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, Hidemasa Furue*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle (Academic Journal)peer-review

33 Citations (Scopus)

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.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2225-2231
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Physiology
Volume590
Issue number10
Early online date13 Apr 2012
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 May 2012

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