Induction mechanisms of sustained neural activity in the neural integrator of the vertical eye movement system

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26430002
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Neurophysiology / General neuroscience
• Research Institution: Nara Medical University
• Principal Investigator: Saito Yasuhiko 奈良県立医科大学, 医学部, 教授 (70290913)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 視線制御 / 局所興奮性神経回路 / カルシウム透過型AMPA受容体 / シナプス後電流 / 高頻度刺激 / パッチクランプ法 / スライス標本

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Gaze holding is controlled primarily by neural structures including the prepositus hypoglossi nucleus (PHN) for the horizontal gaze and the interstitial nucleus of Cajal (INC) for the vertical gaze. In this study, to verify whether the neural structure of the INC is similar to that of the PHN, we compared the network properties between the INC and PHN. The application of burst stimulation induced an increase in the frequency of spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic current (EPSCs). The duration of the increased EPSC frequency of INC neurons was not significantly different from that of PHN neurons. The percent of duration reduction induced by a Ca2+-permeable AMPA receptors (CP-AMPA) antagonist was significantly smaller in the INC than in the PHN. These results suggest that the local excitatory networks that activated the sustained EPSCs are present both in the INC and PHN, but their activation mechanisms including the contribution of CP-AMPA are different between them.

Free Research Field

神経生理学