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[Dynamic ion mechanism of bursting in the stomatogastric ganglion neurons of crayfish.] [Ariticle in Chinese]

Zhang Lei, YUAN Lan, YANG Ming-Hao, REN Wei, GU Hua-Guang*

College of Life Science, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710062, China

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to identify the electrical activity of neuron, the existence of the transition from bursting patternto spiking pattern and the ion mechanism of the bursting pattern. The intracellular electrical activity patterns of single neurons in thestomatogastric ganglion (STG) of crayfish were recorded when the extracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]o) or calcium-dependentpotassium channel blocker tetraethylammonium concentration ([TEA]o) were changed, using intracellular recording method. Thesesingle neurons were also functionally isolated from the ganglion by application of atropine and picrotoxin which could block theinhibitory acetylcholine synapses and glutamatergic synapses respectively. When [Ca2+]o was decreased by increasing EGTA, themembrane potential of the neuron was increased, and the electrical activity patterns were changed from the resting state with lowerpotential value (resting state of polarization) to the bursting pattern firstly, and then to the spiking pattern, at last to the resting statewith higher potential value (resting state of depolarization). When [TEA]o was increased, the membrane potential of the neuron wasincreased, and the electrical activity pattern was changed from the resting state with lower potential value (resting state of polarization)to the bursting pattern firstly, and then to the spiking pattern. The duration of the burst of the bursting pattern was increased. When[Ca2+]o was increased or [TEA]o was decreased, an inverse procedure of the electrical activity pattern was exhibited. On one hand, theresults indicate that a single neuron can generate various electrical activity patterns corresponding to different physiological conditions,and the regularity of the transitions between different electrical activity patterns. On the other hand, the results identify that theinitiation and termination of the burst in bursting pattern are determined by calcium-activated potassium conductance, which isadjusted by intracellular calcium concentration influenced by inward calcium current. It may be the ionic mechanism of generation of the bursting pattern in a single neuron.

Key words: neuron; bursting pattern; rhythm; pattern transition; stomatogastric ganglion

Received: 2010-01-27  Accepted: 2010-05-26

Corresponding author: 古华光  E-mail: guhuaguang@263.net

Citing This Article:

Zhang Lei, YUAN Lan, YANG Ming-Hao, REN Wei, GU Hua-Guang. [Dynamic ion mechanism of bursting in the stomatogastric ganglion neurons of crayfish.] [Ariticle in Chinese] . Acta Physiol Sin 2010; 62 (4): 365-372 (in Chinese with English abstract).