Crayfish tonic inhibition: prolonged modulation of behavioral excitability by classical GABAergic inhibition

Crayfish tonic inhibition: prolonged modulation of behavioral excitability by classical GABAergic inhibition.

Previous studies have indirectly implicated the two neurotransmitters 5-HT and GABA in mediating tonic inhibition of the crayfish lateral giant (LG) escape reaction. In this study, pharmacological agents were selectively delivered to restricted portions of the abdominal CNS (where LG escape circuitry resides) to assess directly the role of these two transmitters in tonic inhibition. Both 5-HT a...

Development of dendritic tonic GABAergic inhibition regulates excitability and plasticity in CA1 pyramidal neurons.

Synaptic plasticity rules change during development: while hippocampal synapses can be potentiated by a single action potential pairing protocol in young neurons, mature neurons require burst firing to induce synaptic potentiation. An essential component for spike timing-dependent plasticity is the backpropagating action potential (BAP). BAP along the dendrites can be modulated by morphology an...

The mechanism of tonic inhibition of crayfish escape behavior: distal inhibition and its functional significance.

The excitability of crayfish escape behavior is seldom fully predictable. A major determinant of this fickleness is a form of descending inhibition that is reliably evoked during restraint or feeding and is called "tonic inhibition." Tonic inhibition was found to inhibit postsynaptically the lateral giant neurons, the command neurons for one form of escape. This inhibition is located on lateral...

Postsynaptic Inhibition of Crayfish Tonic Flexor Motor Neurones by Escape Commands

Cholinergic Modulation of GABAergic Inhibition Dynamics In The Striatum

The striatum contains medium spiny neurons (MSNs) classified by their axonal projection and expression of dopamine receptors into D1+ and D2+ MSNs; and interneurons including choline acetyltransferase expressing interneurons (ChAT+) that influence MSN activity by triggering GABA release. Here, I identify the potential source of this GABA. In addition, I characterize GABAA receptors that mediate...