Probabilistic graphical model identifies clusters of EEG patterns in recordings from neonates

OBJECTIVES

In this paper we introduce a novel method for the evaluation of neonatal brain function via multivariate EEG (electroencephalography) signal processing and embedding into a probabilistic graph, the so called Chow-Liu tree.

METHODS

Using 28 EEG recordings of preterm and term neonate infants the complex features of the EEG signals were constructed in the form of a Chow-Liu tree. The trees were embedded into a 3 dimensional Euclidean space. Clustering of specific EEG patterns was done by complete linkage algorithm.

RESULTS

Our analytic tool was able to build clusters of patients with pathological EEG findings. In particular, we were able to make a visual proof on a 3d multidimensional scaling coordinate system with a good performance. The distances (graph edit distance) between Chow-Liu trees of different infants were proportional to the clinical findings of corresponding infants.

CONCLUSION

Our method may provide a basis for the future development of a diagnostic/prognostic non-invasive brain monitoring tool which will be able to differentiate between a variety of complex clinical findings.

SIGNIFICANCE

This model addresses relevant issues in neonatology and neuropediatrics in terms of identification of possible clinical factors which interfere with normal brain development and will allow fast unbiased recognition of infants with specific pathological EEG findings.

A critical role for VEGF and VEGFR2 in NMDA receptor synaptic function and fear-related behavior

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is known to be required for the action of antidepressant therapies but its impact on brain synaptic function is poorly characterized. Using a combination of electrophysiological, single-molecule imaging and conditional transgenic approaches, we identified the molecular basis of the VEGF effect on synaptic transmission and plasticity. VEGF increases the postsynaptic responses mediated by the N-methyl-D-aspartate type of glutamate receptors (GluNRs) in hippocampal neurons. This is concurrent with the formation of new synapses and with the synaptic recruitment of GluNR expressing the GluN2B subunit (GluNR-2B). VEGF induces a rapid redistribution of GluNR-2B at synaptic sites by increasing the surface dynamics of these receptors within the membrane. Consistently, silencing the expression of the VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2) in neural cells impairs hippocampal-dependent synaptic plasticity and consolidation of emotional memory. These findings demonstrated the direct implication of VEGF signaling in neurons via VEGFR2 in proper synaptic function. They highlight the potential of VEGF as a key regulator of GluNR synaptic function and suggest a role for VEGF in new therapeutic approaches targeting GluNR in depression.

GABA transporters control GABAergic neurotransmission in the mouse subplate

The subplate is a transient layer between the cortical plate and intermediate zone in the developing cortex. Thalamo-cortical axons form temporary synapses on subplate neurons (SPns) before invading the cortical plate. Neuronal activity within the subplate is of critical importance for the development of neocortical circuits and architecture. Although both glutamatergic and GABAergic inputs on SPns were reported, short-term plasticity of GABAergic transmission has not been investigated yet. GABAergic postsynaptic currents (GPSCs) were recorded from SPns in coronal neocortical slices prepared from postnatal day 3-4 mice using whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Evoked GPSCs (eGPSCs) elicited by electrical paired-pulse stimulation demonstrated paired-pulse depression at all interstimulus intervals tested. Baclofen, a specific GABAB receptor (GABABR) agonist, reduced eGPSC amplitudes and increased paired-pulse ratio (PPR), suggesting presynaptic location of functional GABABRs. Baclofen-induced effects were alleviated by (2S)-3-[[(1S)-1-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)ethyl]amino-2-hydroxypropyl](phenylmethyl)phosphinic acid (CGP55845), a selective GABABR blocker. Moreover, CGP55845 increased eGPSC amplitudes and decreased PPR even under control conditions, indicating that GABABRs are tonically activated by ambient GABA. Because extracellular GABA concentration is mainly regulated by GABA transporters (GATs), we asked whether GATs release GABA. 1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-1-[2-[[(diphenylmethylene)amino]oxy]ethyl]-3-pyridinecarboxylic acid (NNC-711) (10μM), a selective GAT-1 blocker, increased eGPSC decay time, decreased eGPSC amplitudes and PPR. The two last effects but not the first one were blocked by CGP55845, indicating that GAT-1 blockade causes an elevation of extracellular GABA concentration and in turn activation of extrasynaptic GABAARs and presynaptic GABABRs. 1-[2-[tris(4-methoxyphenyl)methoxy]ethyl]-(S)-3-piperidinecarboxylic acid (SNAP-5114), a specific GAT-2/3 blocker, failed to affect eGPSC kinetics. However, in contrast to NNC-711 SNAP-5114 increased eGPSC amplitudes and decreased PPR. In the presence of SNAP-5114 CGP55845 did not influence GABAergic transmission, indicating that GABABRs are not activated any longer. We conclude that in the subplate GAT-2/3 operates in reverse mode. GABA released via GAT-2/3 activates presynaptic GABABRs on GABAergic synapses and tonically inhibits GABAergic inputs on SPns.

Cajal-Retzius cells: update on structural and functional properties of these mystic neurons that bridged the 20th century

Cajal-Retzius cells (CRc) represent a mostly transient neuronal cell type localized in the uppermost layer of the developing neocortex. The observation that CRc are a major source of the extracellular matrix protein reelin, which is essential for the laminar development of the cerebral cortex, attracted the interest in this unique cell type. In this review we will (i) describe the morphological and molecular properties of neocortical CRc, with a special emphasize on the question which markers can be used to identify CRc, (ii) summarize reports that identified the different developmental origins of CRc, (iii) discuss the fate of CRc, including recent evidence for apoptotic cell death and a possible persistence of some CRc, (iv) provide a detailed description of the electrical membrane properties and transmitter receptors of CRc, and (v) address the role of CRc in early neuronal circuits and cortical development. Finally, we speculate whether CRc may provide a link between early network activity and the structural maturation of neocortical circuits.

Effect of depolarizing GABA(A)-mediated membrane responses on excitability of Cajal-Retzius cells in the immature rat neocortex

In immature neurons activation of ionotropic GABA receptors induces depolarizing membrane responses due to a high intracellular Cl(-) concentration ([Cl(-)](i)). However, it is difficult to draw conclusions about the functional consequences of subthreshold GABAergic depolarizations, since GABAergic membrane shunting and additional effects on voltage-dependent ion channels or action potential threshold must be considered. To systematically investigate factors that determine the GABAergic effect on neuronal excitability we performed whole cell patch-clamp recordings from Cajal-Retzius cells in immature rat neocortex, using [Cl(-)](i) between 10 and 50 mM. The effect of focal GABA application was quantified by measuring various parameters of GABAergic responses including the shift in minimal threshold current (rheobase). The rheobase shift was correlated with other parameters of the GABAergic responses by multiple linear regression analyses with a set of simple mathematical models. Our experiments demonstrate that focal GABA application induces heterogeneous rheobase shifts in Cajal-Retzius cells that could not be predicted reliably from [Cl(-)](i) or the GABAergic membrane depolarization. Implementation of a linear mathematical model, which takes the GABAergic membrane conductance and the difference between action potential threshold and GABA reversal potential into account, resulted in a close correlation between calculated and experimentally obtained rheobase shifts. Addition of a linear term proportional to the GABAergic membrane depolarization improved the accuracy of correlation. The main advantage of using multiple linear regression with simple models is that direction and strength of GABAergic excitability shifts can be analyzed by using only measured parameters of GABAergic responses and with minimal a priori information about cellular parameters.

Glycine receptors mediate excitation of subplate neurons in neonatal rat cerebral cortex

The development of the cerebral cortex depends on genetic factors and early electrical activity patterns that form immature neuronal networks. Subplate neurons (SPn) are involved in the construction of thalamocortical innervation, generation of oscillatory network activity, and in the proper formation of the cortical columnar architecture. Because glycine receptors play an important role during early corticogenesis, we analyzed the functional consequences of glycine receptor activation in visually identified SPn in neocortical slices from postnatal day 0 (P0) to P4 rats using whole cell and perforated patch-clamp recordings. In all SPn the glycinergic agonists glycine, beta-alanine, and taurine induced dose-dependent inward currents with the affinity for glycine being higher than that for beta-alanine and taurine. Glycine-induced responses were blocked by the glycinergic antagonist strychnine, but were unaffected by either the GABAergic antagonist gabazine, the N-methyl-d-aspartate-receptor antagonist d-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid, or picrotoxin and cyanotriphenylborate, antagonists of alpha-homomeric and alpha1-subunit-containing glycine receptors, respectively. Under perforated-patch conditions, glycine induced membrane depolarizations that were sufficient to trigger action potentials (APs) in most cells. Furthermore, glycine and taurine decreased the injection currents as well as the synaptic stimulation strength required to elicit APs, indicating that glycine receptors have a consistent excitatory effect on SPn. Inhibition of taurine transport and application of hypoosmolar solutions induced strychnine-sensitive inward currents, suggesting that taurine can act as a possible endogenous agonist on SPn. In summary, these results demonstrate that SPn express glycine receptors that mediate robust excitatory membrane responses during early postnatal development.

