1. We have developed a 19-compartment cable model of a guinea pig CA3 pyramidal neuron. Each compartment is allowed to contain six active ionic conductances: gNa, gCa, gK(DR) (where DR stands for delayed rectifier), gK(A), gK(AHP), and gK(C). THe conductance gCa is of the high-voltage activated type. The model kinetics for the first five of these conductances incorporate voltage-clamp data obtained from isolated hippocampal pyramidal neurons. The kinetics of gK(C) are based on data from bullfrog sympathetic neurons. The time constant for decay of submembrane calcium derives from optical imaging of Ca signals in Purkinje cell dendrites. 2. To construct the model from available voltage-clamp data, we first reproduced current-clamp records from a model isolated neuron (soma plus proximal dendrites). We next assumed that ionic channel kinetics in the dendrites were the same as in the soma. In accord with dendritic recordings and calcium-imaging data, we also assumed that significant gCa occurs in dendrites. We then attached sections of basilar and apical dendritic cable. By trial and error, we found a distribution (not necessarily unique) of ionic conductance densities that was consistent with current-clamp records from the soma and dendrites of whole neurons and from isolated apical dendrites. 3. The resulting model reproduces the Ca(2+)-dependent spike depolarizing afterpotential (DAP) recorded after a stimulus subthreshold for burst elicitation. 4. The model also reproduces the behavior of CA3 pyramidal neurons injected with increasing somatic depolarizing currents: low-frequency (0.3-1.0 Hz) rhythmic bursting for small currents, with burst frequency increasing with current magnitude; then more irregular bursts followed by afterhyperpolarizations (AHPs) interspersed with brief bursts without AHPs; and finally, rhythmic action potentials without bursts. 5. The model predicts the existence of still another firing pattern during tonic depolarizing dendritic stimulation: brief bursts at less than 1 to approximately 12 Hz, a pattern not observed during somatic stimulation. These bursts correspond to rhythmic dendritic calcium spikes. 6. The model CA3 pyramidal neuron can be made to resemble functionally a CA1 pyramidal neuron by increasing gK(DR) and decreasing dendritic gCa and gK(C). Specifically, after these alterations, tonic depolarization of the soma leads to adapting repetitive firing, whereas stimulation of the distal dendrites leads to bursting. 7. A critical set of parameters concerns the regulation of the pool of intracellular [Ca2+] that interacts with membrane channels (gK(C) and gK(AHP)), particularly in the dendrites.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the cortex. Activation of postsynaptic GABAA receptors hyperpolarizes cells and inhibits neuronal activity. Synaptic responses mediated by GABAA receptors also strongly excited hippocampal neurons. This excitatory response was recorded in morphologically identified interneurons in the presence of 4-aminopyridine or after elevation of extracellular potassium concentrations. The synaptic excitation sustained by GABAA receptors synchronized the activity of inhibitory interneurons. This synchronized discharge of interneurons in turn elicited large-amplitude inhibitory postsynaptic potentials in pyramidal and granule cells. Excitatory synaptic responses mediated by GABAA receptors may thus provide a mechanism for the recruitment of GABAergic interneurons through their recurrent connections.

