Event Abstract

Reducing network size decreases sharp-wave occurrence in the CA3 region of in vitro hippocampal slices

  • 1 Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hungary

Hippocampal sharp-waves (SPWs) are generated in the CA3 area, and propagate to the CA1 subfield via Schaffer-collaterals. Here we examined the mechanism of SPW initiation in vitro. Our working hypothesis was that when a sufficient number of pyramidal cells are concurrently firing, activity starts to build up in the recurrent excitatory network of the hippocampus. This model predicts that the larger the network is, the more frequent and regularly timed the SPW episodes are. SPWs are spontaneously present in thick (600um), submerged in vitro mouse hippocampal slices in normal excitability ACSF. We recorded field-potentials from these slices, and tested the dependence of the frequency and the interevent interval distribution of SPWs as a function of virtual network size. To decrease network connectivity and functional network size, tetrodoxin was injected into str. radiatum via a glass capillary to partially block axon potential conduction in the recurrent collateral system of the CA3. Tetrodotoxin injection reversibly decreased sharp-wave frequency (or stopped SPW generation if large injections were applied), and increased interevent interval variability without influencing the features and basic parameters of SPWs. This experiment validates the model that SPW initiation is a stochastic process, and at the same time reject models suggesting that the length of inter-SPW intervals are set by refractory or depletion mechanisms at the neuronal and/or network level.

Acknowledgements

Supported by the NKTH-OTKA K68431 and by the HAS

Keywords: Neurophysiology, Neuroscience

Conference: 13th Conference of the Hungarian Neuroscience Society (MITT), Budapest, Hungary, 20 Jan - 22 Jan, 2011.

Presentation Type: Abstract

Topic: Neurophysiology

Citation: Schlingloff D, Hájos N, Kohus Z, Freund T and Gulyás A (2011). Reducing network size decreases sharp-wave occurrence in the CA3 region of in vitro hippocampal slices. Front. Neurosci. Conference Abstract: 13th Conference of the Hungarian Neuroscience Society (MITT). doi: 10.3389/conf.fnins.2011.84.00030

Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters.

The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated.

Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed.

For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions.

Received: 03 Mar 2011; Published Online: 23 Mar 2011.

* Correspondence: Dr. D. Schlingloff, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Budapest, Hungary, schlingloffd@gmail.com