Midline thalamic paraventricular nucleus neurons display diurnal variation in resting membrane potentials, conductances, and firing patterns in vitro.
Neurons in the rodent midline thalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVT) receive inputs from brain stem and hypothalamic sites known to participate in sleep-wake and circadian rhythms. To evaluate possible diurnal changes in their excitability, we used patch-clamp techniques to record and examine the properties of neurons in anterior PVT (aPVT) in coronal rat brain slices prepared at zeitgeber time (ZT) 2-6 vs. ZT 14-18 and recorded at ZT 8.4 ± 0.2 (day) vs. ZT 21.2 ± 0.2 (night), the subjective quiet vs. aroused states, respectively. Compared with neurons recorded during the day, neurons from the night period were significantly more depolarized and exhibited a lower membrane conductance that in part reflected loss of a potassium-mediated conductance. Furthermore, these neurons were also significantly more active, with tonic and burst firing patterns. Neurons from each ZT period were assessed for amplitudes of two conductances known to contribute to bursting behavior, i.e., low-threshold-activated Ca(2+) currents (I(T)) and hyperpolarization-activated cation currents (I(h)). Data revealed that amplitudes of both I(T) and I(h) were significantly larger during the night period. In addition, biopsy samples from the night period revealed a significant increase in mRNA for Ca(v)3.1 and Ca(v)3.3 low-threshold Ca(2+) channel subtypes. Neurons recorded from the night period also displayed a comparative enhancement in spontaneous bursting at membrane potentials of approximately -60 mV and in burst firing consequent to hyperpolarization-induced low-threshold currents and depolarization-induced current pulses. These novel in vitro observations reveal that midline thalamic neurons undergo diurnal changes in their I(T), I(h), and undefined potassium conductances. The underlying mechanisms remain to be characterized.
Neuroscience, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, 725 Parkdale Ave., Ottawa, ON Canada K1Y 4E9.
Miloslav
M
Kolaj
Li
L
Zhang
Oline K
OK
Rønnekleiv
Leo P
LP
Renaud
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001703:Biophysics; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D051244:Caveolin 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D020644:Midline Thalamic Nuclei / Q000166:cytology*; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D026941:Sodium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D013779:Tetrodotoxin / Q000494:pharmacology
D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; C495549:Cav3 protein, rat; D051244:Caveolin 3; D015221:Potassium Channels; D011743:Pyrimidines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D026941:Sodium Channel Blockers; C082246:ICI D2788; D013779:Tetrodotoxin