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Background The visual development is completed during the critical period in human and mammals.However,the critical period is not the initial of receiving visual experience.It is known that before the onset of critical period in mammals,such as mouse,there is an earlier stage for visual development,the pre-critical period.The research of response characteristics of the visual cortical neurons and the synaptic plasticity in the pre-critical period is still in the exploratory stage.Objective The study aimed to preliminarily investigate the response properties of neurons and synaptic plasticity in mouse visual cortex during the pre-critical period.Methods Fortyeight postnatal day 13-17 C57BL/6J mice were used for in vivo whole-cell recordings and in vitro brain slice wholecell recordings.In vivo whole-cell recordings were done in anesthetized mice.Moving bars in different directions were produced and controlled by a Matlab program.Cell recordings were obtained at the depth of layer Ⅳ of visual cortex.Step current stimuli under current clamp were given to measure the membrane response properties of neurons.Optimal visual stimuli were given to measure the in vivo largest responses of membrane potentials.In vitro experiments were performed after in vivo experiments.All cells were given current step stimuli to measure the membrane response properties of neurons.Different intensities of white-matter-to-layer-Ⅳpathway stimulation were given to measure the evoked response properties.All cells from 48 mice were randomized into 4 groups according to different stimulus training modes,including low frequency stimulation (LFS),high frequency theta-burst stimulation (TBS),pre-post synaptic timing stimulation (pre-post TS) and post-pre synaptic timing stimulation (post-pre TS).Under the voltage clamp of-70 mV,excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) before and after training were recorded to measure the plastic changes of excitatory synaptic connections.pClamp 10 was used for the pre-analysis of data and Matlab 2008a was used for statistical analysis.The use and care of the animals followed the Statement for the Use of Animals in Ophthalmic and Vision Research.Results Thirty-nine cells and 48 cells were successfully recorded in the in vivo and in vitro experiments,respectively.The steady-state average number of action potentials (APs) were (1.01 ± 0.03)/sweep and (1.01 ±0.05)/sweep,the AP thresholds were (-40.2 ± 3.2) mV and (-39.6 ±2.0) mV,and the threshold step current levels were (126.7 ± 17.4) pA and (129.6 ± 17.5) pA in the in vivo and in vitro recordings,respectively,with no significant differences between them (APs:t =0.512,P =0.610;AP thresholds:t =-1.074,P =0.286;current levels:t =-0.776,P =0.440).Under the optimal visual or pathway stimulation,the average peak response of membrane potentials was (7.3 ±4.3)mV and (6.4±2.8)mV with rarely evoked APs in the in vivo and in vitro experiments,respectively,with no significant difference between them (t =1.234,P =0.221).Under the in vitro recording,the EPSCs before LFS were [(138.1 ±51.9)pA],which was significantly higher than that after LFS [(76.1 ± 34.8)pA] (t=4.437,P=0.001),but no significant differences were seen in EPSCs before and after TBS (t=-0.756,P=0.466).The EPSCs before and after pre-post TS were (122.4±62.2)pA and (78.5±46.7)pA,and those before and after post-pre TS were (131.9 ±48.0) pA and (74.3 ± 30.7) pA,showing significant differences between them (pre-post TS:t =3.558,P =0.004;post-pre TS:t =4.283,P =0.001).Conclusions The construction of fundamental neural circuits in layer Ⅳ of mouse visual cortex is completed during pre-critical period.However,the membrane responsive capability of neurons and the synaptic connections are in an immature state,and the evoked responses to visual pathway inputs are basically subthreshold.The strength of synaptic connections is depressed with low frequency stimulation or pre-post/post-pre synaptic timing stimulation,and kept unchanged with high frequency stimulation.The development of visual neural system of PSP in mouse presents different characteristics from CP.
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Objective To evaluate the role of calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase Ⅱ alpha (CaMK Ⅱα) in the central nucleus of the amygdale (CeA) in fentanyl-induced hyperalgesia in rats and the relationship with miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs).Methods Thirty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats,weighing 50-80 g,in which the CeA was successfully cannulated,were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=8 each) using a random number table:control 1 group (group C1),fentanylinduced hyperalgesia 1 group (group FIH1),KN92 group,and KN93 group.Normal saline was injected subcutaneously,and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was given into the amygdale in group C1.In group FIH1,fentanyl was injected subcutaneously (60 μg/kg per time,4 times in total,15-min interval,cumulative dose of 240 μg/kg) to establish the model of hyperalgesia.In KN92 and KN93 groups,KN92 and KN93 10 nmol were given into the CeA after establishing the model.The mechanical paw withdrawal threshold (MWT) and thermal paw withdrawal threshold (TWT) were measured at 6 and 7 h after fentanyl or normal saline injection.Another 12 Sprague-Dawley rats were selected and randomly divided into either control 2 group (group C2) or fentanyl-induced hyperalgesia 2 group (group FIH2) using a random number table with 6 rats in each group.The brains were removed and sliced 12 h later,and the frequency and amplitude of mEPSCs were recorded.KN93 10 nmol was then added to the artificial cerebral spinal fluid,and the frequency and amplitude of mEPSCs were recorded by whole cell patch-clamp technique.Results Compared with group C 1,the MWT and TWT were significantly decreased at 6 h after fentanyl or normal saline injection in FIH1,KN92 and KN93 groups,and at 7 h after fentanyl or normal saline injection in FIH and KN92 groups (P＜0.05).Compared with group FIH1,the MWT and TWT were significantly increased at 7 h after fentanyl or normal saline injection in group KN93 (P＜0.05),and no significant change was found in group KN92 (P＞0.05).Compared with group C2,the frequency and amplitude of mEPSCs were significantly increased before administration of KN93 (P ＜ 0.05),and no significant change was found in the frequency and amplitude of mEPSCs after administration of KN93 in group FIH2 (P＞0.05).Compared with the value before KN93 administration,no significant change was found in the frequency and amplitude of mEPSCs after administration of KN93 in group C2 (P＞0.05),and the frequency and amplitude of mEPSCs were significantly decreased after administration of KN93 in group FIH2 (P＜ 0.05).Conclusion Activation of CaMK Ⅱ α in the CeA enhances synaptic excitation in neurons,which is involved in fentanyl-induced hyperalgesia in rats.
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Background & objectives: Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChE-Is) are used for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). These drugs including galanthamine have been shown to modulate synaptic activity in hippocampus and improve memory processes. Although Tabernaemontana divaricata extract (TDE) has been used as traditional medicine for various pharmacological effects, its effect in enhancing cholinergic activity provides additional benefit to its known effects. We investigated whether TDE can modulate the synaptic function in hippocampus and compared its effects to those of galanthamine. Methods: Hippocampal slices were prepared from male wWistar rats, functional effects of TDE were characterized by using pharmacological tools and extracellular recordings of field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fEPSPs). Results: TDE significantly reduced fEPSPs. The fEPSPs reduction was prevented by atropine, but not pancuronium. These TDE effects were similar to those of galanthamine. Interpretation & conclusions: Our findings indicate that TDE can effectively modulate synaptic responses in the hippocampus similar to galanthamine, suggesting that this traditional medicine could be beneficial in ageing with ACh deprivation in the brain.