RECURRENT FACILITATION OF FROG MOTONEURONS

Synaptic responses to mechanical stimulation in calyceal and bouton type vestibular afferents studied in an isolated preparation of semicircular canal ampullae of chicken

Relationships between the response patterns of semicircular canal afferents to mechanical stimulation and the morphologies of their peripheral endings were investigated in an isolated preparation of the anterior semicircular canal ampulla of chicken, using a combination of electrical recording with intracellular injections of Lucifer Yellow CH. The hair bundle mechanical stimulus was applied in a diffuse manner by a glass rod vibrating in the nearby bathing medium. Two types of spike discharge patterns and postsynaptic potentials were recorded. One type was found exclusively in the bouton type afferent and demonstrated a phasic increase of firing frequency and transient depolarizing postsynaptic potentials at the beginning of mechanical stimulation. These synaptic potentials were also observed spontaneously and their amplitudes were increased by membrane hyperpolarization. The other type was found exclusively in afferents with calyceal endings and showed a tonic increase of spiking frequency and depolarizing DC postsynaptic potentials with superimposing AC responses at the frequency of the mechanical stimulation. Amplitudes of postsynaptic potentials were increased by hyperpolarization. Hair cells generated depolarizing DC transduction potentials superimposed with AC potentials at frequency of the mechanical stimulation. The spontaneous spike discharging patterns of afferent nerve fibres were classified either as a regular type (CV less than 0.10) or as an irregular type (CV greater than 0.25) on the basis of coefficient of variation (CV) of interspike intervals. The spontaneous firing rate of regular units was higher than that of irregular units. Several membrane characteristics are different between these two types of afferent fibers; irregular units had short membrane time constants and fast spikes associated with clear spike-afterhyperpolarization. These features fit with the fact that irregular units tend to have phasic responses to mechanical stimulation while regular units typically have tonic responses. Irregular units had bouton endings with an average axonal diameter thicker than the regular units which had calix endings.

Electrophysiology of adult rat facial motoneurones: the effects of serotonin (5-HT) in a novel in vitro brainstem slice

Studies of adult rat motoneurones using in vitro slice preparations are rare. We here describe a novel brainstem slice of the adult rat containing the facial motor nucleus (FMN). Data obtained for facial motoneurones (FM) by intracellular recording indicate that they display several passive and active properties seen in other rat cranial and spinal motoneurones. Bath application of serotonin (5-HT) evokes a reversible depolarization of FMs which is associated with an increase in input resistance due to a reduction in potassium permeability. This effect is unaffected by tetrodotoxin indicating a postsynaptic site of action.

Excitatory postsynaptic currents in response to different synaptic inputs of frog spinal motoneurons

Excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) evoked by the primary afferents (dorsal root; DR) and the descending lateral column (LC) fibers were studied in frog spinal motoneurons under voltage clamp with two separate electrodes. The average rise time and half-width of the EPSCs were shorter for LC-EPSCs than for DR-EPSCs, though the values of the parameters for LC- and DR-EPSCs were distributed within a similar range. The relation between the amplitudes of the EPSP and EPSC was almost linear. The amount of current required to generate a 1 mV increment in the EPSP was 5.0 +/- 2.3 nA for the DR-EPSC and 3.8 +/- 1.2 nA for the LC-EPSC. The decay time was shortened by hyperpolarization and prolonged by depolarization in DR- and LC-EPSCs and spontaneous EPSCs. The reversal potential ranged from -30 to -5 mV and was almost identical for DR- and LC-EPSCs and spontaneous EPSCs in individual motoneurons. The current-voltage relation was linear from -100 to +50 mV for these EPSCs. Spontaneous EPSCs became more prominent and frequent during a large hyperpolarization or a large depolarization. These results suggest that the ionic mechanisms underlying EPSC are similar for the functionally different excitatory synapses located on motoneurons.

