Kravchenko M. Calcium regulation of inhibitory synaptic transmission between neurons in hippocampal culture

This work is devoted to investigation of influence of calcium stores of endoplasmic reticulum on short-term plasticity of inhibitory synaptic transmission between cultured rat hippocampal neurons. Using such techniques like electrical external stimulation of the nerve fiber and patch-clamp characteristics of evoked inhibitory postsynaptic currents and their paired-pulse modulation were studied. The existence of two cell groups in rat hippocampal culture, distinguished by different short-term synaptic plasticity patterns - paired-pulse depression and facilitation - was shown. It was demonstrated that emptying of reticular calcium stores by initiating of calcium-induced calcium release not only inhibits the amplitude of GABAergic postsynaptic currents but also modulates the strength of short-term synaptic plasticity. It was concluded that either pre- or postsynaptic calcium stores may play an essential role in regulation of evoked inhibitory postsynaptic currents.