ABSTRACT
Extracellular signals from the endbulb of Held-spherical bushy cell (SBC) synapse exhibit up to three component waves ('P', 'A' and 'B'). Signals lacking the third component (B) are frequently observed but as the origin of each of the components is uncertain, interpretation of this lack of B has been controversial: is it a failure to release transmitter or a failure to generate or propagate an action potential? Our aim was to determine the origin of each component. We combined single- and multiunit in vitro methods in Mongolian gerbils and Wistar rats and used pharmacological tools to modulate glutamate receptors or voltage-gated sodium channels. Simultaneous extra- and intracellular recordings from single SBCs demonstrated a presynaptic origin of the P-component, consistent with data obtained with multielectrode array recordings of local field potentials. The later components (A and B) correspond to the excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) and action potential of the SBC, respectively. These results allow a clear interpretation of in vivo extracellular signals. We conclude that action potential failures occurring at the endbulb-SBC synaptic junction largely reflect failures of the EPSP to trigger an action potential and not failures of synaptic transmission. The data provide the basis for future investigation of convergence of excitatory and inhibitory inputs in modulating transmission at a fully functional neuronal system using physiological stimulation.
Subject(s)
Extracellular Space/physiology , Neurons/physiology , Presynaptic Terminals/physiology , Synapses/physiology , Action Potentials/drug effects , Action Potentials/physiology , Animals , Brain/drug effects , Brain/physiology , Cochlea/drug effects , Cochlea/physiology , Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials/drug effects , Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials/physiology , Extracellular Space/drug effects , Gerbillinae , In Vitro Techniques , Membrane Potentials/drug effects , Membrane Potentials/physiology , Microelectrodes , Neurons/drug effects , Patch-Clamp Techniques , Presynaptic Terminals/drug effects , Rats , Rats, Wistar , Receptors, Glutamate/drug effects , Receptors, Glutamate/metabolism , Sodium Channels/metabolism , Synapses/drug effects , Synaptic Transmission/drug effects , Synaptic Transmission/physiologyABSTRACT
The synaptic growth of neurons during the development and adult life of an animal is a very dynamic and highly regulated process. During larval development in Drosophila new boutons and branches are added at the glutamatergic neuromuscular junction (NMJ) until a balance between neuronal activity and morphological structures is reached. Analysis of several Drosophila mutants suggest that bouton number and size might be regulated by separate signaling processes [Budnik, V., 1996. Synapse maturation and structural plasticity at Drosophila neuromuscular junctions. Curr. Opin. Neurobiol. 6, 858-867.]. Here we show a new role for Hangover as a negative regulator of bouton number at the NMJ. The hangover gene (hang) encodes a nuclear zinc finger protein. It has a function in neuronal plasticity mediating ethanol tolerance, a behavior that develops upon previous experience with ethanol. hang(AE10) mutants have more boutons and an extended synaptic span. Moreover, Hang expression in the motoneuron is required for the regulation of bouton number and the overall length of muscle innervation. However, the increase in bouton number does not correlate with a change in synaptic transmission, suggesting a mechanism independent from neuronal activity leads to the surplus of synaptic boutons. In contrast, we find that expression levels of the cell adhesion molecule Fasciclin II (FASII) are reduced in the hang mutant. This finding suggests that the increase in bouton number in hang mutants is caused by a reduction in FASII expression, thus, linking the regulation of nuclear gene expression with the addition of boutons at the NMJ regulated by cell adhesion molecules.
