Lukačínová A.,

SUMMARY1. Respiratory neurones of mammals are rhythmically active because their membrane potential fluctuates periodically over a voltage range of -70 to -55 mV. These respiratory drive potentials lead to periodic discharges of bursts of action potentials lasting for 1-2 s. The neuronal processes stabilizing this rhythmic activity involve excitatory and inhibitory synaptic processes that interact with specific membrane properties of the postsynaptic neurones. In the present experiments, performed on dorsal and ventral groups of respiratory neurones under in vivo and in vitro conditions, we verified the modulating feature of such intrinsic neuronal properties.2. Intrinsic neuronal properties involve Ca2" mechanisms that lead to intracellular Ca2' accumulation, and consequently to activation of Ca2+-dependent K+ currents.3. Blockade of intracellular Ca2+ accumulation significantly changed the amplitude and pattern of respiratory drive potentials, and blocked initial hyperpolarizing shifts of the membrane potential following each period of synaptic activation.4. The data demonstrate that postsynaptic activities and action potential discharges activatelow andhighvoltage-activatedCa2+ currentsleadingto intracellular Ca2+ accumulation and to activation of Ca2+-dependent K+ currents that significantly modulate the voltage response of medullary respiratory neurones to on-going synaptic activation. These intrinsic membrane properties also seem to be involved in the processes controlling termination of rhythmic burst discharges.

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The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the effects of multigenerational (P, F1 and F2) exposure to low doses of lead, mercury and cadmium dissolved in tap water on the reproductive potency of Wistar rats and the physical health of their progeny. The animals were divided into 4 groups - control (C) and 3 groups intoxicated by metals (Pb, 100 μM; Hg, 1 μM; Cd, 20 μM, respectively). Females gave births from the 13th to the 78th week of experiment. Parameters of reprotoxicity such as number of litters, total number of neonates (assigned in the birth day), and number of weanlings (28th day after birth) were measured in 13-week intervals. Our data show an increase of most reproductive parameters in parental generation of rats exposed to lead and mercury and a decrease of reproductive parameters of exposed animals in subsequent F1 and F2 generations. Exposure to cadmium had no significant effect on the reproductive parameters in comparison with the control group.