bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of recurrent laryngeal inspiratory discharges in relation to fast rhythms
Authors: Christakos C. N. , Cohen M. I. , Sica A. L. , Huang W. X. , See W. R. , Barnhardt R.
Published: December 2017

1. Inspiratory (I) activities of recurrent laryngeal (RL) motoneurons and efferent nerves were studied by autospectral, interval, and coherence analyses, with emphasis on fast rhythms of two types: medium-frequency oscillations (MFO, usual range 20-50 Hz for nerve autospectral peaks) and high-frequency oscillations (HFO, usual range 50-100 Hz). 2. In decerebrate, paralyzed, and artificially ventilated cats, recordings were taken from 27 isolated single RL fibers (14 cats) and 8 identified RL motoneurons in the medulla (6 cats), together with recordings of phrenic (PHR) and RL whole-nerve activities. In another 50 cats, RL and PHR nerve discharges were recorded simultaneously. 3. The autospectra of RL units showed prominent MFO peaks with frequencies close to that of the RL nerve MFO spectral peak, indicating presence of this type of fast rhythm in the units' discharges. Spectral analysis of RL unit activity in different segments of the I phase showed that the frequency of a unit's MFO was very close to the peak (maintained) firing rate of the unit during the portion of I analyzed. Thus a motoneuron's MFO spectral peak reflected its rhythmic discharge arising from the cell's refractoriness (and possibly with the rate changing in the course of I). 4. The coherences of motoneurons' MFOs to nerve MFOs were very low or 0, indicating that correlations between unitary MFOs of the RL population were rare and/or weak. 5. In those cats (19/20) that had discernible PHR nerve HFO autospectral peaks, about half of the recorded RL motoneurons (16/34) had HFO. For these motoneurons, the unit-nerve HFO coherences were substantial, indicating widespread correlations between unitary HFOs. 6. In a fraction of cats, coherence peaks in the MFO frequency range were observed between bilateral RL nerves, and between RL and PHR nerves, at frequencies that were subharmonics of the HFO frequency. 7. In light of theoretical considerations on the generation of aggregate rhythms from superposition of unitary rhythms, these observations indicate that, similarly, to the case of PHR motoneurons and nerves. 1) RL nerve MFO arises from superposition of uncorrelated, or at most partially correlated, MFOs of RL units, representing the rhythmic discharges of the cells. It is manifested therefore as a spectral deflection with a maximum in the band of peak firing rates of the units. 2) RL nerve HFO arises from correlated, common-frequency HFOs in a subpopulation of RL units, caused by HFO inputs from antecedent medullary I neurons.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Cerebellar role in adaptation of the goldfish vestibuloocular reflex
Authors: Pastor A. M. , de la Cruz R. R. , Baker R.
Published: December 2017

1. The time course of eye velocity responses elicited by head velocity steps was compared in normal, adapted, and cerebellectomized goldfish. Vestibuloocular reflex (VOR) adaptation was induced by combined visual and vestibular stimulation that altered the ratio of eye to head velocity (VOR gain) toward values either higher or lower than the control amplitude. The velocity step consisted of alternating periods of head rotation at a constant velocity of 16 degrees/s zero-to-peak around the vertical axis. 2. The VOR produced by head velocity steps consisted of an early acceleration-related component, the dynamic response, separated from a sustained period of constant velocity, the plateau, by a sag that occurred around 125-150 ms. Latency of the VOR averaged 18 ms for the adducting eye and 20 ms for abducting eye independent of the initial VOR gain. Adapted dynamic VOR responses diverged from the control records at the earliest detectable latency after both high and low VOR gain training. This result demonstrates modification in the shortest latency brain stem VOR pathway, presumably, the three-neuron reflex arc. 3. After acute cerebellectomy the adapted dynamic response was unaltered for approximately 50 ms in the low-gain and 70 ms in the high-gain VOR states. Not less than 30% of the altered velocity was retained throughout the remaining dynamic and sustained component. These results demonstrate that the vestibulocerebellum is not necessary for the maintenance of the earliest adapted eye velocity. Hence brain stem pathways are sufficient for the expression of the modified VOR. 4. Purkinje cells identified by simple and complex spikes were recorded extracellularly in the area of the vestibulocerebellum, where electrical stimulation produced conjugate ipsiversive horizontal eye movements. Independent eye and head velocity sensitivities were determined in response to visual world motion and VOR suppression, respectively. The two signals either added, canceled, or were both present in Purkinje cells throughout the range of eye velocity induced by vertical axis visual-vestibular stimulation. 5. Latency of Purkinje cell discharge to either a vestibular or visual velocity step exhibited means of 43 and 70 ms, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
A theoretical framework for quantal analysis and its application to long-term potentiation
Authors: Blum K. I. , Idiart M. A.
Published: December 2017

