Intracellular recordings from burst-firing presumed serotonergic neurones in the rat dorsal raphe nucleus in vivo.
Here we report the existence of burst-firing neurones in the rat dorsal raphe as detected in vivo using intracellular electrophysiological techniques. These neurones discharged single action potentials and doublets or triplets of action potentials in a slow and regular pattern. The apparent input resistance, action potential width and firing threshold of these burst-firing raphe neurones were indistinguishable from classical 5-HT neurones. Spike doublets were evoked by depolarising DC currents, but only in burst-firing neurones. These findings provide further evidence to support the hypothesis that 5-HT neurones (or a sub-set of them) are capable of burst-firing activity.
Hajós
M
M
Oxford University Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Radcliffe Infirmary, UK. mihaly.hajos@clinical-pharmacology.oxford.ac.uk
Sharp
T
T
Newberry
N R
NR
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D004594:Electrophysiology; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D010507:Periodicity; D011903:Raphe Nuclei / Q000166:cytology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012701:Serotonin / Q000502:physiology*
D012701:Serotonin