Neuronal synchrony is often achieved by electrical synapses, which are mediated by intercellular channels, known as gap junctions. Electrical transmission can be modulated by intracellular pathways, including direct effects on connexins/innexins, the pore forming subunits of gap junctions, or alterations to the electrical properties of the postsynaptic neuron. Reproduction in the sea snail, Aplysia, is controlled by electrically coupled bag cell neurons. Upon brief synaptic input, these neuroendocrine cells undergo a synchronous burst of action potentials, known as the afterdischarge, culminating in the secretion of egg-laying hormone into the bloodstream. Near the start of the afterdischarge, cAMP levels are elevated. While it is well-established that cAMP inhibits K+ channels, thereby increasing excitability, nothing is known of the effects of this second messenger on electrical transmission in bag cell neurons. Here, we used pairs of cultured bag cell neurons and whole-cell recording to investigate the impact of cAMP on electrical coupling. Presynaptic action potentials consistently evoked postsynaptic electrotonic potentials, while presynaptic hyperpolarization was transferred accordingly to the postsynaptic cell. Delivery of a membrane-permeable cAMP analogue increased the electrotonic potential by ~25%, which was accompanied by a similar change in coupling coefficient. In addition, input resistance was also augmented by ~100%. These outcomes suggest cAMP may enhance electrical transmission, and as a consequence, influence synchronous firing during the afterdischarge.

Cyclic AMP influences electrotonic transmission between coupled neuroendocrine cells

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PS-1-B -  Neural Excitability, Synapses, and Glia: Cellular Mechanisms

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Colleagues and Friends:

I am very happy to welcome you to the 14th annual Canadian Neuroscience Meeting, and to the first virtual edition of our meeting. I want to highlight the important work the CAN meeting chair, **Roger Thompson** and co-chair, **Alyson Fournier**, did to put together the great program we are offering this year. Moving to a virtual format required a complete re-design of the program, and both Roger and Alyson did a splendid job in providing us with an appealing and well adapted program for our first virtual event. I wish to thank them for this very important effort.

Highlights of this year’s scientific meeting include invited speakers **Michael Hausser, Franck Polleux, Gwyneth Card, Magdalena Götz**and Brain Prize winner **Huda Zoghbi**. Plenary and parallel symposia, proposed by our members complete our diverse [scientific program.](https://can-acn.org/meeting-2021/program-2021/)

The 2021 Advocacy session, chaired and organized by CAN advocacy committee chair **Karun Singh**, will feature a special lecture and question period with Member of Parliament and past Science Minister **Kirsty Duncan**. This will be followed by a short overview of CAN’s advocacy activities over the last year. We invite you to participate in this session for insight from Dr. Duncan on the workings of Parliament Hill, and to learn more about what CAN has been doing to promote neuroscience research in Canada.

We are also excited to host **Lisa Willis** in the Equity Diversity and Inclusion session, organized by EDI committee chair **Jibran Khokhar**.

A special highlight of our meeting will be the lectures by award-winning young neuroscientists. We are please to host the CAN 2020 Young Investigator Award winner **Mihaela Iordanova**, and CAN 2021 Young Investigator Award winners **Aaron Phillips** and **Tabrez Siddiqui**. Highlights will also include presentation by the top three winners of the CAN-CIHR-INMHA Brain Star Award winners, **Claire Gizowski, Nuria Daviu Abant** and **Lukas Tamayo-Orrego**.

Independently organized satellite symposia complement and complete this exciting program, check them out here: https://can-acn.org/meeting-2021/2021-satellite-symposia/

Some of the most engaging sessions are always the poster sessions featuring the work of our trainees, so make sure to log in to Gather Town during the poster sessions to chat with the presenters.
We hope you enjoy this program, and look forward to welcoming you, virtually.

Shernaz Bamji

President of the Canadian Association for Neuroscience

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Cyclic AMP influences electrotonic transmission between coupled neuroendocrine cells

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