Summary
Changes of specific response properties of single neurones in area 17 of the cat's cortex were studied during electrophoretic administration of glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA).
Most cells were excited by glutamate. The diameter of the cells' discharge field (ERF) was enlarged by less than 1° in most cells, and the amplitude of the response within the ERF was increased. There was a weak correlation between the original size of the ERF and its enlargement during glutamate. Stimuli presented in non-optimal orientations and moved in the non-optimal direction became also effective in eliciting an excitatory response. When glutamate “doses” sufficiently high to increase background activity were used, inhibitory regions of the receptive fields could be revealed.
GABA decreased the excitability of the cells until the response was totally blocked.
In some cases, glutamate also decreased the excitability of cells. Simultaneous recordings from two cells suggested that the inhibitory effect may be indirect through activation of nearby inhibitory neurones.
It is pointed out that extracellular recording combined with electrophoretic administration of glutamate can reveal information about a cell's properties which can otherwise only be obtained with intracellular recordings. The functional implications of the results are discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Asanuma, H., Rosén, I.: Spread of mono- and polysynaptic connections within cat's motor cortex. Exp. Brain Res. 16, 507–520 (1973)
Barlow, H.B., Levick, W.R.: The mechanism of directionally selective units in rabbit's retina. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 178, 477–504 (1965)
Benevento, L.A., Creutzfeldt, O.D., Kuhnt, U.: Significance of intracortical inhibition in the visual cortex. Nature New Biology 238, 124–126 (1972)
Biscoe, T.J., Curtis, D.R.: Strychnine and cortical inhibition. Nature (Lond.) 214, 914–915 (1967)
Bishop, P.O., Coombs, J.S., Henry, G.H.: Receptive fields of simple cells in the cat striate cortex. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 231, 31–61 (1973)
Creutzfeldt, O.D., Kuhnt, U., Benevento, L.A.: An intracellular analysis of visual cortical neurons to moving stimuli: Responses in a co-operative neuronal network. Exp. Brain Res. 21, 251–274 (1974)
Curtis, D.R.: Microelectrophoresis. In: Physical Techniques in Biological Research, Bd. V. W.L. Nastuk, ed. pp. 144–190. New York: Academic Press 1964
Curtis, D.R., Crawford, J.M.: Central synaptic transmission-microelectrophoretic studies. Pharmacol. Rev. 9, 209–240 (1969)
Curtis, D.R., Felix, D.: The effect of bicuculline upon synaptic inhibition in the cerebral and cerebellar cortics of the cat. Brain Res. 34, 301–321 (1971)
Curtis, D.R., Johnston, G.A.R.: Amino acid transmitters in the mammalian central nervous system. Ergebn. Physiol. 69, 97–188 (1974)
Dreifuss, J.J., Kelly, J. S., Krnjević, K.: Cortical inhibition and γ-aminobutyric acid. Exp. Brain Res. 9, 137–154 (1969)
Fernald, R., Chase, R.: An improved method for plotting retinal landmarks and focusing the eyes. Vision Res. 11, 95–96 (1971)
Herz, A., Zieglgänsberger, W., Färber, G.: Microelectrophoretic studies concerning the spread of glutamic acid and GABA in brain tissue. Exp. Brain Res. 9, 221–235 (1969)
Hubel, D.H.: Tungsten microelectrode for recording from single units. Science 125, 549–550 (1957)
Hubel, D.H., Wiesel, T.N.: Receptive fields, binocular interation and functional architecture in the cat's visual cortex. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 160, 106–154 (1962)
Krnjević, K.: Glutamate and γ-aminobutyric acid in brain. Nature 228, 119–124 (1970)
Krnjević, K., Schwartz, S.: The action of γ-aminobutyric acid on cortical neurones. Exp. Brain Res. 3, 320–336 (1967)
Pettigrew, J.D., Nikara, T., Bishop, P.O.: Responses to moving slits by single units in cat striate cortex. Exp. Brain Res. 6, 373–390 (1968)
Phillis, J. W.: The pharmacology of thalamic and geniculate neurones. Int. Rev. Neurobiol. 14, 1–48 (1971)
Spehlmann, R.: Acetylcholine and prostigmine electrophoresis at visual cortex neurons. J. Neurophysiol. 26, 127–139 (1963)
Spehlmann, R.: Acetylcholine facilitation, atropine block of synaptic excitation of cortical neurons. Science 165, 404–405 (1969)
Spehlmann, R.: ACH and the synaptic transmission of non-specific impulses to the visual cortex. Brain 94, 139–150 (1971)
Spehlmann, R., Daniels, J.C., Smathers, C.C., Jr.: Acetylcholine and the synaptic transmission of specific impulses to the visual cortex. Brain 94, 125–138 (1971)
Spehlmann, R., Kapp, H., Jung, R.: Acetylcholin-Aktivierung von Neuronen des visuellen Cortex durch Mikro-Elektrophorese. Progr. Brain Res. 6, 215–240 (1964)
Steiner, F.A.: Neurotransmitter and Neuromodnlatoren. Stuttgart: G. Thieme Verlag 1971
Toyama, K., Maekawa, K., Takeda, T.: An analysis of neuronal circuitry for two types of visual cortical neurones classified on the basis of their responses to photic stimuli. Brain Res. 61, 395–399 (1973)
Trubatch, J., van Harreveld, A.: Spread of iontophoretically injected ions in a tissue. J. theor. Biol. 36, 355–366 (1972)
Wallingford, E., Ostdahl, R., Zarzecki, P., Kaufmann, P., Somjen, G.: Optical and pharmacological stimulation of visual cortical neurones. Nature New Biology 242, 210–212 (1973)
Zieglgänsberger, W., Herz, A.: Changes of cutaneous receptive fields of spino-cervical-tract neurones and other dorsal horn neurones by microelectrophoretically administered amino acids. Exp. Brain Res. 13, 111–126 (1971)
Zieglgänsberger, W., Puil, E.A.: Actions of glutamic acid on spinal neurones. Exp. Brain Res. 17, 35–49 (1973)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
A preliminary report has been presented at the German Physiological Society Meeting, Spring 1973. Europ. J. Physiol. 187, Suppl. Vol. 339 R 94 (1973).
While this paper was in press, a communication by A.M. Sillito appeared in J. Physiol. (Lond.) 239, 36 (1974) describing the “Modification of the receptive field properties of neurones in the visual cortex by bicuculline, a GABA antagonist”. His results, obtained with electrophoretical injection of bicuculline, seem in some degree similar to what we found using glutamate. The effectiveness of bicuculline points to a possible role for GABA as a synaptic transmitter in the visual cortex.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hess, R., Murata, K. Effects of glutamate and GABA on specific response properties of neurones in the visual cortex. Exp Brain Res 21, 285–297 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00235748
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00235748