Model-specific effects of bumetanide on epileptiform activity in the in-vitro intact hippocampus of the newborn mouse

The immature brain has a higher susceptibility to develop seizures, which often respond poorly to classical pharmacological treatment. It has been recently suggested that bumetanide, which blocks Na(+)-dependent K(+)-Cl(-)-cotransporter isoform 1 (NKCC1) and thus attenuates depolarizing GABAergic responses, could soothe epileptiform activity in immature nervous systems. To evaluate whether bumetanide consistently attenuates epileptiform activity, we investigated the effect of 10 microM bumetanide in five different in-vitro epilepsy models using field potential recordings in the CA3 region of intact mouse hippocampal preparations at postnatal day 4-7. Bumetanide reduced amplitude and frequency of ictal-like events (ILE) induced by 8.5 mM K(+), but it increased the frequency of ILE induced by 1 microM kainate. Inhibition of ligand-gated Cl(-) channels by 10 microM gabazine and 30 microM strychnine induced interictal activity (IA) that was only marginally affected by bumetanide. Removal of extracellular Mg(2+) induced both ILE and IA. Bumetanide had no effect on these ILE but enhanced the IA. Low-Mg(2+) solution containing 20 microM 4-AP induced late-recurrent discharges, which were slightly attenuated by bumetanide. In summary, our results demonstrate that bumetanide exerts diverse effects in different in-vitro epilepsy models.

Morphology, Electrophysiology and Functional Input Connectivity of Pyramidal Neurons Characterizes a Genuine Layer Va in the Primary Somatosensory Cortex

Cortical layer V classically has been subdivided into sublayers Va and Vb on cytoarchitectonic grounds. In the analysis of cortical microcircuits, however, layer Va has largely been ignored. The purpose of this study was to investigate pyramidal neurons of layer Va in view of their potential role in integrating information from lemniscal and paralemniscal sources. For this we combined detailed electrophysiological and morphological characterization with mapping of intracortical functional connectivity by caged glutamate photolysis in layer Va of rat barrel cortex in vitro. Electrophysiological characterization revealed pyramidal cells of the regular spiking as well as the intrinsically burst firing type. However, all layer Va pyramidal neurons displayed uniform morphological properties and comparable functional input connectivity patterns. They received most of their excitatory and inhibitory inputs from intracolumnar sources, especially from layer Va itself, but also from layer IV. Those two layers were also the main origin for transcolumnar excitatory inputs. Layer Va pyramidal neurons thus may predominantly integrate information intralaminarly as well as from layer IV. The functional connectivity maps clearly distinguish layer Va from layer Vb pyramidal cells, and suggest that layer Va plays a unique role in intracortical processing of sensory information.

CoCoDat: a database system for organizing and selecting quantitative data on single neurons and neuronal microcircuitry

We present a novel database system for organizing and selecting quantitative experimental data on single neurons and neuronal microcircuitry that has proven useful for reference-keeping, experimental planning and computational modelling. Building on our previous experience with large neuroscientific databases, the system takes into account the diversity and method-dependence of single cell and microcircuitry data and provides tools for entering and retrieving published data without a priori interpretation or summarizing. Data representation is based on the framework suggested by biophysical theory and enables flexible combinations of data on membrane conductances, ionic and synaptic currents, morphology, connectivity and firing patterns. Innovative tools have been implemented for data retrieval with optional relaxation of search criteria along the conceptual dimensions of brain region, cortical layer, cell type and subcellular compartment. The relaxation procedures help to overcome the traditional trade-off between exact, non-interpreted data representation in the original nomenclature and convenient data retrieval. We demonstrate the use of these tools for the construction, tuning and validation of a multicompartmental model of a layer V pyramidal cell from the rat barrel cortex. CoCoDat is freely available at . Its application is scalable from offline use by individual researchers via local laboratory networks to a federation of distributed web sites in platform-independent XML format using Axiope tools.

Behavioural parameters in aged rats are related to LTP and gene expression of ChAT and NMDA-NR2 subunits in the striatum

Striatal parameters were assessed for their relevance to age-related behavioural decline. Forty aged rats (28-30 months) were tested in the water maze and open field. Of these, seven superior and seven inferior learners were compared with each other in terms of levels of in vitro short- and long-term potentiation (STP and LTP), and gene expression of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) as well as of the NMDA-NR2A-C subunits assessed by quantitative RT-PCR. Results revealed that the superior as compared with the inferior learners had higher levels of ChAT mRNA in the striatum. For the superior group, ChAT mRNA was correlated with escape on to the cued platform in the water maze, whereas level of LTP was predictive of place learning in the water maze and rearing activity in the open field. For the inferior group, expression of NR2A and NR2B was positively correlated with place learning and probe trial performance in the water maze. The results show that individual differences in various behaviours of aged rats were accounted for by variability in striatal parameters, i.e. LTP, ChAT and NMDA-NR2 subunit mRNA. Notably, the correlations found were heterogeneous amid the groups, e.g. variability in place learning was explained by variability in levels of LTP in the superior learners, but in levels of NR2A-B mRNA in the inferior group.

Homogenous glycine receptor expression in cortical plate neurons and cajal-retzius cells of neonatal rat cerebral cortex

Glycinergic membrane responses have been described in cortical plate neurons (CPn) and Cajal-Retzius cells (CRc) during early neocortical development. In order to elucidate the functional properties and molecular identity of glycine receptors in these two neuronal cell types, we performed whole-cell patch-clamp recordings and subsequent single-cell multiplex reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analyses on visually identified neurons in tangential and coronal slices as well as in situ hybridizations of coronal slices from neonatal rat cerebral cortex (postnatal days 0-4). In both CPn and CRc the glycinergic agonists glycine, beta-alanine and taurine induced inward currents with larger current densities in CRc. The functional properties of these currents were similar between CPn and CRc. In both cell types the glycine receptor showed a higher affinity for glycine than for the glycinergic agonists beta-alanine and taurine. The glycinergic responses of both cells were blocked by the glycinergic antagonist strychnine and were unaffected by the GABAergic antagonist bicuculline (100 microM), the N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor antagonist (+/-)-2-amino-5-phosphonopentatonic acid (60 microM) and by picrotoxin (30 microM), an antagonist of alpha homomeric glycine receptors. Single-cell multiplex RT-PCR revealed the expression of glycine receptor alpha(2) and beta subunits in CPn and CRc, while no alpha(1) and alpha(3) subunits were observed. In situ hybridization histochemistry showed the expression of mRNAs for alpha(2) and beta subunits within the cortical plate and in large neurons of the marginal zone, while there were no signals for alpha(1) and alpha(3) subunits. In summary, these results suggest that CPn and CRc express glycine receptors with similar functional and pharmacological properties. The correlation of pharmacological properties and mRNA expression suggests that the glycine receptors in both cell types may consist of alpha(2)/beta heteromeric receptors.

Distribution of glutamate receptor subunits in experimentally induced cortical malformations

Electrophysiological studies in humans and animal models have revealed an intrinsic epileptogenicity of cortical dysplasias which are a frequent cause of drug-resistant epilepsy. An imbalance of inhibition and excitation has been causative related. Receptor-binding studies in rodents demonstrated reduced binding to GABA and increased binding to glutamate receptors within cortical dysplasias and increments of AMPA- and kainate-receptor binding in its surround. Immunohistochemically a differential downregulation of GABA(A) receptor subunits could be demonstrated in widespread areas within and around dysplasias. As receptor binding critically depends on receptor subunit composition the observed changes in binding properties might be related to this. Here, we immunohistochemically analyzed the regional expression of four NMDA receptor subunits and two major AMPA- and kainate-receptor complexes in adult rats after neonatal freeze lesions. These lesions are characterized by a three- to four-layered cortex and a microsulcus which mimic human polymicrogyria. Using antibodies against NR1, NR2A, NR2B, NR2D, GluR2,3, and GluR5,6,7 receptor subunits we demonstrated a pronounced disturbance of cortical immunostaining pattern in the cortical malformation. These changes reflected the structural disorganization of the microgyrus with some distortion of the apical dendrites of paramicrogyral pyramidal cells, a decrease and disorganization of cells at the bottom of the microsulcus, and an inflection of apical dendrites toward the microsulcus. The neuronal staining pattern of large pyramidal cells in the neighborhood of the dysplasia did not differ for any subunit investigated. No remote or widespread changes of glutamate-receptor subunit distribution could be detected. The lack of gross and/or widespread alterations of glutamate-receptor subunit distribution in the surround of focal cortical dysplasia suggests the presence of other or additional mechanisms underlying the increased excitatory neurotransmitter binding and excitability in cortical malformations.

