The influence of orexins on the firing rate and pattern of rat intergeniculate leaflet neurons--electrophysiological and immunohistological studies.
Orexins influence various physiological processes associated with feeding behaviour, endocrine functions and wakefulness. One component of mammalian circadian timing systems, intergeniculate leaflet (IGL) of the lateral geniculate nucleus, is thought to contribute to circadian entrainment by processing photic and non-photic/arousal-related signals. Because the IGL is possibly innervated by the orexinergic system, using in vitro extracellular recording techniques we evaluated the influence of orexin A (OXA) and orexin B (OXB) on the rate and pattern of neuronal firing in this structure. Significant increases in the activity of 33 and 28% of IGL cells were observed after locally applied OXA (1 μm) and OXB (1 μm), respectively. In the great majority of neurons responses to OXA were maintained in the presence of orexin-1 receptor OX1R antagonist, SB 334867 (10 μm). Additionally, 75% of the OXB-responsive neurons were also sensitive to an orexin-2 receptor (OX2R)-selective agonist, [Ala11, D-Leu15]-OXB (1 μm). Immunohistochemical stainings showed putative synaptic contacts between OXA- and OXB-immunoreactive fibres and neuropeptide Y, and enkephalin-positive neurons in the investigated area. The outcome of our experiments reinforces previous reports indicating the possible linkage between the orexinergic and circadian systems. To our knowledge the presented findings are the first showing the direct influence of orexins on the IGL activity, mostly through activation of OX2R.
Department of Neurophysiology and Chronobiology, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 9, Krakow, Poland.
Dobromila
D
Pekala
Tomasz
T
Blasiak
Morten
M
Raastad
Marian H
MH
Lewandowski
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001583:Benzoxazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D004745:Enkephalins / Q000378:metabolism; D005829:Geniculate Bodies / Q000166:cytology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000819:agonists / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009287:Naphthyridines; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000378:metabolism; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000819:agonists / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000068797:Orexins; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D016708:Synaptophysin / Q000378:metabolism; D014508:Urea / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology
C420062:1-(2-methylbenzoxazol-6-yl)-3-(1,5)naphthyridin-4-yl urea; D001583:Benzoxazoles; D004745:Enkephalins; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D009287:Naphthyridines; D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D009479:Neuropeptides; D000068797:Orexins; D016708:Synaptophysin; D014508:Urea