Transmitter regulation of plateau properties in turtle motoneurons

In motoneurons, generation of plateau potentials is promoted by modulators that block potassium channels. In voltage-clamp experiments with triangular voltage ramp commands, we show that cis-(+/-)-1-aminocyclopentane-1,3-dicarboxylic acid (cis-ACPD) and muscarine promote the generation of plateau potentials by increasing the dihydropyridine sensitive inward current, by increasing the input resistance, and by depolarizing the resting membrane potential. Type I metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR I) mediate the effects of cis-ACPD. Baclofen suppresses generation of plateau potentials by decreasing the dihydropyridine sensitive inward current, by decreasing the input resistance, and by hyperpolarizing the resting membrane potential. These results suggest that membrane properties of motoneurons are continuously modulated by synaptic activity in ways that may have profound effects on synaptic integration and pattern generation.