Issue Archive

Characteristics of synaptic responses of motoneurons to ventrolateral funiculus stimulation in vitro

Wang Mengya, Shen E

Cell Electrophysiology Laboratory, Wannan Medical College. Wuhu 241001, Shanghai, China；Shanghai Brain Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Science. Shanghai 200031, China

Abstract

By using the intracellular recording techniques, the electrophysiological character-istics of fast excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSP) evoked by ventrolateral funiculus (VLF) stimulation were analyzed in neonate rat motoneurons (MN) of spinal cord slices.The incidences of VLF-EPSPs was 80% (n = 28 ), among which 2 is preceded by inhibitory postsynaptic potential and 6 followed by slow EPSPs. Considering the distribution skewness of VLF-EPSP latency histogram, it was suggested that short- and long-latency EPSPs correspond respectively to mono- and poly-synaptic transmission respectively. The possible neurotransmitters mediating VLF-EPSPs were excitatory amino acids and non-NMDA receptors were critically involved in these synaptic transmissions,for both VLF-EPSP and glutamate-induced response were similary and almost completely abolished by kynurenic acid and DNQX. Typical spatial summation of VLF-EPSPs and EPSPs evoked by ventral root stimulation were observed in the same recorded MNs.

Key words: Motoneurons;Excitatory postsynaptic potentials;Descending activation;Ventrolateral funiculus;Spinal cord;Rat

Received: 　　Accepted:

Corresponding author: 　　E-mail:

Citing This Article：

Wang Mengya, Shen E. Characteristics of synaptic responses of motoneurons to ventrolateral funiculus stimulation in vitro. Acta Physiol Sin 1997; 49 (6): (in Chinese with English abstract).