Giant depolarizing potentials

Giant depolarizing potentials

Giant depolarizing potentials (GDP) are the first type of electrical activity of developing brain. These patterns of activity differ a lot from the adult brain activity patterns: they do not carry encoded information, they are generalized, they are relatively slow (with typical time of .1 s), they are repetitive (with typical time of 1s). They are, however, very different from epileptiform activity.

GDPs are slowly spreading in brain structures with a speed of approximately 1 mm/s. They use neuron's connection (axons) for this, using these connections they can develop in connected structures as well (from example from retina to geniculate nucleus).

GDPs are observed only in early stages of brain development. In humans they exist only on prenatal stages, in rats they last for approximately P6.

Biological role

According to current point of view, slow developing GDPs are essential for neural nets of immature brain development. It's supposed that GDPs take the closest part in synaptogenesys, modification of synaptic connections and synapses maturation. But the precise role of GDPs in development, and the primary regulatory mechanisms are yet to be uncovered.

Origin and properties

One of the main conditions for GDPs development (that are met in premature brain and that don't take place in adult one) is that GABA action on these stages should be excitatory rather than inhibitory. This is caused by a much higher concentration of Cl- concentration in neonatal neurons cytoplasm. Further, the expression of the chloride transporter, KCC2, is less in immature neurons, as a result of which there is the above mentioned high intracellular chloride. On receiving a GABAergic stimulus, there is an efflux of Chloride from the cell, resulting in depolarization of the cell. This causes the GDPs. Once the KCC2 expression is relatively high, as in the adult, mature neurons, the GDPs almost simultaneously disappear. Though it must be remembered that the increased level of KCC2 expression in adult, mature neurons alone is not the reason for the disappearance of the GDPs.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Depolarizing pre-pulse — A depolarizing pre pulse (DPP) is an electrical stimulus that causes the potential difference measured across a neuronal membrane to become more positive or less negative, and precedes another electrical stimulus.[1] DPPs may be of either the… …   Wikipedia

  • GDP (disambiguation) — GDP is an acronym which can stand for more than one thing: * in economics an abbreviation for Gross Domestic Product * in neuroscience an abbreviation for Giant Depolarizing Potentials * in biochemistry an abbreviation for guanosine diphosphate * …   Wikipedia

  • nervous system — Anat., Zool. 1. the system of nerves and nerve centers in an animal or human, including the brain, spinal cord, nerves, and ganglia. 2. a particular part of this system. Cf. autonomic nervous system, central nervous system, peripheral nervous… …   Universalium

  • Action potential — In physiology, an action potential is a short lasting event in which the electrical membrane potential of a cell rapidly rises and falls, following a consistent trajectory. Action potentials occur in several types of animal cells, called… …   Wikipedia

  • Chemical synapse — This article is about chemical synapses of the nervous system. For other uses, see Synapse (disambiguation). Illustration of the major elements in chemical synaptic transmission. An electrochemical wave called an action potential travels along… …   Wikipedia

  • Caridoid escape reaction — The Caridoid Escape Reaction, also known as lobstering or tail flipping, refers to an innate escape mechanism in marine and freshwater crustaceans such as lobsters , krill, shrimp, and crayfish. It has been most extensively researched in crayfish …   Wikipedia

  • Nonsynaptic plasticity — Brain connectivity network Nonsynaptic plasticity is a form of neuroplasticity that involves modification of ion channel function in the axon, dendrites, and cell body that results in specific changes in the integration of EPSPs and IPSPs, thus… …   Wikipedia

  • Photoreceptor cell — This article is about cellular photoreceptors. For other types of photoreceptors, see Photoreceptor (disambiguation). Rods and cones redirects here. For the Blue Man Group song, see Rods and Cones (song). Neuron: Photoreceptor Cell …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”