title: Electrophysiological responses of hamster suprachiasmatic neurones to neuropeptide Y in the hypothalamic slice preparation.
abstract: The rate and pattern of neuronal discharge in the hamster suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) was studied using an in vitro hypothalamic slice preparation. The firing rate of hamster SCN neurones (n = 183 cells) exhibited a circadian variation similar to that reported in the rat. SCN neurones tested for responses to pressure ejection of neuropeptide Y (NPY) (n = 49) were either tonically excited (65%) or unresponsive (35%). There was a tendency for more NPY-responsive cells to be recorded during the light phase of the circadian light-dark cycle.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Medical School, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, U.K.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mason
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Harrington
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rusak
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D006224:Cricetinae; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008647:Mesocricetus; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013493:Suprachiasmatic Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D009478:Neuropeptide Y