ISSN:
1573-9007
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Experimental measurements of the input resistance were performed using a whole-cell patch-clamp recording technique of presumed motoneurons in unpurified co-culture of the dissociated prenatal rat brainstem, spinal cord, and hindlimb muscle tissues at different terms of thein vitro development. The recorded neurons were then labelled with Neurobiotin. Morphology of 21 completely stained cells was reconstructed and quantified in 3-D space. To estimate the size of the neurons, their total membrane areas and terminal tip numbers were computed. Computer models based on the reconstructed forms were used to evaluate the impact of cell morphology on the input resistance of motoneurons. The membrane resistivity was assumed as passive, uniform, and constant (12,000 Ω·cm2) at all ages studied. We found that changes in the measured input resistance paralleled those in dendritic morphology at all stages of the development, and that computed values correlated well with measured data. Therefore, we conclude that changes in geometry of the neuron may themselves account for evolution of its input resistance during development.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02462844
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