Intrasynaptic ephaptic feedback in central synapses. 2000

L L Voronin
Institute of the Brain, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Moscow.

Electrophysiological laboratory studies on rat visual cortex and hippocampus slices are reviewed. The aim was to confirm the existence of positive feedback in central synapses operating by an electrical (ephaptic) mechanism, as suggested by Byzov. Byzov's hypothesis holds that artificial hyperpolarization of the postsynaptic membrane potential should increase the amplitude of the excitatory postsynaptic current (EPSC) and potential (EPSP) in some central synapses not only by means of increases in the electromotive force (EMF). but also by means of increases in transmitter release from the presynaptic apparatus. Some experiments showed that hyperpolarization altered the parameters of presynaptic transmitter release, i.e., the quantity of "failed" responses N0, the coefficient of variation CV, and the quantum composition m of minimal EPSC and EPSP. The effect was particularly marked for EPSP in giant synapses formed by mossy fibers on neurons in field CA3. "Supralinear" functions were observed for these synapses in the relationship between EPSC amplitude and membrane potential in conditions of hyperpolarization of membrane potentials and in the relationship between presynaptic paired-stimulus facilitation and membrane potential. All of these "non-classical" effects disappeared when summed rather than minimal EPSC were evoked. The results are in agreement with computer experiments based on the Byzov model and are regarded as support for Byzov's hypothesis. Regardless of their explanation, the data obtained here demonstrate a new feedback mechanism for central synapses, which allows the postsynaptic neuron to control the efficiency of some synapses via changes in membrane potential. This mechanism can significantly increase the efficiency of large ("perforated") synapses and explains the increase in the number of this type of synapse after various experimental manipulations, such as those inducing long-term potentiation or forming conditioned reflexes.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D004594 Electrophysiology The study of the generation and behavior of electrical charges in living organisms particularly the nervous system and the effects of electricity on living organisms.
D005246 Feedback A mechanism of communication within a system in that the input signal generates an output response which returns to influence the continued activity or productivity of that system. Feedbacks
D006624 Hippocampus A curved elevation of GRAY MATTER extending the entire length of the floor of the TEMPORAL HORN of the LATERAL VENTRICLE (see also TEMPORAL LOBE). The hippocampus proper, subiculum, and DENTATE GYRUS constitute the hippocampal formation. Sometimes authors include the ENTORHINAL CORTEX in the hippocampal formation. Ammon Horn,Cornu Ammonis,Hippocampal Formation,Subiculum,Ammon's Horn,Hippocampus Proper,Ammons Horn,Formation, Hippocampal,Formations, Hippocampal,Hippocampal Formations,Hippocampus Propers,Horn, Ammon,Horn, Ammon's,Proper, Hippocampus,Propers, Hippocampus,Subiculums
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013569 Synapses Specialized junctions at which a neuron communicates with a target cell. At classical synapses, a neuron's presynaptic terminal releases a chemical transmitter stored in synaptic vesicles which diffuses across a narrow synaptic cleft and activates receptors on the postsynaptic membrane of the target cell. The target may be a dendrite, cell body, or axon of another neuron, or a specialized region of a muscle or secretory cell. Neurons may also communicate via direct electrical coupling with ELECTRICAL SYNAPSES. Several other non-synaptic chemical or electric signal transmitting processes occur via extracellular mediated interactions. Synapse
D014793 Visual Cortex Area of the OCCIPITAL LOBE concerned with the processing of visual information relayed via VISUAL PATHWAYS. Area V2,Area V3,Area V4,Area V5,Associative Visual Cortex,Brodmann Area 18,Brodmann Area 19,Brodmann's Area 18,Brodmann's Area 19,Cortical Area V2,Cortical Area V3,Cortical Area V4,Cortical Area V5,Secondary Visual Cortex,Visual Cortex Secondary,Visual Cortex V2,Visual Cortex V3,Visual Cortex V3, V4, V5,Visual Cortex V4,Visual Cortex V5,Visual Cortex, Associative,Visual Motion Area,Extrastriate Cortex,Area 18, Brodmann,Area 18, Brodmann's,Area 19, Brodmann,Area 19, Brodmann's,Area V2, Cortical,Area V3, Cortical,Area V4, Cortical,Area V5, Cortical,Area, Visual Motion,Associative Visual Cortices,Brodmanns Area 18,Brodmanns Area 19,Cortex Secondary, Visual,Cortex V2, Visual,Cortex V3, Visual,Cortex, Associative Visual,Cortex, Extrastriate,Cortex, Secondary Visual,Cortex, Visual,Cortical Area V3s,Extrastriate Cortices,Secondary Visual Cortices,V3, Cortical Area,V3, Visual Cortex,V4, Area,V4, Cortical Area,V5, Area,V5, Cortical Area,V5, Visual Cortex,Visual Cortex Secondaries,Visual Cortex, Secondary,Visual Motion Areas
D051381 Rats The common name for the genus Rattus. Rattus,Rats, Laboratory,Rats, Norway,Rattus norvegicus,Laboratory Rat,Laboratory Rats,Norway Rat,Norway Rats,Rat,Rat, Laboratory,Rat, Norway,norvegicus, Rattus

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