Effects of applying electrical stimulation to the locus coeruleus on neuronal activity in the parietal association cortex

It was shown during experiments on cats undergoing surgery under ketamine-induced anesthesia and immobilized with myorelaxin that applying trains of stimuli to the locus coeruleus (LC) produces an effect on 79% of parietal cortex neurons. This manifests as inhibition lasting 300–700 msec or a 16–32% decline in the activity rate of neurons with background activity. Hyperpolarization of 5–7 mV lasting 120–500 msec preceded by a latency of 30–90 msec was noted in such neurons as well as "silent" cells during intracellular recording. Duration of the inhibitory pause in neuronal background activity induced by transcallosal stimulation (TCS) increased by 50–200 msec under the effects of conditioned stimuli applied to the LC. Duration of the IPSP triggered by TCS likewise increased (by 50–100 msec) under the effects of LC stimulation. It was concluded that the effects of stimulating the LC on neuronal activity in the parietal cortex may manifest either directly, as inhibition of background activity and hyperpolarization, or else as modulation of influences exerted by other neurotransmitters.A. A. Bogomolets Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR, Kiev. Translated from Neirofiziologiya, Vol. 22, No. 4, pp. 486–494, July–August, 1990.     

Effects of cocaine on the electrical activity of single noradrenergic neurons from locus coeruleus

The effects of intravenous (i.v.) cocaine HCl on single identified spontaneously firing noradrenergic neurons in the nucleus locus coeruleus (LC) were studied in rats in vivo. Cocaine (0.25-1 mg/kg) produced inhibition of spontaneously firing LC neurons, which was reversed by the administration of the selective alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist, piperoxane (250 micrograms/kg, i.v.). Procaine, a local anesthetic that is structurally related to cocaine, did not inhibit LC neurons in doses up to 4 mg/kg, i.v. These results suggest that cocaine in low doses has significant central sympathomimetic effects at the single noradrenergic neuron level and that the inhibition of spontaneous activity may be mediated by alpha 2-adrenoceptors. Our results also indicate that cocaine in pharmacologically relevant doses, can significantly affect central alpha 2-adrenoceptor regulatory processes.     

Effects of repetitive stimulation of the locus coeruleus on spinal inhibitory responses to suprasegmental stimulation in cats

Effects of repetitive stimulation of the locus coeruleus on spinal responses to activation of cortico-, reticulo-, and vestibulospinal tracts were studied in decerebellate cats anesthetized with chloralose. Descending influences of these structures were assessed from changes in amplitude of extensor and flexor monosynaptic discharges or from the magnitude of postsynaptic potentials recorded from the corresponding motoneurons. Stimulation of the motor cortex or modullary reticular formation as a rule evoked two-component inhibitory responses in extensor motoneurons and excitatory-inhibitory responses in flexor motoneurons. Stimulation of locus coeruleus effectively depressed the amplitude of the late component and, to a lesser degree, that of the early component of inhibition arising after stimulation of the cerebral cortex or reticular formation. During stimulation of the locus coeruleus no marked changes were found in inhibitory responses evoked by vestibulospinal influences in flexor motoneurons, and also in excitatory responses arising after stimulation of the above-mentioned descending pathways in both groups of motoneurons.     

蓝斑对迷走—心血管反射的影响

实验用家兔３６只,采用低频和高频电流刺激颈部迷走神经中枢端,建立迷走－减压和迷走－升压反射,两种频率电刺激均导致肾交感神经传出活动减少。以迷走－血压反射和迷走－交感反射为指标,连续电流刺激蓝斑或ＬＣ微量注射谷氨酸钠均抑制迷走－血压反射和迷走－交感反射。     

Effects of substantia nigra stimulation on electrical and mechanical activities of the duodeno-jejunal loop, in the cat

The effect of substantia nigra stimulation on duodeno-jejunal intraluminal pressure and electrical activity was analysed in the cat. An inhibitory influence was noted to occur on both the intestinal pressure and the electrical response activity (ERA): the effect seemed to be in correlation with the stimulus parameters employed. After bilateral vagotomy, the inhibition remained substantially unchanged. The possibility of the existence of a sympathetic pathway mediating the effect is emphasized.     