1. We present a new mathematical description of the complete distribution of electrical responses to stochastic synaptic activity (quantal analysis) that is intended as a model of experiments on central neuronal synapses. Unlike previous treatments, this distribution is calculated for each instant after the release of transmitter into the cleft. 2. We follow the traditional description of probabilistic presynaptic vesicle release. On the postsynaptic side, however, we assume that channel fluctuations are important and we take them into account. The probability of finding a given channel open after a certain amount of transmitter is released is calculated from detailed receptor/channel and neurotransmitter clearance kinetics. This approach allows us to naturally include the nonlinear dependence of open probability on the amount of transmitter released, with saturation for large transmitter doses. The distribution of open channels is calculated from this probability. 3. We also allow the possibility that multiple synaptic inputs to a target neuron may be active in a typical experiment. We have not treated cable effects. We explore the implications of multiple synapses for the nonlinearities of the system. The most important of these is that vesicles in different synapses have independent responses, and therefore their effects add linearly. 4. The resulting distributions depend heavily on what region of the nonlinear dose-response curve the synapses are in. Far from saturation, peaks in the distribution are due to vesicles, and close to saturation they are due to active synapses. Peak widths are due to channel fluctuations and instrumental noise, which we introduce to make closer contact with experiments.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Administration of opiate antagonist naloxone induces recurrence of increased jaw muscle activities related to inflammatory irritant application to rat temporomandibular joint region
Authors: Yu X. M. , Sessle B. J. , Vernon H. , Hu J. W.
Published: December 2017

1. Our recent studies in rats have demonstrated that the small-fiber excitant and inflammatory irritant mustard oil injected into the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) region can evoke a sustained and reversible increase of electromyographic (EMG) activity in jaw muscles and an acute inflammatory response. The aim of the present study was to test if opioid mechanisms are involved in modulating the EMG increase evoked by mustard oil. 2. Mustard oil injected into the rat TMJ region evoked significant increases of jaw muscle EMG activity; the vehicle mineral oil had no such effect. The increased EMG activity lasted up to 20 min, and by 30 min after the mustard oil injection had returned to control (preinjection) levels, at which time administration of the opiate antagonist naloxone (1.3 mg/kg i.v.) induced a significant recurrence of the increase in EMG activity. This "rekindling" of EMG activity appeared at 5 to 10 min after the naloxone administration and lasted for 10 to 20 min. In contrast, naloxone administration in the animals receiving mineral oil injection into the TMJ region did not "rekindle" the EMG activity, nor did the administration of the peripherally acting opiate antagonist methylnaloxone or the vehicle of naloxone. 3. These findings reveal that the application of the opiate antagonist naloxone produces a recurrence of increased jaw muscle activity reflexively evoked by mustard oil injection into the rat TMJ region. They suggest that central opioid depressive mechanisms activated by the mustard oil-induced afferent barrage limit the duration of the evoked EMG changes.
Neonatal whisker trimming produces greater effects in nondeprived than deprived thalamic barreloids
Authors: Simons D. J. , Land P. W.
Published: December 2017

1. Microelectrodes and controlled stimulation of mystacial vibrissae were used to examine the response properties of thalamic barreloid neurons in adult rats that had been raised in an abnormal tactile environment produced by having one (row C) or four (all but C) rows of whiskers trimmed to the skin surface from birth to 45-53 days of age. Whiskers were allowed to regrow for an average of approximately 9 weeks before electrophysiological study. 2. Spontaneous and stimulus-evoked activity of single neurons in deprived barreloids was similar to that observed in control animals except that activity levels following stimulus offsets were slightly elevated. These effects were more pronounced in nondeprived barreloids. In addition, neurons in nondeprived barreloids responded more vigorously during the stimulus plateau than neurons in deprived or control barreloids. Responses to stimulus onsets and offsets were statistically equivalent among deprived, non-deprived, and control barreloid neurons. 3. The findings indicate that increased spontaneous and stimulus-evoked activities observed previously in deprived cortical barrels reflect abnormalities within the cortex itself. Previously observed increases in neuronal activity in nondeprived cortical barrels probably reflect abnormalities in the input signals they receive from nondeprived barreloids as well as possible changes in cortical circuitry. Effects in the thalamus may be due to abnormal lateral inhibitory interactions between inputs from previously trimmed and nontrimmed whiskers.
Wide-field nondirectional visual units in the pretectum: do they suppress ocular following of saccade-induced visual stimulation
Authors: Ibbotson M. R. , Mark R. F.
Published: December 2017

1. Direction-selective neurons in the nucleus of the optic tract (NOT) provide motion signals for controlling ocular following responses. When stimulated at low temporal and high spatial frequencies of motion (slow speeds), these retinal-slip neurons produce directional responses. When stimulated by motion at high temporal and low spatial frequencies (the visual conditions during saccades) the spontaneous activities of the neurons are inhibited by motion in all directions. A second class of neurons in, or near, the NOT have large receptive fields, are nondirectional, and are tuned to detect the same spatial and temporal stimuli that induce nondirectional inhibition in the retinal-slip neurons. We suggest that the nondirectional cells provide an inhibitory input for the retinal-slip neurons and therefore prevent ocular following of the visual displacements that accompany saccades.
Wide-field nondirectional visual units in the pretectum: do they suppress ocular following of saccade-induced visual stimulation
Authors: Ibbotson M. R. , Mark R. F.
Published: December 2017

