Figure 1.

Synaptic currents mediated by α7-nAChRs in O/A interneurons. A, nAChR-mediated EPSCs evoked in a O/A interneuron by repetitive stimulation of cholinergic fibers in the O/A border (100 Hz for 1 s) at −80 mV, at +30 mV. Note that synaptic currents could be detected at −80 mV but not at +30 mV due to their strong inward rectification. B, In another interneuron held at −80 mV, bath application of MLA (10 nm) blocked both the fast synaptic currents and the slow developing inward current. This effect was partially reversed 10 min after MLA was washed out. C, Peak EPSCs amplitude as a function of consecutive stimuli, before (white; n = 10) and during bath application of MLA (gray; n = 13). Vertical bars, SEM. D, Each column represents the charge transfer (pA*ms) obtained by summating respective areas underlying the first 5 consecutive EPSCs, recorded at −80 mV (white), at +30 mV (black) and at −80 mV in the presence of 10 nm MLA (gray).