Postnatal development of dendritic synaptic integration in rat neocortical pyramidal neurons.

ABSTRACT: The dendritic tree of layer 5 (L5) pyramidal neurons spans the neocortical layers, allowing the integration of intra- and extracortical synaptic inputs. Here we investigate the postnatal development of the integrative properties of rat L5 pyramidal neurons using simultaneous whole cell recording from the soma and distal apical dendrite. In young (P9-10) neurons, apical dendritic excitatory synaptic input powerfully drove action potential output by efficiently summating at the axonal site of action potential generation. In contrast, in mature (P25-29) neurons, apical dendritic excitatory input provided little direct depolarization at the site of action potential generation but was integrated locally in the apical dendritic tree leading to the generation of dendritic spikes. Consequently, ov

SUBMITTER: Atkinson SE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2724330 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature