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Striatal cellular properties conserved from lampreys to mammals
Jesper Ericsson1, Gilad Silberberg, Brita Robertson
1Nobel Institute for Neurophysiology, Department of Neuroscience, Stockholm Brain Institute, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.
The Journal of Physiology
|April 20, 2011
Summary
Lamprey striatal neurons exhibit inward rectification, a key cellular property conserved across vertebrate evolution. This finding highlights the ancient origins of fundamental striatal neuron functions important for motor control.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Evolutionary Biology
- Cellular Physiology
Background:
- The lamprey, an early vertebrate, possesses a striatum with similarities to mammals, including motor symptom responses to dopamine depletion.
- Understanding lamprey striatal neuron properties can offer insights into conserved neural mechanisms across vertebrate phylogeny.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cellular electrophysiological properties of lamprey striatal neurons.
- To determine if inward rectification is a conserved feature of striatal neurons in this primitive vertebrate.
Main Methods:
- Patch-clamp recordings were performed on acute striatal slices from lampreys.
- Neurons were characterized based on their membrane potential, firing patterns, and responses to ion channel conductances.
Main Results:
- 65% of lamprey striatal neurons displayed prominent inward rectification due to Kir-type K+ conductance.
- These inwardly rectifying neurons (IRNs) showed ramping responses and delayed action potential initiation.
- A heterogeneous group of non-IRNs (35%) included cells resembling mammalian fast-spiking interneurons.
Conclusions:
- Inward rectification is a prevalent characteristic of lamprey striatal neurons, suggesting it is an evolutionarily conserved property.
- This conserved cellular mechanism is likely crucial for the functional operations of the striatum in vertebrates, including mammals.
