Voltage-dependent calcium signaling in rat cerebellar unipolar brush cells

Unipolar brush cells (UBCs) are a class of excitatory interneuron found in the granule cell layer of the vestibulocerebellum. Mossy fibers form excitatory inputs on to the paint brush shaped dendrioles in the form of giant, glutamatergic synapses, activation of which results in prolonged bursts of action potentials in the postsynaptic UBC. The axons of UBCs themselves form mossy fiber contacts with other UBCs and granule cells, forming an excitatory, intrinsic cerebellar network that has the capacity to synchronize and amplify mossy fiber inputs to potentially large populations of granule cells. In this paper, we demonstrate that UBCs in rat cerebellar slices express low voltage activated (LVA) fast-inactivating and high voltage activated (HVA) slowly inactivating calcium channels. LVA calcium currents are mediated by T-type calcium channels and they are associated with calcium increases in the dendrites and to a lesser extent the cell soma. HVA currents, mediated by L-type calcium channels, are slowly inactivating and they produce larger overall increases in intracellular calcium but with a similar distribution pattern. We review these observations alongside several recent papers that examine how intrinsic membrane properties influence UBCs firing patterns and we discuss how UBC signaling may affect downstream cerebellar processing.

Unipolar brush cells form a glutamatergic projection system within the mouse cerebellar cortex

Unipolar brush cells (UBCs) of the mammalian vestibulocerebellum receive mossy fiber projections primarily from the vestibular ganglion and vestibular nuclei. Recently, the axons of UBCs have been shown to generate an extensive system of cortex-intrinsic mossy fibers, which resemble traditional cerebellar mossy fiber afferents and synapse with granule cell dendrites and other UBCs. However, the neurotransmitter used by the UBC axon is still unknown. In this study, we used long-term organotypic slice cultures of the isolated nodulus (lobule X) from postnatal day 8 mouse cerebella to identify the neurotransmitter and receptors at synapses of the UBC axon terminals, relying on the notion that, in these cultures, all of the cortex-extrinsic fibers had degenerated during the first few days in vitro. Quantification of glutamate immunogold labeling showed that the UBC axon terminals have the same high gold-particle density as the glutamatergic parallel fiber varicosities. Furthermore, UBCs identified by calretinin immunoreactivity expressed the glutamate receptor subunits GluR2/3, NMDAR1, and mGluR2/3, like they do in the mature mouse cerebellum in situ. Evoked excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs), spontaneous EPSCs, and burst discharges were demonstrated in UBCs and granule cells by patch-clamp recording. Both the evoked and spontaneous EPSCs were blocked by ionotropic glutamate receptor antagonists CNQX and D-AP5. We conclude that neurotransmission at the UBC axon terminals is glutamatergic. Thus, UBCs provide a powerful network of feedforward excitation within the granular layer, which may amplify vestibular signals and synchronize activity in clusters of functionally related granule cells which project vertically to patches of Purkinje cells.

Levetiracetam (ucb LO59) affects in vitro models of epilepsy in CA3 pyramidal neurons without altering normal synaptic transmission

Previous behavioural and electrophysiological studies have indicated that levetiracetam (ucb LO59) acts as an anticonvulsant drug in vivo. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of levetiracetam on normal synaptic transmission and epileptiform activity in vitro. Intracellular recordings were obtained from the CA3 subfield of the rat hippocampal slice preparation. Levetiracetam in a concentration of 10 microM did not influence basic cell properties or normal synaptic transmission evoked by subthreshold and suprathreshold stimuli to the commissural pathway. However, it strongly inhibited the development of epileptiform bursting by the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)A-receptor antagonist bicuculline (1-30 microM). Levetiracetam also decreased the size of bursts previously established by bicuculline. In experiments in which the glutamate-receptor agonist N-Methyl-D-Aspartate (NMDA) was used to generate spontaneous bursting, levetiracetam had no effect on the size of the bursts but decreased bursting frequency. The difference in effects of levetiracetam on bicuculline- and NMDA-induced bursting appeared to be dependent on the convulsant used, since in the presence of 10 microM bicuculline, levetiracetam decreased the size of NMDA-bursts to the same extent as the size of synaptically evoked bicuculline-bursts but had little effect on bursting frequency. The results show that under our experimental conditions, levetiracetam did not alter the components of normal synaptic transmission. However, levetiracetam at the concentrations studied inhibited epileptiform bursting induced by bicuculline and NMDA in vitro in a manner consistent with the profile of an antiepileptogenic drug.

