title: Dendritic action potentials activated by NMDA receptor-mediated EPSPs in CA1 hippocampal pyramidal cells.
abstract: Intradendritic recordings were obtained in rat CA1 hippocampal pyramidal cells. Repetitive stimulation produced substantial short-term potentiation of the dendritic excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) which was partly attributable to activation of n-methyl-D-aspartate receptors. Accompanying the potentiated synaptic response were Na(+)-mediated spikes which appeared to originate at multiple sites in the dendritic arbor. These discrete dendritic action potentials are rarely distinguishable in somatic recordings, but may contribute to the subthreshold response at the pyramidal cell body. In addition, dendritic spikes may interact with other voltage-dependent dendritic conductances.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine, West Haven, CT.
authors.forename: N P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Poolos
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Kocsis
mesh_terms: D015763:2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate / Q000494:pharmacology; D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology; D003712:Dendrites / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008274:Magnesium / Q000494:pharmacology; D011712:Pyramidal Tracts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D015763:2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate; D008274:Magnesium; D002118:Calcium