Water maze performance, exploratory activity, inhibitory avoidance and hippocampal plasticity in aged superior and inferior learners

In 28- to 30-month-old rats, in vitro short-term and long-term potentiation (STP and LTP) were measured in area CA1 of the hippocampus in seven superior and seven inferior learners, that were selected from a pool of 40 rats based on water maze escape performance over a period of 9 days. The aim was to examine whether levels of STP and LTP could account for group differences in learning of water maze escape, spatial preference and wall (thigmotaxis)-avoidance and in short-term retention of an inhibitory avoidance task. There was no significant group difference in open-field exploration, i.e. the number of rearings. In contrast to expectation, the superior and inferior learners did not differ significantly from each other in levels of STP and LTP. However, variability in escape and spatial learning, but not thigmotaxis-avoidance learning, was significantly predicted by variability in STP and LTP in the superior group. Also, open-field exploratory rearings were significantly correlated with STP and LTP as well as with maze escape learning in the superior group. The results show that, in the aged superior group, levels of CA1 STP and LTP coincided with residual water maze escape and spatial preference learning as well as open-field exploration, i.e. behavioural expressions known to be related to hippocampal functioning, but not with learning to avoid thigmotaxis in the maze. The lack of such correlations in the inferior group may be due to the severe impairment in escape and spatial preference learning and/or the influence of yet unknown third variables on these relationships.

Depolarizing glycine responses in Cajal-Retzius cells of neonatal rat cerebral cortex

We investigated the properties of glycine-induced responses in Cajal-Retzius cells, a neuronal cell type essential for the establishment of neocortical lamination. Whole-cell and gramicidin-perforated patch-clamp recordings were performed on visually identified Cajal-Retzius cells in tangential slices from neonatal rat cortex (postnatal days 0-3). With a pipette Cl(-) concentration of 50 mM, bath application of 1 mM glycine induced a membrane depolarization of 32.8+/-7.4 mV and a massive decrease in membrane resistance by 88+/-1.4%. The membrane depolarization was abolished in the presence of the glycinergic antagonists strychnine (30 microM) and phenylbenzene-omega-phosphono-alpha-amino acid (100 microM), while the GABA(A) receptor antagonist bicuculline (100 microM) and the glutamatergic antagonist (+/-)-2-amino-5-phosphonopentatonic acid (60 microM) were without effect, suggesting that the glycine-induced membrane responses were mediated exclusively by the strychnine-sensitive glycine receptor. The EC(50) for activation of glycine receptors was 0.54 mM, 1.62 mM and 2.41 mM, for the glycinergic agonists glycine, beta-alanine and taurine, respectively. Since the reversal potential of the glycine-induced currents showed a strong dependency on the intracellular chloride concentration and was virtually unaffected under HCO(3)(-)-free conditions, the activation of glycine receptors was probably linked to Cl(-) fluxes with little contribution of HCO(3)(-) ions. Perforated patch recordings from Cajal-Retzius cells demonstrated that glycine elicited depolarizing responses mediated by Cl(-) currents which reversed at -41+/-3.7 mV. In summary, from these results we suggest that Cajal-Retzius cells of the neonatal rat cerebral cortex express functional strychnine-sensitive glycine receptors that mediate depolarizing membrane responses via Cl(-) efflux.

Horizontal Interactions in Cat Striate Cortex: II. A Current Source-Density Analysis

The current source-density (CSD) analysis was used to investigate the organization of tangential synaptic connections in primary visual cortex of normally reared (NR) kittens and of NR, binocularly deprived (BD) and dark-reared (DR) adult cats. Laminar profiles of field potentials, elicited by intracortical microstimulation were measured at various distances from the stimulating electrodes. To exclude contamination by axon collaterals of antidromically stimulated thalamo-cortical fibres, these were destroyed by injecting the cytotoxin N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) into the lateral geniculate nucleus 13 - 27 days before recording. The CSD profiles revealed distinct layer-specific patterns of lateral spread of activity. Invariably, the most prominent, long-lasting and far reaching responses were recorded in supragranular layers. Responses in layer IV were brief and confined to the vicinity of the stimulation site. Responses in infragranular layers spread as far as those in supragranular layers, but were of smaller amplitude. Latency considerations, the results of double shock stimulation, and the effects of translaminar cuts, suggest that these responses were monosynaptic and mediated by intracortical pathways with a conduction velocity of 0.3-5 m/s. The spatial spread of these responses changed substantially with age but was not influenced by visual deprivation. In NR adults, supra- and infragranular responses were recordable up to 2.5 mm from the stimulation site and layer IV responses up to 1 mm from the stimulation site. In kittens, the former responses spread up to 5 mm and the latter up to 2 mm from the site of stimulation. The amplitude of the responses decreased with distance from the stimulation site. This decrease was not always monotonic suggesting inhomogeneities in the tangential projections. The laminar distribution of current sinks and sources indicates that the pathways mediating tangential interactions form excitatory synapses on apical dendrites of pyramidal cells. It is concluded that the spatial spread of tangential excitatory interactions decreases with age, but that neither the laminar pattern nor the age-dependent reduction in the strength of tangential interactions are influenced by visual deprivation.

Horizontal Interactions in Cat Striate Cortex: III. Ectopic Receptive Fields and Transient Exuberance of Tangential Interactions

In this study the developmental changes of intracortical connectivity are related to changes of cortical receptor fields (RFs). The RFs of striate cortex neurons of 4- to 8.5-week-old kittens, reared under normal conditions (NR) or in a selective visual environment (SE), were analysed quantitatively and compared with adult cats. To unmask weak inputs from outside the conventional RF (CRF), cell excitability was raised by iontophoretic application of glutamate (GLU) and/or bicuculline methiodide (BIC) or by light stimulation of the CRF. Both the dominant discharge region (DDR) and the total RF (TRF) area were significantly larger in NR and SE kittens than in adult cats. Moreover, in kittens 18% of the cells had additional ectopic fields that were excitatory, had similar orientation preferences as the CRF, and ranged 4 degrees to 23 degrees from the centre of the CRF. In 74% of the cases the ectopic fields were direction-selective and 70% of them preferred stimuli moving toward the CRF. Ectopic fields occurred mainly in supragranular cells, were similarly frequent in simple and complex cells and slightly more frequent in SE (20.7%) than in NR (13.3%) kittens. In adult cats only one of 83 cells tested had an ectopic field. It is concluded that the age-dependent decrease in the RF size, the laminar distribution of cells having an ectopic RF, and the numerical reduction of these cells with age correlate well with the organization and postnatal pruning of tangential projections, suggesting that these contribute to the elaboration of specific response properties. Moreover, the authors infer from the early presence and from the selectivity of ectopic fields that the system of horizontal intrinsic connections mediates far-reaching, excitatory interactions between cortical neurons with similar functional properties and serves as a substrate for the processing of global aspects of visual patterns.

Horizontal Interactions in Cat Striate Cortex: I. Anatomical Substrate and Postnatal Development

The system of tangential connections was studied in area 17 of normally reared (NR), binocularly deprived (BD) and dark-reared (DR) kittens and adult cats. Connections were labelled antero- and retrogradely by intracortical micro-injections of several fluorescent markers and horseradish peroxidase conjugated with wheat-germ agglutinin (WGA-HRP). In 5-day-old kittens tangential connections consist of homogeneously distributed fibres extending maximally over 2.7 mm. Around postnatal day (pnd) ten these connections start to express the patchy pattern characteristic of the adult. Retrogradely stained somata and anterogradely labelled terminals become organized in individual 300 to 350 microm wide clusters with a centre-to-centre spacing of about 500 microm. During the first three postnatal weeks the horizontal connections increase their span to up to 10.5 mm and the spacing between individual patches increases to about 700 microm. Over the following 4 weeks these projections become reduced in length and number. In adult NR cats, tangential connections span a distance of up to 3 mm and form a lattice of 200 - 500 microm wide clusters, which have an average centre-to-centre spacing of 1050 microm. Tangential connections originate and terminate in all cortical laminae except layer I and they are organized in register. The distances spanned are largest in supragranular, intermediate in infragranular and shortest in granular layers. In BD and DR cats older than 10 weeks, the length of intracortical tangential fibres becomes reduced to the same extent as in NR animals, but individual clusters are less numerous. The authors conclude that the lattice-like structure of lateral connections evolves independently of visual experience, and that the selectivity of interactions results from pruning of initially exuberant connections. It is suggested that this pruning process is dependent on activity and influenced by visual experience.

Epileptiform activity in a neocortical network: a mathematical model

A simple mathematical model describing the generation and propagation of epileptiform activity in a cerebral cortical network is presented. The model consists of a system of nonlinear delay differential equations. Physiological properties are taken into account as nonlinear transmission of signals at the synapse, temporal and spatial summation of incoming signals at the soma, active membrane characteristics, and dendritic and axonal propagation times. The influence of the connectivity and the temporal parameters on the oscillatory properties of the model is studied. The computer simulations are in agreement with experimental observations in cortical networks: whereas a weak excitatory or strong inhibitory synaptic connection strength produces a stationary status with short-lasting responses to external stimuli, increases in excitation or decreases in inhibition induce spontaneous and stimulus-evoked rhythmic discharges. Synaptic burst-like activity is observed only for an intermediate range of excitatory and inhibitory connection strengths and external inputs. The form and duration of the bursts can also be controlled by the temporal parameters. The results demonstrate that relatively simple mathematical equations are sufficient to model some of the network properties underlying the generation and propagation of epileptiform activity.

