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S C Baraban

Publications and source records attributed to S C Baraban.

28 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Osmolarity modulates K+ channel function on rat hippocampal interneurons but not CA1 pyramidal neurons.

1. Whole-cell and single-channel recording methods were used in conjunction with infrared video microscopy techniques to examine the properties of voltage-activated potassium channels in hippocampal neurons during the application of hyposmolar solutions to hippocampal slices from rats. 2. Hyposmolar external solutions (osmolarity reduced by 10% to 267 mosmol l-1) produced a significant potentiation of voltage-activated K+ current on lacunosum/moleculare (L/M) hippocampal interneurons, but not on CA1 and subiculum pyramidal neurons. Hyperpolarization-activated (IH) and leak currents were not altered during the application of hyposmolar solutions in all cell types. 3. Mean channel open time and the probability of channel opening were dramatically increased under hyposmolar recording conditions for outside-out patches from L/M interneurons; no changes were observed for patches from CA1 pyramidal neurons. Mean current amplitude and the threshold for channel activation were not affected by hyposmotic challenge. 4. Hyposmolar external solutions produced a significant reduction in the firing frequency of L/M interneurons recorded in current-clamp mode. Hyposmolar solutions had no effect on resting membrane potential, action potential amplitude or duration, and spike after-hyperpolarization amplitude. 5. These results indicate that selective modulation of interneuron ion channel activity may be a critical mechanism by which osmolarity can regulate excitability in the central nervous system.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Effects of prenatal cocaine exposure on the developing hippocampus: intrinsic and synaptic physiology.

A variety of neurological complications has been reported in infants exposed to cocaine during gestation. In the present study, intrinsic cell properties of hippocampal neurons from CA1, CA3, and dentate gyrus regions were measured and compared in tissue from neonatal rats exposed to saline or cocaine in utero. Synaptic properties of the CA1 pyramidal cell region were analyzed at postnatal day (P) 20 with the use of extracellular and intracellular recording techniques. In vitro intracellular recordings (n = 223) obtained at P10, P15 and P20 in tissue from cocaine- and saline-exposed animals revealed no differences in standard cell properties such as resting membrane potential, input resistance, time constant, and action potential amplitude or duration. Hippocampal slices from cocaine-exposed animals exhibited a marked reduction of spike frequency adaptation for all three types of principal hippocampal neurons (e.g., CA1, CA3, and granule cells). The amplitudes of afterhyperpolarizations following a spike train were also decreased in CA1 and CA3 cells in tissue from cocaine-exposed animals. Extracellular and intracellular recordings in the CA1 pyramidal cell region at P20 were obtained to assess and compare synaptic function in tissue from cocaine- and saline-exposed animals. In hippocampal slices from cocaine-exposed animals, synaptic responses in the CA1 region were characterized by multiple population spike activity and reduced inhibitory postsynaptic potentials. The reduction in fast inhibitory postsynaptic potential conductance was not associated with a change in reversal potential. These results suggest that gestational cocaine exposure induces significant changes in intrinsic and synaptic electrophysiological properties of hippocampal neurons in the developing animal. The cell and synaptic features are consistent with an increase in hippocampal excitability, which may contribute to the neurobehavioral deficits and epileptogenic predisposition reported in this infant population. As such, this in utero drug exposure model may provide a useful system in which to elucidate and study the basic cellular mechanisms underlying neurological complications associated with maternal cocaine abuse.

Aging↗
PubMed1996

Flurothyl seizure susceptibility in rats following prenatal methylazoxymethanol treatment.

Methylazoxymethanol acetate (MAMac) is a potent teratogenic agent which can produce ectopic cell placement in developing rat brains. In the present study, we evaluated (i) whether prenatal exposure to MAMac results in a lowered seizure threshold to flurothyl and (ii) if there is a correlation between the number of ectopic cells in MAMac-exposed hippocampus and flurothyl-induced seizure latency. In 60 day old (P60) rats exposed to MAMac in utero, the latencies to myoclonic jerk (173 +/- 2.3 s) and forelimb clonus (215 +/- 4.6 s) were significantly shorter than those of controls (200 +/- 6.9 s and 238 +/- 8.8 s, respectively). MAMac also increased the proportion of flurothyl-treated rats that progressed from bilateral forelimb clonus to generalized tonic-clonic seizures (control: 33%; MAMac: 91%). Shorter seizure latencies were associated with an increased number of ectopic pyramidal cells in region CA1/CA2. These results suggest seizure susceptibility is enhanced in an animal model (MAMac) characterized by abnormal neuronal migration.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Dissociation of synchronization and excitability in furosemide blockade of epileptiform activity.

