Figure 1.
Synaptic connections between striatal spiny neurons. a, Pair of synaptically connected striatal spiny cells stained with biocytin and located ∼50 μm apart after paired whole-cell recording in an adult rat. b, Sp→Sp IPSC recorded in perforated-patch configuration in a 13-d-old rat. Pairs of action potentials were evoked in the presynaptic spiny neuron at the arrows, at various postsynaptic holding potentials as indicated at the right of each trace. The current required to hold the soma at the various potentials is shown in the graph at the top, and the amplitude of the IPSC is likewise shown below that. The IPSC reversed at -76 mV, and the slope of the I-V relation (the apparent conductance change at the soma) was only 118 pS. IPSCs were typically <5 pA in amplitude, even at -30 mV (driving force, ∼40 mV).