title: Excitatory effects of thyrotropin-releasing hormone on neurons within the nucleus ambiguus of adult guinea pigs.
abstract: The electrophysiological effects of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) on neurons within the nucleus ambiguus (NA) of adult guinea pigs were studied using an in vitro brain stem slice preparation. In 0.01-1.0 micron TRH, NA neurons depolarized (25/39), expressed enhanced postinhibitory rebound (8/8 tested), or exhibited oscillations of the membrane potential (17/39). Because the amplitude of postinhibitory rebound in tetrodotoxin (TTX) at various membrane potentials was not altered by TRH, it suggests that TRH enhanced postinhibitory rebound indirectly by depolarizing the cell membrane. The membrane potential oscillations in NA neurons were persistent in TTX and their frequency was dependent on the membrane potential, suggesting that these oscillations were due to intrinsic membrane properties and not to synaptic inputs. The excitation of NA neurons in vitro by TRH suggests that endogenous TRH may modulate the activity of neurons involved in the regulation of respiratory and autonomic function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Getting
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000502:physiology*; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone