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Activity-dependent induction of facilitation, depression, and post-tetanic potentiation at an insect central synapse

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Summary

In Manduca sexta larvae, sensory neurons innervating planta hairs on the tips of the prolegs make monosynaptic excitatory connections with motoneurons innervating proleg retractor muscles. Tactile stimulation of the hairs evokes reflex retraction of the proleg. In this study we examined activity-dependent changes in the amplitude of the excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) evoked in a proleg motoneuron by stimulation of individual planta hair sensory neurons. Deflection of a planta hair caused a phasic-tonic response in the sensory neuron, with a mean peak instantaneous firing frequency of >300 Hz, and a tonic firing rate of 10–20 Hz. Direct electrical stimulation was used to activate individual sensory neurons to fire at a range of frequencies including those observed during natural stimulation of the hair. At relatively low firing rates (e.g., 1 Hz), EPSP amplitude was stable indefinitely. At higher instantaneous firing frequencies (>10 Hz), EPSPs were initially facilitated, but continuous stimulation led rapidly to synaptic depression. High-frequency activation of a sensory neuron could also produce post-tetanic potentiation, in which EPSP amplitude remained elevated for several min following a stimulus train. Facilitation, depression, and post-tetanic potentiation all appeared to be presynaptic phenomena. These activity-dependent changes in sensory transmission may contribute to the behavioral plasticity of the proleg withdrawal reflex observed in intact insects.

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Abbreviations

ACh :

acetylcholine

AChE :

acetylcholine esterase

CNS :

central nervous system

EPSP :

excitatory postsynaptic potential

I h :

injected hyperpolarizing current

LTP :

long-term potentiation

PPR :

principal planta retractor motoneuron

PTP :

post-tetanic potentiation

R in :

input resistance

V h :

hyperpolarized potential

V m :

membrane potential

VN :

ventral nerve

VNA :

anterior branch of the ventral nerve

V r :

resting potential.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, 97403, Eugene, OR, USA

    Barry A. Trimmer & Janis C. Weeks

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  1. Barry A. Trimmer
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  2. Janis C. Weeks
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Trimmer, B.A., Weeks, J.C. Activity-dependent induction of facilitation, depression, and post-tetanic potentiation at an insect central synapse. J Comp Physiol A 168, 27–43 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00217101

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