Figure 1
Activity manipulation during the embryonic critical period affects synaptic excitation of the aCC motoneuron. (A) Schematic representation of the experimental procedure. Early chemical manipulation was achieved by feeding PTX to wild-type gravid females. The seizure-prone parabss mutant was also used to investigate hyper-excitability48. Five days later, wall-climbing L3 were tested by either electrophysiological recording from aCC motoneurons or by electroshock, in order to measure change to synaptic drive or susceptibility to induced seizure, respectively (see Figure S1). (B) Loose patch recordings from L3 aCC motoneurons showing increased endogenous (i.e. spontaneous) spiking activity in conditions of excessive excitation (PTX and parabss, see also Figure S1). (C) Quantification of the number of action potentials per bout. One-way ANOVA (F(2, 27) = 3.91, p = 0.03) followed by Bonferroni’s post-hoc test (n = 10 in each group).