Metabolic and electrophysiological alterations in an animal model of neocortical neuronal migration disorder

Cortical migration disorders are a major cause for intractable epilepsy syndromes. High resolution MRI and PET are increasingly capable to identify cortical dysgenesis. In this study we used the rat freeze lesion model to investigate cortical morphological and functional changes in adult rats after induction of a cortical freeze lesion at postnatal day (p) 0. Autoradiographic measurements of basic cortical [14C]deoxyglucose metabolism showed a significant reduction up to 1 mm lateral to the lesion but no remote changes. Electrophysiological in vitro recordings revealed a significant reduction in the amplitude of stimulus-evoked field potential responses recorded lateral to the lesion as compared to medial recording sites. Our data provide further evidence that spatially restricted developmental alterations of cortical morphology cause functional changes in surrounding and histologically normal areas that need to be considered for a better understanding of the resulting pathophysiology.

Layer-specific intracolumnar and transcolumnar functional connectivity of layer V pyramidal cells in rat barrel cortex

Layer V pyramidal cells in rat barrel cortex are considered to play an important role in intracolumnar and transcolumnar signal processing. However, the precise circuitry mediating this processing is still incompletely understood. Here we obtained detailed maps of excitatory and inhibitory synaptic inputs onto the two major layer V pyramidal cell subtypes, intrinsically burst spiking (IB) and regular spiking (RS) cells, using a combination of caged glutamate photolysis, whole-cell patch-clamp recording, and three-dimensional reconstruction of biocytin-labeled cells. To excite presynaptic neurons with laminar specificity, the release of caged glutamate was calibrated and restricted to small areas of 50 x 50 microm in all cortical layers and in at least two neighboring barrel-related columns. IB cells received intracolumnar excitatory input from all layers, with the largest EPSP amplitudes originating from neurons in layers IV and VI. Prominent transcolumnar excitatory inputs were provided by presynaptic neurons also located in layers IV, V, and VI of neighboring columns. Inhibitory inputs were rare. In contrast, RS cells received distinct intracolumnar inhibitory inputs, especially from layers II/III and V. Intracolumnar excitatory inputs to RS cells were prominent from layers II-V, but relatively weak from layer VI. Conspicuous transcolumnar excitatory inputs could be evoked solely in layers IV and V. Our results show that layer V pyramidal cells are synaptically driven by presynaptic neurons located in every layer of the barrel cortex. RS cells seem to be preferentially involved in intracolumnar signal processing, whereas IB cells effectively integrate excitatory inputs across several columns.

Spontaneous synaptic activity of subplate neurons in neonatal rat somatosensory cortex

Subplate neurons play an important role in early cortical development. To investigate whether these transient neurons receive synaptic inputs, we performed whole-cell recordings from visually identified and biocytin-labeled subplate cells in somatosensory cortical slices from postnatal day 0-3 rats. Subplate neurons had an average resting membrane potential of -55 mV and input resistance of approximately 1.1 G ohms. Suprathreshold current injection elicited in 67% of the cells repetitive action potentials at 4-13 Hz and the remaining 33% showed only one spike. Three classes of spontaneous postsynaptic currents (sPSCs) could be identified: (i) Fast sPSCs, with an average amplitude of 14 pA and a decay time of 6.3 ms, which showed a 95% decrease in their frequency during (+/-)-gamma-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-isoxazole-4-propionic acid (AMPA)/kainate receptor blockade. Cyclothiazide caused a 3.5-fold increase in the decay time, indicating that fast sPSCs were mediated by AMPA receptors. (ii) Slow sPSCs, with 18 pA amplitude and 51.2 ms decay time were blocked by the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist CPP. (iii) Chloride-driven sPSCs, with 34.4 pA amplitude and 123 ms decay time that were blocked by the gamma-amino-butyric acid A (GABA(A)) receptor antagonist gabazine. While tetrodotoxin citrate (TTX) blocked completely NMDA-mediated slow sPSCs, the frequency of AMPA- and GABA(A)-mediated sPSCs was reduced in TTX by 55 and 90%, respectively. These results indicate that subplate neurons receive functional synaptic inputs mediated by AMPA, NMDA and GABA(A) receptors.

Optical recording of spreading depression in rat neocortical slices

A spreading depression (SD) was elicited in adult rat neocortical slices by microdrop application of high potassium and the SD propagation pattern was analyzed by recording simultaneously the extracellular DC potential and the changes in the intrinsic optical signal. The electrical SD with an average peak amplitude of 13.2+/-3.4 mV showed a good spatial and temporal correlation with the optical signal. In 79% of the slices, the SD was characterized by an initial increase of light reflectance by 2.3+/-1.6%, followed by a reflectance decrease of 0.5+/-2.4% and finally a larger and long-lasting increase by 5+/-2.4%. In the remaining slices, the SD revealed an initial decrease in light reflectance by 5.8+/-1.8% followed by an increase of 1.4+/-1.2%. In all slices, the recovery in the DC recording was faster as in the optical signal. The SD preferentially propagated within layers I-IV and could be blocked in most experiments by a vertical incision through upper layers or by local glutamate receptor blockade following microdrop application of kynurenic acid in layers II-III. The SD could be also blocked by bath application of kynurenic acid, MK-801 and octanol, but not by the more specific gap junction blocker carbenoxolone. Our results indicate that the high density of dendritic processes and glutamate receptors in layers II-IV promote the horizontal spread of the SD in these cortical layers and that gap junctions are not required for the propagation of SD in neocortical slices.

Spontaneous GABAergic postsynaptic currents in Cajal-Retzius cells in neonatal rat cerebral cortex

Cajal-Retzius cells are among the first neurons appearing during corticogenesis, and play an important role in the establishment of cortical lamination. The variety of neurotransmitter receptors recently found on these cells imply that they are integrated in the neonatal cortical network. To investigate the presence and properties of spontaneous synaptic activity we performed whole-cell patch-clamp recordings from visually identified and biocytin-labelled Cajal-Retzius cells in a tangential slice preparation of neonatal rat cerebral cortex (postnatal days P0-P5). Spontaneous postsynaptic currents (sPSCs) could be observed in about 23% of the cells using a pipette solution containing 136 m M Cl-. The sPSCs occurred at a low frequency (0.07 +/- 0.07 Hz, n = 42 cells), had an average amplitude of 24.3 +/- 12.4 pA (n = 415 events) and could not be divided in subpopulations according to their amplitude distribution or kinetic properties. The sPSCs were blocked by the GABAA antagonist bicuculline (100 microM), while the glutamatergic antagonists (+/-)-2-amino-5-phosphonopentatonic acid (APV, 30 microM) and 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX, 10 microM), as well as tetrodotoxin (1-2 microM), a blocker of voltage-gated sodium-currents, had no significant effect on sPSCs. The incidence rate of sPSCs declined within the age of the rats and no sPSCs could be observed after P4. These results suggest that Cajal-Retzius cells transiently receive action potential-independent and GABA(A) receptor-mediated spontaneous synaptic input, which may contribute to the refinement of cortical circuits.

Cellular physiology of the neonatal rat cerebral cortex: intrinsic membrane properties, sodium and calcium currents

The cellular physiology of the primary somatosensory cortex was studied in postnatal day (P) 0 to P5 rats using whole-cell patch-clamp recordings. Visually identified Cajal-Retzius, subplate, bifurcated pyramidal, and immature, putatively migrating neurons showed resting membrane potentials between -44 and -50 mV and TTX-sensitive action potentials. Immature pyramidal neurons with the smallest surface area ( approximately 1,600 microm(2)) revealed the largest input resistance ( approximately 1.8 GOmega), and subplate cells with the largest surface area ( approximately 6,200 microm(2)) showed an input resistance of approximately 1 GOmega. Ontogenetically older Cajal-Retzius and subplate cells revealed shorter and larger action potentials compared to bifurcated and immature pyramidal neurons. Whereas Cajal-Retzius and subplate cells responded to injection of depolarizing current pulses with a repetitive nonadapting and fast spiking firing pattern, immature pyramidal neurons showed strong adaptation. Subplate cells revealed the fastest action potentials, largest sodium current amplitude (-714 pA), and highest sodium current density (-38 microA/cm(2)), enabling these cells to transmit afferent activity faithfully to postsynaptic neurons. Whereas all cell types expressed a high-voltage-activated (HVA) calcium current, none of them showed a significant low-voltage-activated calcium current. The largest peak (-25.5 microA/cm(2)) and steady-state (-7.6 microA/cm(2)) HVA calcium current density could be observed in immature presumed migrating neurons. In contrast, Cajal-Retzius and subplate neurons showed a significantly lower peak (-4.9 microA/cm(2)) and steady-state (<-3.3 microA/cm(2)) HVA calcium current density. Whereas a large HVA calcium current may promote neuronal migration of immature neurons, low intracellular calcium levels may provoke apoptosis in Cajal-Retzius and subplate cells.

