Key pointsr Kv7 (KCNQ/M) channels are known to control excitability and generate subthreshold M-resonance in CA1 hippocampal pyramidal cells, but their properties and functions have not previously been compared along the dorsoventral (septotemporal) axis r We used whole-cell recordings to compare electrophysiological properties of dorsal and ventral CA1 pyramidal cells in hippocampal slices from 3-to 4-week-old rats r Blockade of Kv7/M-channels with 10,10-bis(4-pyridinylmethyl)-9(10H)-anthracenone dihydrochloride (XE991) had a stronger impact on electrical properties in dorsal than ventral pyramidal cells, including input resistance, temporal summation, M-resonance, spike threshold, medium after-hyperpolarization, excitability, and spike frequency adaptation. r I M -dependent differences in excitability and resonance may be important for rate and phase coding of CA1 place cells along the dorsoventral axis and may enhance epileptiform activity in ventral pyramidal cells.Abstract In rodent hippocampi, the connections, gene expression and functions differ along the dorsoventral (D-V) axis. CA1 pyramidal cells show increasing excitability along the D-V axis, although the underlying mechanism is not known. In the present study, we investigated how the M-current (I M ), caused by Kv7/M (KCNQ) potassium channels, and known to often control neuronal excitability, contributes to D-V differences in intrinsic properties of CA1 pyramidal cells. Using whole-cell patch clamp recordings and the selective Kv7/M blocker 10,10-bis(4-pyridinylmethyl)-9(10H)-anthracenone dihydrochloride (XE991) in hippocampal slices from 3-to 4-week-old rats, we found that: (i) I M had a stronger impact on subthreshold electrical properties in dorsal than ventral CA1 pyramidal cells, including input resistance, temporal summation of artificial synaptic potentials, and M-resonance; (ii) I M activated at more negative potentials (left-shifted) and had larger peak amplitude in the dorsal than ventral CA1; and (iii) the initial spike threshold (during ramp depolarizations) was elevated, and the medium after-hyperpolarization and spike frequency adaptation were increased (i.e. excitability was lower) in the dorsal rather than ventral CA1. These differences were abolished or reduced by application of XE991, indicating that they were caused by I M . Thus, it appears that I M has stronger effects in dorsal than in ventral rat CA1 pyramidal cells because of a larger maximal M-conductance and left-shifted activation curve in the dorsal cells. These mechanisms may contribute to D-V Authors C. Hönigsperger and M. Marosi contributed equally to this work.

Key pointsr Previous studies showed that different firing patterns of hippocampal dentate granule cells (DGCs) can trigger different network responses. However, the intrinsic DGC mechanisms controlling their excitability, spike patterns and synaptic integration in DGCs, remain poorly understood.r SK and Kv7/M channels play important roles controlling neuronal integration and excitability, but their specific roles vary between cell types. Both channel types are expressed in DGCs, but their roles are unclear.r We found that SK channels are the main generators of medium afterhyperpolarizations in DGCs, thus causing negative feedback regulation of spiking (spike frequency adaptation) and calcium influx.r In contrast, Kv7/M perform subthreshold and 'feed-forward' control of input resistance, postsynaptic integration, action potential threshold and excitability, thus weakening EPSP-spike coupling.r Thus, in DGCs, the SK and Kv7/M channels seem to perform complementary functions in postsynaptic integration and excitability control. This may have important consequences for dentate network physiology. AbstractThe dentate granule cells (DGCs) form the most numerous neuron population of the hippocampal memory system, and its gateway for cortical input. Yet, we have only limited knowledge of the intrinsic membrane properties that shape their responses. Since SK and Kv7/M potassium channels are key mechanisms of neuronal spiking and excitability control, afterhyperpolarizations (AHPs) and synaptic integration, we studied their functions in DGCs. The specific SK channel blockers apamin or scyllatoxin increased spike frequency (excitability), reduced early spike frequency adaptation, fully blocked the medium-duration AHP (mAHP) after a single spike or spike train, and increased postsynaptic EPSP summation after spiking, but had no effect on input resistance (R input ) or spike threshold. In contrast, blockade of Kv7/M channels by XE991 increased R input , lowered the spike threshold, and increased excitability, postsynaptic EPSP summation, and EPSP-spike coupling, but only slightly reduced mAHP after spike trains (and not after single spikes). The SK and Kv7/M channel openers 1-EBIO and retigabine, respectively, had effects opposite to the blockers. Computational modelling reproduced many of these effects. We conclude that SK and Kv7/M channels have complementary roles in DGCs. These mechanisms may be important for the dentate network function, as CA3 neurons can be activated or inhibition recruited depending on DGC firing rate.

