Synaptic and intrinsic mechanisms shape synchronous oscillations in hippocampal neurons in culture.
We have detected spontaneous, synchronous calcium oscillations, associated with variations in membrane potential, in hippocampal neurons maintained in primary culture. The oscillatory activity is synaptically driven, as it is blocked by tetrodotoxin, by the glutamate receptor antagonist 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX) and by toxins inhibiting neurotransmitter release from presynaptic nerve endings. Neuronal oscillations do not require for their expression the presence of a polyneuronal network and are not primarily influenced by the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA(A)) receptor antagonist picrotoxin, suggesting that they entirely rely on glutamatergic neurotransmission. Synaptic and intrinsic conductances shape the synchronized oscillations in hippocampal neurons. The concomitant activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors and voltage-activated L-type calcium channels allows calcium entering from the extracellular medium and sustaining the long depolarization, which shapes every single calcium wave.
CNR-Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology Center, Dept of Medical Pharmacology, University of Milano, Italy.
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Bacci
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Verderio
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Pravettoni
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Matteoli
D018750:6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione / Q000494:pharmacology; D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004594:Electrophysiology; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D005333:Fetus / Q000166:cytology; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D016257:Fura-2; D018756:GABA Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology; D015640:Ion Channel Gating / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D009553:Nimodipine / Q000494:pharmacology; D010507:Periodicity; D010852:Picrotoxin / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000502:physiology; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000502:physiology; D013111:Spider Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology; D013569:Synapses / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology; D013779:Tetrodotoxin / Q000494:pharmacology; D020867:omega-Agatoxin IVA
D018750:6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione; D002118:Calcium; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D015220:Calcium Channels; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D016257:Fura-2; D018756:GABA Antagonists; D009553:Nimodipine; D010852:Picrotoxin; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D013111:Spider Venoms; D013779:Tetrodotoxin; D020867:omega-Agatoxin IVA