跨颅电刺激对大鼠抑郁症的治疗作用

目的：探讨跨颅电刺激对大鼠抑郁症的治疗作用。方法：跨颅电刺激抑郁症大鼠左侧前额叶皮层,敞箱实验测定大鼠行为学变化,荧光法测定单胺类递质含量的变化。结果：跨颅直流电和低频脉冲电刺激后,大鼠敞箱实验中垂直和水平运动得分均较模型组显著升高（P〈0.05）;且大鼠左侧前额叶皮层和海马5-HT、NE含量较模型组显著升高（P〈0.05）,而前额叶皮层DA含量无显著变化（P〉0.05）。结论：直流电和低频脉冲电跨颅刺激左侧前额叶皮层,对抑郁症均有显著治疗作用。     

Effects of taurine on the electrical and mechanical activities of embryonic chick heart

The effect of taurine (2-aminoethanesulphonic acid) on myocardial slow action potentials (APs) and accompanying contractions was examined in isolated perfused chick hearts and reaggregated cultured cells. Isoproterenol (ISO), histamine (HIS), or tetraethylammonium (TEA) induced slow APs and contractions in hearts whose fast Na+ channels had been inactivated by elevated K+. Taurine (10 mM) not only failed to induce slow APs, but actually decreased ISO (10(-8) M), HIS (10(-4) M), or TEA (10 mM) induced slow APs and contractions transiently (about 30s-2 min after the addition of taurine). The properties of the slow APs recovered to control levels by 7-13 min after the addition of the taurine; at this time, there was an increase in developed tension of the contraction accompanying the slow APs. These results suggest that the positive inotropic action of taurine is not mediated through an increase in the slow inward Ca2+ current. However, the transient depression of Ca2+-dependent slow APs by taurine probably explains the transient negative inotropic effect of taurine.     

Methyl parathion increases neuronal activities in the rat locus coeruleus

Exposure to organophosphate insecticides induces undesirable behavioral changes in humans, including anxiety and irritability, depression, cognitive disturbances and sleep disorders. Little information currently exists concerning the neural mechanisms underlying such behavioral changes. The brain stem locus coeruleus (LC) could be a mediator of organophosphate insecticide-induced behavioral toxicities since it contains high levels of acetylcholinesterase and is involved in the regulation of the sleep-wake cycle, attention, arousal, memory, and pathological processes, including anxiety and depression. In the present study, using a multi-wire recording technique, we examined the effects of methyl parathion, a commonly used organophosphate insecticide, on the firing patterns of LC neurons in rats. Systemic administration of a single dose of methyl parathion (1 mg/kg, i.v.) increased the spontaneous firing rates of LC neurons by 240% but did not change the temporal relationships among the activities of multiple LC neurons. This dose of methyl parathion induced a 50% decrease in blood acetylcholinesterase activity and a 48% decrease in LC acetylcholinesterase activity. The methyl parathion-induced excitation of LC neurons was reversed by administration of atropine sulfate, a muscarinic receptor antagonist, indicating an involvement of muscarinic receptors. The methyl parathion-induced increase in LC neuronal activity returned to normal within 30 min while the blood acetylcholinesterase activity remained inhibited for over 1 h. These data indicate that methyl parathion treatment can elicit excitation of LC neurons. Such excitation could contribute to the neuronal basis of organophosphate insecticide-induced behavioral changes in human.     

电刺激大鼠束旁核对底丘脑核和丘脑腹内侧核神经元的影响

本工作旨在探讨电刺激束旁核（parafascicular nucleus,PF）对帕金森病模型（Parkinson’s disease,PD）大鼠神经行为的改善作用及其机制。成年雄性Sprague—Dawley大鼠黑质致密部注射6一羟基多巴胺建立PD大鼠模型。采用行为学方法观察电刺激PF对阿朴吗啡诱发的大鼠旋转行为的作用,并应用在体细胞外记录法观察电刺激PF对大鼠底丘脑核（subthalamic nucleus,STN）及丘脑腹内侧核（ventromedial nucleus,VM）神经元放电的影响。结果发现,高频电刺激（130Hz,0．4mA,5s）PF一周,明显改善PD大鼠旋转行为。细胞外放电记录显示,高频电刺激PF使PD大鼠STN神经元自发放电减少,且该作用具有频率依赖性。另外,高频电刺激PF可使VM神经元兴奋,该作用也是频率依赖性的。我们在实验中同时观察到微电泳谷氨酸（glutamicacid,Glu）受体拮抗剂MK-801使STN神经元放电频率减少或完全抑制,微电泳t氨基丁酸（T-amino butyricacid,GABA）受体拮抗剂印防己毒素（picrotoxin,Pic）则使神经元放电频率增加。以上结果表明,GABA能和GIu能传入纤维可会聚于同-STN神经元,并对后者有紧张性作用。高频刺激PF,使该核团到STN神经元的Glu能兴奋性输出减少,导致STN的失活。这一作用通过基底神经节的间接通路,最终释放了丘脑运动核团VM的活性。高频刺激PF经PF,STN和VM的神经通路而改善PD大鼠神经行为。     

Effects of selenium on altered mechanical and electrical cardiac activities of diabetic rat

Since selenium compounds can restore some metabolic parameters and structural alterations of diabetic rat heart, we were tempted to investigate whether these beneficial effects extend to the diabetic rat cardiac dysfunctions. Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin (50mg/kg body weight) and rats were then treated with sodium selenite (5 micromol/kg body weight/day) for four weeks. Electrically stimulated isometric contraction and intracellular action potential in isolated papillary muscle strips and transient (I(to)) and steady state (I(ss)) outward K(+) currents in isolated cardiomyocytes were recorded. Sodium selenite treatment could reverse the prolongation in both action potential duration and twitch duration of the diabetic rats, and also cause significant increases in the diminished amplitudes of the two K(+) currents. Treatment of rats with sodium selenite also markedly increased the depressed acid-soluble sulfhydryl levels of the hearts. Our data suggest that the beneficial effects of sodium selenite treatment on the mechanical and electrical activities of the diabetic rat heart appear to be due to the restoration of the diminished K(+) currents, partially, related to the restoration of the cell glutathione redox cycle.     