Fluoxetine selectively alters 5-hydroxytryptamine1A and gamma-aminobutyric acidB receptor-mediated hyperpolarization in area CA1, but not area CA3, hippocampal pyramidal cells

Fluoxetine is a 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT, serotonin)-selective reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and is one of the main drugs used for the treatment of depression. Because it takes 2 to 3 weeks of treatment before clinical efficacy is manifest, the acute actions of fluoxetine cannot account for the clinical actions of the drug. The chronic effects of fluoxetine have not been completely delineated. The experiments detailed here investigate the chronic effects of fluoxetine on 5-HT and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor-mediated actions using intracellular recording techniques in hippocampal brain slices. Rats were treated with fluoxetine for 3 weeks via osmotic minipumps implanted s.c. Fluoxetine and norfluoxetine plasma levels were determined. The hippocampal pyramidal cell characteristics and the 5-HT1A and GABA(B) receptor-mediated hyperpolarization were measured in the CA1 and the CA3 subfields. The 5-HT4 receptor-mediated decrease in the slow afterhyperpolarization amplitude was also recorded in area CA1. The time constant, magnitude of the change in resistance during 300-ms hyperpolarizing current pulses and half-decay time of the sAHP were altered by chronic fluoxetine treatment in area CA1 pyramidal cells. No changes were seen in any of the active or passive membrane properties of the CA3 hippocampal pyramidal cells. Fluoxetine treatment increased the potency of 5-HT for the 5-HT1A receptor-mediated hyperpolarization in area CA1, but not area CA3, and decreased the potency of baclofen for the GABA(B) receptor-mediated hyperpolarization in area CA1, but not area CA3. The characteristics of the concentration-response curve for the 5-HT-mediated decrease in sAHP amplitude in area CA1 were not altered by fluoxetine treatment. Chronic fluoxetine selectively and differentially altered the cell characteristics and the 5-HT1A and GABA(B) receptor-mediated responses in area CA1 of the hippocampus, which forms the final common output of the hippocampus.

Modulation of the 5-hydroxytryptamine4 receptor-mediated response by short-term and long-term administration of corticosterone in rat CA1 hippocampal pyramidal neurons

Corticosterone (CT) treatment decreases the magnitude of the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)1A receptor-mediated hyperpolarization in rat CA1 hippocampal pyramidal neurons. In the present study, we examined the short- and long-term effects of CT on the functionally excitatory 5-HT4 receptor-mediated decrease in the amplitude of the slow afterhyperpolarization (sAHP) that follows a calcium spike and the concomitant decrease in sAHP half decay time. Rats were adrenalectomized (ADX) 2 weeks before the experiment. Data for concentration-response curves were obtained with sharp electrode current clamp recordings in the CA1 pyramidal cell layer of hippocampal slices. Significant changes were found in the 5-HT4 receptor-mediated decrease in sAHP amplitude. The Emax of the 5-HT4 response was significantly increased in cells from ADX rats when the superfusion medium contained 1 nM CT. Short-term administration of 100 nM CT did not alter the 5-HT4 response. Chronic treatment with low concentrations of CT decreased the Emax of the 5-HT4 response. Treatment with CT concentrations that mimic conditions of chronic stress decreased the Emax of the 5-HT4 response and shifted the EC50 to the right. Based on these results we conclude that the magnitude and the potency of the 5-HT4 receptor-mediated decrease in sAHP amplitude is altered by CT. Because the short- and long-term effects of CT treatment are not the same, the actions of CT are time and concentration dependent. CT modulation of the 5-HT4 response is different from its modulation of the 5-HT1A response.

Chronic corticosterone treatment maintains synaptic activity of CA1 hippocampal pyramidal cells: acute high corticosterone administration increases action potential number

The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis controls the levels of plasma corticosterone (CT) in the rat and the levels of cortisol in man. CT is important in maintaining homeostasis and regulating energy production. Homeostasis is maintained by basal activation of the hippocampal-HPA axis. In response to stress CT secretion is increased. CT activation of receptors in the hippocampus provides feedback inhibition of the HPA axis to return the system to basal activity. There are two types of CT receptors: the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) and the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). CT has a 10-fold higher affinity for MR than GR. Normal basal levels of CT occupy the majority of the MR. During the diurnal surge of CT and following the presentation of a stressful stimulus, the MR and GR are both maximally occupied. To begin to understand how CT influences the hippocampal-HPA axis, intracellular recording techniques in the hippocampal brain slice preparation were used to determine how high concentrations of CT may alter cell characteristics and/or evoked synaptic activity. Two treatment groups were used, i.e., adrenalectomized (ADX) and ADX with CT pellet replacement (ADX+CT) that produced plasma blood levels equal to that seen in a normal rat in the morning. Acute administration of 100 nM CT decreased action potential threshold and the number of action potentials elicited by a depolarizing current pulse in cells from both the ADX and ADX+CT treated rats. The amplitude of the evoked excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSP) or inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSP) declined in cells recorded from ADX animals and ADX rats acutely treated with high concentrations of CT (ADX/CT).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Baclofen concentration-response curves differ between hippocampal subfields

The hippocampus contains interneurons that release gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). GABA hyperpolarizes hippocampal CA1 and CA3 pyramidal cells through activation of GABAB postsynaptic receptors. GABAB and 5-hydroxytryptamine1A (5-HT1A) receptors share effector mechanism(s). Agonist potency and the maximal hyperpolarization produced by 5-HT1A receptor activation is different between the CA1 and CA3 subfields. We determined that baclofen, a selective GABAB agonist, was more potent and produced a greater maximal response in area CA3 than in CA1. The larger magnitude of the response can be attributed partly to the larger input resistance of CA3 neurons. GABAB receptor-effector coupling differences between area CA1 and CA3 are proposed as the mechanism underlying the baclofen response incongruities.

