Effects of medial septal stimulation & its blockade with atropine on hippocampal rhythmical slow activity in free-moving rabbits.
The influence of the medial septal nucleus (MSN) on hippocampal rhythmical slow activity (RSA) was investigated in hunger motivated free-moving rabbits. Single unit activity of 29 CA3 dorsal hippocampal neurones was studied under two paradigms viz., electrical stimulation (3v/1msec/5Hz) and chemical blockade of atropine-sensitive medial septal cells (dose of 5 micrograms in 5 microliters). The analysis of interspike interval sample histograms recorded with Apple II, along with single unit neuronal spikes recorded on polygraph showed bimodal pattern with two peaks; one at bin 10-20 (high frequency) and second at bin 100-300 (theta frequency). On stimulation of MSN, there was total suppression of bin 100-300 with peaks at bin 1-20 and at bin greater than 1000 (very low frequency). Blockade of cholinergic receptors at MSN showed reduction of bin 100-300 and peak at bin 700- greater than 1000; this was followed by gradual decrease of spike's amplitude and thereafter its total abolition. The results indicate that the septal region is not a pacemaker per se in the genesis of hippocampal RSA (theta rhythm), but serves more in the nature of a relay station for a number of inputs and that its influence on the hippocampal electrical activity depends on the integrity of cholinergic inputs, be it from hippocampus proper or from mid-brain reticular formation.
Dhume
R A
RA
Anokhin Institute of Normal Physiology, USSR Academy of Medical Sciences, Moscow.
Shamayev
N N
NN
Zhuravlev
B V
BV
Sudakov
K V
KV
Sharma
K N
KN
D000818:Animals; D001285:Atropine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D006815:Hunger / Q000502:physiology; D009043:Motor Activity; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D010507:Periodicity; D011817:Rabbits; D012686:Septal Nuclei / Q000502:physiology*
D001285:Atropine