Spontaneous voltage oscillations in striatal projection neurons in a rat corticostriatal slice

In a rat corticostriatal slice, brief, suprathreshold, repetitive cortical stimulation evoked long-lasting plateau potentials in neostriatal neurons. Plateau potentials were often followed by spontaneous voltage transitions between two preferred membrane potentials. While the induction of plateau potentials was disrupted by non-NMDA and NMDA glutamate receptor antagonists, the maintenance of spontaneous voltage transitions was only blocked by NMDA receptor and L-type Ca²⁺ channel antagonists. The frequency and duration of depolarized events, resembling up-states described in vivo, were increased by NMDA and L-type Ca²⁺ channel agonists as well as by GABA_A receptor and K⁺ channel antagonists. NMDA created a region of negative slope conductance and a positive slope crossing indicative of membrane bistability in the current-voltage relationship. NMDA-induced bistability was partially blocked by L-type Ca²⁺ channel antagonists. Although evoked by synaptic stimulation, plateau potentials and voltage oscillations could not be evoked by somatic current injection - suggesting a dendritic origin. These data show that NMDA and L-type Ca²⁺ conductances of spiny neurons are capable of rendering them bistable. This may help to support prolonged depolarizations and voltage oscillations under certain conditions.