Furosemide, a chloride cotransport inhibitor, reversibly blocked synchronized burst discharges in hippocampal slices without reducing the pyramidal cell response to single electrical stimuli. Images of the intrinsic optical signal acquired during these slice experiments indicated that furosemide coincidentally blocked changes in extracellular space. In urethane-anesthetized rats, systemically injected furosemide blocked kainic acid-induced electrical discharges recorded from cortex. These results suggest that (i) neuronal synchronization involved in epileptiform activity can be dissociated from synaptic excitability; (ii) nonsynaptic mechanisms, possibly associated with furosemide-sensitive cell volume regulation, may be critical for synchronization of neuronal activity; and (iii) agents that affect extracellular volume may have clinical utility as antiepileptic drugs.

4-Aminopyridine↗
PubMed1995

Effects of morphine and morphine withdrawal on adrenergic neurons of the rat rostral ventrolateral medulla.

In urethane anesthetized rats, iontophoretic application of morphine or alpha-methylnoradrenaline (alpha-MNE) inhibited (80-100%) the discharges of all putative adrenergic (C1) cells of the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM). The effect of morphine was blocked selectively by naloxone while that of alpha-MNE was blocked selectively by the alpha 2-adrenergic antagonist idazoxan. Putative C1 cells were inhibited (75-100%) by low i.v. doses of clonidine (10-15 micrograms/kg). Most cells (7/10) were also inhibited by morphine i.v. (81% at 7 mg/kg). Two cells were slightly excited at doses below 2 mg/kg and inhibited at higher doses. Three cells were excited only. All effects of morphine i.v. were reversed by naloxone (1 mg/kg, i.v.). Intravenous administration of naloxone to morphine-dependent rats increased significantly the firing rate of all putative C1 adrenergic cells (from 5.8 +/- 0.9 spikes/s to 12.3 +/- 1.5 spikes/s; n = 8). During withdrawal these cells could still be inhibited (80-100%) by i.v. injection of clonidine (15 micrograms/kg). C-Fos expression induced by naltrexone-precipitated withdrawal was examined in the brainstem of freely moving morphine-dependent rats pretreated with clonidine or saline before injection of the opioid antagonist. The locus coeruleus (LC) of the same rats was examined for comparison. Morphine withdrawal without clonidine treatment significantly increased the number of Fos-like-immunoreactive (Fos-LIR) cells in the RVLM and LC. Clonidine pretreatment (1 mg/kg, i.p.) reduced the number of withdrawal-activated Fos-LIR cells in LC by 81%. In the RVLM this reduction averaged 37% for all cell types and 48% for C1 adrenergic cells. Further, a very large proportion of RVLM neurons that expressed c-Fos during morphine withdrawal (83%) were immunoreactive for alpha 2A-adrenergic receptors. This study suggests that, like noradrenergic cells of the LC, C1 adrenergic neurons of the RVLM are: (i) inhibited by both opiate and alpha 2-adrenergic receptor agonists; and (ii) activated during naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal. Since C1 cells are considered essential to sympathetic tone generation, their inhibition by morphine may contribute to the hypotensive effects of this opioid agonist in non-dependent individuals. Their excitation during opiate withdrawal may also contribute to the autonomic activation that characterizes this syndrome. Finally, inhibition of C1 cells by clonidine may contribute to the clinically recognized efficacy of this drug to attenuate autonomic signs of opiate withdrawal.

Adrenergic Agents↗
PubMed1995

Electrophysiology of CA1 pyramidal neurons in an animal model of neuronal migration disorders: prenatal methylazoxymethanol treatment.

Prenatal methylazoxymethanol acetate (MAMac) injection disrupts cell migration in developing rats. We investigated the electrophysiological characteristics of hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons from young MAMac-treated animals (postnatal days 25-35). In vitro intracellular recordings from CA1 cells in MAMac-treated tissue revealed resting membrane potential (mean, -61.5 +/- 1.5 mV), action potential amplitude (mean, 69 +/- 3.1 mV), action potential duration (mean, 2.1 +/- 0.2 ms), input resistance (mean, 51.5 +/- 3.6 M omega) and time constant (mean, 33.2 +/- 1.2 ms) similar to those of CA1 cells from control tissue. However, MAMac-treated tissue could be distinguished as having a higher percentage of cells (62% vs. 10%) which fire a burst of action potentials in response to suprathreshold current injection. The synaptic responses of CA1 cells in MAMac-treated and control tissue were comparable. The CA1 field response to stimulation was also comparable at all stimulus intensities tested (50-1500 microA). Elevation of extracellular potassium concentration ([K+]o) from 3 mM to 6 mM resulted in epileptiform discharge activity in response to stratum radiatum stimulation in all MAMac-treated slices (10/10) but in only one-third of controls (3/9). Spontaneous epileptiform discharges were also observed in the majority (8/13) of MAMac-treated slices bathed in 6 mM KCl but in no controls. These data suggest that MAMac treatment during fetal development not only disrupts normal anatomical organization but also leads to alterations in electrophysiological features of the hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cell region. As such, the MAMac model may provide insights into early onset seizure syndromes associated with developmental abnormalities.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1995

