Search results for "neuron"

The expression level of the orphan nuclear receptor GCNF (germ cell nuclear factor) is critical for neuronal differentiation.

2004

The germ cell nuclear factor (GCNF) is essential for normal embryonic development and gametogenesis. To test the prediction that GCNF is additionally required for neuronal differentiation, we used the mouse embryonal carcinoma cell line PCC7-Mz1, which represents an advantageous model to study neuronal cells from the stage of fate choice until the acquirement of functional competence. We generated stable transfectants that express gcnf sense or antisense RNA under the control of a tetracycline-regulated promoter. After retinoic acid-induced withdrawal from the cell cycle, sense clones developed a neuron network with changed properties, and the time course of neuron maturation was shortened.…

A subset of ventral tegmental area dopamine neurons responds to acute ethanol

2015

The mechanisms by which alcohol drinking promotes addiction in humans and self-administration in rodents remain obscure, but it is well known that alcohol can enhance dopamine (DA) neurotransmission from neurons of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and increase DA levels within the nucleus accumbens and prefrontal cortex. We recorded from identified DA neuronal cell bodies within ventral midbrain slices prepared from a transgenic mouse line (TH-GFP) using long-term stable extracellular recordings in a variety of locations and carefully mapped the responses to applied ethanol (EtOH). We identified a subset of DA neurons in the medial VTA located within the rostral linear and interfascicular n…

Effect of depolarizing GABAA-mediated membrane responses on excitability of Cajal-Retzius cells in the immature rat neocortex

2011

In immature neurons activation of ionotropic GABA receptors induces depolarizing membrane responses due to a high intracellular Cl− concentration ([Cl−]i). However, it is difficult to draw conclusions about the functional consequences of subthreshold GABAergic depolarizations, since GABAergic membrane shunting and additional effects on voltage-dependent ion channels or action potential threshold must be considered. To systematically investigate factors that determine the GABAergic effect on neuronal excitability we performed whole cell patch-clamp recordings from Cajal-Retzius cells in immature rat neocortex, using [Cl−]i between 10 and 50 mM. The effect of focal GABA application was quant…

Nitric oxide and excitatory postsynaptic currents in immature rat sympathetic preganglionic neurons in vitro.

1997

Neuronal nitric oxide synthase immunoreactivity was localized to sympathetic preganglionic neurons of the intermediolateral cell column and cyclic GMP immunoreactivity to nerve fibers projecting into the intermediolateral cell column of 20-25-day-old rats. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings were made from sympathetic preganglionic neurons in spinal cord slices of immature rats and the role of nitric oxide and cyclic GMP on excitatory postsynaptic currents was studied. Superfusing the slices with the nitric oxide precursor L-arginine (300 microM) increased the amplitude of evoked excitatory postsynaptic currents as well as the frequency of spontaneous miniature excitatory postsynaptic current…

GABAergic projections from the subplate to Cajal-Retzius cells in the neocortex.

2011

Subplate neurons and Cajal-Retzius cells play an important role in the corticogenesis. Despite morphological evidence, the question whether subplate neurons innervate Cajal-Retzius cells has not been studied yet. We report that electrical stimulation in the subplate resulted in evoked GABAergic inhibitory postsynaptic currents (eIPSCs) in Cajal-Retzius cells. The eIPSC latency showed minor variability and amounted to approximately 4 ms, suggesting the monosynaptic connection. During the first postnatal week: (i) eIPSC amplitude increased, (ii) eIPSC kinetics sped up, (iii) the size of readily releasable pool increased, and (iv) γ-aminobutyric acid release probability decreased. We conclude …

Glycine Receptors Mediate Excitation of Subplate Neurons in Neonatal Rat Cerebral Cortex

2008

The development of the cerebral cortex depends on genetic factors and early electrical activity patterns that form immature neuronal networks. Subplate neurons (SPn) are involved in the construction of thalamocortical innervation, generation of oscillatory network activity, and in the proper formation of the cortical columnar architecture. Because glycine receptors play an important role during early corticogenesis, we analyzed the functional consequences of glycine receptor activation in visually identified SPn in neocortical slices from postnatal day 0 (P0) to P4 rats using whole cell and perforated patch-clamp recordings. In all SPn the glycinergic agonists glycine, β-alanine, and taurin…

Pathway-specificity in N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor-mediated synaptic inputs onto subplate neurons

2007

The subplate plays an important role in forming neuronal connections during early cortical development. We characterized by the use of whole-cell and cell-attached patch-clamp recordings in coronal brain slices from newborn mice (postnatal day [P] 0-3) the functional properties of two major pathways onto subplate neurons (SPn), the thalamocortical and the intra-subplate synaptic input. The two afferent pathways were stimulated extracellularly with bipolar electrodes placed in the thalamus and the subplate, respectively. Synaptically evoked and pharmacologically isolated N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) -mediated responses with an onset latency of approximately 6 ms could be reliably re…

Sequential acquisition of cacophony calcium currents, sodium channels and voltage-dependent potassium currents affects spike shape and dendrite growt…

2014

During metamorphosis the CNS undergoes profound changes to accommodate the switch from larval to adult behaviors. In Drosophila and other holometabolous insects, adult neurons differentiate either from respecified larval neurons, newly born neurons, or are born embryonically but remain developmentally arrested until differentiation during pupal life. This study addresses the latter in the identified Drosophila flight motoneuron 5. In situ patch-clamp recordings, intracellular dye fills and immunocytochemistry address the interplay between dendritic shape, excitability and ionic current development. During pupal life, changes in excitability and spike shape correspond to a stereotyped, progr…

Human forms of neuronal ceroid‐lipofuscinosis (Batten disease): Consensus on diagnostic criteria, Hamburg 1992

1993

Coexpression of extracellular matrix glycoproteins undulin and tenascin in human autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

1993

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most common entity of cystic diseases of the kidney leading to end-stage renal insufficiency. Changes in extracellular matrix (ECM) are regarded to be an important pathogenic factor connected with the genes assumed to be responsible for human ADPKD. In order to assess the biological significance of altered expression and deposition of ECM glycoproteins for human ADPKD at molecular levels fresh-frozen tissue from ADPKD kidneys, fetal kidneys and normal adult kidneys were comparatively tested by immunohistochemistry for the presence of multifunctional ECM glycoproteins undulin, tenascin and fibronectin, interstitial collagen types I,…