Pages 1448–1450: M. R. Ibbotson and R. F. Mark, “Wide-field nondirectional visual units in the pretectum: do they suppress ocular following of saccade-induced visual stimulation.” Page 1450, right column, preceding references, the following dates should be inserted: Received 6 April 1994; accepted in final form 10 May 1994.
Glycine response in acutely dissociated ventromedial hypothalamic neuron of the rat: new approach with gramicidin perforated patch-clamp technique
Authors: Abe Y. , Furukawa K. , Itoyama Y. , Akaike N.
Published: December 2017

1. We investigated the glycine-induced response in ventromedial hypothalamic (VMH) neurons freshly dissociated from 8- to 12-day-old rats using the nystatin and gramicidin perforated patch recording modes. The nystatin-formed pores in the plasma membrane are permeable for both monovalent cations and anions, whereas those formed by gramicidin are permeable only to monovalent cations. Therefore, when the patch-pipette contains 150 mM Cl- and gramicidin, the physiological intracellular Cl- concentration ([Cl-]i) is undisturbed in the cell-attached condition of the pipette. 2. At holding potentials of -40 to -60 mV, glycine induced inward currents and outward currents in the nystatin and gramicidin perforated patch recording modes, respectively. The values of the half-maximum effective concentration (EC50) and the Hill coefficient in the concentration-response relationships of the glycine responses were 2.9 x 10(-5) M, 1.1, and 4.2 x 10(-5) M, 1.4, respectively. These values were quite similar in both recording modes. 3. The reversal potentials of the glycine responses (EGly) were -1.5 mV in the nystatin perforated patch recording and -75.0 to -24.8 mV in the gramicidin perforated patch recording. 4. Strychnine (3 x 10(-8) M) inhibited the glycine-induced outward currents in a competitive manner and the half-inhibition concentration (IC50) of strychnine on the 10(-4) M glycine-induced response was 1.9 x 10(-8) M. 5. The physiological [Cl-]i in the VMH neurons calculated from the EGly obtained by the gramicidin perforated patch mode ranged from 6.0 to 43.8 mM (n = 28).
Vibration-entrained and premovement activity in monkey primary somatosensory cortex
Authors: Lebedev M. A. , Denton J. M. , Nelson R. J.
Published: December 2017

1. Primary somatosensory cortical (SI) neurons exhibit characteristic activity before the initiation of movements. This premovement activity (PMA) may result from centrally generated as well as from peripheral inputs. We examined PMA for 55 SI neurons (10, 13, 28, and 4 in areas 3a, 3b, 1, and 2, respectively) with activity that was entrained to vibrotactile stimulation (i.e., was temporally correlated with the stimulus). We sought to determine whether the temporal characteristics of vibration-entrained discharges would change throughout the reaction time period, and, if they did, whether these changes might be accounted for by central inputs. 2. Monkeys made wrist flexions and extensions in response to sinusoidal vibration (27, 57, or 127 Hz) of their palms. Vibration remained on until the animal moved at least 5 degrees from the initial hold position. Mean firing rate (MFR), a measure of the level of activity, was derived from the number of spikes per vibratory cycle. The correlation between the vibration and the neuronal firing was described by the mean phase (MP) of the vibratory cycle at which spikes occurred. The degree of entrainment was quantified as synchronicity (Synch), a statistical parameter that could change from 0 for no entrainment to 1 for responses at a constant phase. 3. Premovement MFR increases (activation) and decreases (suppression) were observed. Moreover, two changes in MFR often were observed for the same neuron (2-event PMA). Many MFR shifts, especially the first in the two-event PMA, preceded electromyographic (EMG) onset. The pre-EMG MFR shifts more often had the same sign both for flexion and extension movements rather than having opposite signs. However, with equal frequency, post-EMG PMA events had the same or opposite sign for different movement directions. We suggest that the pre-EMG PMA has an origin different from movement-related peripheral reafference. 4. Premovement activation was accompanied by shifts of MP corresponding to earlier responses to the ongoing vibratory stimulus and by decreases of response Synch. Premovement suppression was not associated with consistent shifts of MP and Synch. We suggest that during premovement activation, asynchronous (uncorrelated with vibration) signals are integrated with the vibratory input. These asynchronous signals may make neurons more likely to discharge and to do so earlier with respect to the vibratory stimulus. The asynchronous component may also disrupt the vibration-entrained activity pattern.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Botulinum neurotoxin alters the discharge characteristics of abducens motoneurons in the alert cat
Authors: Moreno-Lopez B. , de la Cruz R. R. , Pastor A. M. , Delgado-Garcia J. M.
Published: December 2017

