Electrophysiological characteristics of locus coeruleus neurons in the Maudsley reactive (MR) and non-reactive (MNRA) rat strains.
Extracellular single-unit recording techniques were used to evaluate the physiological and pharmacological characteristics of noradrenergic locus coeruleus (LC) neurons in urethane-anesthetized Maudsley reactive (MR) and non-reactive (MNRA) rat strains, a presumed genetic model for differences in 'anxiety'. LC neurons from MNRA rats were found to have a significantly higher basal discharge rate than LC neurons from either the MR or Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. The discharge pattern of MNRA LC neurons also differed significantly from that of LC neurons from SD and MR rats, with LC neurons from MNRA rats exhibiting a burst-like pattern of discharge. Finally, MNRA LC neurons were significantly less sensitive to the inhibitory effects of i.v. clonidine on spontaneous activity.
Verbanac
J S
JS
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202.
Commissaris
R L
RL
Altman
H J
HJ
Pitts
D K
DK
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003000:Clonidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004594:Electrophysiology; D008125:Locus Coeruleus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000187:drug effects; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009538:Nicotine / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013045:Species Specificity
D009538:Nicotine; D003000:Clonidine