The inhibitory effect was selectively cancelled by (1)D-tubocurarine 10(-6) M; (2) atropine 5 x 10(-5) M; (3) acetylcholine or carbachol 10(-4) M; (4) eserine 10(-5) M. Inhibition is thus most likely to be sustained by the release of acetylcholine from the efferent nerve terminals. Experiments in which the ionic composition of the external medium was modified suggest that the transmitter acts mainly by opening the chloride ion channels of the hair cell membrane. In some units the same stimulation pattern evoked a consistent increase in both EPSP and spike discharge, instead of inhibition. Such facilitation was unaffected by drugs for ionic modifications which block the efferent synapse, but disappeared after denervation. Inhibition and facilitation, therefore, act as two control mechanisms which are able to modify substantially, at the first stage of processing, the sensory information which is sent to the vestibular second order neurons.

A new stimulation technique of the crista ampullaris of the lateral canal in the adult cat: study of the action potential of the vestibular nerve

The stimulation of the crista ampullaris of the lateral canal by a short ampullopetal liquid flux produces on the pre-ganglionic vestibular fibres the appearance of a bimodal action potential. The amplitude of this action potential increases with the intensity of the stimulation. This stimulation also provokes the birth of an evoked potential at the level of the vestibular nuclei as well as an ocular jerk.

Frequency response of the lateral-line organ of Xenopus laevis

The stimulus response relation of the epidermal lateral-line organ of Xenopus laevis was studied by recording activity of single afferent nerve fibres in isolated preparations. Linear frequency response analysis over a frequency range of 0.1--100Hz was performed under steady-state conditions, using small amplitude, sinusoidal water displacements produced by a glass sphere at a short distance from the skin. Period histograms of afferent nerve activity were computed, and amplitude, phase and mean activity of the response were determined by means of Fourier analysis. A standardization procedure at the start of each experiment made scaling of the frequency responses of different preparations unnecessary. The results show that for small stimulus amplitudes the response of the lateral-line organ over the whole range of frequencies studied can adequately be described as a modulation of the spontaneous activity. The amplitude of the response is proportional to the stimulus amplitude, and the phase of the response is independent of stimulus amplitude. The lateral-line organ of Xenopus laevis can thus be regarded as a linear system for stimuli which produce modulation of the spontaneous activity. The frequency response demonstrates unequivocally that the lateral-line organ of Xenopus laevis functions as a water velocity detector. For frequencies of stimulation from 0.1--20Hz the gain increases with a slope of 7.5 dB/oct, and up to 5Hz the response is almost in phase with the water velocity. The extent to which the different transmission steps between stimulus and response will contribute to the frequency response is discussed.

The importance of potassium in the function of frog semicircular canals

The slow potentials and afferent discharge of impulses in frog semicircular canals have been studied at different endolymphatic and perilymphatic K+ concentrations. Results indicate that the presence of K ions in the bathing fluids is essential for maintaining the receptor function in crista ampullaris, although very low concentrations of this ion in the perilymph are sufficient to preserve the receptor responsiveness to mechanical stimuli. The hypothesis is put forward that K+ may be pumped from the exterior of the canal towards the intracupular structures, where it accumulates. A K-rich endolymphatic environment does, however, appear to be necessary to ensure the resting activity of ampullar receptors and their ability to be "disfacilitated" during inhibitory cupula deflections.

Post-synaptic potentials recorded from afferent nerve fibres of the posterior semicircular canal in the frog

Glass microelectrode recordings were made from single fibres of the posterior ampullary nerve in the isolated labyrinth of the frog (Rana esculenta). Potentials were recorded both at rest and during rotatory stimulation of the canal. At rest, the tracings revealed an intense background of small, largely summated potentials (0.5-10 mV amplitude, 3-6 msec duration), which underlay the discharge of spikes in all the impaled units. The frequency of the subthreshold events was related to the frequency of the propagated spikes, the latter ranging from 0 to 40/sec. Stimulation modulated the frequency of both spikes and subthreshold potentials, whose summation during excitation led to a positive shift of the fibre membrane potential. The small potentials proved to be dependent on Ca2+ and Mg2+ levels in the bath. Antidromic-stimulation of the posterior ampullary nerve indicated that the observed events do not represent an artifact due to extracellular field interference related to spike activity in the neighbouring fibres. Tetrodotoxin (10(-7)-10(-6) g/ml) applied externally to the preparation or previously perfused through the frog vessels abolishes the propagated spikes but left unaffected the small potentials which, even under drug treatment, were normally modulated by the stimulus. The subthreshold potentials thus appear to be EPSPs generated at the cyto-neural junction between the hair cells and the endings of the ampullary nerve fibres.