Search results for "Action Potentials"
showing 10 items of 192 documents
α7 Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and modulation of gabaergic synaptic transmission in the hippocampus
2000
The present report provides new findings regarding modulation of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) transmission by alpha7 nicotinic receptor activity in CA1 interneurons of rat hippocampal slices. Recordings were obtained from tight-seal cell-attached patches of the CA1 interneurons, and agonists were delivered to the neurons via a modified U-tube. Application for 6 s of the alpha7 nicotinic receptor-selective agonist choline (or =1 mM) to all CA1 interneurons tested triggered action potentials that were detected as fast current transients. The activity triggered by choline terminated well before the end of the agonist pulse, was blocked by the alpha7 nicotinic receptor antagonist methyllycaco…
Modeling the insect mushroom bodies: application to a delayed match-to-sample task.
2013
Despite their small brains, insects show advanced capabilities in learning and task solving. Flies, honeybees and ants are becoming a reference point in neuroscience and a main source of inspiration for autonomous robot design issues and control algorithms. In particular, honeybees demonstrate to be able to autonomously abstract complex associations and apply them in tasks involving different sensory modalities within the insect brain. Mushroom Bodies (MBs) are worthy of primary attention for understanding memory and learning functions in insects. In fact, even if their main role regards olfactory conditioning, they are involved in many behavioral achievements and learning capabilities, as …
EMG activity of pigeon oesophagus in vivo.
1982
At rest, the pigeon cervical oesophagus, which is entirely smooth muscle, shows electric activity. This activity consists of bursts of spikes with frequency increasing in the oral-aboral direction. The bursts are un-phase locked, and there are no slow waves (E.C.A.). The surgical transection of the oesophageal muscular wall does not affect the electric activity even in a disconnected segment. After asphyxia electric activity persists, whereas the aboral gradient of frequency disappears. Therefore, the electric activity is thought to be myogenic in origin, and the frequency gradient nervous in origin. Atropine and neostigmine administration suggests that the cholinergic system modulates the …
Antimuscarinic action of quinidine on the heart? A study in myocardial preparations from cat hearts
1984
Quinidine exerts anticholinergic effects which have been ascribed to atropine-like properties of the drug. We have examined the effects of acetylcholine on the force of contraction in isolated heart muscle preparations from cats and compared the inhibitory effects of atropine with those of quinidine. The effects of acetylcholine were antagonized competitively in the presence of atropine. The Schild-plot yielded a straight line; the slope was not significantly different from unity. In the presence of quinidine, the concentration-response curve of acetylcholine was shifted to the right as with atropine, however, the Schild-plot yielded a regression line which was not linear; the slope was sta…
Experimental study of electrical FitzHugh-Nagumo neurons with modified excitability
2006
International audience; We present an electronical circuit modelling a FitzHugh-Nagumo neuron with a modified excitability. To characterize this basic cell, the bifurcation curves between stability with excitation threshold, bistability and oscillations are investigated. An electrical circuit is then proposed to realize a unidirectional coupling between two cells, mimicking an inter-neuron synaptic coupling. In such a master-slave configuration, we show experimentally how the coupling strength controls the dynamics of the slave neuron, leading to frequency locking, chaotic behavior and synchronization. These phenomena are then studied by phase map analysis. The architecture of a possible ne…
Ventricular remodelling in rabbits with sustained high-fat diet.
2013
Aim Excess weight gain and obesity are one of the most serious health problems in the western societies. These conditions enhance risk of cardiac disease and have been linked with increased prevalence for cardiac arrhythmias and sudden death. Our goal was to study the ventricular remodelling occurring in rabbits fed with high-fat diet (HFD) and its potential arrhythmogenic mechanisms. Methods We used 15 NZW rabbits that were randomly assigned to a control (n = 7) or HFD group (n = 8) for 18 weeks. In vivo studies included blood glucose, electrocardiographic, and echocardiographic measurements. Optical mapping was performed in Langendorff-perfused isolated hearts. Results Body weight (3.69 ±…
Ion conductance changes associated with spike adaptation in the rapidly adapting stretch receptor of the crayfish.
1975
The time course of the repetitive impulse discharges has been investigated for two high intensities of maintained depolarizing currents, 30 nA and 50 nA, for which the receptor adaptation was complete within 70 msec. The changes in sodium and potassium conductance associated with the decline in spike activity have been analyzed at different instances of time by interrupting in successive experiments the various action potentials in the pulse trains either at the early phase by holding the potential at about -60 mV and recording the inward current (upstroke-gNa) or by evaluating the delayed outward current flowing as the result of a depolarizing voltage pulse which at the end of the action p…
Cellular physiology of the neonatal rat cerebral cortex.
2003
The early development of the cerebral cortex is characterized by neurogenesis, neuronal migration, cellular differentiation and programmed cell death. Cajal-Retzius cells, developing cortical plate neurons and subplate cells form a transient synaptic circuit which may serve as a template for the formation of cortical layers and columns. These three neuronal cell types show distinct electrophysiological properties and synaptic inputs. Endogenous or exogenous harmful disturbances during this developmental period may lead to the preservation of early cortical circuits, which may act as trigger zones for the initiation of pathophysiological activity.
Multifaceted effects of oligodendroglial exosomes on neurons: impact on neuronal firing rate, signal transduction and gene regulation.
2014
Exosomes are small membranous vesicles of endocytic origin that are released by almost every cell type. They exert versatile functions in intercellular communication important for many physiological and pathological processes. Recently, exosomes attracted interest with regard to their role in cell–cell communication in the nervous system. We have shown that exosomes released from oligodendrocytes upon stimulation with the neurotransmitter glutamate are internalized by neurons and enhance the neuronal stress tolerance. Here, we demonstrate that oligodendroglial exosomes also promote neuronal survival during oxygen–glucose deprivation, a model of cerebral ischaemia. We show the transfer from…
Neuronal Activity Drives Localized Blood-Brain-Barrier Transport of Serum Insulin-like Growth Factor-I into the CNS
2010
Upon entry into the central nervous system (CNS), serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-I) modulates neuronal growth, survival, and excitability. Yet mechanisms that trigger IGF-I entry across the blood-brain barrier remain unclear. We show that neuronal activity elicited by electrical, sensory, or behavioral stimulation increases IGF-I input in activated regions. Entrance of serum IGF-I is triggered by diffusible messengers (i.e., ATP, arachidonic acid derivatives) released during neurovascular coupling. These messengers stimulate matrix metalloproteinase-9, leading to cleavage of the IGF binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3). Cleavage of IGFBP-3 allows the passage of serum IGF-I into the CNS thro…