title: Electrical properties of facial motoneurons in brainstem slices from guinea pig.
abstract: Electrical properties of guinea pig facial motoneurons (FMNs) were studied in a brainstem slice preparation. FMNs were identified histologically and by antidromic activation. They displayed time-varying responses and inward rectification during both subthreshold depolarization and hyperpolarization. The depolarizing rectification was caused by a persistent Na+ current (INaP); the Cs+-sensitive hyperpolarizing response had a different mechanism. Hyperpolarizing prepulses caused a 4-aminopyridine-sensitive delay of spike initiation. An evoked spike was followed by a fast- and a medium-duration hyperpolarization (the fAHP and mAHP, respectively). Blockade of Ca2+ influx abolished the mAHP without affecting spike duration, whereas spikes were prolonged and the fAHP was abolished by TEA or 4-AP. Adequate depolarization evoked tonic repetitive firing characterized by a steep F-I slope and fast adaptation. Abolition of the mAHP was associated with reduced fast adaptation and increased F-I slope, whereas the mAHP was enhanced and firing rate was slowed after TEA application. Three outward ionic currents were identified during voltage clamp: a rapidly inactivating current, a slowly inactivating current and a slow persistent Ca2+-mediated current (IK(Ca]. We conclude that spike repolarization and the fAHP are governed mainly by fast voltage-dependent currents, whereas progressive activation of IK(Ca) causes fast adaptation and, together with INaP, regulates firing rate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle 98195.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Schwindt
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Crill
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013757:Tetraethylammonium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D013779:Tetrodotoxin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D013757:Tetraethylammonium Compounds; D013779:Tetrodotoxin; D002118:Calcium