Nicotinic depolarizations of rat medial pontine reticular formation neurons studied in vitro

Either muscarinic or nicotinic cholinergic activation of the medial pontine reticular formation evokes a behavioral state, indistinguishable in most respects from that of natural rapid eye movement sleep. However, the presence of physiologically relevant nicotonic receptors has not been described. Intracellular current and single electrode voltage clamp recordings were used to analyse the electrophysiological responses of rat medial pontine reticular formation neurons to nicotinic activation in vitro. In response to the nicotonic agonist, 1,1-dimethyl-4-phenylpiperazinium iodine, depolarization in association with an inward current was observed in 70% of the medial pontine reticular formation neurons. This effect was insensitive to the muscarinic antagonist atropine and the nicotinic ganglionic antagonists mecamylamine and hexamethonium. However, the neuromuscular nicotinic antagonist D-tubocurare and dihydro-beta-erythroidine were effective. This is consistent with a cholinergic activation of medial pontine reticular formation neurons evoking a rapid eye movement sleep-like behavioral state, at least in part, by nicotinic receptors on these neurons.

Actions of oxaprotiline in the rat hippocampal slice

1. Recordings were obtained from transverse slices of rat hippocampus, which were placed in a perfusion chamber and superfused with oxygenated artificial cerebrospinal fluid. 2. The effects of 10 microM (+)- or (-)-oxaprotiline applied by the bath were examined on the population spike, postsynaptic excitability in low Ca2+-high Mg2+ medium, the epileptiform discharge in Mg2+-free medium and long-term potentiation (LTP). Only the last paradigm (LTP) was significantly enhanced by (+)-oxaprotiline. 3. In rats chronically injected with (+)-oxaprotiline, neither LTP nor the actions of a variety of neurotransmitters in low Ca2+-high Mg2+ medium were significantly altered. 4. Intracellular recordings showed a small depolarization (3.5 +/- 1.6 mV) in response to 10 microM (+)- or (-)-oxaprotiline. Neither input resistance nor inward rectification, long-lasting afterhyperpolarization or accommodation were significantly altered. 5. Acute application, but not chronic treatment with (+)-oxaprotiline affects long-term potentiation in the hippocampal slice, presumably due to an effect on gabaergic inhibition.

Adenosine-mediated synaptic inhibition: partial blockade by barium does not prevent anti-epileptiform activity

Adenosine-induced inhibition of evoked postsynaptic potentials (PSPs) and epileptiform burst firing in the CA1 subfield of rat hippocampal slices was studied with intracellular recordings in vitro. Adenosine (50 microM) caused a membrane hyperpolarization which was abolished during superfusion with 2 mM Ba2+. The adenosine-induced inhibition of the PSPs was still evident, although the magnitude of the effect was significantly reduced. Adenosine also reduced Ba(2+)-induced burst firing, but less effectively than it did bursts evoked by TEA (5 mM). The results suggest that adenosine inhibits synaptic transmission and epileptiform activity by at least 2 mechanisms: a postsynaptic barium-sensitive increase in gK and a presynaptic effect independent of this adenosine-evoked outward potassium conductance.

Acute effects of antidepressant drugs on long-term potentiation (LTP) in rat hippocampal slices

The actions of three clinically effective antidepressant drugs with different pharmacological profiles were investigated in the CA1 area of rat hippocampal slices. Imipramine and (+) or (-)-oxaprotiline had negligible effects on population spikes evoked by stratum radiatum stimulation, but reduced postsynaptic excitability in low Ca high Mg medium after an exposure of more than 15 min. Imipramine and (+)-oxaprotiline at 10 mumol/l enhanced long-term potentiation (LTP) when a lower stimulation strength was applied while (+)-oxaprotiline reduced LTP when a higher stimulus amplitude was used to evoke population spikes. (-)-oxaprotiline (levoprotiline) had a similar effect which was, however, not significant in either stimulation paradigm at the P less than 0.05 level. Imipramine actions were also studied on epileptiform discharges in Mg(2+)-free medium: a facilitation-inhibition sequence with a slow time course was seen with 50 mumol/l but no effect with 10 mumol/l. An involvement of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-receptors in acute actions of antidepressants is unlikely but long-term potentiation in the hippocampus is modulated by these drugs.

Anticonvulsants do not suppress long-term potentiation (LTP) in the rat hippocampus

Long-term potentiation (LTP) of population spikes in the CA1 area of rat hippocampus was induced by tetanic stimulation of stratum radiatum in slices kept submerged in a perfusion chamber. Addition of the two antiepileptic drugs phenytoin or the diazepine midazolam to the medium did not significantly alter this phenomenon within 22 min after the tetanus. The early enhancement (post-tetanic potentiation, PTP) was reduced only by phenytoin. Therefore an interaction of these drugs with N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors and LTP induction is unlikely.