Biomaterial Database

Characterization of miniature inhibitory post-synaptic potentials in rat spinal motoneurones. 1985

H Kojima, and T Takahashi

Intracellular recordings were made from motoneurones in the isolated spinal cord of neonatal rats. After action potentials had been abolished by tetrodotoxin (TTX, 10(-6) g/ml), small (approximately 0.4 mV) depolarizing potentials occurred spontaneously in motoneurones at low frequencies (approximately 1.5 Hz). These potentials were detectable only after the intracellular Cl- concentration of motoneurones was raised by using KCl electrodes and most of them were blocked by strychnine, suggesting that they are inhibitory post-synaptic potentials (i.p.s.p.s). These spontaneous i.p.s.p.s under TTX are designated as 'miniature i.p.s.p.s' in order to distinguish them from i.p.s.p.s arising from spontaneous impulse activities of interneurones or afferent fibres. The miniature i.p.s.p.s were still observed after Ca2+ in saline was substituted by Mg2+ or Mn2+. In low Ca2+ and high Mg2+ saline, the amplitude distribution of miniature i.p.s.p.s was essentially the same as in normal saline. The frequency of miniature i.p.s.p.s increased when external Ca2+ concentration was raised. The frequency decreased to about 60% of the control when external Ca2+ was substituted by Mg2+ (2-4 mM), whereas it increased to more than 20-fold when substituted by Mn2+ (3-5 mM). When the external K+ concentration was raised, the frequency of miniature i.p.s.p.s under TTX increased non-linearly with the K+ concentration. The maximum slope in the relation between the log frequency and log K+ concentration was about 3.6. When the osmotic pressure was increased by adding sucrose, miniature i.p.s.p.s increased in frequency. The effect of osmotic pressure was relatively mild compared with that reported for the miniature end-plate potentials (e.p.p.s) in the frog. When the temperature was raised, the frequency of miniature i.p.s.p.s increased. The relation between frequency and temperature fitted approximately to a straight line in Arrhenius plot with a Q10 of about 2.6. These characteristics of the miniature i.p.s.p.s closely resemble those of the miniature e.p.p.s. It is concluded that the miniature i.p.s.p.s recorded in motoneurones are equivalent in nature to the miniature e.p.p.s in neuromuscular junctions, thus reflecting the spontaneous release of quantal packages of the inhibitory transmitter.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008274	Magnesium	A metallic element that has the atomic symbol Mg, atomic number 12, and atomic weight 24.31. It is important for the activity of many enzymes, especially those involved in OXIDATIVE PHOSPHORYLATION.
D008345	Manganese	A trace element with atomic symbol Mn, atomic number 25, and atomic weight 54.94. It is concentrated in cell mitochondria, mostly in the pituitary gland, liver, pancreas, kidney, and bone, influences the synthesis of mucopolysaccharides, stimulates hepatic synthesis of cholesterol and fatty acids, and is a cofactor in many enzymes, including arginase and alkaline phosphatase in the liver. (From AMA Drug Evaluations Annual 1992, p2035)
D009046	Motor Neurons	Neurons which activate MUSCLE CELLS.	Neurons, Motor,Alpha Motorneurons,Motoneurons,Motor Neurons, Alpha,Neurons, Alpha Motor,Alpha Motor Neuron,Alpha Motor Neurons,Alpha Motorneuron,Motoneuron,Motor Neuron,Motor Neuron, Alpha,Motorneuron, Alpha,Motorneurons, Alpha,Neuron, Alpha Motor,Neuron, Motor
D009997	Osmotic Pressure	The pressure required to prevent the passage of solvent through a semipermeable membrane that separates a pure solvent from a solution of the solvent and solute or that separates different concentrations of a solution. It is proportional to the osmolality of the solution.	Osmotic Shock,Hypertonic Shock,Hypertonic Stress,Hypotonic Shock,Hypotonic Stress,Osmotic Stress,Hypertonic Shocks,Hypertonic Stresses,Hypotonic Shocks,Hypotonic Stresses,Osmotic Pressures,Osmotic Shocks,Osmotic Stresses,Pressure, Osmotic,Pressures, Osmotic,Shock, Hypertonic,Shock, Hypotonic,Shock, Osmotic,Shocks, Hypertonic,Shocks, Hypotonic,Shocks, Osmotic,Stress, Hypertonic,Stress, Hypotonic,Stress, Osmotic,Stresses, Hypertonic,Stresses, Hypotonic,Stresses, Osmotic
D011188	Potassium	An element in the alkali group of metals with an atomic symbol K, atomic number 19, and atomic weight 39.10. It is the chief cation in the intracellular fluid of muscle and other cells. Potassium ion is a strong electrolyte that plays a significant role in the regulation of fluid volume and maintenance of the WATER-ELECTROLYTE BALANCE.
D011919	Rats, Inbred Strains	Genetically identical individuals developed from brother and sister matings which have been carried out for twenty or more generations or by parent x offspring matings carried out with certain restrictions. This also includes animals with a long history of closed colony breeding.	August Rats,Inbred Rat Strains,Inbred Strain of Rat,Inbred Strain of Rats,Inbred Strains of Rats,Rat, Inbred Strain,August Rat,Inbred Rat Strain,Inbred Strain Rat,Inbred Strain Rats,Inbred Strains Rat,Inbred Strains Rats,Rat Inbred Strain,Rat Inbred Strains,Rat Strain, Inbred,Rat Strains, Inbred,Rat, August,Rat, Inbred Strains,Rats Inbred Strain,Rats Inbred Strains,Rats, August,Rats, Inbred Strain,Strain Rat, Inbred,Strain Rats, Inbred,Strain, Inbred Rat,Strains, Inbred Rat
D002118	Calcium	A basic element found in nearly all tissues. It is a member of the alkaline earth family of metals with the atomic symbol Ca, atomic number 20, and atomic weight 40. Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body and combines with phosphorus to form calcium phosphate in the bones and teeth. It is essential for the normal functioning of nerves and muscles and plays a role in blood coagulation (as factor IV) and in many enzymatic processes.	Coagulation Factor IV,Factor IV,Blood Coagulation Factor IV,Calcium-40,Calcium 40,Factor IV, Coagulation
D000200	Action Potentials	Abrupt changes in the membrane potential that sweep along the CELL MEMBRANE of excitable cells in response to excitation stimuli.	Spike Potentials,Nerve Impulses,Action Potential,Impulse, Nerve,Impulses, Nerve,Nerve Impulse,Potential, Action,Potential, Spike,Potentials, Action,Potentials, Spike,Spike Potential
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
D013116	Spinal Cord	A cylindrical column of tissue that lies within the vertebral canal. It is composed of WHITE MATTER and GRAY MATTER.	Coccygeal Cord,Conus Medullaris,Conus Terminalis,Lumbar Cord,Medulla Spinalis,Myelon,Sacral Cord,Thoracic Cord,Coccygeal Cords,Conus Medullari,Conus Terminali,Cord, Coccygeal,Cord, Lumbar,Cord, Sacral,Cord, Spinal,Cord, Thoracic,Cords, Coccygeal,Cords, Lumbar,Cords, Sacral,Cords, Spinal,Cords, Thoracic,Lumbar Cords,Medulla Spinali,Medullari, Conus,Medullaris, Conus,Myelons,Sacral Cords,Spinal Cords,Spinali, Medulla,Spinalis, Medulla,Terminali, Conus,Terminalis, Conus,Thoracic Cords