Rhythmic bioelectrical activity of the cerebral cortex analyzed with allowance for the nonlinear voltage dependence of excitatory postsynaptic potentials induced by neocortical neurons

A nonlinear voltage dependence between the membrane and excitatory postsynaptic potentials coming via corticocortical connections was derived based on literature data. The existence of a region of stability of oscillations with increasing mean value of nonspecific afferent input was shown. As the afferent input strongly increases, a high-frequency component of oscillations (40-60 Hz), appeas which may result in the instability of oscillations and initiation of abnormal brain activity.     

非洲爪蟾顶盖神经元的抑制性微突触后电流频率和振幅的电压依赖性

采用全细胞记录膜片钳技术,研究非洲爪蟾脑片视顶盖神经元微突触后电流（miniature inhibitory postsynaptic current,mIPSC）频率和振幅对电压依赖关系。观察到以下结果：（1）当通过改变记录电极内的DC电流,将神经元的膜电位从静息电位逐步（每步10mV的增量）去极化或超极化时,mIPSC的频率和,或振幅分别升高或降低。随着膜电位的去极化,mIPSC的频率逐渐升高;当钳位电压升至＋10mV时,mIPSC的频率达到最高值。（2）当神经元去极化时,振幅仅轻微升高。膜电位去极化达到-30mV或-40mV时,mIPSC的振幅最大：进一步去极化,振幅反而下降。另外,在膜电位去极化至-20mV和＋10mV之间时,可记录到大的mIPSC。（3）在无Ca^2＋浸浴液中,mIPSC的频率和振幅也随膜电位的去极化而逐步增高,但频率的增高幅度远不如在生理盐水浸浴中增高幅度明显。（4）当浸浴液中[K＋]0增高时,mIPSC的频率明显降低,而振幅轻微降低。当细胞外[K^＋]。浓度升高超过20mmol／L时,神经元产生明显的缓慢内向或外向膜电流。mIPSC频率和振幅与膜电位存在依赖性的可能机制在文中作了简短的讨论。     

The influence of the potential dependence of the amplitude of postsynaptic potentials on rhythmic processes of bioelectric activity of the cerebral cortex

The dependence of the postsynaptic potential amplitude on the membrane potential was entered into the earlier derived integral equations describing the interactions between excitatory and inhibitory populations of neocortical neurons. The influence of the potential dependence on steady states and the stable region of oscillations of the mean membrane potential of neurons were investigated. Encephalograms of humans and animals in different functional states were numerically simulated. The real form of a power spectrum of electroencephalogram was obtained. The occurrence of the nonregular spindle-shaped activity was revealed, which expands the frequency of basic oscillations and widens the spectral peak. In the unsteady region, the existence of a limiting cycle and the possibility of arising of the pathological activity observed upon abnormal brain functioning were shown with the help of the numerical nonlinear analysis.     

Non-Decaying postsynaptics potentials and delayed spikes in hippocampal pyramidal neurons generated by a zero slope conductance created by the persistent Na+ current

The negative slope conductance created by the persistent sodium current (I_NaP) prolongs the decay phase of excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs). In a recent study, we demonstrated that this effect was due to an increase of the membrane time constant. When the negative slope conductance opposes completely the positive slope conductances of the other currents it creates a zero slope conductance region. In this region the membrane time constant is infinite and the decay phase of the EPSPs is virtually absent. Here we show that non-decaying EPSPs are present in CA1 hippocampal pyramidal cells in the zero slope conductance region, in the suprathreshold range of membrane potential. Na⁺ channel block with tetrodotoxin abolishes the non-decaying EPSPs. Interestingly, the non-decaying EPSPs are observed only in response to artificial excitatory postsynaptic currents (aEPSCs) of small amplitude, and not in response to aEPSCs of big amplitude. We also observed concomitantly delayed spikes with long latencies and high variability only in response to small amplitude aEPSCs. Our results showed that in CA1 pyramidal neurons I_NaP creates non-decaying EPSPs and delayed spikes in the subthreshold range of membrane potentials, which could potentiate synaptic integration of synaptic potentials coming from distal regions of the dendritic tree.     

