Figure 4. NG2⁺ cells in adult human white matter display synaptic currents.

Recording was performed in the fimbria of a human hippocampal brain slice prepared from a neurosurgical specimen. The hippocampus was removed for the treatment of medically resistant temporal lobe epilepsy (35 years of age). A, whole cell current pattern in response to depolarizing voltage steps (ΔV = 10 mV) from a holding potential of –80 mV. The current pattern is very similar to rodent NG2⁺ cells. B, spontaneous glutamatergic synaptic currents in the presence of Ruthenium Red (100 μm). Note the fast kinetics of currents, which are typical for glutamatergic synaptic currents in rodent NG2⁺ cells.