Synaptic activity modulates presynaptic excitability
- Creators
- Nick, Teresa A.
- Ribera, Angeles B.
Abstract
Synaptic activity modulates synaptic efficacy and is important in learning and development. Here we show that development of excitability in presynaptic motor neurons required synaptic activation of postsynaptic muscle cells. Synaptic blockade broadened action potentials and decreased repetitive firing of presynaptic neurons. Consistent with these findings, synaptic blockade also decreased potassium-current density in the presynaptic cell. Application of neurotrophin-3, but not related neurotrophins, prevented these changes. Recordings from patches of somatic membrane indicated that modifications of presynaptic potassium and sodium currents occurred in a remote, nonsynaptic compartment. Thus, activity-dependent postsynaptic signals modulated presynaptic excitability, potentially regulating transmission at all synapses of the presynaptic cell.
Additional Information
© 2000 Nature America Inc. Received 8 September; Accepted 19 November 1999. We thank W. J. Betz, J. W. Karpen, J. L. Lubischer, T. C. Rich, K. R. Svoboda and B. G. Wallace for reading the manuscript; and B. Lu, T. J. Carew, L. K. Kaczmarek and M.-M. Poo for comments and suggestions. This work was supported by NIH grants to T.A.N. and A.B.R.Additional details
- Eprint ID
- 57456
- Resolver ID
- CaltechAUTHORS:20150512-123511034
- NIH
- Created
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2015-05-12Created from EPrint's datestamp field
- Updated
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2021-11-10Created from EPrint's last_modified field