The molecular mechanism of tolerance to opiate drugs is poorly understood. We have used single-channel patch-clamp recordings to study opiate receptor effects on dissociated neurons from rat amygdala, a limbic region implicated in addiction processes. A 130-pS inwardly rectifying K ؉ -preferring cation channel was activated by opioid receptors in a membrane-delimited manner. After chronic treatment of the rats with morphine, channel gating changed markedly, with an approximately 100-fold decrease in open probability at a given morphine concentration. The change in channel gating correlated both in time course and in dose of morphine treatment with the development of functional opiate dependence and appeared to arise at a step after G-protein activation and before channel permeation by K ؉ . This decreased receptor-channel coupling appears to be large enough to account quantitatively for opiate tolerance and may represent one of the mechanisms through which tolerance occurs. D rug addiction is a complex process that includes tolerance (the need for increasing drug dosage to achieve the same effect) and dependence (the appearance of adverse effects on drug withdrawal). Human heroin addicts experience tolerance of more than 100-fold if drug availability is unlimited (1). Changes in the number, affinity, or membrane trafficking of opioid receptors (2-6), in the coupling of receptors to Gproteins (7, 8), or in associated second messenger systems (9) have been implicated in opiate tolerance mechanisms; however, these effects are usually on the order of 10 -20% and therefore appear unable to account quantitatively for tolerance. Consequently, the molecular basis of opiate tolerance remains poorly understood.We have used patch-clamp electrophysiology to resolve single ion channels that are activated by opioid receptors and to study changes in channel properties after chronic opiate treatment. We performed these studies by using freshly dissociated neurons from the amygdalohippocampal area (AHA) of 30-to 45-day-old rats. The AHA is an output nucleus of the amygdala (10, 11) and as such is part of a limbic region implicated in the motivational effects of opiates and other drugs of abuse (10-15). AHA neurons are known to display inhibitory responses to opiates in vivo (14). Furthermore, these cells exhibit a decreased inhibition by morphine after chronic treatment, consistent with tolerance, as well as an activation of firing after precipitated withdrawal, consistent with dependence (14). We now describe a K ϩ -permeable channel that is activated by opioid receptors and show that its gating undergoes changes after chronic morphine treatment in a manner that may account for opiate tolerance in limbic neurons. MethodsCell Preparation. Coronal 300-m sections of the posteriodorsal amygdala were cut on a vibrating tissue slicer under an ice-cold Pipes-buffered solution previously described (16) and were blocked to include the AHA (10) and some underlying amygdaloid nuclei, but excluded the hippocampus. After slowly warming the ...

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The ability of 5-HT1A and 5-HT1B agonists to alter a spinal animal's nociceptive threshold was examined using two analgesiometric tests. In the spinal withdrawal reflex test, administration of the selective 5-HT1A agonists ipsapirone, gepirone and PAPP resulted in significant dose-dependent increases in receptive field (RF) area for withdrawal reflexes when compared to predrug baseline values, indicating an increase in nociceptive sensitivity. The average overall percent maximal increase in RF area following administration of 5-HT1A selective compounds was: 80 +/- 16% for the ventroflexion reflex, 90 +/- 6% for the dorsiflexion reflex and 87 +/- 8% for the lateral flexion reflex. Similar to the effects noted with 5-HT1A agonists, administration of 5-HT1B agonists RU24969, mCPP and TFMPP resulted in a hyperalgesic response with an overall percent maximal increase of 43 +/- 6% for the ventroflexion reflex, 51 +/- 6% for the dorsiflexion reflex and 38 +/- 9% for the lateral flexion reflex. In the tail-flick analgesiometric test, administration of the 5-HT1A agonists 8-OH-DPAT and ipsapirone and the 5-HT1B agonists RU24969 and mCPP resulted in a significant dose-dependent increase in tail-flick latencies when compared to predrug baseline values, indicating a decrease in nociceptive sensitivity to noxious thermal stimuli. No differences in magnitude of the effect of the two receptor subtypes were found, indicating that stimulation of either 5-HT1A or 5-HT1B receptors was equipotent in producing the antinociceptive tail-flick response.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)