Analysis of the processes of summation of postsynaptic potentials on the membrane of motoneurons upon realization of the stretch reflex

Stretching of the m. triceps surae (TS) of decerebrated cats evokes reflex shifts of the membrane potential (MP) in spinal motoneurons resulting from summation of EPSPs. We carried out model analysis of summation of a great number of EPSPs and compared the respective results with changes in the MP observed in real experiments using intrasomatic microelectrode recording. Simulation was based on the supposition of the proximity of the time course of an excitatory postsynaptic current to the positive part of the EPSP derivative. Transformation of EPSPs was performed using low-frequency filtration with two values of the time constant, 7 and 20 msec, (models M1 and M2, respectively). The models obtained provided sufficiently adequate reflection of the ascending phase of the real EPSP but inadequately reflected the rate of its decline and slow components of the MP changes. The disagreement of simulations with the real MP shifts shows that, most probably, final postsynaptic effects are to a considerable extent provided by summation of a great number of EPSPs generated in distal dendrites, and EPSPs immediately recorded in trasomatically cannot provide one with adequate information on the entire pattern of natural synaptic activation of the neuron. In addition, simulation analysis demonstrated a high probability of the contribution of active inhibitory processes to the formation of resulting MP changes under conditions of the stretch reflex. Neirofiziologiya/Neurophysiology, Vol. 40, No. 3, pp. 260–263, May–June, 2008.     

Activity of neurons of the cerebral A5 zone of rat induced by adequate stimulation of muscle afferents: On the control of arterial pressure and respiration during muscle activity

In experiments on 24 anesthetized rats with preserved spontaneous respiration, we first recorded the volley impulse activity of neurons (n = 30) in the brainstem A5 zone, which was induced by periodical stretchings of the forelimb flexors and hindlimb extensors. The frequency of action potentials in such volleys was, on average, 99.7 ± 19.6 sec⁻¹. In the course of this kinesthetic stimulation, along with the activation of “proprioceptive” neurons of the A5 zone, we observed transitory drops in the arterial pressure and increases first recorded the activity of baroceptive neurons in subpial parts of the A5 zone (n = 4); the frequency of their background impulsation was, on average, 25.1 ± 0.8 sec⁻¹. This activity in all cases was transitorily suppressed both upon increases of the blood pressure caused by constriction of the carotid arteries or nociceptive tail stimulation, as well as upon stretching of skeletal muscles. Therefore, we first obtained direct proof that neuronal systems of the A5 zone are involved in integration of visceral and somatic proprioceptive afferent influences. We hypothesize that the physiological role of this mechanism of integration of somatic and visceral information at the level of the A5 zone is directed toward lowering of the arterial pressure and intensification of respiration within the period of intensified motor activity. This mechanism is based on the interaction between “proprioceptive,” baroceptive, and, perhaps, multiceptive neurons within the A5 zone. Neirofiziologiya/Neurophysiology, Vol. 39, No. 6, pp. 443–452, November–December, 2007.     

A possible pivotal role of mitochondrial free calcium in neurotoxicity mediated by N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors in cultured rat hippocampal neurons

We have previously shown that mitochondrial membrane potential disruption is involved in mechanisms underlying differential vulnerabilities to the excitotoxicity mediated by N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors between primary cultured neurons prepared from rat cortex and hippocampus. To further elucidate the role of mitochondria in the excitotoxicity after activation of NMDA receptors, neurons were loaded with the fluorescent dye calcein diffusible in the cytoplasm and organelles for determination of the activity of mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) responsible for the leakage of different mitochondrial molecules. The addition of CoCl₂ similarly quenched the intracellular fluorescence except mitochondria in both cultured neurons, while further addition of NMDA led to a leakage of the dye into the cytoplasm in hippocampal neurons only. An mPTP inhibitor prevented the NMDA-induced loss of viability in hippocampal neurons, while an activator of mPTP induced a similarly potent loss of viability in cortical and hippocampal neurons. Although NMDA was more effective in increasing rhodamine-2 fluorescence as a mitochondrial calcium indicator in hippocampal than cortical neurons, a mitochondrial calcium uniporter inhibitor significantly prevented the NMDA-induced loss of viability in hippocampal neurons. Expression of mRNA was significantly higher for the putative uniporter uncoupling protein-2 in hippocampal than cortical neurons. These results suggest that mitochondrial calcium uniporter would be at least in part responsible for the NMDA neurotoxicity through a mechanism relevant to promotion of mPTP orchestration in hippocampal neurons.