Nevrovitenskapelig forskningsgruppe - Espen Hartveit's lab

Summary of activity

Cellular neurophysiology and synaptic transmission

Our lab is interested in the cellular and molecular basis of synaptic transmission and synaptic integration in the central nervous system. Our main goal is to understand and characterize the synaptic and cellular mechanisms employed by identified neurons and specific microcircuits for signal processing. The primary technique is that of targeted patch-clamp recording of visually-identified neurons using voltage clamp, current clamp and dynamic clamp recording configurations. This electrophysiological work is currently performed using an in vitro slice preparation of the rat retina, a preparation that offers the possibility to combine modern electrophysiological techniques with the use of natural stimuli to activate specific neuronal circuits. Recently we have been: 1) performing simultaneous multi-electrode recordings from neurons in specific microcircuits within the inner retina; 2) exposing isolated patches pulled from either the soma or axon terminals of neurons to ultra-fast application of agonist to investigate biophysical and pharmacological properties of neurotransmitter receptors (glutamate, glycine and GABA receptors) and glutamate transporters (EAAT5); 3) utilizing dynamic clamp electrophysiology to artificially insert synapses and conductances into neurons, allowing us detailed control over individual and pairs of neurons. Additionally, morphological techniques such as immunocytochemistry and injection of fluorescent tracers in single cells are also used, as well as computer modeling of ion channels and neurons.

Contact information

See the group webpage.

Senior personnel

Professor Espen Hartveit
Dr. Margaret Lin Veruki

Personnel's neuroinformatic skills/background

Experimental-computational interface.

Experimental tools

In vitro patch-clamp electrophysiology.

Key publications

  • Veruki, M. L., Gill, S. B. & Hartveit, E. (2007) Spontaneous IPSCs and glycine receptors with slow kinetics in wide-field amacrine cells in the mature rat retina. Journal of Physiology 581, 203-219.
  • Hartveit, E and Veruki, M. L. (2007) "Protocols for studying properties of neurotransmitter receptors by non-stationary noise analysis of spontaneous postsynaptic currents and agonist-evoked responses in outside-out patches". Nature Protocols 2, 434-448.
  • Oltedal, L., Mørkve, S. H., Veruki, M. L. and Hartveit, E. (2007). Patch-clamp investigations and compartmental modelling of rod bipolar axon terminals in an in vitro thin slice preparation of the mammalian retina. Journal of Neurophysiology 97, 1171-1187.
  • Veruki*, M. L., Mørkve*, S. H. and Hartveit, E. (2006) Activation of a presynaptic glutamate transporter regulates synaptic transmission through electrical signaling (*signifies equal author contributions). Nature Neuroscience 9: 1388-1396.
  • Gill, S. B., Veruki, M. L. and Hartveit, E. (2006) Functional properties of spontaneous IPSCs and glycine receptors in rod amacrine (AII) cells in the rat retina. Journal of Physiology 575: 739-759.
  • Hartveit, E. and Veruki, M. L. (2006) Studying properties of neurotransmitter receptors by non-stationary noise analysis of spontaneous synaptic currents. Journal of Physiology 574: 751-785.
  • Veruki, M. L., Mørkve, S. H. and Hartveit, E. (2003). Functional properties of spontaneous EPSCs and non-NMDA receptors in rod (AII) amacrine cells of the rat retina. Journal of Physiology 549: 759-774.
  • Veruki, M. L. and Hartveit, E. (2002). Electrical synapses mediate signal transmission in the rod pathway of the mammalian retina. Journal of Neuroscience 22: 10558-10566.
  • Veruki, M. L. and Hartveit, E. (2002). AII (rod) amacrine cells form a network of electrically coupled interneurons in the mammalian retina. Neuron 33: 935-946.
  • Mørkve, S. H., Veruki, M. L. and Hartveit, E. (2002). Functional characteristics of non-NMDA-type ionotropic glutamate receptor channels in AII amacrine cells in rat retina. Journal of Physiology 542: 147-165.
  • Hartveit, E. (1999). Reciprocal synaptic interactions between rod bipolar cells and amacrine cells in the rat retina. Journal of Neurophysiology 81: 2923-2936.