Inhibition by talipexole, a thiazolo-azepine derivative, of dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area.

A microiontophoretic study using rats anesthetized with chloral hydrate and immobilized with gallamine triethiodide was carried out to compare the effect of talipexole (B-HT 920 CL2:2-amino-6-allyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-4H-thiazolo [4,5-d]-azepine-dihydrochloride), a dopamine autoreceptor agonist, on dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) to non-dopaminergic neurons in the VTA. VTA neurons were classified into two types according to the responses to antidromic stimulation of the nucleus accumbens (Acc): type I neurons with a long spike latency (8.69 +/- 0.24 msec) upon Acc stimulation and low spontaneous firing rate (6.80 +/- 1.34/sec), and type II neurons with a short latency (2.76 +/- 0.20 msec) and high spontaneous firing rate (26.77 +/- 7.05/sec), probably corresponding to dopaminergic and non-dopaminergic neurons, respectively. In type I neurons, microiontophoretic application of talipexole and dopamine inhibited antidromic spike generation elicited by Acc stimulation, and talipexole-induced inhibition was antagonized by domperidone (dopamine D-2 antagonist). In type II neurons, however, the antidromic spikes were not affected by either talipexole or dopamine. Furthermore, spontaneous firing was also inhibited by iontophoretically applied talipexole and dopamine in most type I neurons, but rarely affected by either drug. Inhibitory effects of talipexole were antagonized by domperidone. These results suggest that talipexole acts on dopamine D-2 receptors, thereby inhibiting the dopaminergic neurons in the VTA.     

L-谷氨酸和卡巴胆碱对中脑腹侧被盖区多巴胺能神经元簇放电的影响

中脑腹侧被盖区(ventral tegmental area,VTA)多巴胺能神经元的簇放电会导致其突触末梢多巴胺释放量瞬时大量增加,已被公认是编码奖赏效应的功能相关信号,但诱发多巴胺能神经元产生簇放电的神经调节的具体机制尚不完全清楚。为深入理解诱发VTA多巴胺能神经元产生簇放电介导奖赏信号的递质机制和不同脑区间的协同作用,本实验利用大鼠离体脑片,研究了胆碱能受体激动剂卡巴胆碱单独灌流,兴奋性谷氨酸能受体激动剂L-谷氨酸单独脉冲式给药及二者同时作用时VTA多巴胺能神经元簇放电的产生。结果显示,在离体脑片,卡巴胆碱(10μmol/L)持续灌流或L-谷氨酸(3mmol/L)脉冲式给药均能够诱发多巴胺能神经元产生簇放电。在二者单独作用不能诱发簇放电的神经元,卡巴胆碱和谷氨酸联合用药则可以诱发出簇放电。这些结果提示,卡巴胆碱和L-谷氨酸在诱发多巴胺能神经元簇放电的过程中具有协同作用。     

The actions of opiates in the rat substantia nigra: An electrophysiological analysis

Single unit recording and micropressure ejection techniques were used to investigate the actions of opiates on dopaminergic and non-dopaminergic neurons in the rat substantia nigra. Systemic administration of morphine, 1 to 4 mg/kg, led to a naloxone-reversible increase in firing rate of all zona compacta dopaminergic (ZC) neurons examined (n=10). In a specifically defined subpopulation of non-dopaminergic nigral zona reticulata (ZR) neurons, systemically administered morphine led to a naloxone reversible decrease in activity (n=9). D-Ala²-d-leu⁵ (DADL)-enkephalin, when applied directly onto ZC neurons by micropressure ejection techniques, had no effect on their firing rate. In contrast, micropressure ejection of DADL enkephalin onto ZR neurons produced a decrease in firing rate which was blocked by systemically administered naloxone. Morphine sulfate applied by pressure ejection onto both ZC and ZR neurons produced mixed results which were not always blocked by naloxone. These results suggest that one of the mechanisms by which opiates increase dopaminergic neurotransmission is through disinhibition of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra.     

