Figure 5

Long-term developmental exposure to TNF-α enhances AMPAR-mediated synaptic transmission. (A) Spontaneous EPSCs recorded from a tectal neuron in a control and a TNF-α reared tadpole. (B) TNF-α treated tadpoles exhibited a higher frequency of sEPSCs than controls but showed no difference in amplitude. (C) Sample traces showing glutamatergic EPSCs evoked by direct optic nerve stimulation and recorded at -60 and +60 mV. At -60 mV only the AMPAR-mediated response is observed, while at +60 mV both outward AMPAR- and NMDAR-mediated responses are seen. (D) The AMPA/NMDA ratio (see Methods) was significantly increased in tectal cells from tadpoles reared in TNF-α, consistent with an increase in AMPAR-mediated synaptic transmission. Asterisk indicates p < 0.05. For P-values see Results.