Characterization of a hyperpolarization-activated inward current in Cajal-Retzius cells in rat neonatal neocortex

Cajal-Retzius cells are among the first neurons appearing during corticogenesis and play an important role in the establishment of cortical lamination. To characterize the hyperpolarization-activated inward current (I(h)) and to investigate whether I(h) contributes to the relatively positive resting membrane potential (RMP) of these cells, we analyzed the properties of I(h) in visually identified Cajal-Retzius cells in cortical slices from neonatal rats using the whole cell patch-clamp technique. Membrane hyperpolarization to -90 mV activated a prominent inward current that was inhibited by 1 mM Cs(+) and was insensitive to 1 mM Ba(2+). The activation time constant for I(h) was strongly voltage dependent. In Na(+)-free solution, I(h) was reduced, indicating a contribution of Na(+). An analysis of the tail currents revealed a reversal potential of -45.2 mV, corresponding to a permeability coefficient (pNa(+)/pK(+)) of 0. 13. While an increase in the extracellular K(+) concentration ([K(+)](e)) enhances I(h), it was reduced by a [K(+)](e) decrease. This [K(+)](e) dependence could not be explained by an effect on the electromotive force on K(+) but suggested an additional extracellular binding site for K(+) with an apparent dissociation constant of 7.2 mM. Complete Cl(-) substitution by Br(-), I(-), or NO(3)(-) had no significant effect on I(h), whereas a complete Cl(-) substitution by the organic compounds methylsulfate, isethionate, or gluconate reduced I(h) by approximately 40%. The I(h) reduction observed in gluconate could be abolished by the addition of Cl(-). The analysis of the [Cl(-)](e) dependence of I(h) revealed a dissociation constant of 9.8 mM and a Hill-coefficient of 2.5, while the assumption of a gluconate-dependent I(h) reduction required an unreasonably high Hill-coefficient >20. An internal perfusion with the lidocaine derivative lidocaine N-ethyl bromide blocks I(h) within 1 min after establishment of the whole cell configuration. An inhibition of I(h) by 1 mM Cs(+) was without an effect on RMP, action potential amplitude, threshold, width, or afterhyperpolarization. We conclude from these results that Cajal-Retzius cells express a prominent I(h) with characteristic properties that does not contribute to the RMP.

Generation and propagation of 4-AP-induced epileptiform activity in neonatal intact limbic structures in vitro

We examined the generation, propagation and pharmacology of 4-aminopyridine (4-AP)-induced epileptiform activity (EA) in the intact interconnected limbic structure of the newborn (P0-7) rat in vitro. Whole-cell recordings of CA3 pyramidal cells and multisite field potential recordings in CA3, CA1, dentate gyrus, and lateral and medial entorhinal cortex revealed 4-AP-induced EA as early as P0-1. At this age, EA was initiated in the CA3 region and propagated to CA1, but not to the entorhinal cortex. Starting from P3-4, EA propagated from CA3 to the entorhinal cortex. Along the CA3 septo-temporal axis, EA arose predominantly from the septal pole and spread towards the temporal site. Whereas the onset of 4-AP-induced EA decreased with age from 21.2 +/- 1.6 min at P0-1 to 4.7 +/- 0.63 min at P6-7, the seizure duration increased in the same age groups from 98 +/- 14 s to 269.4 +/- 85.9 s, respectively. The EA was blocked by 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX) but not by DL-2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (APV), (+)-MK-801 hydrogen maleate (MK-801) or (+/-)-alpha-methyl-4-carboxyphenylglycine (MCPG), suggesting that they were mediated by alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionate (AMPA)/kainate receptor activation. We conclude that: (i) the septal pole of the hippocampal CA3 region plays a central role in the generation of EA in the neonatal limbic system; and (ii) AMPA/kainate receptor-mediated EA can be generated in CA3 already at birth. Therefore, the recurrent collateral synapses and circuits required for the generation of EA are developed earlier than previously suggested on the basis of studies on hippocampal slices.

Differential downregulation of GABAA receptor subunits in widespread brain regions in the freeze-lesion model of focal cortical malformations

Focal cortical malformations comprise a heterogeneous group of disturbances of brain development, commonly associated with drug-resistant epilepsy and/or neuropsychological deficits. Electrophysiological studies on rodent models of cortical malformations demonstrated intrinsic hyperexcitability in the lesion and the structurally intact surround, indicating widespread imbalances of excitation and inhibition. Here, alterations in regional expression of GABA(A) receptor subunits were investigated immunohistochemically in adult rats with focal cortical malformations attributable to neonatal freeze-lesions. These lesions are morphologically characterized by a three- to four-layered cortex with microsulcus formation. Widespread regionally differential reduction of GABA(A) receptor subunits alpha1, alpha2, alpha3, alpha5, and gamma2 was observed. Within the cortical malformation, this downregulation was most prominent for subunits alpha5 and gamma2, whereas medial to the lesion, a significant and even stronger decrease of all subunits was detected. Lateral to the dysplastic cortex, the decrease was most prominent for subunit gamma2 and moderate for subunits alpha1, alpha2, and alpha5, whereas subunit alpha3 was not consistently altered. Interestingly, the downregulation of GABA(A) receptor subunits also involved the ipsilateral hippocampal formation, as well as restricted contralateral neocortical areas, indicating widespread disturbances in the neocortical and hippocampal network. The described pattern of downregulation of GABA(A) receptor subunits allows the conclusion that there is a considerable modulation of subunit composition. Because alterations in subunit composition critically influence the electrophysiological and pharmacological properties of GABA(A) receptors, these alterations might contribute to the widespread hyperexcitability and help to explain pharmacotherapeutic characteristics in epileptic patients.

Characterization of neuronal migration disorders in neocortical structures: loss or preservation of inhibitory interneurons?

PURPOSE

Neuronal migration disorders (NMD) are often associated with therapy-resistant epilepsy. In human cerebral cortex, this hyperexcitability has been correlated with a loss of inhibitory interneurons. We used a rat model of focal cortical NMD (microgyria) to determine whether the expression of epileptiform activity in this model coincides with a decrease in inhibitory interneurons.

METHODS

In 2-to 4-month-old rats, the density of interneurons immunoreactive for gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), calbindin, and parvalbumin was determined in fronto-parietal cortex in nine 200-microm-wide sectors located up to 2.5 mm lateral and 2.0 mm medial from the lesion center in primary parietal cortex (Par1). Quantitative measurements in homotopic areas of age-matched sham-operated rats served as controls.

RESULTS

The freeze lesion performed in newborn rat cortex resulted in adult rats with a microgyrus extending in a rostro-caudal direction from frontal to occipital cortex. The density of GABA-and parvalbumin-positive neurons in fronto-parietal cortex was not significantly different between lesioned and control animals. Only the density of calbindin-immunoreactive neurons located 1.0 mm lateral and 0.5 mm medial from the lesion was significantly (Student t test, p < 0.05) larger in freeze-lesioned rats (5,817 +/- 562 and 6,400 +/- 795 cells per mm3, respectively; n = 12) compared with measurements in homotopic regions in Par1 cortex of controls (4,507 +/- 281 and 4, 061 +/- 319 cells per mm3, respectively; n = 5).

CONCLUSIONS

The previously reported widespread functional changes in this model of cortical NMD are not related to a general loss of inhibitory interneurons. Other factors, such as a decrease in GABA receptor density, modifications in GABAA receptor subunit composition, or alterations in the excitatory network, e.g., an increase in the density of calbindin-immunoreactive pyramidal cells, more likely contribute to the global disinhibition and widespread expression of pathophysiological activity in this model of cortical NMD.

Laminar characteristics of functional connectivity in rat barrel cortex revealed by stimulation with caged-glutamate

In rodent somatosensory (barrel) cortex input is processed by whisker-related columns before the integrated output is fed into behaviorally-relevant circuits. The layer-specific activation patterns of the rat barrel cortex were examined with a set-up for scanning functional connectivity in brain slices. Flash-induced release of caged-glutamate at a large number of stimulation sites was used in combination with simultaneous field potential recordings from layers II to VI with five electrodes. The field potentials revealed striking differences between the cortical layers. Glutamate-release in layer IV and lower layer III was most effective in evoking excitation in all other cortical layers, whereas field potentials recorded from layer IV itself were caused by stimulation of a very restricted columnar zone only. Field potentials in layers II and III were strongly driven by stimulation in layer IV and less consistently and much weaker by layer V. Layer V was the only lamina capable of responding to stimulation of all other cortical layers, thus displaying the largest input maps. Layer VI possessed functional connectivity intrinsically and with layer V. These data lead us to suggest that thalamic input may be boosted by its main target layer IV to start a sequence of excitation in layer IV, passing to the supragranular layers and finally reaching the infragranular layers. This sequence is likely to be backed-up by other simultaneous steps of transmission including a layer IV-to-V interaction. We proposed that the increasing size of the receptive fields when sampling granular, supragranular and infragranular layers in vivo, might have its functional basis in the laminar interactions described here in an in vitro preparation.