1. The effects of botulinum neurotoxin (BoTx) injected into the lateral rectus muscle were examined in alert cats by recording the extracellular activity of abducens motoneurons during spontaneous eye movements. 2. A single high dose (3 ng/kg) of BoTx produced a complete paralysis of abduction that lasted for more than 2 mo. In addition, changes were found in the discharge pattern of abducens motoneurons. Motoneurons discharged steadily at a low firing rate (15–50 spikes/s), which in some instances showed a complete independence of eye position. Their increases in activity during ON-directed saccades were markedly reduced with respect to controls. The loss of inhibitory signals for OFF-directed saccades was even more evident. 3. A low dose (0.3 ng/kg) of BoTx also produced a paralysis of the lateral rectus muscle that lasted for approximately 1 mo. In this case, only minor modifications in the firing characteristics of abducens motoneurons were observed. 4. The present findings indicate that the effects of BoTx observed in the discharge pattern of abducens motoneurons might be due not only to target disconnection, but also to a central action of the neurotoxin on the motoneuron.
Functional organization of sound direction and sound pressure level in primary auditory cortex of the cat
Authors: Clarey J. C. , Barone P. , Imig T. J.
Published: December 2017

1. The functional organization of neuronal tuning to the azimuthal location and sound pressure level (SPL) of noise bursts was studied in high-frequency primary auditory cortex (AI) of barbiturate-anesthetized cats. Three data collection strategies were used to map neural responses: 1) electrode penetrations oriented normal to the cortical surface provided information on the radial organization of neurons' responses; 2) neurons' responses were examined at a few points in the middle cortical layers in multiple normal penetrations across AI to produce fine-grain maps of azimuth and level selectivity; and 3) electrode penetrations oriented tangential to the cortical surface provided information on neurons' responses along the isofrequency dimension. 2. An azimuth-level data set was obtained for each single- or multiple- (multi-) unit recording; this consisted of responses to noise bursts at five SPLs (0–80 dB in 20-dB steps) from seven azimuthal locations in the frontal hemifield (-90 to +90 degrees in 30 degrees steps; 0 degree elevation). An azimuth function was derived from these data by averaging response magnitude over all SPLs at each azimuth tested. A preferred azimuth range (PAR; range of azimuths over which the response was > or = 75% of maximum) was calculated from the azimuth function and provided a level-independent measure of azimuth selectivity. Each PAR was assigned to one of four azimuth preference categories (contralateral-, midline-, ipsilateral-preferring, or broad/multipeaked) according to its location and extent. A level function obtained from the data set (responsiveness averaged over all azimuths) was classified as monotonic if it showed a decrease of < or = 25% (relative to maximum) at the highest SPL tested (usually 80 dB), and nonmonotonic if it showed a decrease of > 25%. The percentage reduction in responsiveness, relative to maximum, at the highest level tested (termed nonmonotonic strength) and the preferred level range (PLR; range of SPLs over which responsiveness was > or = 75% of maximum) of each response was also determined. 3. Normal penetrations typically showed a predominance of one azimuth preference category and/or level function type. The majority of penetrations (26/36: 72.2%) showed statistically significant azimuth preference homogeneity, and approximately one-half (17/36: 47.2%) showed significant level function type homogeneity. Over one-third (13/36) showed significant homogeneity for both azimuth preference and level function type. 4. Mapping experiments (n = 4) sampled the azimuth and level response functions at two or more depths in closely spaced normal penetrations that covered several square millimeters of AI.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Differential role of two Ca(2+)-permeable non-NMDA glutamate channels in rat retinal ganglion cells: kainate-induced cytoplasmic and nuclear Ca2+ signals
Authors: Leinders-Zufall T. , Rand M. N. , Waxman S. G. , Kocsis J. D.
Published: December 2017

1. The permeability of non-N-methyl-D-aspartate (non-NMDA) glutamate channels to divalent cations and specifically the entry of Ca2+ and subsequent elevations in cytoplasmic and nuclear Ca2+ signals were investigated in cultured neonatal rat retinal ganglion cells using the whole cell patch-clamp technique and Ca2+ imaging with confocal microscopy. In addition, divalent-permeable non-NMDA receptor channels were studied in retinal slices using a Co2+ staining technique. 2. Using Ca2+ (2.5 mM) as the only permeable cation in the external solution, stimulation with 100 microM kainate produced nondesensitizing, nonselective cation currents with either low or high Ca2+ permeability. Both currents were reversibly blocked by 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX). Neurons with the low divalent-permeable currents (type 1) had reversal potentials of -41.5 +/- 4.4 mV (mean +/- SD), and neurons with the high divalent-permeable currents (type 2) had reversal potentials of -22.6 +/- 5.5 mV. The permeability ratio PCa/PCs was 3.3 for the type 1 currents and 8.5 for the type 2 currents, indicating a 2.5-fold greater permeability to Ca2+ for the type 2 non-NMDA glutamate channels. 3. Both types of non-NMDA glutamate channels showed relatively little selectivity between Ca2+ and Co2+. The type 1 neurons had a slightly higher permeability to Co2+ than to Ca2+, whereas the type 2 neurons were equally permeable to both divalent cations. The type 2 neurons had a much higher permeability for both divalent cations compared with the type 1 neurons. 4. Staining for Co2+ uptake through kainate-stimulated non-NMDA glutamate channels in retinal slices provided additional evidence for the presence of the two ganglion cell populations. Activation of the neurons by kainate in conditions isolating the non-NMDA glutamate channel caused differential uptake of Co2+. In contrast, depolarization in the presence of the non-NMDA antagonist CNQX failed to cause Co2+ influx. 5. Imaging experiments using confocal microscopy showed that kainate stimulation induced an increase in intracellular Ca2+ in both types of retinal ganglion cells, but only the type 2 neurons showed a substantial increase in cytoplasmic and nuclear Ca2+ signals. Kainate-induced Ca2+ signals in the type 2 neurons were almost nine times greater than those of the type 1 neurons. 6. When intracellular Ca2+ stores were depleted by brief treatment with thapsigargin, kainate-induced Ca2+ signals in the type 1 neurons were unchanged. However, in the type 2 neurons kainate no longer induced large Ca2+ signals in the cytoplasm and nucleus, despite normal influx of Ca2+.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Alpha subunit of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase enhances excitatory amino acid and synaptic responses of rat spinal dorsal horn neurons
Authors: Kolaj M. , Cerne R. , Cheng G. , Brickey D. A. , Randic M.
Published: December 2017

