JN Information on EB 2010
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

J Neurophysiol 68: 1468-1471, 1992;
0022-3077/92 $5.00
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Web of Science (19)
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Liu, G.
Right arrow Articles by Feldman, J. L.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Liu, G.
Right arrow Articles by Feldman, J. L.

Journal of Neurophysiology, Vol 68, Issue 4 1468-1471, Copyright © 1992 by APS

ARTICLES

Quantal synaptic transmission in phrenic motor nucleus

G. Liu and J. L. Feldman
Department of Physiological Science, University of California, Los Angeles 90024-1527.

1. The quantal nature of excitatory synaptic transmission was studied in respiratory interneurons and phrenic motoneurons of intact neonatal rat brain stem-spinal cord preparations in vitro. Synaptic currents were recorded with whole-cell patch-clamp recording techniques. 2. Because the most important factor for quantal detection is the ratio of quantal size to quantal standard deviation, factors that influence this ratio were evaluated so that experimental techniques that enhance this ratio could be defined. 3. Under favorable conditions, we directly observed quantal amplitude fluctuations in spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) in spinal cord respiratory neurons. The quantal conductance size was 55-100 pS. With fast decay of these EPSCs, the charge reaching the soma for a single quantum is only approximately 15 fC (Vh = -80 mV). 4. We also studied miniature EPSC amplitude distributions. These were skewed, as previously reported; however, distinct quantal intervals were observed. Furthermore, in three cells tested, the quantal size in the miniature EPSC amplitude distribution was similar to the quantal size in the spontaneous EPSC amplitude distribution. 5. We conclude that excitatory synaptic transmission in the mammalian spinal cord is quantal and that the apparent skewness of miniature EPSC distributions results from summation of events with multiple quantal peak amplitudes.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Physiol. Rev.Home page
J. C. Rekling, G. D. Funk, D. A. Bayliss, X.-W. Dong, and J. L. Feldman
Synaptic Control of Motoneuronal Excitability
Physiol Rev, April 1, 2000; 80(2): 767 - 852.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Neurosci.Home page
X.-W. Dong and J. L. Feldman
Distinct Subtypes of Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors Mediate Differential Actions on Excitability of Spinal Respiratory Motoneurons
J. Neurosci., July 1, 1999; 19(13): 5173 - 5184.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Neurophysiol.Home page
B.-X. Gao, G. Cheng, and L. Ziskind-Conhaim
Development of Spontaneous Synaptic Transmission in the Rat Spinal Cord
J Neurophysiol, May 1, 1998; 79(5): 2277 - 2287.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Neurosci.Home page
X.-W. Dong, D. Morin, and J. L. Feldman
Multiple Actions of 1S,3R-ACPD in Modulating Endogenous Synaptic Transmission to Spinal Respiratory Motoneurons
J. Neurosci., August 15, 1996; 16(16): 4971 - 4982.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Visit Other APS Journals Online