Noradrenaline increases K-conductance and reduces glutamatergic transmission in the mouse entorhinal cortex by activation of alpha 2-adrenoreceptors

The entorhinal cortex is a gateway to the hippocampus; it receives inputs from several cortical associative areas as well as subcortical areas. Since there is evidence showing that noradrenaline reduces the epileptic activity generated in the entorhinal cortex, we have examined the action of noradrenaline in the superficial layer of the entorhinal cortex, which is the main source of afferents to the hippocampus. In a previous study we showed that noradrenaline hyperpolarized layer II entorhinal cortex neurons and reduced global synaptic transmission via alpha 2-adrenoreceptors. Here we present a detailed analysis of the effect of noradrenaline on membrane resistance and on the pharmacologically isolated postsynaptic potentials in layer II entorhinal cortex neurons of mice. Noradrenaline (50 microM) hyperpolarized most layer II entorhinal cortex neurons. This hyperpolarization corresponded to an outward current with a reversal potential following the Nernst equilibrium potential for potassium. The hyperpolarizing effect of noradrenaline was blocked by 10 microM yohimbine. These observations suggest that noradrenaline activates a potassium conductance via an alpha 2-adrenoreceptor. Noradrenaline (10-50 microM) reversibly reduced the amplitude of the pharmacologically isolated excitatory potentials mediated by both NMDA and alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-isoxazole-propionic acid (AMPA) receptors, the former being more strongly affected. Again this effect was blocked by 10 microM yohimbine. In contrast, GABAA-mediated synaptic transmission was virtually unaffected by noradrenaline. Thus, noradrenaline appears to strongly inhibit the glutamate-mediated synaptic transmission in the entorhinal cortex without affecting inhibitory post-synaptic potentials. These observations suggest that alpha 2-adrenergic receptor agonists may exert a beneficial effect in the control of hyperexcitability in temporal lobe epilepsy.

Noradrenaline reduces synaptic responses in normal and tottering mouse entorhinal cortex via alpha 2 receptors

Pierre Magistretti, Emilie Pralong

The effects of noradrenaline (NA) on synaptic responses in layer II of the entorhinal cortex (EC) were studied in normal and spontaneously epileptic mutant mice tottering using intracellular recording in a slice preparation. Neither the membrane properties of neurones nor the responses to NA differed between normal and tottering mice. NA (50 microM) hyperpolarized most (29/54) of the neurones via alpha 2 adrenergic receptors. Synaptic responses of EC neurones were complex. NA (10-100 microM) reduced all the components of the synaptic response in a concentration-dependent and reversible manner. The pharmacological properties of the inhibitory effect of NA were characterised and quantified on one component of the complex synaptic response, the fast excitatory postsynaptic potential. The effect of NA was mimicked by the alpha 2 agonist UK 14,304 and blocked by the alpha 2 antagonist yohimbine. It is concluded that NA can inhibit via an alpha 2 receptor-mediated action synaptic responses in the superficial layers of the EC.

1994

Noradrenaline modulates glutamate-mediated neurotransmission in the rat basolateral amygdala in vitro

Pierre Magistretti, Emilie Pralong

The entorhinal cortex and the amygdala are interconnected structures of the limbic system in which paroxysmal activity occurs during temporal lobe epilepsy. Conflicting evidence shows that noradrenaline (i) inhibits the spreading to other parts of the limbic system of paroxysmal activity generated in the amygdala or the entorhinal cortex, but also (ii) increases glutamatergic transmission in the basolateral amygdala. Given our previous work on the inhibitory effect of noradrenaline on entorhinal cortex neurons, we developed an in vitro slice preparation to study the synaptic transmission in the basolateral amygdala and its modulation by noradrenaline. Noradrenaline reduced the fast excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) by approximately 40% at 100 microM and the slow EPSP by approximately 50% at 50 microM. A similar effect was obtained with the alpha2-agonist UK 14304 at 100 and 50 microM respectively. In contrast, the beta-agonist isoproterenol increased the fast EPSP by approximately 40% at 100 microM and the slow EPSP by approximately 20% at 50 microM. Accordingly, the effect of noradrenaline on the EPSPs was blocked by the alpha2-antagonist yohimbine (10 microM) but not by the alpha1-antagonist prazosine (10 microM) and the beta-antagonist propranolol (10 microM). Noradrenaline (50-100 microM) was ineffective on most (14/16) of the isolated inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs). These experiments provide evidence that noradrenaline inhibits the excitatory synaptic response of basolateral amygdala neurons. A pharmacological analysis revealed that the noradrenergic modulation of the excitatory transmission in the basolateral amygdala can be dissected into a predominant alpha2-adrenoreceptor-mediated inhibition and a beta-adrenoreceptor-mediated excitation.

1997

Structural basis and biophysical properties of synaptic plasticity studied by atomic force microscopy

Alexandre Yersin

In this thesis, we studied two systems important for synaptic plasticity, one presynaptic and another postsynaptic. The protein complex composed of VAMP 2, SNAP-25 and syntaxin 1 (SNARE complex) is essential for docking and fusion of neurotransmitter-filled synaptic vesicles with the presynaptic membrane. In order to better understand the fusion mechanisms, we reconstituted the synaptic SNARE complex in the imaging chamber of an atomic force microscope (AFM) and measured the interaction forces between its components. Each protein was tested against the two others, taken either individually or as binary complexes. This approach allowed us to determine specific interaction forces, dissociation kinetics of the SNAREs and led us to propose a sequence of formation for the complex. A theoretical model based on our measurements suggests that a minimum of four complexes is probably necessary for fusion to occur. We also showed that the regulatory protein nSec1 injected into the AFM chamber prevented the SNARE complex formation. Finally we measured the effect of tetanus toxin protease (TeTx) on the SNARE complex and its activity by on-line registration during TeTx injection. These experiments reveal that AFM is a valuable tool to investigate complicate interactions among a protein complex containing up to four components. Trafficking of glutamate receptors AMPA is closely related to postsynaptic induction of long-term potentiation. In a second part of this thesis, we used AFM to explore the distribution of AMPA receptors on-line at the surface of living cells in correlation with cellular viscoelastic properties. First, we showed that AFM permits to detect specifically AMPA receptors at the surface of living neurons and we proved that the specificity of detection is stable during time. Moreover, we were able to visualize variations in AMPA receptor density on surface in response to different stimulations. Finally, AFM also allowed us to study local viscoelastic properties of the cell and their modifications occurring during AMPA receptor trafficking. Our measurements reveal that AMPA receptors are situated at the cell surface on local stiffness maxima. We have noticed that an excitatory stimulation removes these stiffness maxima before producing internalization of receptors. Our results suggest also that AMPA receptors may be constituted of two subpopulations depending on the cell stiffness. A "hard" subpopulation may be preferentially internalized after an excitatory stimulation whereas a "soft" one seems to remain at the cell surface.

EPFL2004

Structural basis and biophysical properties of synaptic plasticity studied by atomic force microscopy

Alexandre Yersin

EPFL2004