1. Here we report that in acutely isolated rat spinal dorsal horn (DH) neurons, the alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-propionic acid (AMPA)/kainate and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors can be regulated by endogenous and exogenous calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaM-KII). Intracellularly applied, the alpha-subunit of CaM-KII enhanced AMPA/kainate and NMDA currents recorded with the use of the whole cell patch-clamp technique. 2. Microcystin, a nonselective phosphatases inhibitor, also enhances AMPA and NMDA responses. 3. Conventional intracellular recordings were made from substantia gelatinosa neurons in spinal cord slices to determine the effect of intracellular application of CaM-KII on excitatory synaptic potentials evoked by electrical stimulation of primary afferent fibers. Excitatory synaptic transmission was enhanced by CaM-KII, which is consistent with the importance of phosphorylation of the postsynaptic AMPA/kainate and NMDA receptor-ion complexes in the short- and long-term changes in synaptic transmission.
Input patterns and pathways from the six semicircular canals to motoneurons of neck muscles. I. The multifidus muscle group
Authors: Shinoda Y. , Sugiuchi Y. , Futami T. , Ando N. , Kawasaki T.
Published: December 2017

1. The pattern of connections between the six semicircular canals and neck motoneurons of the multifidus muscle group was investigated by recording intracellular potentials from motoneurons in the upper cervical cord of anesthetized cats. 2. Synaptic potentials were recorded in motoneurons of the rectus capitis posterior (RCP) muscle at C1, the obliquus capitis inferior (OCI) muscle at C1 and C2, and the cervical multifidus muscle (Multi) at C4 in response to electrical stimulation of individual ampullary nerves of the six semicircular canals. Excitatory or inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs or IPSPs, respectively) were evoked by separate stimulation of individual ampullary nerves in all of the neck motoneurons. Virtually all of the neck motoneurons received convergent inputs from the six ampullary nerves. 3. Motoneurons that supplied a single muscle had a homogeneous pattern of input from the six semicircular canals. There were two patterns of input from the six semicircular canals to motoneurons of the multifidus muscle group. RCP and Multi motoneurons were excited by stimulation of the bilateral anterior canal nerves (ACNs) and the contralateral lateral canal nerve (LCN) and inhibited by stimulation of the bilateral posterior canal nerves (PCNs) and the ipsilateral LCN. This input pattern is similar to that previously observed in other dorsal extensor muscles, whereas the other input pattern observed in OCI motoneurons is entirely new. OCI motoneurons at C1 and C2 were excited by stimulation of the ipsilateral ACN, PCN, and the contralateral LCN and inhibited by stimulation of the contralateral ACN, PCN, and the ipsilateral LCN. 4. Most postsynaptic potentials (PSPs) were disynaptic, but there were trisynaptic inhibitory connections between the contralateral ACN and PCN and OCI motoneurons, and between the contralateral PCN and RCP motoneurons. 5. The pathways for mediating these inputs from different semicircular canals to neck motoneurons were determined by making lesions in the lower medulla. Transection of the ipsilateral medial longitudinal fascicle (MLF) abolished the following potentials: all disynaptic PSPs in RCP motoneurons except the disynaptic EPSPs from the ipsilateral ACN, and in OCI motoneurons, disynaptic PSPs from the bilateral LCNs, and disynaptic IPSPs from the contralateral PCN. Complete bilateral section of the MLF did not affect the disynaptic EPSPs from the ipsilateral ACN in RCP motoneurons, the disynaptic EPSPs from the ipsilateral ACN and PCN in OCI motoneurons, nor the trisynaptic IPSPs from the contralateral ACN and PCN in COI motoneurons and from the contralateral PCN in RCP motoneurons.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Postsynaptic effects of long-range afferents in distant segments caudal to their entry point in rat spinal cord under the influence of picrotoxin or strychnine
Authors: Wall P. D. , Bennett D. L.
Published: December 2017

