Abstract
The patch-clamp technique was employed in hippocampal slices to examine the characteristics of a low-threshold Ca current in adult CA1 pyramidal neurons. We found that adult CA1 pyramidal neurons possess a distinct transient low-threshold Ca current, located predominantly in the distal dendrites. Surgical cuts that separated the dendrites from the soma and left a dendritic length of 150 mu m, completely abolished the low-threshold Ca current while a transient K current persisted even in cells with dendrites as short as 50 mu m. The transient low-threshold Ca current in dendrites may represent a voltage-dependent Ca entry pathway which contributes to the regulation of cellular excitability, plasticity and pathology.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 154-158 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Neuroscience Letters |
Volume | 164 |
Issue number | 1-2 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 24-Dec-1993 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- LOW-THRESHOLD CALCIUM CONDUCTANCE
- CA1 AREA
- HIPPOCAMPAL SLICE
- PATCH CLAMP
- CELL PATCH-CLAMP
- PYRAMIDAL NEURONS
- GUINEA-PIG
- KINETIC-PROPERTIES
- CHANNELS
- VOLTAGE
- CONDUCTANCES