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[Intracellular recordings and multi-parameter analysis of long-term potentiation of synaptic responses in chick brain
Juan Jiang1, Nan Sui, Meng-Ya Wang
1The Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
Insights
Day-old chicks offer a unique model for studying brain development. Researchers used intracellular recordings in chick forebrain slices to analyze synaptic plasticity and long-term potentiation in the intermediate medial mesopallium (IMM).
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Electrophysiology
Context:
- The intermediate medial mesopallium (IMM) in chick forebrains is crucial for early learning and behavioral plasticity.
- Day-old chicks serve as a valuable animal model for investigating neural development.
Purpose:
- To characterize the electrophysiological properties and synaptic responses of IMM neurons in chick forebrain slices.
- To investigate the induction and characteristics of long-term potentiation (LTP) in the IMM.
Summary:
- Intracellular recordings were performed on 69 IMM neurons from 2-10 day-old chicks.
- Electrophysiological properties, including resting membrane potential and action potential characteristics, were measured.
- Synaptic responses (EPSPs) were elicited and modulated by receptor antagonists (AP5, DNQX, bicuculline).
- Tetanic stimulation induced persistent potentiation of EPSPs, consistent with LTP, affecting amplitude, area, duration, and rise slope without altering intrinsic neuronal properties.
Impact:
- Demonstrates the utility of intracellular recording techniques in chick brain slices for multi-parameter analysis of synaptic plasticity.
- Provides foundational data on IMM neuronal function relevant to understanding early learning mechanisms.
Abstract:
Day-old chick is unique animal model in brain development and behavior study. The intermediate medial mesopallium (IMM), a region of the chick forebrain, is intimately involved in the early learning processes, which offers the ideal opportunity to study the neural changes that underlie behavioral plasticity. In this paper, the intracellular recordings were conducted from IMM neurons in chick forebrain slices, in which electrophysiological properties, synaptic responses and long-term potentiation (LTP) were observed. Coronal sections of left forebrains (500 mum thick), containing IMM, were prepared from domestic chicks, aged 2-10 days. In 69 IMM neurons, the resting membrane potential was measured to be (-59.4+/-5.3) mV, slope membrane resistance (70.8+/-27.2) MΩ, and time constant (10.2+/-4.3) ms. The amplitude, threshold, overshoot, half-width, max rise slope and max decay slope of action potential evoked by intracellular current injection were (85.2+/-9.4) mV, (-38.7+/-7.6) mV, (25.6+/-8.9) mV, (2.1+/-0.5) ms, (150.5+/-41.2) mV/ms and (-64.3+/-14.0) mV/ms, respectively. Spike-firing frequency was increased with depolarizing current intensity in 32 of 69 tested cells [linear regression slope was (21.5+/-10.9) Hz/nA, P<0.05 in all cells]. The depolarizing synaptic responses (i.e. EPSPs), with stimulus intensity- and membrane potential-dependent properties, were elicited by dorsal (n=25) or ventral (n=62) focal electrical stimuli at 0.1 Hz in all tested IMM neurons and could be nullified reversibly by perfusion with 100 mumol/L AP5 (NMDA receptor antagonist) and 3 mumol/L DNQX (non-NMDA receptor antagonist), but enlarged by 6 mumol/L bicuculline (GABA(A) receptor antagonist). The EPSPs evoked by ventral stimulation were persistently increased after tetanic stimulation (5 Hz, 300 pulses/train, 2 trains, train interval 10 min) in 6 of 12 tested IMM neurons. The amplitude of EPSPs was potentiated to more than 120% of control level (when analyzed at 45 min of enhancement, P<0.05, n=5), which lasted at least 30 min and then could be referred to as LTP. Moreover, area under curve, duration and max rise slope of EPSPs were also enhanced (P<0.05), while no significant changes were observed in the electrophysiological parameters of IMM neurons following induction of LTP (P>0.05). These results suggest that the intracellular recording techniques in the chick brain slices can be used to perform multi-parameter analysis of synaptic responses and their LTP.
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