Cellular morphology and physiology of the perinatal rat cerebral cortex

The cellular morphology and electrophysiology of the rat neocortex between embryonic day (E) 18 and postnatal day (P) 3 was studied in vitro by extracellular biocytin injections and whole-cell recordings, respectively. Most neurons were characterized by a small number of short-range dendrites and a main axon that was directed towards the white matter. Biocytin injections into the marginal zone and the cortical plate labeled far-reaching connections extending up to 2 mm in horizontal direction, indicating the existence of a dense network of long-range intrinsic projections in the neonatal cortex. Action potentials could be elicited as early as E18 and repetitive firing could first be observed at P0. Electrical stimulation of the immature cortex at various positions elicited polyphasic and long-lasting (up to 1 s) excitatory postsynaptic potentials and currents, which were significantly reduced in amplitude by a selective N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist. Our data indicate that the perinatal cortex manifests the structural and functional conditions for powerful excitatory interactions, which increase the likelihood for the generation of epileptiform activity during this developmental period.

Effects of ionotropic glutamate receptor blockade and 5-HT1A receptor activation on spreading depression in rat neocortical slices

The effect of the AMPA antagonist NBQX (10 microM), NMDA antagonist ketamine (100 microM) and 5-HT1A agonist 8-OH-DPAT (1, 10 and 100 microM) on the properties of a KCl-induced spreading depression (SD) was studied in parietal cortical slices of adult rats. Whereas NBQX did not significantly affect the SD, ketamine significantly (p < 0.01) reduced the amplitude of the first SD peak (12.8 +/- 4.6 mV) and blocked the second SD peak when compared with the controls (19.8 +/- 5.2 mV and 25 +/- 5 mV, respectively). Ketamine also decreased the SD duration at half maximal amplitude from 34.9 +/- 12.4 s to 22.2 +/- 12 s (p < 0.05). 8-OH-DPAT attenuated the duration of the SD from 42 +/- 15.6 s to 21.2 +/- 10.6 s (p < 0.05, 100 microM). These data indicate that not only NMDA receptor blockade, but also activation of the 5-HT1A receptor attenuates the SD and may be beneficial in the reduction of ischemic injury following focal cerebral ischemia.

Connectivity in the somatosensory cortex of the adolescent rat: an in vitro biocytin study

A promising way to elucidate neuronal information processing is to establish detailed structure-function relationships of identified single neurons or populations of nerve cells, especially their synaptic connectivity. This has been greatly improved by the development of acute brain slice preparations. The cellular physiology of the rodent primary somatosensory (barrel) cortex has been extensively studied. However, for a meaningful interpretation of physiological experiments the degree and pattern of connectivity has to be known for the particular preparation. Since such studies are not available for rat (P15-25) barrel cortex in vitro, we have traced the cortico-cortical and thalamo-cortical connections in 400-microm-thick slices with biocytin. In coronal slices, a wealth of axonal connections in retrograde and anterograde directions were heavily labeled, resembling the full pattern of cortico-cortical projections described in vivo. The most striking connections were vertical and horizontal connections within the primary somatosensory cortex, as well as a columnar projection to the secondary somatosensory cortex and beyond (mainly the parietal ventral area). Electron microscopic extensions of the study indicated that the full possible set of synaptic contacts with an adult-like appearance was already established in these connections. In thalamo-cortical slices, strong reciprocal connections with the ventrobasal (and to a much lesser extent also the posterior) thalamic nucleus were always observed, together with an intensive ramification of fibers in the reticular nucleus. A striatal terminal field was also consistently found. We conclude that all major intracortical and thalamo-cortical connection are richly preserved in the in vitro slice preparations of rats. Thus, these preparations are suitable for elucidation of the functional interaction of the most crucial brain structures involved in somatosensory information processing combining an in vivo-like anatomical structure with the controlled environment of an in vitro slice.

Inhibition of collagen IV deposition promotes regeneration of injured CNS axons

Scarring impedes axon regrowth across the lesion site and is one major extrinsic constraint to effective regeneration in the adult mammalian central nervous system. In the present study we determined whether specific biochemical or immunochemical modulation of one major component of the scar, the basal membrane (BM), would provide a means to stimulate axon regeneration in the mechanically transected postcommissural fornix of the adult rat. Basal membrane developed within the first 2 weeks after transection in spatiotemporal coincidence with the abrupt growth arrest of spontaneously regrowing axons. Local injection of anticollagen IV antibodies or alpha, alpha'-dipyridyl, an inhibitor of collagen triple helix formation and synthesis, significantly reduced lesion-induced BM deposition. This treatment allowed massive axon elongation across the lesion site. Anterograde tracing provided unequivocal evidence that regenerating axons follow their original pathway, reinnervate the appropriate target, the mammillary body, and become remyelinated with compact myelin. Presynaptic electrophysiological recordings of regenerated fibre tracts showed recovery to nearly normal conduction properties. Our results indicate that lesion-induced BM is an impediment for successful axonal regeneration and its reduction is a prerequisite and sufficient condition for regrowing axons to cross the lesion site.

Impairment of neocortical long-term potentiation in mice deficient of endothelial nitric oxide synthase

The role of the possible retrograde messenger nitric oxide (NO) in the induction of long-term potentiation (LTP) was studied in supragranular layers of somatosensory cortical slices obtained from adult mice. High-frequency stimulation produced a slowly rising, long-lasting (50 min) and significant (P < 0.001) increase in the extracellular synaptic response by 23%. The induction of LTP was independent from activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, but prevented by bath application of NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), indicating that one or several of the different NO synthases (NOS) produced NO within the postsynaptic neuron. No LTP could be induced in knockout mice lacking the endothelial NOS (eNOS) isoform. These data suggest that eNOS is involved in an NMDA receptor-independent form of LTP in the rodent cerebral cortex.

Involvement of GABA(B) receptors in convulsant-induced epileptiform activity in rat neocortex in vitro

The role of gamma-aminobutyric acid B (GABA(B)) receptors in the generation and maintenance of bicuculline-induced epileptiform activity in rat neocortical slices was studied using electrophysiological methods. A block of GABA(B) receptors in the presence of functional GABA(A) receptor-mediated inhibition was not sufficient to induce epileptiform activity. In the presence of the GABA(A) receptor antagonist bicuculline (10 microM) and at suprathreshold stimulation, the GABA(B) receptor antagonist CGP 35348 (10-300 microM) significantly potentiated epileptiform activity. With stimulation at threshold intensity, low concentrations of CGP 35348 (10-30 microM) potentiated bicuculline-induced activity, whereas higher concentrations (100-300 microM) invariably led to a reversible suppression of stimulus-evoked epileptiform discharges. CGP 35348 also enhanced picrotoxin-induced epileptiform activity, but at higher concentrations it was considerably less effective in suppressing such epileptiform discharges. The GABA uptake inhibitor nipecotic acid partially mimicked the actions of CGP 35348: with stimulation at threshold intensity, it reversibly suppressed bicuculline-induced epileptiform field potentials, but it did not influence epileptiform activity induced by picrotoxin. We conclude that a postsynaptic blockade of GABA(B) receptors induces an amplification of epileptiform activity in neocortical slices disinhibited by GABA(A) receptor antagonists. An additional blockade of presynaptic GABA(B) receptors, especially under conditions of weak stimulation of the neurons, reduces the inhibitory auto-feedback control of GABA release, leading to a displacement of competitive antagonists from the postsynaptic GABA(A) receptor and hence, to a suppression of epileptiform activity induced by competitive GABA(A) receptor antagonists.

Characterization of neuronal migration disorders in neocortical structures: quantitative receptor autoradiography of ionotropic glutamate, GABA(A) and GABA(B) receptors

Epileptiform activity was previously described [Luhmann et al. (1998) Eur. J. Neurosci., 10, 3085-3094] in the neocortex of the adult rat following freeze lesioning of the newborn neocortex. After a survival time of 3 months, a small area of dysplastic cortex surrounded by histologically normal (exofocal) neocortex was observed. The dysplastic cortex is characterized by the formation of a small sulcus and a three- to four-layered architecture. Two questions are addressed here: (i) is the hyperexcitability associated with changes in binding to major excitatory and inhibitory transmitter receptors in the dysplastic cortex?; and (ii) do such changes also occur in the exofocal cortex? Alterations in binding to glutamatergic N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), (+/-)-alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid (AMPA), kainate and GABA(A) and GABA(B) (gamma-aminobutyric acid) receptors are demonstrated with quantitative in vitro receptor autoradiography by using the ligands [3H]MK-801, [3H]AMPA, [3H]kainate, [3H]muscimol and [3H]baclofen, respectively. In the dysplastic cortex, the binding to NMDA, AMPA and kainate receptors is significantly increased, whereas the binding to GABA(A) and GABA(B) receptors is reduced. Exofocal areas of the lesioned hemisphere show an imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory receptor binding with an up-regulation of the binding to AMPA and kainate, and a down-regulation to GABA(A) receptors. The binding to GABA(B) and NMDA receptors is not significantly changed in the exofocal areas. The imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory receptors may cause the hyperexcitability, as previously found in the identical experimental model, and may also induce epileptiform activity in the human cortex with migration disorders.