Effect of a high-frequency electrical current on the activity of the raphe nuclei and the locus coeruleus

Recovery cycles of primary evoked potentials to light flashes in the visual cortical area of waking rats were studied under conditions of pharmacological and electrical influences on serotonin (5-HT)- and noradren (NA)ergic brain systems. All factors used induced oscillations of the recovery cycles. Periods of oscillations were similar (300-400 ms) during pharmacological suppression of the NA-system and during high-frequency (500 Hz) electrical stimulation or lesion of locus coeruleus. Analogous influences on 5-HT-system were accompanied by oscillations of recovery cycles with a period of 200 ms. Mechanism of inhibitory action of high-frequency electrical stimulation on activity of monoaminergic systems is discussed.     

Open-field behavior of rats following bilateral coagulation of the locus coeruleus

A modified open-field test was used in the experiments on rats. It was shown that animals 6 days after bilateral coagulation of locus coeruleus displayed weight changes and some behavioural parameters distinct from those of sham-operated and control animals. The most pronounced differences observed in animals after locus coeruleus coagulation, as compared to the control, were inversion and adaptive responses to a sudden brief stimulus, locomotor dysfunction and absence of response to handling.     

电刺激大鼠脚内核对脚桥核神经元放电的影响

目的:观察电刺激大鼠脚内核(EP)对大鼠脚桥核(PPN)神经元自发放电的影响,进一步探讨脑内电刺激治疗帕金森病(PD)的机制。方法:应用细胞外记录的方法观察不同频率电刺激(强度0.6 mA,波宽0.06 ms,时程5 s,频率5 Hz、10Hz、20Hz、50Hz、100Hz、150Hz、200Hz)大鼠EP对PPN神经元放电的影响。结果:实验记录了大鼠33个神经元的自发放电,其放电频率在3.6~52.2Hz之间,平均为(15.95±8.56)Hz;当刺激频率为100Hz时,抑制效应最显著(P<0.05)。结论:高频电刺激大鼠EP对PPN神经元自发放电的影响主要为抑制作用,提示高频刺激EP可通过抑制PPN神经元活动参与PD的治疗。     

Changes in postsynaptic responses in spinal motoneurons during repetitive stimulation of the locus coeruleus

Experiments on cats anesthetized with chloralose showed that repetitive stimulation of the locus coeruleus is accompanied by a decrease in IPSPs evoked by stimulation of flexor reflex afferents in extensor motoneurons. The effect appeared 600 msec after the beginning of stimulation and reached its maximum after 1500–2000 msec. Repetitive stimulation of the locus coeruleus did not change the membrane potential and did not affect EPSPs or IPSPs evoked by stimulation of low-threshold muscle afferents; EPSPs due to activation of high-threshold cutaneous and muscle afferents likewise remained unchanged. Repetitive stimulation of more central regions of the brain stem was accompanied not only by a decrease in IPSPs evoked by stimulation of flexor reflex afferents in extensor motoneurons, but also by a decrease in amplitude of EPSPs arising in response to stimulation of these same afferents in flexor motoneurons. These effects were not connected with activation of monoaminergic structures, for unlike effects arising during stimulation of the locus coeruleus, they were also found in previously reserpinized animals.A. A. Bogomolets Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR, Kiev. Translated from Neirofiziologiya, Vol. 14, No. 1, pp. 51–59, January–February, 1982.     

Effects of electrical stimulation of the medullary raphe nuclei on respiratory movement in rats

The present study was undertaken to examine the effects of electrical stimulation of the medullary raphe nuclei on respiration in rats anesthetized with ketamine and xylazine. Train pulse stimuli (100 Hz, 10–30 μA) were applied in the regions of the caudal raphe nuclei: the raphe magnus (RM), raphe pallidus (RP) and raphe obscurus (RO). Stimulation of the RM depressed inspiratory movements measured by means of an abdominal pneumograph, whereas stimulation of the RP augmented inspiratory movements. It was revealed that stimulation of the RO induced either inhibitory or facilitatory effects on respiratory movements depending on the stimulation sites. These findings confirm and extend previous studies concerning the effects of raphe stimulation on respiratory activity in cats. The present results demonstrate that in rats the caudal raphe nuclei are involved in respiratory control.An erratum to this article can be found at