Potentiation and depression of synaptic transmission in the olfactory cortex of the guinea-pig. 1972

C D Richards

1. The extracellular field potentials of the olfactory cortex evoked by stimulation of the lateral olfactory tract (l.o.t.) were studied in in vitro preparations from the olfactory cortex. The field potentials comprised an initial diphasic wave - the l.o.t. compound action potential - followed by a negative wave of about 10 msec duration which in turn was followed by a low amplitude positive wave of long duration (100 msec or more). In this paper, the size of the negative field potential (extracellularly recorded EPSP) has been studied during and after periods of repetitive stimulation of the l.o.t.2. If two identical volleys were delivered to the l.o.t. the second evoked EPSP was not the same size as the conditioning EPSP. At brief conditioning intervals (up to 10 msec) the second (test) EPSP was smaller than the control. For conditioning intervals between 10 and 200 msec, the test EPSP was potentiated over the control. For long conditioning intervals (300 msec up to 5 sec) the test EPSP was again slightly smaller than the control EPSP. After a brief conditioning train, the depression of a test EPSP (elicited 300 msec or more after the conditioning train) was more pronounced and lasted longer. These changes of test EPSP size were attributed to the presence of two opposing processes: an initial potentiation superimposed on a more prolonged but less pronounced depression.3. During prolonged repetitive stimulation the final steady amplitude of an EPSP varied with the frequency of stimulation. At low frequencies (0.5-2/sec) the steady EPSP amplitude was 90-95% of the initial control amplitude. At moderate frequencies (5-20/sec) the steady EPSP amplitude was greater than the initial control. At high frequencies (above 20/sec) the steady amplitude of the EPSPs declined with increasing frequency of stimulation. Potentiation of EPSPs was observed early in a train of impulses when the stimulation frequency was 5-70/sec.4. After a large number of stimuli at frequencies from 20 to 100/sec the amplitude of individual, infrequently evoked, EPSPs passed through a phase of depression that lasted about 30 sec. This depression was followed by a phase of potentiation (post-tetanic potentiation). The amplitude and duration of post-tetanic potentiation appeared to depend on the characteristics of the conditioning train.5. The discussion compares the results obtained with those obtained for other mammalian synapses. It is suggested that the transmitter in the presynaptic terminals could be in three parts, (a) immediately available transmitter (b) conditionally available transmitter requiring a single nerve impulse for its availability and (c) main depot transmitter which replenishes the other two stores. Potentiation and depression of evoked EPSPs were interpreted in terms of changes in the amount of transmitter released by the test volley. According to this analysis, a fixed proportion (about 10%) of the immediately available transmitter is released by each nerve impulse.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008032 Limbic System A set of forebrain structures common to all mammals that is defined functionally and anatomically. It is implicated in the higher integration of visceral, olfactory, and somatic information as well as homeostatic responses including fundamental survival behaviors (feeding, mating, emotion). For most authors, it includes the AMYGDALA; EPITHALAMUS; GYRUS CINGULI; hippocampal formation (see HIPPOCAMPUS); HYPOTHALAMUS; PARAHIPPOCAMPAL GYRUS; SEPTAL NUCLEI; anterior nuclear group of thalamus, and portions of the basal ganglia. (Parent, Carpenter's Human Neuroanatomy, 9th ed, p744; NeuroNames, http://rprcsgi.rprc.washington.edu/neuronames/index.html (September 2, 1998)). Limbic Systems,System, Limbic,Systems, Limbic
D008959 Models, Neurological Theoretical representations that simulate the behavior or activity of the neurological system, processes or phenomena; includes the use of mathematical equations, computers, and other electronic equipment. Neurologic Models,Model, Neurological,Neurologic Model,Neurological Model,Neurological Models,Model, Neurologic,Models, Neurologic
D009435 Synaptic Transmission The communication from a NEURON to a target (neuron, muscle, or secretory cell) across a SYNAPSE. In chemical synaptic transmission, the presynaptic neuron releases a NEUROTRANSMITTER that diffuses across the synaptic cleft and binds to specific synaptic receptors, activating them. The activated receptors modulate specific ion channels and/or second-messenger systems in the postsynaptic cell. In electrical synaptic transmission, electrical signals are communicated as an ionic current flow across ELECTRICAL SYNAPSES. Neural Transmission,Neurotransmission,Transmission, Neural,Transmission, Synaptic
D009482 Neurophysiology The scientific discipline concerned with the physiology of the nervous system.
D004558 Electric Stimulation Use of electric potential or currents to elicit biological responses. Stimulation, Electric,Electrical Stimulation,Electric Stimulations,Electrical Stimulations,Stimulation, Electrical,Stimulations, Electric,Stimulations, Electrical
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.
D005071 Evoked Potentials Electrical responses recorded from nerve, muscle, SENSORY RECEPTOR, or area of the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM following stimulation. They range from less than a microvolt to several microvolts. The evoked potential can be auditory (EVOKED POTENTIALS, AUDITORY), somatosensory (EVOKED POTENTIALS, SOMATOSENSORY), visual (EVOKED POTENTIALS, VISUAL), or motor (EVOKED POTENTIALS, MOTOR), or other modalities that have been reported. Event Related Potential,Event-Related Potentials,Evoked Potential,N100 Evoked Potential,P50 Evoked Potential,N1 Wave,N100 Evoked Potentials,N2 Wave,N200 Evoked Potentials,N3 Wave,N300 Evoked Potentials,N4 Wave,N400 Evoked Potentials,P2 Wave,P200 Evoked Potentials,P50 Evoked Potentials,P50 Wave,P600 Evoked Potentials,Potentials, Event-Related,Event Related Potentials,Event-Related Potential,Evoked Potential, N100,Evoked Potential, N200,Evoked Potential, N300,Evoked Potential, N400,Evoked Potential, P200,Evoked Potential, P50,Evoked Potential, P600,Evoked Potentials, N100,Evoked Potentials, N200,Evoked Potentials, N300,Evoked Potentials, N400,Evoked Potentials, P200,Evoked Potentials, P50,Evoked Potentials, P600,N1 Waves,N2 Waves,N200 Evoked Potential,N3 Waves,N300 Evoked Potential,N4 Waves,N400 Evoked Potential,P2 Waves,P200 Evoked Potential,P50 Waves,P600 Evoked Potential,Potential, Event Related,Potential, Event-Related,Potential, Evoked,Potentials, Event Related,Potentials, Evoked,Potentials, N400 Evoked,Related Potential, Event,Related Potentials, Event,Wave, N1,Wave, N2,Wave, N3,Wave, N4,Wave, P2,Wave, P50,Waves, N1,Waves, N2,Waves, N3,Waves, N4,Waves, P2,Waves, P50
D006168 Guinea Pigs A common name used for the genus Cavia. The most common species is Cavia porcellus which is the domesticated guinea pig used for pets and biomedical research. Cavia,Cavia porcellus,Guinea Pig,Pig, Guinea,Pigs, Guinea
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

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