Fetal raphe neurons grafted into the hippocampus develop normal adult physiological properties.
Embryonic midbrain raphe was grafted into serotonin-deficient adult rat hippocampus. Serotonin-containing neurons in the graft survive for at least 6 months after grafting. Grafted neurons develop physiological properties, not present on the day of grafting, identical to those of normal adult serotonin-containing neurons. These include (a) high input resistance and slow membrane time constant, (b) lack of inward rectification in response to hyperpolarizing current pulses and (c) a potent, 4-aminopyridine-sensitive transient outward rectification. The grafted neurons innervate the host tissue with axons that have a slow conduction velocity and refractoriness. It is suggested that grafted CNS neurons may possess normal physiological properties.
D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005333:Fetus; D009431:Neural Conduction; D011903:Raphe Nuclei / Q000196:embryology / Q000637:transplantation*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012032:Refractory Period, Electrophysiological; D012701:Serotonin / Q000502:physiology
D012701:Serotonin