Calcium-dependent changes of paired-pulse modulation at single GABAergic synapses

Neurosci Lett. 2006 Mar 6;395(2):133-7. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2005.10.070.

Abstract

Whole-cell patch-clamp and local electrical stimulation were used for measuring of monosynaptic GABAergic currents from rat hippocampal neurons in culture. Under control conditions (normal extracellular calcium, 2 mM) paired-pulse depression with 150 ms interpulse interval was observed. The mean current amplitude for both 1st and 2nd IPSCs displayed bell-shaped dependency from the stimulus amplitude. When extracellular Ca was either decreased to 0.5 mM or increased to 5 mM both mean amplitude of IPSCs and mean release probability decreased/increased correspondingly yet their dependences from the stimulus strength remained bell-shaped. Mean paired-pulse ratio was also affected--we observed facilitation of second IPSC in low-calcium whereas the latter was depressed in high-calcium solution. Our results suggest that calcium concentrations not only regulate the strength of paired-pulse plasticity but also can invert its direction.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Calcium / metabolism*
  • Electric Stimulation
  • Evoked Potentials / physiology
  • Hippocampus / metabolism
  • Neuronal Plasticity / physiology*
  • Neurons / metabolism*
  • Patch-Clamp Techniques
  • Rats
  • Synapses / metabolism*
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / metabolism*

Substances

  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
  • Calcium