title: Factors underlying bursting behavior in a network of cultured hippocampal neurons exposed to zero magnesium.
abstract: Factors contributing to reduced magnesium-induced neuronal action potential bursting were investigated in primary hippocampal cell culture at high and low culture density. In nominally zero external magnesium medium, pyramidal neurons from high-density cultures produced recurrent spontaneous action potential bursts superimposed on prolonged depolarizations. These bursts were partially attenuated by the NMDA receptor antagonist d-APV. Pharmacological analysis of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) revealed 2 components: one sensitive to d-APV and another to the AMPA receptor antagonist DNQX. The components were kinetically distinct. Participation of NMDA receptors in reduced magnesium-induced synaptic events was supported by the localization of the NR1 subunit of the NMDA receptor with the presynaptic vesicular protein synaptophysin. Presynaptically, zero magnesium induced a significant increase in EPSC frequency likely attributable to increased neuronal hyperexcitability induced by reduced membrane surface charge screening. Mean quantal content was significantly increased in zero magnesium. Cells from low-density cultures did not exhibit action potential bursting in zero magnesium but did show increased EPSC frequency. Low-density neurons had less synaptophysin immunofluorescence and fewer active synapses as determined by FM1-43 analysis. These results demonstrate that multiple factors are involved in network bursting. Increased probability of transmitter release presynaptically, enhanced NMDA receptor-mediated excitability postsynaptically, and extent of neuronal interconnectivity contribute to initiation and maintenance of elevated network excitability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Virginia Health Sciences Center, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA. psm2b@virginia.edu
authors.forename: Patrick S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Mangan
authors.forename: Jaideep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kapur
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019706:Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D008274:Magnesium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D011810:Quinoxalines / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D011810:Quinoxalines; C056723:FG 9041; D008274:Magnesium