Fig. 2

Input/output function slope (gain) is enhanced in Tat-treated pyramidal neurons. a The graph shows the mean number of action potentials (AP) generated by the pyramidal neurons is response to depolarizing current pulses of different intensities, in one representative experiment. In a defined range of current intensities, the relationship between number of spikes and current intensity is linear. The slope of this function, referred to as “Gain”, is higher in the pyramidal neurons treated wit Tat for 24 h (red), when compared to the control (blue) or to Tat for 4 h (green) in pyramidal neurons in culture, as determined by Pearson’s correlation coefficient. b The bar graph shows the mean (± SEM) slope of the input/output (I/O) function of controls (n = 10, blue bar) and Tat treated neurons for 4 h (n = 5, green bar) or for 24 h (n = 5, red bar). The mean slope of the I/O function was 1.95 ± 0.53 (SEM) for untreated pyramidal neurons and 5.89 ± 0.59 (SEM) for Tat treated neurons (p < 0.002, ANOVA followed by Bonferroni’s test)