Topic: layer V

Rebound depolarization (RD) is a form of membrane depolarization triggered in some neurons following hyperpolarization. Typically, a series of action potentials are evoked during RD plateau. RD converts an inhibitory signal arriving to the neuron into an excitation signal, which is subsequently synaptically transmitted to other cells. The nature of RD in cortical neurons has been tested for several years without satisfactory explanation. The aim of our study was to evaluate the influence of adrenergic receptors activation in RD generation. Alpha-1, alpha-2, and beta-receptors have been tested.

Astrocytes play a fundamental role in numerous neural processes. In this study, we present preliminary data from ex vivo human cortical astrocytes obtained from Temporal lobe resections for epilepsy treatment and examined using whole cell patch clamp and 2-photon imaging techniques. Calcium (Ca2+) imaging reveals that these astrocytes exhibit a high frequency of Ca2+ transients in their fine processes compared to whole-cell responses, a finding consistent with astrocyte activity recorded in rodents. While the morphology of human astrocytes bore similarities to their rodent counterparts, they d