1. Previous work has shown that substantial numbers of arriving myelinated afferent nerve fibers travel for many segments caudal to their entry point and terminate in the gray matter of distant segments. This fact is surprising because no monosynaptic post-synaptic responses attributable to these long-range afferents are observable in the distant segments. Evidence has been produced to explain this paradox by showing that impulse transmission is normally blocked in these long-range afferents by the tonic operation of a primary afferent depolarization (PAD) mechanism. Impulse transmission is restored if the PAD mechanism is disabled with gamma-aminobutyric acid antagonists. In this paper we examine the postsynaptic consequence of restoring conduction in the long-range afferents with picrotoxin. Because picrotoxin blocks PAD and increases the excitability of cells, we here contrast its action with that of the glycine antagonist strychnine, which increases the excitability of dorsal horn cells but does not affect PAD. 2. The preparation used throughout these experiments was decerebrate and spinal at T11. On one side dorsal roots T12, T13, and L1 were intact but all more caudal roots on that side were cut. Recordings of single units were made in the L6 segment with a rigid search pattern. The innervated area of skin on the flank was repeatedly stimulated with pressure in a repeated pattern. In the control state, few cells were detected responding in the L6 segment, which was five to seven segments caudal to the intact dorsal roots. After picrotoxin, the number of cells with excitatory receptive fields rose by a factor of 8, whereas there was no change in the number of inhibited cells. By contrast, after strychnine there was no change in the number of excited cells but the number of inhibited cells rose by a factor of 10. Details of the size of receptive fields, adequate stimuli, and location of the responding cells are provided. 3. To determine the number of synapses involved in producing the excitatory responses of L6 cells, we applied electrical stimuli to the peripheral receptive fields and to the L1 dorsal root. In the presence of picrotoxin, many cells were recorded with a latency consistent with monosynaptic connection. Some of these cells responded twice to two stimuli separated by 2 ms, but there was a latency variation between successive responses. Some cells responded with a short fixed latency and twice in 2 ms. No such cells were detected in the control state or in the presence of strychnine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Three-dimensional eye, head, and chest orientations after large gaze shifts and the underlying neural strategies
Authors: Radau P. , Tweed D. , Vilis T.
Published: December 2017

1. The fixation orientations adopted by the eye, head, and chest were examined when all three were allowed to participate in gaze shifts to visual targets. The objective was to discover whether there are invariant, neurally determined laws governing these orientations that might provide clues to the processes of perception and motor control. This is an extension of the classical studies of eye-only saccades that determined that there is only one eye orientation for each gaze direction (Donders' law) and that the rotations necessary to take the eye from a reference orientation to all other orientations adopted are about axes that lie in a plane (Listing's law). 2. The three-dimensional orientations of the static eyes, head, and chest were measured after each gaze shift to a visual target, the targets having been fixed at positions ranging from 0 to 135 degrees to the left and right of center and 45 degrees up and down. These measurements were taken of seven human subjects by means of the search coil technique with coils attached to the sternum, head, and right eye. Orientations were plotted as quaternion vectors so that those orientations obeying Donders' law formed a surface and those obeying Listing's law formed a plane. 3. The orientations adopted by the eye, head, and chest were found to be a small subset of those possible under the biomechanical and task-imposed constraints. Thus there is a neurally implemented restriction, specifically of the rotation of the eye relative to space (i.e., the orientation variable es) and to the head (eh); also of the rotation of the head relative to space (hs) and to the chest (hc), and the rotation of the chest relative to space (cs). Plotted as quaternion vectors, the data for each orientation variable formed a characteristic surfacelike shape. In the case of es, hs, and hc these were twisted surfaces, whereas for eh the surface was planar and for cs it was nearly linear. Thus to a first approximation each of the orientation variables conformed to Donders' law. 4. The eye adopted a pointing (gaze) direction that has the ratio of vertical to horizontal components generally greater than one when fixating each of the corner targets. The chest, by contrast, moved almost entirely in the horizontal direction, whereas the head performed an intermediate role. 5. The es-, hs-, and hc-fitted surfaces and cs-fitted lines were titled remarkably little from the vertical axis (i.e., the gravity direction) despite larger tilts being possible.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Hippocampal inhibitory neuron activity in the elevated potassium model of epilepsy
Authors: McBain C. J.
Published: December 2017

