Physiological and Morphological Characterization of Organotypic Cocultures of the Chick Forebrain Area MNH and its Main Input Area DMA/DMP
Cocultures of the learning-relevant forebrain region mediorostrai neostriatum and hyperstriatum ventrale (MNH) and its main glutamatergic input area nucleus dorsomedialis anterior thalami/posterior thalami were morphologically and physiologically characterized. Synaptic contacts of thalamic fibers w...
Main Authors: | , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Hindawi Limited
2001-01-01
|
Series: | Neural Plasticity |
Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/NP.2001.219 |
id |
doaj-bb76ade7188d4df5ba94de776f617419 |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-bb76ade7188d4df5ba94de776f6174192020-11-24T21:44:37ZengHindawi LimitedNeural Plasticity2090-59041687-54432001-01-018421924010.1155/NP.2001.219Physiological and Morphological Characterization of Organotypic Cocultures of the Chick Forebrain Area MNH and its Main Input Area DMA/DMPHeike Endepols0Julia Jungnickel1Katharina Braun2Leibniz-Institute for Neurobiology, Brenneckestr. 6, Magdeburg 39118, GermanyLeibniz-Institute for Neurobiology, Brenneckestr. 6, Magdeburg 39118, GermanyLeibniz-Institute for Neurobiology, Brenneckestr. 6, Magdeburg 39118, GermanyCocultures of the learning-relevant forebrain region mediorostrai neostriatum and hyperstriatum ventrale (MNH) and its main glutamatergic input area nucleus dorsomedialis anterior thalami/posterior thalami were morphologically and physiologically characterized. Synaptic contacts of thalamic fibers were lightand electron-microscopically detected on MNH neurons by applying the fluorescence tracer DiI-C18(3) into the thalamus part of the coculture. Most thalamic synapses on MNH neurons were symmetric and located on dendritic shafts, but no correlation between Gray-type ultrastructure and dendritic localization was found. Using intraceilular current clamp recordings, we found that the electrophysiological properties, such as input resistance, time constant, action potential threshold, amplitude, and duration of MNH neurons, remain stable for over 30 days in vitro. Pharmacological blockade experiments revealed glutamate as the main neurotransmitter of thalamic synapses on MNH neurons, which were also found on inhibitory neurons. High frequency stimulation of thalamic inputs evoked synaptic potentiation in 22% of MNH neurons. The results indicate that DMA/DMP-MNH cocultures, which can be maintained under stable conditions for at least 4 weeks, provide an attractive in vitro model for investigating synaptic plasticity in the avian brain.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/NP.2001.219 |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Heike Endepols Julia Jungnickel Katharina Braun |
spellingShingle |
Heike Endepols Julia Jungnickel Katharina Braun Physiological and Morphological Characterization of Organotypic Cocultures of the Chick Forebrain Area MNH and its Main Input Area DMA/DMP Neural Plasticity |
author_facet |
Heike Endepols Julia Jungnickel Katharina Braun |
author_sort |
Heike Endepols |
title |
Physiological and Morphological Characterization of
Organotypic Cocultures of the Chick Forebrain Area
MNH and its Main Input Area DMA/DMP |
title_short |
Physiological and Morphological Characterization of
Organotypic Cocultures of the Chick Forebrain Area
MNH and its Main Input Area DMA/DMP |
title_full |
Physiological and Morphological Characterization of
Organotypic Cocultures of the Chick Forebrain Area
MNH and its Main Input Area DMA/DMP |
title_fullStr |
Physiological and Morphological Characterization of
Organotypic Cocultures of the Chick Forebrain Area
MNH and its Main Input Area DMA/DMP |
title_full_unstemmed |
Physiological and Morphological Characterization of
Organotypic Cocultures of the Chick Forebrain Area
MNH and its Main Input Area DMA/DMP |
title_sort |
physiological and morphological characterization of
organotypic cocultures of the chick forebrain area
mnh and its main input area dma/dmp |
publisher |
Hindawi Limited |
series |
Neural Plasticity |
issn |
2090-5904 1687-5443 |
publishDate |
2001-01-01 |
description |
Cocultures of the learning-relevant forebrain
region mediorostrai neostriatum and
hyperstriatum ventrale (MNH) and its main
glutamatergic input area nucleus dorsomedialis
anterior thalami/posterior thalami were morphologically
and physiologically characterized.
Synaptic contacts of thalamic fibers were lightand
electron-microscopically detected on MNH
neurons by applying the fluorescence tracer
DiI-C18(3) into the thalamus part of the coculture.
Most thalamic synapses on MNH neurons
were symmetric and located on dendritic shafts,
but no correlation between Gray-type ultrastructure
and dendritic localization was found.
Using intraceilular current clamp recordings, we
found that the electrophysiological properties,
such as input resistance, time constant, action
potential threshold, amplitude, and duration of
MNH neurons, remain stable for over 30 days in
vitro. Pharmacological blockade experiments
revealed glutamate as the main neurotransmitter
of thalamic synapses on MNH neurons, which
were also found on inhibitory neurons. High
frequency stimulation of thalamic inputs evoked
synaptic potentiation in 22%
of MNH neurons.
The results indicate that DMA/DMP-MNH cocultures,
which can be maintained under stable
conditions for at least 4 weeks, provide an
attractive in vitro model for investigating
synaptic plasticity in the avian brain. |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/NP.2001.219 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT heikeendepols physiologicalandmorphologicalcharacterizationoforganotypiccoculturesofthechickforebrainareamnhanditsmaininputareadmadmp AT juliajungnickel physiologicalandmorphologicalcharacterizationoforganotypiccoculturesofthechickforebrainareamnhanditsmaininputareadmadmp AT katharinabraun physiologicalandmorphologicalcharacterizationoforganotypiccoculturesofthechickforebrainareamnhanditsmaininputareadmadmp |
_version_ |
1725909057911390208 |