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Action Potential

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In Vivo Visualization of Spontaneous Activity in Neonatal Mouse Sensory Cortex at a Single-Neuron Resolution

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Spontaneous activity in the developing gerbil auditory cortex in vivo involves GABAergic transmission.

V C Kotak¹, L M Péndola, A Rodríguez-Contreras

¹Center for Neural Science, 4 Washington Place, New York, NY 10003, USA. vck1@nyu.edu

|September 19, 2012

Summary

Developing gerbil auditory cortex (ACx) exhibits spontaneous oscillations (SOs) in vivo. GABAergic activity and gap junctions are crucial for SO maturation in the ACx.

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Developmental Neuroscience
Auditory Neuroscience

Background:

Spontaneous oscillations (SOs) and waves are critical for synaptic development in the brain.
GABAergic signaling has differential effects on SOs in developing rodent and gerbil auditory cortex (ACx).

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the existence and characteristics of in vivo SOs in the developing gerbil ACx.
To explore the role and manipulability of GABAergic involvement in these SOs.

Main Methods:

In vivo extracellular recordings in P3-5 gerbil ACx.
Anatomical validation using gross features and dye tracing (NeuroVue Red).
Chronic administration of GABA(A) receptor blocker (bicuculline) and subsequent slice electrophysiology.
Acute application of gap junction blockers (mefloquine, carbenoxolone) during spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic current (sIPSC) recordings in slices.

Main Results:

In vivo recordings revealed SOs in P3-5 gerbil ACx with distinct burst durations and inter-event intervals compared to slice data.
NeuroVue Red confirmed anatomical connections between ACx and the auditory thalamus (MG).
Postnatal bicuculline administration led to persistent spontaneous action potentials in P14-17 ACx neurons, unlike controls.
Mefloquine increased sIPSC amplitude and frequency, while carbenoxolone only decreased sIPSC amplitude in ACx slices.

Conclusions:

Developing gerbil ACx generates endogenous SOs in vivo.
Inhibitory GABAergic activity, modulated by gap junctions, plays a significant role in ACx maturation.
These findings highlight the importance of early neural activity patterns for auditory cortex development.