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Antidromic-rectifying gap junctions amplify chemical transmission at functionally mixed electrical-chemical synapses

Author

Listed:
  • Ping Liu

    (University of Connecticut Health Center)

  • Bojun Chen

    (University of Connecticut Health Center)

  • Roger Mailler

    (University of Tulsa)

  • Zhao-Wen Wang

    (University of Connecticut Health Center)

Abstract

Neurons communicate through chemical synapses and electrical synapses (gap junctions). Although these two types of synapses often coexist between neurons, little is known about whether they interact, and whether any interactions between them are important to controlling synaptic strength and circuit functions. By studying chemical and electrical synapses between premotor interneurons (AVA) and downstream motor neurons (A-MNs) in the Caenorhabditis elegans escape circuit, we found that disrupting either the chemical or electrical synapses causes defective escape response. Gap junctions between AVA and A-MNs only allow antidromic current, but, curiously, disrupting them inhibits chemical transmission. In contrast, disrupting chemical synapses has no effect on the electrical coupling. These results demonstrate that gap junctions may serve as an amplifier of chemical transmission between neurons with both electrical and chemical synapses. The use of antidromic-rectifying gap junctions to amplify chemical transmission is potentially a conserved mechanism in circuit functions.

Suggested Citation

  • Ping Liu & Bojun Chen & Roger Mailler & Zhao-Wen Wang, 2017. "Antidromic-rectifying gap junctions amplify chemical transmission at functionally mixed electrical-chemical synapses," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-16, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:8:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms14818
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms14818
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    Cited by:

    1. Xu Zhan & Chao Chen & Longgang Niu & Xinran Du & Ying Lei & Rui Dan & Zhao-Wen Wang & Ping Liu, 2023. "Locomotion modulates olfactory learning through proprioception in C. elegans," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-19, December.
    2. Jingyuan Jiang & Yifan Su & Ruilin Zhang & Haiwen Li & Louis Tao & Qiang Liu, 2022. "C. elegans enteric motor neurons fire synchronized action potentials underlying the defecation motor program," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-15, December.

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