1. Intracellular recordings were obtained from pyramidal, granule and hilar cells in transverse slices of guinea-pig hippocampus to examine synaptic interactions between GABAergic neurones. 2. In the presence of the convulsant compound 4-aminopyridine (4-AP), after fast excitatory amino acid (EAA) neurotransmission was blocked pharmacologically, large amplitude inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs) occurred rhythmically (every 4-8 s) and synchronously in all principal cell populations (triphasic synchronized IPSPs). In the presence of the GABAA receptor blocker picrotoxin (PTX), a large amplitude IPSP continued to occur spontaneously in all principal cells simultaneously (monophasic synchronized IPSP). 3. Burst firing occurred simultaneously in a group of hilar neurones (synchronized bursting neurones) coincident with triphasic synchronized IPSPs in principal cells. After PTX was added, the bursts and the underlying depolarizing synaptic potentials were completely suppressed in some of the synchronized bursting neurones (type I hilar neurones), while others (type II hilar neurones) continued to fire in bursts coincident with monophasic synchronized IPSPs in principal cells. Intense hyperpolarization blocked burst firing and revealed underlying attenuated spikes of less than 10 mV, but did not uncover any underlying depolarizing synaptic potentials. 4. In type II hilar neurones, during sufficient hyperpolarization, spontaneous activity consisted of attenuated spikes. With depolarization, the small spikes began to trigger full size action potentials. These data suggest the presence of electrotonically remote spike initiation sites. 5. The morphology of synchronized bursting neurones was revealed by intracellular injection of the fluorescent dye Lucifer Yellow. Attempts to inject dye into one type II hilar neurone often resulted in the labelling of two to four cells (dye coupling). Dye coupling was not observed in type I hilar neurones. 6. These findings indicate that excitatory interactions synchronizing the firing of GABAergic neurones can occur in the absence of fast EAA neurotransmission. GABAergic neurones can become synchronized via their recurrent collaterals through the depolarizing action of synaptically activated GABAA receptors. In addition, a subpopulation of GABAergic neurones can become synchronized by a mechanism probably involving electrotonic coupling.Until recently, experiments addressing cellular and isolation from excitatory synaptic transmission can only be synaptic properties of cortical neurones have mainly obtained under very restrictive conditions such as direct focused on the excitatory pyramidal cells (Andersen, paired recording and antidromic stimulation (Miles &

A hallmark of severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the development of post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE). However, the mechanisms underlying PTE remain poorly understood. In this study, we used a controlled cortical impact (CCI) model in rats to examine post-traumatic changes in neocortical excitability. Neocortical slices were prepared from rats at 7-9 days (week 1) and 14-16 days (week 2) after CCI injury. By week 2, we observed a substantial gray matter lesion with a cavity that extended to the hippocampal structure. Fluoro-Jade B staining of slices revealed active neuronal degeneration during weeks 1 and 2. Intracellular and extracellular recordings obtained from layer V revealed evoked and spontaneous epileptiform discharges in neocortices of CCI-injured rats. At week 1, intracellular recordings from pyramidal cells revealed evoked epileptiform firing that was synchronized with population events recorded extracellularly, suggestive of increased excitability. This activity was characterized by bursts of action potentials that were followed by recurrent, repetitive after-discharges. At week 2, both spontaneous and evoked epileptiform firing were recorded in slices from injured rats. The evoked discharges resembled those observed at week 1, but with longer burst durations. Spontaneous activity included prolonged, ictal-like discharges lasting up to 8-10 sec, and briefer interictal-like burst events (<1 sec). These results indicate that during the first 2 weeks following severe CCI injury, there is a progressive development of neocortical hyperexcitability that ultimately leads to spontaneous epileptiform firing, suggesting a rapid epileptogenic process.

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1. Intracellular and extracellular recordings were carried out in guinea pig neocortical slices to examine the effects of blockade of excitatory amino acid (EAA) synaptic transmission on population discharges elicited by 4-aminopyridine (4-AP; 50-100 microM). 2. After the introduction of 4-AP, two distinct types of rhythmic spontaneous field potentials were recorded in neocortical slices. Type I consisted of multiple spike discharges lasting 20-90 s. These events occurred at a frequency of 0.4-0.2/min. Type II were single field potential spikes (3-6 s in duration) occurring at a higher frequency (2-4/min). 3. Blockade of amino acid-mediated excitatory synaptic transmission with D-2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (D-AP5; 10-30 microM) or 3-(2-carboxypiperazin-4-yl)propyl-l-phosphonic acid (CPP, 10 microM) and 6-cyano-7nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX; 10 microM) abolished the first type of 4-AP-induced field potential, whereas type II events persisted. 4. Type II field events, occurring in the presence of EAA blockers, were further characterized by paired recordings. Events recorded along an axis orthogonal to the pia surface occurred simultaneously without measurable delay. Recordings made along a plane parallel to the pia surface showed that type II discharges propagated over distances of greater than or equal to 3 mm at an estimated velocity of 7.5 mm/s. 5. Intracellular recordings show that during type II field discharges all cells exhibited phasic depolarizations or hyperpolarizations, depending on the resting membrane potential. When resting potentials were more depolarized than -68 mV, events became mostly hyperpolarizing.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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