JNP Micro Podcasts: Acetylcholine receptor and persistent current

In this paper first author Kelly H. Lee, and Alex Prosserman, an expert in the field discuss the recently published article titled “Cholinergic depolarization recruits a persistent Ca²⁺ current in Aplysia bag cell neurons.”

 

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Ionotropic acetylcholine receptors mediate brief synaptic communication, including in bag cell neurons of the sea snail Aplysia. However, this study demonstrates that cholinergic depolarization can open a voltage-gated persistent Ca²⁺ current, which extends the bag cell neuron response to acetylcholine. Bursting in these neuroendocrine cells results in hormone release and egg laying. Thus, this emphasizes the role of ionotropic signaling in reaching a depolarized level to engage Ca²⁺ influx and perpetuating the activity necessary for behavior.

 

Article Citation:

Cholinergic depolarization recruits a persistent Ca²⁺ current in Aplysia bag cell neurons

Kelly H. Lee, David E. Wassef, Eammon K. MacNeil, and Neil S. Magoski

Journal of Neurophysiology 2023 129:5, 1045-1060