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The Journal of Neuroscience, February 15, 2001, 21(4):1401-1412
Non-Associative Learning and Serotonin Induce Similar
Bi-Directional Changes in Excitability of a Neuron Critical for
Learning in the Medicinal Leech
Brian D.
Burrell1,
Christie L.
Sahley3, and
Kenneth J.
Muller1, 2
1 Department of Physiology and Biophysics and
2 Neuroscience Program, University of Miami School of
Medicine, Miami, Florida 33136, and 3 Department of
Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907
In studies of the cellular basis of learning, much attention has
focused on plasticity in synaptic transmission in terms of transmitter
release and the number or responsiveness of neurotransmitter receptors.
However, changes in postsynaptic excitability independent of receptors
may also play an important role. Changes in excitability of a single
interneuron in the leech, the S-cell, were measured during
non-associative learning of the whole-body shortening reflex. This
interneuron was chosen because it is known to be necessary for
sensitization and full dishabituation of the shortening response. During sensitization, S-cell excitability increased, and this enhancement corresponded to facilitation of the shortening reflex and
increased S-cell activity during the elicited response. During habituation training, there was a decrement in both the shortening reflex and the elicited S-cell activity, along with decreased S-cell
excitability. Conversely, dishabituation facilitated both the
shortening response and S-cell activity during shortening, with an
accompanying increase in S-cell excitability. Bath application of 1-10
µM serotonin (5HT), a modulatory neurotransmitter that is
critical for sensitization, for full dishabituation, and for associative learning, increased S-cell excitability. S-cell
excitability also increased after stimulation of the serotonergic
Retzius cells. However, focal application of serotonin onto the S-cell
soma hyperpolarized the interneuron, and bath application of a lower
dose of serotonin (0.1 µM) decreased excitability. The
observed changes in postsynaptic excitability appear to contribute to
non-associative learning, and modulatory neurotransmitters, such as
serotonin, evidently help regulate excitability. Such changes in S-cell
excitability may also be relevant for more complex, associative forms
of learning.
Key words:
leech; serotonin; learning; sensitization; habituation; neuron excitability
Copyright © 2001 Society for Neuroscience 0270-6474/01/2141401-12$05.00/0
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