Morphology of lumbar motoneurons innervating hindlimb muscles in the turtle Pseudemys scripta elegans: an intracellular horseradish peroxidase study

Motoneurons in the turtle lumbar spinal cord, electrophysiologically identified as innervating a muscle belonging to a functional group, were injected with horseradish peroxidase by electrophoresis. A total of 45 motoneurons were reconstructed from transverse sections. Eleven motoneurons were identified as innervating knee extensor muscles, eight as innervating hip retractor and knee flexor muscles, 14 as supplying ankle and/or toe extensors, and 12 as innervating ankle and/or toe flexor muscles. The cell bodies were elongated and spindle-shaped in the transverse plane. The mean equivalent soma diameter was calculated to be 33.4 micrometers. The mean axon conduction velocity was 15.7 m/second. Significant, though rather weak, positive correlations were found between soma diameter, axon diameter, and axon conduction velocity. The axons of the reconstructed motoneurons did not reveal a recurrent axon collateral. However, a few unidentified motoneurons did possess such collaterals. The dendritic trees were restricted to the ipsilateral side of the cord, but reached out in lateral, ventral, and ventromedial directions to the subpial surface. Easily recognizable and characteristic dendrites were found both in the dorsal dendritic tree and in the dorsomedial dendritic tree. Correlations were calculated between the soma diameter and (1) the number of first-order dendrites, (2) the mean diameter of the first-order dendrites, and (3) the combined diameter of the first-order dendrites. In each case no correlations or only weak correlations were found. Fair correlations were observed between the diameter of a first-order dendrite and the number of terminal dendritic branches (r = .61) and the combined dendritic length (r = .78). However, correlations between the combined diameter of all first-order dendrites per neuron and the total number of terminal dendritic branches and the total combined dendritic length of a neuron were extremely weak. The overall appearance of turtle spinal motoneurons is comparable to that observed in other "lower" vertebrates such as frog and lizard. However, similarities are also observed between certain morphometric parameters in turtle and cat lumbar motoneurons.

Normal dendritic morphology of frog spinal motoneurons: a Golgi study

Normal dendritic morphology of frog (Rana pipiens) lumbar motoneurons was studied using Golgi silver impregnation. Branching characteristics and quantitative measurements of dendrites were obtained using computer-aided serial reconstruction of a typical lumbar motoneuron over seven adjacent 80-micrometer transverse sections. Dendrites were classified based upon site of dendrite origin from the soma and distribution of the dendritic array within the spinal cord. Eight possible sites of dendritic origin from the soma were identified. Two dendrites, D1 and D2, are planar dendrites which arise from the dorsal aspect of the soma. They are moderately complex, reaching branch order 5-6, and are oriented predominantly in the transverse plane. Input to these dendrites is primarily segmental via dorsal root projections. Three dendrites, D3, D4, and D5, arise laterally from the soma and extend through the lateral funiculus toward the subpial region. Two dendrites, D6 and D7, arise ventrally. D6 extends ventrolaterally and is a simple dendrite reaching branch order 3-4. D7 aborizes extensively in the ventral funiculus and in the central gray, reaching a branch order of 8-9. This dendrite extends rostrally and caudally over a distance of at lest 560 micrometer. Another dendrite (D8) arises from the medial aspect of the soma and projects toward the central canal. Four sites (D1, D2, D6, and D7) almost invariably give rise to dendrites. Dendrites arise at D4 in 66% of the cells examined. Dendrites are found at D3, D5, and D8 much less frequently (6-21%). Total dendritic length (12,043 micrometer) and lengths of the individual dendrites, branch length versus branch order, and number of branches at increasing radii were examined, and Sholl analysis was performed.

Intracellular synaptic potentials of primate motor cortex neurons during voluntary movement

