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.
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202.
J S
JS
Verbanac
R L
RL
Commissaris
H J
HJ
Altman
D K
DK
Pitts
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