Characteristics of long-duration inhibitory postsynaptic potentials in rat neocortical neurons in vitro

Howe, James R. and Sutor, Bernd and Zieglgänsberger, Walter (1987): Characteristics of long-duration inhibitory postsynaptic potentials in rat neocortical neurons in vitro. In: Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, Vol. 7, No. 1: pp. 1-18

Abstract

1. The characteristics of long-duration inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (l-IPSPs) which are evoked in rat frontal neocortical neurons by local electrical stimulation were investigated with intracellular recordings from anin vitro slice preparation. 2. Stimulation with suprathreshold intensities evoked l-IPSPs with typical durations of 600–900 msec at resting membrane potential. Conductance increases of 15–60% were measured at the peak amplitude of l-IPSPs (150–250 msec poststimulus). 3. The duration of the conductance increases during l-IPSPs displayed a significant voltage dependence, decreasing as the membrance potential was depolarized and increasing with hyperpolarization. 4. The reversal potential of l-IPSPs is significantly altered by reductions in the extracellular potassium concentration. Therefore it is concluded that l-IPSPs in rat neocortical neurons are generated by the activation of a potassium conductance. 5. l-IPSPs exhibit stimulation fatigue. Stimulation with a frequency of 1 Hz produces a complete fatigue of the conductance increases during l-IPSPs after approximately 20 consecutive stimuli. Recovery from this fatigue requires minutes. 6. l-IPSPs are not blocked by bicuculline but are blocked by baclofen.

• Item Type: Article
• Collections: Medicine
• Subjects: 600 Technology > 610 Medicine and health