Characterization of neuronal migration disorders in neocortical structures: extracellular in vitro recordings

The majority of patients showing neuronal migration disorders in cortical structures suffer from pharmaco-resistant epilepsy. In order to study the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying this pronounced hyperexcitability, we used an animal model of focal cortical dysplasia demonstrating structural malformations which resemble the human pathology of microgyria. Neocortical slices prepared from adult rats, which at the day of birth received a cortical freeze lesion, were analysed in vitro with an array of eight extracellular recording electrodes to investigate the pattern and pharmacology of propagating epileptiform activity in microgyric cortex. In cortical slices exhibiting neuronal migration disorders, orthodromic synaptic stimulation elicited late recurrent activity and early epileptiform responses that spread with 0.06 m/s over > or = 3.5 mm across the cortex. Application of a N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonist blocked the late recurrent activity, but not the propagation of the early epileptiform responses. The latter were blocked by an (+/-)-alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid (AMPA) antagonist, indicating that the spread of this activity was predominantly mediated by activation of AMPA receptors. A very similar response pattern could be observed in neocortical slices obtained from untreated age-matched control rats, when the slice was partially disinhibited by bath-application of 5 microM bicuculline methiodide. Stimulus-evoked epileptiform signals recorded in disinhibited slices propagated with 0.08 m/s across the cortex and showed the same sensitivity to ionotropic glutamate antagonists as in dysplastic cortex. Our results indicate that widespread structural and/or functional modifications of the AMPA receptor and possibly also of the gamma-amino-butyric acid type A receptor contribute to the pronounced hyperexcitability in dysplastic cortex.

Pattern and pharmacology of propagating epileptiform activity in mouse cerebral cortex

Multiple extracellular recording electrodes were used to study the intra- and interhemispheric spread of stimulus-evoked epileptiform responses in adult mouse neocortical slices. Bath application of 20 microM bicuculline methiodide induced epileptiform activity that propagated at approximately 0.08 m/s over several millimeters in rostro-caudal and medio-lateral direction within the ipsilateral hemisphere and across the corpus callosum to the contralateral hemisphere. A vertical incision from layer II to subcortical regions did not prevent the spread to remote cortical regions, indicating that layer I plays a major role in the lateral propagation of epileptiform activity. The intra- and interhemispheric spread was not influenced by application of an N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, but blocked by an antagonist acting at the (+/-)-alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid (AMPA)-type glutamate receptor. The potential role of potassium channel activation in controlling the generation or spread of epileptiform activity was tested by applying the potassium channel opener cromakalim and the serotonin type 1A (5-HT1A) receptor agonist (+/-)-8-hydroxydipropylaminotetralin (8-OH-DPAT) to the disinhibited slices. Whereas cromakalim reduced the neuronal excitability and blocked all epileptiform responses, 8-OH-DAPT did not affect the activity pattern. Our results suggest that propagating epileptiform activity in disinhibited neocortical structures is predominantly mediated by activation of AMPA receptors and controllable by activation of a voltage-dependent potassium current.

Analysing functional connectivity in brain slices by a combination of infrared video microscopy, flash photolysis of caged compounds and scanning methods

We evaluate a novel set-up for scanning functional connectivity in brain slices from the somatosensory cortex of the rat. Upright infrared video microscopy for targeted placement of electrodes is combined with rapid photolysis of bath-applied caged neurotransmitter induced by a xenon flash lamp. Flash photolysis of caged glutamate and electrical stimulation produce comparable field potential responses and demonstrate that the viability of the submerged slices exceeds several hours. Glutamate release leads to field potential responses whose two phases are differentially affected by selective blockade of N-methyl-D-aspartate- and alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionate-type glutamate receptors with DL-2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid and 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-6-nitro-2,3-dioxo-benzo[f]quinoxaline-7-sulphonamide, respectively. Rapid computer-controlled scanning of hundreds of distinct stimulation sites with simultaneous recordings at a fixed reference site allows construction of functional input maps from peak amplitudes and delays to peak of field potential responses. Selective laminar expansion of the functional input maps after bicuculline application demonstrates that the combination of this conveniently assembled set-up with pharmacological and physical manipulations can provide insights into the determinants of functional connectivity in brain slices.

Characterization of neuronal migration disorders in neocortical structures. II. Intracellular in vitro recordings

Neuronal migration disorders (NMD) are involved in a variety of different developmental disturbances and in therapy-resistant epilepsy. The cellular mechanisms underlying the pronounced hyperexcitability in dysplastic cortex are not well understood and demand further clinical and experimental analyses. We used a focal freeze-lesion model in cerebral cortex of newborn rats to study the functional consequences of NMD. Intracellular recordings from supragranular regular spiking cells in cortical slices from adult sham-operated rats revealed normal passive and active intrinsic membrane properties and normal stimulus-evoked excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs and IPSPs, respectively). Regular spiking neurons recorded in rat dysplastic cortex showed on average a significantly smaller action potential amplitude, a slower spike rise, and a less steep primary frequency-current relationship. Stimulus-elicited EPSPs in NMD-affected cortex consisted of multiphasic burst discharges, which coincided with extracellular field potentials and lasted 150-800 ms. These epileptiform responses could be recorded at membrane potentials between -50 and -110 mV and were blocked by -2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (APV), indicating the involvement of N-methyl--aspartate (NMDA) receptors. Isolated NMDA-mediated and APV-sensitive EPSPs could be recorded at membrane potentials negative to -70 mV, suggesting that NMDA receptors are activated at relatively negative membrane potentials. In comparison with the controls, polysynaptic IPSPs mediated by the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) type A and B receptor were either absent or reduced in peak conductance in microgyric cortex by 27% (P < 0.05) and 17%, respectively. However, monosynaptic IPSPs recorded in the presence of ionotropic glutamate receptor antagonists revealed a similar efficacy in NMD and control cortex, indicating that GABAergic neurons in microgyric cortex get a weaker excitatory input. Our data indicate that the expression of epileptiform activity in NMD-affected cortex rather results from an imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory synaptic transmission than from alterations in the intrinsic membrane properties. This imbalance is caused by an increase in NMDA-receptor-mediated excitation in pyramidal neurons and a concurrent decrease of glutamatergic input onto inhibitory interneurons.

Long-term changes of ionotropic glutamate and GABA receptors after unilateral permanent focal cerebral ischemia in the mouse brain

Long-term hyperexcitability was found after unilateral, permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion in exofocal neocortical areas of the adult mouse [Mittmann et al. (1998) Neuroscience 85, 15-27]. The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis in an identical paradigm of ischemia. whether alterations in the densities of both excitatory and inhibitory amino acid receptors may underlie these pathophysiological changes. Alterations in densities of [3H]dizocilpine, [3H]D,L-amino-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid, [3H]kainate and [3H]muscimol binding sites were demonstrated with quantitative in vitro receptor autoradiography. All binding sites were severely reduced in the core of the ischemic lesion. A completely different reaction was found in the exofocal, histologically inconspicuous parts of the somatosensory cortex and the more remote neocortical areas of both hemispheres. The [3H]muscimol binding sites were significantly reduced four weeks after ischemia in the motor cortex, hindlimb representation area and exofocal parts of the primary and secondary somatosensory cortices of both hemispheres. The focus of the reduction in [3H]muscimol binding sites was found in lower layer V and upper layer VI. Contrastingly, the densities of [3H]dizocilpine binding sites were found to be increased in these areas, whereas those of [3H]D,L-alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid and [3H]kainate binding sites did not show significant changes. The [3H]dizocilpine binding site density increased predominantly in layers III and IV. All binding sites were also reduced in the retrogradely reacting, gliotic part of the ipsilateral ventroposterior thalamic nucleus, whereas the [3H]D,L-alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid binding sites were increased in the surround of the ipsilateral nucleus and no changes in binding sites were seen in the whole contralateral nucleus. We conclude that permanent local ischemia leads to a long-term and widespread impairment of the normal balance between binding sites of excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitter receptors in neocortical areas far away from the focus of the post-ischemic tissue damage. The imbalance comprises an up-regulation of the [3H]dizocilpine binding sites in the ion channels of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors and a down-regulation of [3H]muscimol binding sites of the GABA(A) receptors in the ipsi- and contralateral neocortex. These changes at the receptor level explain the previously observed hyperexcitability with the appearance of epileptiform field potentials and the long duration of excitatory postsynaptic potentials four weeks after ischemia.

