Locus coeruleus neurons in the neonatal rat: electrical activity and responses to sensory stimulation.
Newborn rats, 1-3 days of age, were anesthetized with urethane and single-unit activities were recorded extracellularly in the locus coeruleus. Ca. 35% of locus coeruleus neurons recorded were antidromically activated from stimulation of the frontal cortex. Although the majority of locus coeruleus neurons were not spontaneously active, non-noxious as well as noxious sensory stimuli such as touches to the skin, air puffs and tail pinches were very effective in exciting locus coeruleus neurons.
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001931:Brain Mapping; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000502:physiology; D008125:Locus Coeruleus / Q000502:physiology*; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000502:physiology; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012677:Sensation / Q000502:physiology*
D009638:Norepinephrine