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Large-scale oscillatory calcium waves in the immature cortex

Abstract

Two-photon imaging of large neuronal networks in cortical slices of newborn rats revealed synchronized oscillations in intracellular Ca2+ concentration. These spontaneous Ca2+ waves usually started in the posterior cortex and propagated slowly (2.1 mm per second) toward its anterior end. Ca2+ waves were associated with field-potential changes and required activation of AMPA and NMDA receptors. Although GABAA receptors were not involved in wave initiation, the developmental transition of GABAergic transmission from depolarizing to hyperpolarizing (around postnatal day 7) stopped the oscillatory activity. Thus we identified a type of large-scale Ca2+ wave that may regulate long-distance wiring in the immature cortex.

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Figure 1: Two-photon Ca2+ imaging in large neuronal assemblies.
Figure 2: Spontaneous oscillatory Ca2+ waves in the immature cortex.
Figure 3: Cortical early network oscillations involve the majority of cortical neurons.
Figure 4: Transcortical propagation of cENO-associated Ca2+ waves.
Figure 5: The cENOs are preserved at room temperature and blocked by tetrodotoxin.
Figure 6: Striking differences between cortical and hippocampal early network oscillations.
Figure 7: Developmental confinement of early network oscillations to the first few days after birth.
Figure 8: GABA-activated Ca2+ transients in the immature cortex.

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Acknowledgements

We thank E. Brown for advice and help in developing the two-photon imaging set-up and E. Hanse and M. Noll-Hussong for participating in the preliminary experiments. We also thank A. Selyanko for comments on the manuscript and R. Trautmann, H. Krempel, E. Eilers and D. Hof for technical assistance. The work was supported by the HFSP and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (SFB 391).

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Correspondence to Arthur Konnerth.

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Garaschuk, O., Linn, J., Eilers, J. et al. Large-scale oscillatory calcium waves in the immature cortex. Nat Neurosci 3, 452–459 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/74823

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