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The electrophysiological properties of HVC--RA synaptic transmission in the adult zebra finch {sl in vivo}

Meng Wei, Wang Xiaodong, Xiao Peng, Li Dongfeng

College of Life Sciences,South China Normal University.Guangzhou 510631,Guangdong

Abstract

The synaptic connection from HVC (high vocal center) to RA (robust nucleus of the arcopallium) is a pivotal part of vocal motor pathway of songbirds. Electrophysiological properties of HVC-RA synaptic transmission in adult male zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata) in vivo was investigated by using field potential recording method. Following electrical stimulation to HVC, the evoked field potentials recorded in RA were feeble. The results showed that the remarkable pairing-pulse facilitation was induced by paired-pulse stimulation at HVC-RA synapses. The results also showed that the evoked field potentials were significantly decreased after a conditioning tetanic stimulation and finally recovered gradually within 15 minutes, which indicates tetanic stimulation-induced transient depression is present at HVC-RA synaptic transmission. These results suggested that properties of synaptic transmission in this pathway might play a role in controlling song production.

Key words: HVC-RA synaptic transmission;electrophysiological properties;zebra finch （Taeniopygia guttata）

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Citing This Article：

Meng Wei, Wang Xiaodong, Xiao Peng, Li Dongfeng. The electrophysiological properties of HVC--RA synaptic transmission in the adult zebra finch {sl in vivo}. Acta Physiol Sin 2006; 58 (3): (in Chinese with English abstract).