Fig. 1. Whole-cell recording from layer II pyramidal neurons and pharmacological isolation of EPSCs.
A) Representation of the recording/stimulation configuration in the piriform cortex (PC). Recordings, and postsynaptic current injections, were made from the soma of pyramidal neurons located in layer II, while the stimulating electrode was placed ~50 µm away in layer III. Scale bar: 30µm. Inset) Simplified schematic of the PC circuit under investigation. 1) Association fiber. 2) To subcortical areas. B) Top: A representative recording of eEPSCs from the cell shown in A. The eEPSCs were recorded at different membrane potentials (−80 mV or +20 mV) in order to isolate AMPA or NMDA mediated currents respectively. Note the effects that NMDA receptor antagonist APV (50 µM), the AMPA receptor antagonist GYKI (100 µM), and the AMPA/Kainate receptor antagonist NBQX (50 µM) have upon their respective currents. Bottom: Bar graph showing the amplitudes of averaged AMPA or NMDA mediated currents and the effects of the NMDA receptor antagonist APV and the selective AMPA receptor antagonist GYKI on their respective currents.