Logo image
In vivo patch-clamp recording from locus coeruleus neurones in the rat brainstem
Journal article   Peer reviewed

In vivo patch-clamp recording from locus coeruleus neurones in the rat brainstem

Daisuke Sugiyama, Sung Won Hur, Anthony E. Pickering, Daisuke Kase, Sang Jeong Kim, Mikito Kawamata, Keiji Imoto and Hidemasa Furue
The Journal of physiology, Vol.590(10), pp.2225-2231
05/2012
DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.2011.226407
PMCID: PMC3424748
PMID: 22371480

View Online

Abstract

Locus coeruleus (LC) neurones extend noradrenergic projections throughout the neuroaxis and are involved in homeostatic functions such as pain modulation, arousal and cardio-respiratory control. To address the cellular mechanisms underlying pain modulation we have developed a patch-clamp recording technique from LC neurones in anaesthetized rats. These recordings showed LC discharge in vivo to be driven by both spontaneous membrane potential oscillations and CNQX-sensitive EPSCs opposed by bicuculine-sensitive IPSCs. Hindlimb pinch evoked a biphasic action potential response underpinned by a slow monophasic excitatory current. This approach allows detailed characterisation of the synaptic and integrative mechanisms of LC responses to naturalistic stimulation.
Life Sciences & Biomedicine Neurosciences Neurosciences & Neurology Physiology Science & Technology

Details

Metrics

Logo image