Figure 5.

Inhibition of P/Q-type Ca²⁺ channels reduces the frequency of miniature EPSCs in layer 2/3 pyramidal cells in acute cortical slices from SL/SL and SL/WT KI mice. (A) Representative traces of mEPSCs recorded at −69 mV in a layer 2/3 pyramidal cell and average values of mEPSC frequency (n = 7) in control and after application of Aga (400 nM) in acute cortical slices from P16-18 SL/SL KI mice (Paired t-test: p = 0.0026); also shown is the average value of the percent inhibition of mEPSC frequency by the drug in each cell: 30 ± 4% (n = 7). Scale bars: 50 ms and 10 pA. (B) As in (A), but recordings are from P16-17 SL/WT KI mice (n = 7) (Paired t-test: p = 0.012). Average value of the percent inhibition of mEPSC frequency by the drug in each cell: 21 ± 4%, n = 7. The difference in percent inhibition of mEPSC frequency by Aga in SL/SL and SL/WT neurons is not statistically significant (p = 0.14). Both amplitudes and frequencies of mEPSCs were similar in SL/SL and SL/WT KI mice: 8.3 ± 0.5 pA and 4.1 ± 0.5 Hz in SL/SL vs. 9.1 ± 0.7 pA and 5.3 ± 1.1 Hz in SL/WT; (t-test: p = 0.38 and 0.31, respectively).