title: Neurochemical identification of stereotypic burst-firing neurons in the rat dorsal raphe nucleus using juxtacellular labelling methods.
abstract: Recent electrophysiological studies have discovered evidence of heterogeneity of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) neurons in the mesencephalic raphe nuclei. Of particular interest is a subpopulation of putative 5-HT neurons that display many of the electrophysiological properties of presumed 5-HT-containing neurons (regular and slow firing of single spikes with a broad waveform) but fire spikes in short, stereotyped bursts. In the present study we investigated the chemical identity of these neurons in rats utilizing in vivo juxtacellular labelling methods. Of ten dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) neurons firing short stereotyped bursts within an otherwise regular firing pattern, all exhibited immunoreactivity for either 5-HT (n = 6) or the 5-HT synthesizing enzyme, tryptophan hydroxylase (TRH; n = 2) or both (n = 2). Supporting pharmacological experiments demonstrated that the burst firing DRN neurons demonstrated equal sensitivity to 5-HT(1A) agonism and alpha(1)-adrenoceptor antagonism to single spiking DRN neurons that we have previously identified as 5-HT-containing. Collectively these data provide direct evidence that DRN neurons that exhibit stereotyped burst firing activity are 5-HT containing. The presence of multiple types of electrophysiologically distinct midbrain 5-HT neurons is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Oxford University Department of Pharmacology, Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX2 6HE, UK. mihaly.hajos@pfizer.com
authors.forename: Mihály
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hajós
authors.forename: Kelly A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Allers
authors.forename: Katie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jennings
authors.forename: Trevor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sharp
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Charette
authors.forename: Attila
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sík
authors.forename: Bernát
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kocsis
mesh_terms: D017371:8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin / Q000494:pharmacology; D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001710:Biotin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D010879:Piperazines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011224:Prazosin / Q000494:pharmacology; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011903:Raphe Nuclei / Q000166:cytology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D019809:Streptavidin / Q000378:metabolism; D014365:Tryptophan Hydroxylase / Q000378:metabolism; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D010879:Piperazines; D011725:Pyridines; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; C070614:neurobiotin; D012701:Serotonin; D001710:Biotin; C090413:N-(2-(4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazinyl)ethyl)-N-(2-pyridinyl)cyclohexanecarboxamide; D017371:8-Hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin; D019809:Streptavidin; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D014365:Tryptophan Hydroxylase; D011224:Prazosin