The role of pacemaker properties and synaptic input in generation and modulation of spiking activity in a pair of electrically coupled peptidergic neurons.

The origin of patterned electrical activity in two electronically coupled peptidergic neurons, VD1 and RPD2, in the CNS of Lymnaea stagnalis was investigated. VD1 proved to have intrinsic beating pacemaker properties. Hybrid current/voltage clamp experiments demonstrated that in the intact CNS generation of spike activity in the coupled cell system is dominated by VD1. Modulation of spiking activity of VD1/RPD2 appears to originate mainly from chemical synaptic input. The electrical coupling of VD1 and RPD2 proved essential for spike synchronization between the cells.