An intracellular recording technique was applied to the precentral motor cortex of the unanesthetized, chronically behaving monkey. Postsynaptic potentials, responsible for an initiation of the voluntary movement, were recorded. In total, 22 pyramidal tract neurons (PTNs) and 40 non-pyramidal tract neurons (non-PTNs) were successfully penetrated in 5 monkeys while the monkey was performing a flexion-extension wrist movement after a visual cue (reaction time, 200--350 msec). The neurons showed a negative membrane potential shift of at least 30 mV for more than 30 sec. A slowly rising PSP appeared 80--180 msec after the visual cue, and was 70--180 msec prior to an onset of the movement. Spike activities were superimposed upon this slow PSP with 20--80 msec rise time and 2--6 mV depolarization (8 PTNs and 6 non-PTNs). Since these depolarizations were variable in magnitude and latency, these were considered to be summated potentials of small EPSPs and hidden IPSPs. Membrane resistance was measured from an IR drop by a hyperpolarizing current (1.2 X 10(-9) A) passed through a recording electrode, and was 3.5 +/- 1.7 Momega in 18 PTNs and 4.5 +/- 2.5 Momega in 28 non-PTNs. There was a linear relationship in PTNs between membrane resistance and antidromic latency from the pontine pyramid. Because of the time course of PSPs, their possible dendritic origins were discussed.

Dendritic responses of frog motoneurons produced by antidromic activation

Responses to ventral root stimulation were studied in spinal cords in situ in unanesthetized frogs. Extracellular as well as intracellular recordings from motoneurons indicated that considerable depolarization of the dendrites occurred in the response to ventral root volley. Active components of this dendritic depolarization could also be observed. Extracellularly, negative field potentials were recorded both in the vicinity of motoneuron cell bodies and in areas occupied mostly by motoneuron dendrites. The refractory period of the negativity recorded at the vicinity of dendrites was longer than in the vicinity of somata. Changes in antidromic excitability were studied by the double volley technique. Augmentation of the field potential to a test volley was observed during the period of dendritic depolarization, followed by a longer-lasting period of depression of the test response. It is concluded that an action potential in frog motoneurons induces depolarization of the dendrites. The depolarized dendrites can generate local action potentials and can produce negative field potentials remotely from the somatic pool. The response of dendrites to stimulation of the ventral root has particular importance in the recurrent facilitation of the frog motoneurons.

The morphology of motoneurons and dorsal root fibers in the frog's spinal cord

Ventral and dorsal roots of the frog's spinal cord were filled with cobaltous chloride, and the resulting cobaltous sulfide precipitate, following treatment with H2S-buffer solutions, was intensified with physical developers. A ventromedial and a dorsolateral motoneuron group could be discerned in the ventral horn. The ventromedial, motoneurons gave origin to a strong dendrite crossing to the contralateral side. In the dendritic arborization pattern of the dorsolateral motoneurons a dorsomedial, a dorsal and a lateral dendritic array were distinguished. They were regarded as representing three different input channels to the motoneurons. Intramedullary branching of motor axons and recurrent axon collaterals were never observed. The dorsal root could be divided into a medial and lateral division carrying small and large caliber fibers, respectively. The end-branches of the small caliber fibers were seen to terminate in the substantia gelatinosa. Fine collaterals of the large caliber fibers also terminated in the substantia gelatinosa; coarser collaterals penetrated deeper and terminated in a triangular-shaped area in the base of the dorsal horn and in the intermediate gray matter. From this area a tail was followed into the ventral horn and several synapses were seen on the proximal dendrites and on the somata of motoneurons. A few dorsal root fibers could be seen crossing to the contralateral side.

Electrical interaction between antidromically stimulated frog motoneurones and dorsal root afferents: enhancement by gallamine and TEA

