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Updated: Jan 30, 2026

Vibrodissociation of Neurons from Rodent Brain Slices to Study Synaptic Transmission and Image Presynaptic Terminals
Published on: May 25, 2011
[PRESYNAPTIC SEROTONERGIC MODULATION OF SPONTANEOUS AND MINIATURE SYNAPTIC ACTIVITY IN THE FROG LUMBAR MOTONEURONS]
Abstract:
In this study we investigated the effect of 5-HT on the spontaneous and miniature synaptic activity in lumbar motoneurons from isolated frog spinal cord using intracellular recording. 5-HT increased the frequency of the spontaneous and miniature postsynaptic potentials (mPSPs). The effect of 5-HT on different subpopulations of mPSPs was multidirectional: it increased the frequency of glutamatergic excitatoty mPSP by 18 % and decreased the frequency of glycinergic inhibitory mPSP by 28 %, but had no effect on the frequency of GABAergic inhibitory mPSP. The amplitude and kinetic parameters of any subpopulation of mPSPs did not change. The data obtained show that 5-HT regulates the probability of glutamate and glycine release from presynaptic terminals ending at the frog spinal motoneurons. 5-HT shifts the ba- lance between synaptic excitation and inhibition in the spinal neural network toward excitation. Thus, 5-HT participates in control of motor output and provides its facilitation.
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