Effect of AF64A, a cholinergic neurotoxin, on footshock stimulation-induced locus coeruleus excitation in rats.
We studied the effect of ethylcholine mustard aziridinium ion (AF64A), a cholinergic neurotoxin, on the footshock stimulation (FS)-induced excitation of the locus coeruleus (LC) neurons in rats. The FS-evoked LC excitation was significantly reduced in AF64A-treated rats, in comparison with normal rats. In particular, the early component of LC excitation was less pronounced. The number of choline acetyltransferase immunoreactive neurons in the septal complex was significantly lower than those in normal rats, except for in the ventral subgroup. These findings suggest that the cholinergic neuron system is involved in the early component of LC excitation in rats.
Department of Otolaryngology and Sensory Organ Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-2 Yamadaoka, Suita 565-0871, Osaka, Japan. snishiike@ent.med.osaka-u.ac.jp
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S
Nishiike
A
A
Uno
T
T
Kubo
A
A
Yamatodani
N
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Takeda
S
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Nakamura
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001388:Aziridines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002794:Choline / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D007858:Learning / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008125:Locus Coeruleus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009466:Neuromuscular Blocking Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D001388:Aziridines; D009466:Neuromuscular Blocking Agents; C044894:ethylcholine aziridinium; D002794:Choline