Abstract
Techniques for recording directly from dendrites of CNS neurons require in vitro preparations (e.g. Spruston et al. 1995). However, we have developed a combined computational/experimental approach that allows us to obtain quantitative information about the role of voltage-sensitive dendritic conductances in an in vivo preparation. The basis of this technique is to take advantage of the well known lack of space clamp of dendritic regions when a voltage clamp is applied at the soma of the cell (Rall and Segev 1985). When synaptic input is applied to the cell, the voltage clamp applied via an electrode in the soma holds the behaviors of voltage-sensitive conductances in that region constant. However, the lack of space clamp means that synaptic input to the dendrites can produce depolarizations that alter the state of dendritic voltage-sensitive conductances (Lee and Heckman 1996; Schwindt and Crill 1995). Thus, the voltage clamp has the advantage of holding the behavior of somatic voltage-sensitive conductances constant while allowing the synaptic input to depolarize dendritic voltage sensitive conductances.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Gutman, A.M. Bistability of dendrites. Int. J. Neural Sys. 1: 291–304, 1991.
Heckman, C.J. and Lee, R.H. Dendritic plateau potentials and bistable firing in spinal motoneurons: in vivo voltage clamp studies. Soc. Neurosci. Abstr. 22: 1845, 1996.
Hounsgaard, J., Hultborn, H., Jespersen, B., and Kiehn, O. Bistability of alpha-motoneurones in the decerebrate cat and in the acute spinal cat after intravenous 5-hydroxytryptophan. J. Physiol. 405: 345–67, 1988.
Larkum, M.E., Rioult, M.G., and Luscher, H.R. Propagation of action potentials in the dendrites of neurons from rat spinal cord slice cultures. J. Neurophysiol 75: 154–170, 1996.
Lee, R.H. and Heckman, C.J. Influence of voltage-sensitive dendritic conductances on bistable firing and effective synaptic current in cat spinal motoneurons in vivo. J. Neurophysiol 76: 2107–2110, 1996.
Rall, W. and Segev, I. Space clamp problems when voltage clamping branched neurons with intracellular microelectrodes. In: Voltage and Patch Clamping with Microelectrodes. Bethesda MD: Am. Physiol. Soc, 1985
Rekling, J.C. and Feldman, J.L. Plateau potentials in ambiguus neurons in newborn mouse brainstem in vitro. ySoc. Neurosci. Abstr. 22: 792, 1996.
Schwindt, P.C. and Crill, W.E. Amplification of synaptic current by persistent sodium conductance in apical dendrite of neocortical neurons. J. Neurophysiol. 74: 2220–2224, 1995.
Spruston, N., Jonas, P., and Sakmann, B. Dendritic glutamate receptor channels in rat hippocampal CA3 and CA1 pyramidal neurons. J. Physiol. 482: 325–352, 1995.
Svirskis, G. and Hounsgaard, J. Depolarization-induced facilitation of a plateau-generating current in ventral horn neurons in the turtle spinal cord. J. Neurophysiol. 78: 1740–2, 1997.
Zhang, B., Wooten, J.F., and Harris-Warrick, M. Calcium plateau potentials in crab stomatogastric ganglion motor neuron. II. Calcium-activated slow inward current. J. Neurophysiol 74: 1938–1946, 1995.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1998 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Lee, R.H., Heckman, C.J. (1998). Active Dendritic Conductances Influence the Relations Between Synaptic Input and the Current-Voltage Relation of Adult Spinal Motoneurons. In: Bower, J.M. (eds) Computational Neuroscience. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-4831-7_36
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-4831-7_36
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-7190-8
Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-4831-7
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive