Electrical properties of acutely isolated, identified rat spinal dorsal horn projection neurons.
We used a retrograde marker, rhodamine-labeled fluorescent latex microspheres and the enzyme papain to isolate a group of identified, dorsal horn projection neurons from rat spinal cord. This method has allowed us to study the electrical properties of these acutely dissociated cells with patch-clamp techniques. It will also provide us the opportunity to understand the transmitter responses of these neurons that had not undergone culturing manipulation. The isolated projection cells have a short-lasting action potential and fire repetitively under a sustained depolarization. The ionic conductance mechanisms underlying the action potentials were studied under voltage-clamp conditions. Voltage-dependent inward sodium, inward calcium, outward potassium and calcium-activated potassium currents were observed in these cells.
Marine Biomedical Institute, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston 77550.
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Huang
D000818:Animals; D004594:Electrophysiology; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000502:physiology*