1. Whole cell patch-clamp recordings were made from CA1 stratum oriens inhibitory neurons of rat hippocampal slices in vitro to determine their contribution to the epileptiform activity elicited by elevating the extracellular potassium ion concentration ([K+]o) from 3.5 to 8.5 mm. 2. Under current-clamp conditions, spontaneous action potential activity in inhibitory neurons normally occurs in a sustained repetitive firing mode paced by nonsynaptic, intrinsic mechanisms. On elevation of [K+]o to 8.5 mm the pattern of activity is altered such that clusters of action potentials occur interrupted by periods of silence without an appreciable afterhyperpolarization (AHP). In addition, elevation of [K+]o caused a large reduction in the action potential AHP amplitude and duration concomitant with a 20-mV shift in the reversal potential of the AHP. 3. In voltage clamp a small persistent inward current was observed after the introduction of elevated potassium concomitant with an increase in the frequency of spontaneous excitatory post-synaptic currents (EPSCs) in all interneurons studied. After a short period of time (approximately 1 min) temporal summation of synchronously occurring EPSCs contributed a periodic inward current (PIC; 10-40 pA, 0.8 Hz) that persisted for the duration of the [K+]o elevation. Analysis of the charge transfer associated with the PIC suggests that they comprise the temporal summation of approximately 35 EPSCs. This PIC was synchronous with the extracellular field potential recorded from the CA1 pyramidal neuron layer. 4. The PIC was responsible for the clustering of action potential activity because blockade of EPSC activity by the alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptor antagonist 6,7-dinitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (DNQX) abolished PICs and reverted action potential activity to single sustained firing, despite the continued application of 8.5 mm [K+]o. Antagonists of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors were without effect on either the PICs or the action potential activity. 5. Addition of the metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) antagonist (+)-2-methyl-4-carboxyphenylglycine (MCPG) reversibly abolished the PIC without affecting the increase in EPSC frequency. 6. Recordings from CA3 pyramidal neurons in 8.5 mm [K+]o demonstrated that interictal activity occurred at a frequency identical to the PICs observed in interneurons. Interictal activity in CA3 pyramidal neurons was attenuated but never abolished by MCPG, suggesting a role for mGluR receptors in the maintenance of interictal activity in area CA3.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Physiology of single putative cochlear efferents in the chicken
Authors: Kaiser A. , Manley G. A.
Published: December 2017

1. An experimental approach was developed that allowed recording of neurophysiological activity from single putative cochlear efferents in the auditory brain stem of anesthetized chickens with the use of glass micropipettes. The aim of this study was to study spontaneous and tone-evoked activity from single efferent neurons in the chick and to compare their properties with those of other vertebrate hair cell organs. Because the birds, like mammals, have a complex hearing organ with different hair cell types and different afferent and efferent innervation, the purpose of this study was also to determine whether different types of efferents exist. 2. In the same electrode penetrations, putative trapezoid fibers were also isolated. In addition, the penetration angle permitted recordings from units in both cochlear nuclei, nucleus magnocellularis and nucleus angularis (probably mostly cochlear afferents), in the same animal. This allowed monitoring of the auditory sensitivity of the individual animal during the experiment. With the use of physiological criteria, it was possible to distinguish between trapezoid fibers and putative cochlear efferents. Possible alternative origins of the responses described are discussed. 3. Tuning curve characteristics of putative efferents were determined. They were as sensitive as ascending auditory neurons. Q10 dB values of efferent tuning curves were < 2.5 and thus showed poorer frequency selectivity than ascending fibers; in some cases they covered the entire hearing range of the chicken. 4. Latencies to tone pips were different for ascending neurons and putative efferent units. For trapezoid fibers and neurons from the cochlear nuclei, latencies usually did not exceed 5 ms, whereas latencies of efferents were always longer. 5. Because of the interaural canal that connects both middle ear cavities in birds, the measurement of the lateralization of the efferents was difficult. In any case, the majority of putative cochlear efferents responded more sensitively to sound stimulation of the contralateral side. 6. Of the efferent units, 28% showed no spontaneous activity. The others either showed regular spontaneous activity, or their time-interval histograms showed longer modes than ascending fibers. In general, mean spontaneous activity was lower than in ascending fibers, being < 30 spikes/s. 7. In contrast to reports from mammalian studies, in which efferents only showed on peristimulus time (PST) response pattern to tonal stimuli (chopper), two different response types were found in this study: two excitation types (chopper and primary-like) and one suppression type.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Synchrony between single-unit activity and local field potentials in relation to periodicity coding in primary auditory cortex
Authors: Eggermont J. J. , Smith G. M.
Published: December 2017

