title: Membrane properties of rat magnocellular neuroendocrine cells in vivo.
abstract: Membrane properties of rat magnocellular neuroendocrine cells (MNCs) were examined during intracellular recordings in vivo. Current-clamp experiments revealed sustained outward rectification positive to -55 mV and transient outward rectification of depolarizing responses elicited from negative holding potentials. Trains of impulses were associated with a progressive increase of spike duration. Such features, which were not observed in neighboring non-neuroendocrine cells, are similar to those of MNCs in slices or explants of rat hypothalamus. In contrast, however, cells recorded in vivo were characterized by intense synaptic inhibition and a lower specific impedance than commonly observed from MNCs impaled in vitro.
authors.affiliation: Center for Research in Neuroscience, Montreal General Hospital, Que., Canada.
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Bourque
authors.forename: L P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Renaud
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials; D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000502:physiology*; D010904:Pituitary Gland, Posterior / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D013495:Supraoptic Nucleus / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*