Dopaminergic Modulation of Spiny Neurons in the Turtle Striatum
2010
Barral, Jaime | Galarraga, Elvira | Tapia, Dagoberto | Flores-Barrera, Edén | Reyes, Arturo | Bargas, José
Intracellular recordings were obtained from brain slice preparation in neurons of the striatum of the turtle Trachemys scripta elegans, analogous to the mammalian striatum in its topographic organization, synaptic connectivity, cytoarchitecture, and neurochemistry. Here we show that these similarities extend to the electrophysiological properties of its neurons. Biocytin staining revealed that 85% of the recorded neurons were medium spiny neurons while 15% were aspiny neurons. Spiny neurons of the turtle resembled those found in the mammalian and avian striatum and express dopaminergic D₁ and D₂ class receptors. Because the striatum of the turtle receives a dense dopaminergic innervation from tegmental dopaminergic neurons we investigated the postsynaptic actions of selective dopamine receptor agonists in the excitability of spiny neurons. As in mammals and birds, activation of D₁-receptors enhances, whereas activation of D₂-receptors decreases the evoked discharge. Apparently, actions of dopamine agonists occur via the modulation of L-type (CaV1) Ca²⁺-conductances. Strong cellular evidence suggests that the role of dopamine in the modulation of motor networks is preserved along vertebrate evolution.
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