1. We recorded responses from 136 single units and the corresponding local field potentials (LFPs) from the same electrode at 44 positions in the primary auditory cortex of 25 juvenile, ketamine-anesthetized cats in response to periodic click trains with click repetition rates between 1 and 32 Hz; to Poisson-distributed click trains with an average click rate of 4 Hz; and under spontaneous conditions. The aim of the study is to evaluate the synchrony between LFPs and single-unit responses, to compare their coding of periodic stimuli, and to elucidate mechanisms that limit this periodicity coding in primary auditory cortex. 2. We obtained averaged LFPs either as click-triggered averages, the classical evoked potentials, or as spike-triggered averages. We quantified LFPs by initial negative peak-to-positive peak amplitude. In addition, we obtained trigger events from negativegoing level crossings (at approximately 2 SD below the mean) of the 100-Hz low-pass electrode signal. We analyzed these LFP triggers similarly to single-unit spikes. 3. The average ratio of the LFP amplitude in response to the second click in a train and the LFP amplitude to the first click as a function of click rate was low-pass with a slight resonance at approximately 10 Hz, and, above that frequency, decreasing with a slope of approximately 24 dB/octave. We found the 50% point at approximately 16 Hz. In contrast, the LFP amplitude averaged over entire click trains was low-pass with a similar resonance but a high-frequency slope of 12 dB/octave and a 50% point at approximately 12 Hz. 4. The LFP amplitude for click repetition rates between 5 and 11 Hz often showed augmentation, i.e., the amplitude increased in response to the first few clicks in the train and thereafter decreased. This augmentation was paralleled by an increase in the probability of firing in single units simultaneously recorded on the same electrode. 5. We calculated temporal modulation transfer functions (tMTFs) for single-unit spikes and for LFP triggers. They were typically bandpass with a best modulating frequency of 10 Hz and similar shape for both single-unit spikes and LFP triggers. The tMTF per click, obtained by dividing the tMTF by the number of clicks in the train, was low-pass with a 50% cutoff frequency at approximately Hz, similar to that for the average LFP amplitude. 6. the close similarity of the tMTFs for single-unit spikes and LFP triggers suggests that single-unit tMTFs can be predicted from LFP level crossings.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Inhibition in the superior olivary complex: pharmacological evidence from mouse brain slice
Authors: Wu S. H. , Kelly J. B.
Published: December 2017

1. The effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glycine and their respective antagonists were determined for neurons in the mouse superior olivary complex. Brain slices (400 microns) were cut in the frontal plane and maintained in an oxygenated saline solution for physiological recording. Recordings were made from neurons in the lateral superior olive (LSO) or medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB) with glass micropipettes filled with 4 M potassium acetate. 2. Ipsilateral and contralateral synaptic responses were elicited by applying current pulses to the trapezoid body through bipolar stimulating electrodes located at positions lateral and medial to the olivary complex. Both intracellular and extracellular recordings were studied before, during, and after application of drugs to the saline bath containing the tissue slice. 3. Intracellular recordings from 10 neurons in LSO showed that GABA (1-10 mM) caused a concentration-dependent drop in membrane resistance and either reduced or blocked postsynaptic excitatory responses. Similar effects were found in five cells tested with glycine (1-10 mM). Three neurons tested with both GABA and glycine were affected by both drugs. Extracellular spikes were blocked in 53 out of 67 LSO neurons tested with GABA and 29 out of 35 neurons tested with glycine. Seventeen out of 23 neurons tested with both GABA and glycine were affected by both. 4. GABA had a powerful blocking effect on extracellularly recorded action potentials evoked by current-pulse stimulation of the trapezoid body in seven LSO neurons tested after adding the glycine receptor antagonist, strychnine (1 microM), to the bath. GABA also lowered the membrane resistance of one LSO neuron in which intracellular recordings were made in the presence of strychnine. 5. Neurons in MNTB also were affected by GABA and glycine but the proportion of sensitive cells was less than in LSO. GABA reduced membrane resistance in 6 out of 16 neurons and glycine produced a similar effect in 14 out of 26 neurons from which intracellular recordings were made. Six out of 14 neurons tested with GABA and glycine responded to both. Extracellular spikes were eliminated or reduced in amplitude by GABA in 15 out of 44 cells and by glycine in 40 out of 68 cells tested. Eleven out of 29 cells from which extracellular recordings were made were affected by both. 6. The glycine antagonist, strychnine (0.25 - 1.0 muM), blocked both ipsilateral and contralateral inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs) in LSO.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Distinct LTP induction mechanisms: contribution of NMDA receptors and voltage-dependent calcium channels
Authors: Huber K. M. , Mauk M. D. , Kelly P. T.
Published: December 2017

1. Our results indicate that there are two distinct components of long-term potentiation (LTP) induced by the K+ channel blocker tetraethylammonium chloride (TEA) at synapses of hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons. Preincubation of hippocampal slices in the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist D,L-2-amino-5 phosphonovalerate (D,L-APV, 50 microM), reduced the magnitude of TEA LTP. In addition, the L-type voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel (VDCC) antagonist nifedipine (10 microM) attenuated TEA LTP. Only the combined application of D,L-APV plus nifedipine blocked the induction of TEA LTP. 2. Occlusion experiments demonstrated that saturation of VDCC-dependent TEA LTP did not reduce or occlude NMDA-receptor-dependent TEA LTP. These results indicate that the mechanisms underlying VDCC and NMDA receptor components of TEA LTP are different and do not share a common saturable mechanism. 3. TEA LTP was strictly dependent on NMDA receptor activity in slices with CA3-CA1 connections severed (isolated CA1 slices). In contrast to results obtained in slices with intact CA3-CA1 connections, the NMDA receptor antagonists APV (50 microM) or MK-801 dizocilpine (10 microM) completely blocked TEA LTP in isolated CA1. Consistent with this observation, the properties of TEA LTP in isolated CA1 were very similar to other types of NMDA-receptor-dependent plasticity such as tetanus-induced LTP; TEA LTP required presynaptic stimulation, displayed pathway specificity, and was occluded by tetanus-induced LTP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)