1. Electrical interactions have been studied in the isolated frog spinal cord preparation. It is found that gallamine and tetraethylammonium chloride (TEA) markedly enhance all non-cholinergic synaptic interactions, including the electrical interaction between motoneurones (VR-VRP). In addition, in the presence of either of these drugs, a short-latency interaction is seen to exist between antidromically stimulated motoneurones and dorsal root afferents (early VR-DRP). The early VR-DRP is rarely seen in the absence of gallamine or TEA.2. The early VR-DRP is of the same short latency as the VR-VRP and fulfils the same criteria for electrical interaction: it increases in amplitude with cooling from 17-10 degrees C, it is not blocked by a wide variety of pharmacological blocking agents, and it is suppressed by both Mg(2+) and Ca(2+), with no antagonism of action between the two.3. The early VR-DRP appears as a cluster of unitary events: all-or-none spikes conducted out the dorsal root fibres. No initial graded slow potentials are seen. Often there are two peaks in the response.4. The early VR-DRP is facilitated by a dorsal root volley, with a time course normally intermediate between that of the orthodromic ventral root potential (DR-VRP) and the dorsal root potential (DR-DRP). This orthodromic facilitation apparently is achieved by increasing invasion of motoneurone dendritic trees and depolarization of dorsal root afferents toward threshold.5. If the same ventral root is stimulated twice, or adjacent roots stimulated at different intervals, the second early VR-DRP, like the VR-VRP, is seen to be occluded for 10-20 msec, then facilitated to supranormal amplitudes. It is concluded that motoneurone dendrites are presynaptic to both interactions.6. Evidence is presented that gallamine and TEA act by increasing the duration of activity both in axon terminals and in antidromically invaded motoneurones. Often second or multiple spikes result. The increased duration of depolarization can increase transmitter release at terminals and increase coupling at electrical junctions.7. Possible morphological correlates for the two electrical interactions are discussed. It is speculated that the motoneurone interaction arises at numerous areas of close apposition between dendrites in dendritic ;thickets', and that the early VR-DRP is mediated by fewer, lower-resistance, electrical junctions between dendrites and afferent nerve terminals.

A study of the interaction between motoneurones in the frog spinal cord

1. A short-latency interaction between motoneurones has been studied with intracellular and root potential recordings from the isolated spinal cord of the frog. Antidromic stimulation of one ventral root causes brief depolarization (VR-EPSP) of the motoneurones of adjacent, non-excited motoneurones. The summed activity of many such VR-EPSPs can be seen as a brief depolarization (VR-VRP) passing out an adjacent ventral root.2. Both intracellular and root-recorded signs of this interaction are graded in amplitude.3. It was found that this interaction decreased with increasing temperature. This is in contrast to the behaviour of the ventral root potential resulting from dorsal root stimulation (DR-VRP) or the dorsal root potentials resulting from either dorsal root (DR-DRP) or ventral root (VR-DRP) stimulation, all of which increased in amplitude from below 10 to about 17 degrees C.4. Pharmacological evidence suggests that the interaction between motoneurones is not chemically mediated. The VR-VRP was not affected by a large variety of transmitter blocking agents, including curare, dihydro-beta-erythroidine, atropine, succinylcholine, hexamethonium and DOPA, while the VR-DRP, which probably originates with the release of ACh from an axon collateral, was consistently blocked.5. Mg(2+) suppressed the VR-VRP more slowly than the other potentials, and this suppression was increased by adding Ca(2+), rather than reversed, as in the case of the other root potentials, which are presumably mediated by chemical transmission.6. The interaction between motoneurones is strongly facilitated by orthodromic depolarization of the motoneurones being antidromically stimulated. Extracellular recordings within the cord support the conclusion that this facilitation is a result of the enhancement of antidromic invasion, perhaps especially of the dendrites, by slight depolarization.7. One VR-VRP (or VR-EPSP) first suppresses response to another (for about 10 msec), then facilitates response to the second, with maximum effect around 20-40 msec. This is the case whether both stimuli go to the same or to different ventral roots, although occlusion is less and facilitation greater in the latter case. Occlusion of the VR-EPSP also results from full excitation of the cell in which recording is being done.8. The mechanism of this interaction remains uncertain, but it would seem likely that overlapping dendrites of adjacent motoneurones interact with each other electrically through close apposition or specialized contacts. Occlusion would result from the refractoriness of strongly depolarized dendrites, facilitation from the enhancement of invasion of antidromically stimulated motoneurones by the weaker (or residual) depolarization occurring after earlier activity of motoneurones or their dendrites.

Cross-Correlation Analysis of Electroencephalographic Potentials and Slow Membrane Transients

Cross-correlation analysis reveals a close correlation between the waves in an electroencephalogram and slow membrane transients of single neurons of the sensorimotor cortex of cats during spontaneous activity, augmenting and recruiting responses, and after local application of strychnine. Time-series correlation coefficients up to 0.7 have been computed. It is suggested that the waves of the electroencephalogram reflect an integration of the changes of membrane potentials in both the cell bodies and dendrites of cortical neurons.