Kappa opioid receptor-mediated suppression of voltage-activated potassium current in a catecholaminergic neuronal cell line.

Opioid sensitivity of a catecholaminergic cell line (CATH.a) of brainstem origin was examined using whole-cell voltage-clamp techniques. Morphine produced a preferential and concentration-dependent decrease of the amplitude of voltage-activated potassium current, IK (ED50 = approximately 4 microM, maximum inhibition 52%, n = 33). The mu-selective opiate agonist [D-Ala2, MePhe, Gly-ol5] enkephalin (2-20 microM; n = 6) and the delta-selective agonist [D-Pen2, D-Pen5] enkephalin (2-20 microM; n = 7) produced no effect. However, the kappa-selective agonist trans-(+/-)-3,4-dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-[1-pyrrolidinyl]cyclohexyl)ben zene-acetamide reduced IK in a concentration-dependent manner (EC50 = 2.3 microM, maximum inhibition 44%, n = 40). The kappa receptor antagonist nor-binaltorphimine (10 nM) blocked the effect of either morphine (10 microM, n = 6) or U50,488 (10 microM, n = 7). Kappa agonist-mediated IK reduction was prevented by intracellular dialysis with an inactive form of guanosine diphosphate, guanosine 5'-O-(2-thio)diphosphate (100-200 microM; n = 10) but was unchanged by incubation with pertussis toxin (500 ng/ml, 24-48 h, n = 10). These results suggest that opioid suppression of IK is mediated by kappa-opioid receptors coupled to a pertussis toxin-insensitive G-protein.

Catecholamines↗
PubMed1994

Voltage-activated potassium currents in acutely dissociated hippocampal dentate gyrus neurons from neonatal rats.

We have studied outward currents of neurons acutely dissociated from the dentate gyrus region of hippocampus using whole-cell and perforated patch recordings. Depolarizing voltage commands activated sustained outward currents at all age tested (P5-P30). Outward currents were blocked by tetraethylammonium (10 mM) but not 4-aminopyridine (25 mM). Comparison of sustained potassium current during postnatal development showed a significant increase in current amplitude with age reaching a peak between P20 and P30. These results suggest an overall increase in the number of voltage-dependent ion channels during development, specifically those underlying TEA-sensitive potassium currents.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Respiratory control of sympathetic nerve activity during naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal in rats.

In this study, we describe and compare the changes in phrenic nerve discharge and vasomotor sympathetic output produced by 1) acute administration of morphine in naive rats and 2) naloxone-precipitated withdrawal in morphine-dependent rats. Lumbar or splanchnic sympathetic nerve discharge and phrenic nerve discharge were recorded along with mean arterial pressure and end-expiratory CO2 in vagotomized, urethane-anesthetized, paralyzed and artificially ventilated rats. Acute injection of morphine (1 and 5 mg/kg, i.v.) reduced resting mean arterial pressure, resting phrenic nerve discharge amplitude, the sympathetic baroreflex and the central respiratory drive of sympathetic nerve discharge. Subsequent administration of naloxone (1 mg/kg) reversed all cardiorespiratory effects of morphine and produced an overshoot, suggesting acute withdrawal. Morphine-dependent rats displayed a prolonged central inspiratory phase and a higher threshold for apnea. Naloxone-induced withdrawal was associated with an increase of mean arterial pressure and phrenic nerve discharge amplitude and a large reduction in the inspiratory phase. Withdrawal produced three distinct effects on sympathetic nerve discharge: 1) sensitization of the baroreflex, 2) large increase in the central respiratory drive and 3) selective increase in a respiratory-independent component of the splanchnic sympathetic outflow. It is concluded that the increase in central respiratory drive is a significant component of the sympathoactivation associated with naloxone-induced withdrawal.

Animals↗