Intrinsic Properties Shape the Firing Pattern of Ventral Horn Interneurons From the Spinal Cord of the Adult Turtle

Department of Medical Physiology, Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark Submitted 12 June 2006; accepted in final form 3 August 2006 Interneurons in the ventral horn of the spinal cord play a central role in motor control. In adult vertebrates, their intrinsic properties are...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of neurophysiology 2006-11, Vol.96 (5), p.2670-2677
Main Authors: Smith, Morten, Perrier, Jean-Francois
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Action Potentials - drug effects
Algorithms
Animals
Anterior Horn Cells - drug effects
Anterior Horn Cells - physiology
Electrophysiology
Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists - pharmacology
Freshwater
Histocytochemistry
In Vitro Techniques
Interneurons - drug effects
Interneurons - physiology
Nerve Net - physiology
Patch-Clamp Techniques
Spinal Cord - cytology
Spinal Cord - drug effects
Spinal Cord - physiology
Synapses - drug effects
Synapses - physiology
Turtles - physiology
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Summary:Department of Medical Physiology, Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark Submitted 12 June 2006; accepted in final form 3 August 2006 Interneurons in the ventral horn of the spinal cord play a central role in motor control. In adult vertebrates, their intrinsic properties are poorly described because of the lack of in vitro preparations from the spinal cord of mature mammals. Taking advantage of the high resistance to anoxia in the adult turtle, we used a slice preparation from the spinal cord. We used the whole cell blind patch-clamp technique to record from ventral horn interneurons. We characterized their firing patterns in response to depolarizing current pulses and found that all the interneurons fired repetitively. They displayed bursting, adapting, delayed, accelerating, or oscillating firing patterns. By combining electrophysiological and pharmacological tests, we showed that interneurons expressed slow inward rectification, plateau potential, voltage-sensitive transient outward rectification, and low-threshold spikes. These results demonstrate a diversity of intrinsic properties that may enable a rich repertoire of activity patterns in the network of ventral horn interneurons. Address for reprint requests and other correspondence: J.-F. Perrier; MFI, Panum Institute; Blegdamsvej 3, DK-2200 Denmark (E-mail: perrier{at}mfi.ku.dk )
ISSN:0022-3077
1522-1598
DOI:10.1152/jn.00609.2006