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Related Experiment Videos

Excitatory synaptic currents in Purkinje cells.

D J Perkel1, S Hestrin, P Sah

  • 1Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0444.

Proceedings. Biological Sciences
|August 22, 1990
PubMed
Summary
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Adult rat Purkinje cells exclusively use non-N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors for excitatory synaptic transmission. Both climbing-fibre and parallel-fibre inputs rely solely on these non-NMDA receptors, indicating a lack of NMDA receptor involvement in these cerebellar circuits.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cellular Physiology

Background:

  • Glutamate receptors, including N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and non-NMDA types, mediate excitatory synaptic transmission in the central nervous system.
  • Non-NMDA receptors are crucial for basal synaptic transmission, while NMDA receptors are involved in synaptic plasticity and depolarization.
  • Understanding the specific glutamate receptor subtypes in cerebellar Purkinje cells is vital for comprehending cerebellar function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the types of glutamate receptors responsible for excitatory synaptic transmission onto Purkinje cells in the adult rat cerebellum.
  • To differentiate the roles of NMDA and non-NMDA receptors in synaptic responses evoked by climbing-fibre and parallel-fibre stimulation.

Main Methods:

  • Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings were performed on Purkinje cells in adult rat cerebellar slices.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) were elicited by stimulating climbing fibres (white matter/granule-cell layer) and parallel fibres (molecular layer).
  • Pharmacological analysis using NMDA receptor antagonist APV and non-NMDA receptor antagonist CNQX, along with current-voltage (I-V) relationship assessments.

    • Main Results:

    • Parallel-fibre stimulation induced a facilitated EPSC, while climbing-fibre stimulation resulted in a depressed EPSC upon paired-pulse stimulation.
    • Both parallel-fibre and climbing-fibre EPSCs showed linear I-V relationships and were insensitive to APV but blocked by CNQX.
    • Application of NMDA did not evoke a current, whereas glutamate/aspartate induced currents were significantly reduced by CNQX, confirming non-NMDA receptor mediation.

    Conclusions:

    • Excitatory synaptic transmission to adult Purkinje cells is exclusively mediated by non-NMDA type glutamate receptors.
    • Purkinje cells in adult rats appear to entirely lack functional NMDA receptors for these excitatory inputs.
    • These findings clarify the specific glutamatergic receptor composition underlying cerebellar excitatory synaptic transmission.