With oxygen deprivation, the mammalian brain undergoes hyper-activity and neuronal death while this does not occur in the anoxia tolerant goldfish (Carassius auratus). Anoxic survival of the goldfish may rely on neuromodulatory mechanisms to suppress neuronal hyper-excitability. Since γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in brain, we decided to investigate its potential role in suppressing the electrical activity of goldfish telencephalic neurons. Utilizing whole-cell patch-clamp recording we recorded the electrical activities of both excitatory (pyramidal) and inhibitory (stellate) neurons. With anoxia, membrane potential (Vm) depolarized in both cell types from −72.2mV to −57.7mV and from −64.5mV to −46.8mV in pyramidal and stellate neurons, respectively. While pyramidal cells remained mostly quiescent, action potential frequency (APf) of the stellate neurons increased 68 fold. Furthermore, the GABAA receptor reversal potential (EGABA) was determined using the gramicidin perforated-patch clamp method and found to be depolarizing in pyramidal (−53.8mV) and stellate neurons (−42.1mV). Although GABA was depolarizing, pyramidal neurons remained quiescent since EGABA is below the action potential threshold (−36mV pyramidal and −38mV stellate neurons). Inhibition of GABAA receptors with gabazine reversed the anoxia mediated response. While GABAB receptor inhibition alone did not affect the anoxic response, co-antagonism of GABAA and GABAB receptors (gabazine and CGP-55848) lead to generation of seizure-like activities in both neuron types. We conclude that with anoxia Vm depolarizes towards EGABA which increases APf in stellate neurons and decreases APf in pyramidal neurons, and that GABA plays an important role in the anoxia-tolerance of goldfish brain.
Stellate and pyramidal neurons in goldfish telencephalon respond differently to anoxia and GABA receptor inhibition
2023 JEB Outstanding Paper Prize shortlist and winner
The JEB Editors are delighted to announce the shortlisted authors for the 2023 JEB Outstanding Paper Prize. Read the winning paper - Tiny spies: mosquito antennae are sensitive sensors for eavesdropping on frog calls - by Hoover Pantoja-Sanchez and Brian Leavell from Ximena Bernal's lab at Purdue University, USA.
JEB Science Communication Workshop for ECRs
If you’re an early-career researcher interested in science communication and are attending the SEB Annual Conference in Prague this summer, come a day early and join the JEB Editors at a sci comm workshop to learn the key writing skills needed to promote your research to a broad audience beyond your peers (1 July at 14.30-17.30). Places are limited to 24 attendees, and applicants should apply through the SEB registration page by 30 April 2024.
Bridging the gap between controlled conditions and natural habitats in understanding behaviour
Novel technologies enable behavioural experiments with non-model species, in naturalistic habitats and with underexplored behaviours. In their Commentary, Scholz and colleagues discuss how to obtain a deeper understanding of the natural ecology and lifestyle of study animals.
Beluga metabolic measures could help save species
To help save animals from extinction, it’s important to understand what each species needs to survive. This led Jason John et al. to measure the metabolic rates of captive belugas to develop a ‘fish calculator’ showing that the whales need to eat ~23 salmon per day.
ECR Workshop on Positive Peer Review
Are you an ECR looking for tips on how to write concise, astute and useful manuscript reviews? If so, join the JEB Editors at a 2-hour JEB-sponsored Workshop on Positive Peer Review at the Canadian Society of Zoologists annual meeting in Moncton on 9 May 2024 at 13.00-15.00. There are 25 spaces for ECRs and selection is first come, first serve. To sign up, check the ECR Workshop box when you register for the CSZ meeting.
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