Glycinergic/GABAergic synapses in the lateral superior olive are excitatory in neonatal C57Bl/6J mice

Brain Res Dev Brain Res. 2001 Nov 26;131(1-2):143-7. doi: 10.1016/s0165-3806(01)00271-1.

Abstract

The lateral superior olive (LSO), a nucleus involved in sound localization, receives tonotopically organized, inhibitory input from the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB). To better understand the development of this glycinergic/GABAergic pathway, we used Gramicidin-perforated patch clamp recordings to characterize MNTB-evoked postsynaptic potentials in LSO neurons of neonatal C57Bl/6J mice. We found that during the first postnatal week, MNTB-evoked responses change from being depolarizing to being hyperpolarizing. Most interestingly, depolarizing glycinergic/GABAergic synaptic potentials were able to trigger action potentials, demonstrating that the MNTB-LSO pathway can act as a true excitatory pathway. This transient excitatory action of immature MNTB-LSO synapses might play an important role in activity-dependent sharpening of the tonotopic organization of inhibitory connections in the LSO.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Auditory Pathways / growth & development
  • Auditory Pathways / physiology
  • Chlorides / physiology
  • Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / physiology
  • Glycine / physiology*
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Olivary Nucleus / growth & development*
  • Olivary Nucleus / physiology*
  • Patch-Clamp Techniques
  • Sound Localization / physiology
  • Synapses / physiology*
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / physiology*

Substances

  • Chlorides
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
  • Glycine