Long-term cellular dysfunction after focal cerebral ischemia: in vitro analyses

The long-term (< or = six months) functional consequences of permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion were studied with in vitro extra- and intracellular recording techniques in adult mouse neocortical slices. After survival times of one to three days, 28 days and six months, intracellular recordings from layers II/III pyramidal cells in the vicinity of the infarct did not reveal any statistically significant changes in the intrinsic membrane properties when compared to age-matched control animals. However, a pronounced hyperexcitability could be observed upon orthodromic synaptic stimulation in neocortical slices obtained from mice 28 days after induction of ischemia. Low-intensity electrical stimulation of the afferents elicited particularly in this group epileptiform extracellular field potential responses and intracellular excitatory postsynaptic potentials, that were longer in duration as compared to the controls. When the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-mediated excitatory postsynaptic potential was pharmacologically isolated in a bathing solution containing 0.1 mM Mg2+ and 10 microM 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione, the synaptic responses were longer and larger in the ischemic cortex as compared to the controls. Higher stimulus intensities evoked in normal medium a biphasic inhibitory postsynaptic potential, that contained in the 28 days post-ischemia group a prominent amino-phosphonovaleric acid-sensitive component, indicating a strong concurrent activation of a N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-mediated excitatory postsynaptic potential. This pronounced co-activation could only be observed in the 28 days ischemic group, and neither after one to three days or six months post-ischemia nor in the controls. The quantitative analysis of the efficiency of stimulus- evoked inhibitory postsynaptic potentials recorded in amino-phosphono-valeric acid revealed a reduction of GABA-mediated inhibition in ischemic cortex. Although this reduction in intracortical inhibition may already contribute to an augmentation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-mediated excitation, our results do also indicate that the function of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors is transiently enhanced in the ischemic cortex. This transient hyperexcitability does not only cause cellular dysfunction in the vicinity of the infarct, but may also contribute to neuronal damage due to excitotoxicity.

Hypoxia-induced dysfunction in developing rat neocortex

Neocortical slices from young [postnatal day (P) 5-8], juvenile (P14-18), and adult (>P28) rats were exposed to long periods of hypoxia. Field potential (FP) responses to orthodromic synaptic stimulation, the extracellular DC potential, and the extracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]o] were measured simultaneously in layers II/III of primary somatosensory cortex. Hypoxia caused a 42 and 55% decrease in the FP response in juvenile and adult cortex, respectively. FP responses recorded in slices from young animals were significantly more resistant to oxygen deprivation as compared with the juvenile (P < 0.01) and adult age group (P < 0.001) and declined by only 3% in amplitude. In adult cortex, hypoxia elicited, after 7 +/- 4.5 min (mean +/- SD), a sudden anoxic depolarization (AD) with an amplitude of 14 +/- 6 mV and a duration of 0.89 +/- 0.28 min at half-maximal amplitude. Although the AD onset latency was significantly longer in P5-8 (12.5 +/- 4.9 min, P < 0.001) and P14-18 (8.7 +/- 3.2 min, P < 0.002) cortex, the amplitude and duration of the AD was larger in young (45.7 +/- 7.6 mV, 2.19 +/- 0.71 min, both P < 0.001) and juvenile animals (29.9 +/- 9.1 mV, P < 0.001, 0.96 +/- 0.26 min, P > 0.05) when compared with the adults. The hypoxia-induced [Ca2+]o decrease was significantly (P < 0.002) larger in young cortex (1,115 +/- 50 microM) as compared with the adult (926 +/- 107 microM). Prolongation of hypoxia after AD onset for >5 min elicited in young and juvenile cortex a long-lasting AD with an amplitude of 40.5 mV associated with a decrease in [Ca2+]o by >1 mM. On reoxygenation, only slices from these age groups showed spontaneous repetitive spreading depression in 3 out of 26 cases. In adults, the same protocol caused a significantly (P < 0.05) smaller and shorter AD and never a spreading depression. However, recovery in synaptic transmission after this long-term hypoxia was better in young and juvenile cortex, indicating a prolonged or even irreversible deficiency in synaptic function in mature animals. Application of ketamine caused a 49% reduction in the initial amplitude of the AD in juvenile cortex but did not significantly affect the AD in slices from adult animals. These data indicate that the young and juvenile cortex tolerates much longer periods of oxygen deprivation as compared with the adult, but that a sufficiently long hypoxia causes severe pathophysiological activity in the immature cortex. This enhanced sensitivity of the immature cortex is at least partially mediated by activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors.

Morphology, electrophysiology and pathophysiology of supragranular neurons in rat primary somatosensory cortex

Intracellularly biocytin-labelled neurons in layers II/III of adult rat primary somatosensory cortex were analysed for their morphological and electrophysiological properties and studied for their response pattern to transient hypoxia under in vitro conditions. The largest dendritic region is formed by the basal dendrites, which constitute an average area of 0.06 mm2 and which can receive synaptic inputs over horizontal distances of more than 300 microns. The dendritic territories formed by the oblique dendrites situated on the apical trunk and by the apical tuft are much smaller. The spine density is highest on the apical trunk, suggesting that large numbers of excitatory synapses are present in this region of the cell. All neurons revealed intrinsic membrane properties of typical regular spiking cells and received an excitatory and a strong biphasic inhibitory input. Whereas a significant correlation could be detected between the cell's input resistance and soma area, no correlation existed between the cell's total dendritic length and input resistance or membrane time constant/input resistance. Neurons responded to transient hypoxia either with an anoxic hyperpolarization with an apparent reversal potential of -82.4 mV, or with a gradual anoxic depolarization which reversed at -56 mV. Oxygen deprivation caused a significant reduction in the extent of axonal collaterals, whereas dendritic proportions and spine density were unaffected. The present study indicates that the dendritic tree is well preserved under in vitro conditions, whereas axonal connections are diminished by oxygen deprivation. Our results further suggest that certain structural properties correlate with the cellular physiology, but that the cell's morphology does not determine its responsiveness to hypoxia.

Characterization of neuronal migration disorders in neocortical structures: I. Expression of epileptiform activity in an animal model

Hypoxia, ischemia and other forms of brain injury during the pre- and perinatal period may cause neuronal migration disorders which results in irreversible structural modifications. In human neocortex, these malformations have been associated with severe mental retardation, motor dysfunction and the manifestation of therapy-resistant epilepsy. We were interested in analyzing the expression of epileptiform activity in an animal model of neocortical migration disorders. Newborn rats received a focal freeze lesion and were investigated anatomically and in vitro electrophysiologically after survival times of up to five months. Anatomic abnormalities included loss of normal cortical lamination (focal microgyrus) and presence of ectopic cell clusters in layer I and in the white matter (heterotopia). The functional in vitro analyses with eight extracellular recording electrodes revealed a prominent hyperexcitability of the disorganized neocortical network. Electrical stimulation of the afferents elicited epileptiform responses that propagated over > 4 mm in the horizontal direction. In untreated and sham-operated animals, this spread of evoked activity was restricted to 0.5-1 mm. Epileptiform responses were not significantly affected by APV but blocked by NBQX, indicating that AMPA receptors play a prominent role in the generation and propagation of this pathophysiological activity. Our data suggest that the experimentally induced migration disturbances cause long-term structural and/or functional modifications in the neocortical network which may form the basis for the expression of epileptiform activity.

Repetitive spreading depression causes selective suppression of GABAergic function

Cortical spreading depression (SD) represents a pathophysiological signal that has been associated with the induction of migraine and ischaemic brain damage. The properties of repetitive SDs and their effects on excitatory and inhibitory synaptic transmission were analysed in neocortical slices obtained from adult rats. The SD showed only small variations in amplitude, duration and integral when elicited four times at intervals of 30 min. Extracellularly recorded paired pulse inhibition was, however, significantly reduced by approximately 10% with each SD episode. Since excitatory synaptic transmission was unaffected, our data indicate that repetitive SD causes a selective reduction of intracortical inhibition.

Ischemia and lesion induced imbalances in cortical function

Cortical structures are often critically affected by ischemic and traumatic lesions which may cause transient or permanent functional disturbances. These disorders consist of changes in the membrane properties of single cells and alterations in synaptic network interactions within and between cortical areas including large-scale reorganizations in the representation of the peripheral input. Prominent functional modifications consisting of massive membrane depolarizations, suppression of intracortical inhibitory synaptic mechanisms and enhancement of excitatory synaptic transmission can be observed within a few minutes following the onset of cortical hypoxia or ischemia and probably represent the trigger signals for the induction of neuronal hyperexcitability, irreversible cellular dysfunction and cell death. Pharmacological manipulation of these early events may therefore be the most effective approach to control ischemia and lesion induced disturbances and to attenuate long-term neurological deficits. The complexity of secondary structural and functional alterations in cortical and subcortical structures demands an early and powerful intervention before neuronal damage expands to intact regions. The unsatisfactory clinical experience with calcium and N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonists suggests that this result might be achieved with compounds that show a broad spectrum of actions at different ligand-activated receptors, voltage-dependent channels and that also act at the vascular system. Whether the same therapy strategies developed for the treatment of ischemic injury in the adult brain may be applied for the immature cortex is questionable, since young cortical networks with a high degree of synaptic plasticity reveal a different response pattern to hypoxic and ischemic insults. Age-dependent molecular biological, morphological and physiological parameters contribute to an enhanced susceptibility of the immature brain to these noxae during early ontogenesis and have to be investigated in more detail for the development of adequate clinical therapy.