慢性神经痛对抑郁状态以及中枢多巴胺神经元电生理的影响

目的：探讨大鼠慢性神经痛导致抑郁症状发生后,中脑腹侧被盖区多巴胺能神经元自发放电活动的改变情况。方法：24只健康成年大鼠进行随机分组（n=12）：假手术组（Sham）大鼠仅进行坐骨神经分支暴露,坐骨神经损伤组（SNI）进行坐骨神经分支选择性损伤。在神经损伤后的第3、7、14、28、42、56天进行机械刺激计算缩足反射阈值,并进行糖水偏好、强迫游泳、旷场实验等行为学实验来评价大鼠是否发生抑郁症状;利用在体多通道电生理技术,对SNI组大鼠和假手术组大鼠中脑腹侧被盖区神经元分别进行记录分析。结果：与假手术组比较,SNI组大鼠的机械痛阈值明显降低（P<0.01）;在旷场实验、糖水偏好、强迫游泳较对照组出现显著性差异（P<0.01）;大鼠中脑腹侧被盖区多巴胺能神经元自发放电频率、簇状放电活动中动作电位的数量明显增加（P<0.01）。结论：慢性疼痛可以导致大鼠抑郁相关症状的发生,中脑腹侧被盖区多巴胺能神经元自发放电频率增加与疼痛后抑郁发生相关。     

Effects of ibogaine,and cocaine and morphine after ibogaine,on ventral tegmental dopamine neurons

Ibogaine, an indole containing alkaloid, has been shown to reduce the rate of injection of morphine and cocaine in self-administration protocols. Since morphine- and cocaine-induced modulation of dopamine release is impulse dependent and essential for their reinforcing effects, disruption of dopamine neuronal activity by ibogaine could explain its purported ‘antiaddictive’ properties. Therefore, the present study was designed to determine: (1) the acute effects of ibogaine on the activity of VTA dopamine neurons, and (2) whether ibogaine pretreatment causes a persistent modification of the dopamine neuronal response to morphine and cocaine. Extracellular recordings in anesthetized animals found that intravenous ibogaine markedly excited VTA dopamine neuronal firing. However, ibogaine pretreatment (6–8 hr and 19 hr before) failed to alter either the spontaneous activity of VTA neurons, or the response of these dopamine neurons to morphine or cocaine. Thus, ibogaine's excitatory effect on VTA neurons is not longlasting nor does it persistently alter cocaine- or morphine-induced changes in dopamine neuron impulse activity. Therefore, other mechanisms must be explored to account for the proposed antiaddictive properties of ibogaine.     

D-2 receptor-mediated inhibition by a substituted quinolinone derivative, 7-[3-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperazinyl)propoxy]-2(1H)-quinolinone (OPC-4392), of dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area

A microiontophoretic study was performed to investigate the effects of a newly synthesized quinolinone derivative, 7-[3-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl) piperazinyl) propoxy] 2-(1H)-quinolinone (OPC-4392), on neuronal activities of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) of rats anesthetized with chloral hydrate. The VTA neurons, which were identified by antidromic stimulation of the nucleus accumbens (Acc), were classified into type I and type II neurons according to the responses to Acc stimulation: type I neurons had a long spike latency of over 7 msec (9.63 +/- 0.25 msec), and the type II, a short latency of less than 7 msec (2.98 +/- 0.27 msec) upon Acc stimulation. In all of 11 type I neurons, iontophoretically applied OPC-4392 and dopamine inhibited the antidromic spikes elicited by Acc stimulation. This inhibition was antagonized by simultaneous application of domperidone (dopamine D-2 antagonist). However, in 16 out of 19 type II neurons the antidromic spikes were not affected by either OPC-4392 or dopamine. When the effects of iontophoretically applied OPC-4392 and dopamine on spontaneous firings were tested in 32 VTA neurons identified by Acc stimulation (including type I and type II neurons), there was a relationship between the effects of these two drugs. These results suggest that OPC-4392 acts on dopamine D-2 receptors of the dopaminergic neurons in the VTA, thereby inhibiting neuronal activity.     

Role of Corticotropin-Releasing Factor (CRF) Receptor-1 on the Catecholaminergic Response to Morphine Withdrawal in the Nucleus Accumbens (NAc)

Stress induces the release of the peptide corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) into the ventral tegmental area (VTA), and also increases dopamine (DA) levels in brain regions receiving dense VTA input. Since the role of stress in drug addiction is well established, the present study examined the possible involvement of CRF1 receptor in the interaction between morphine withdrawal and catecholaminergic pathways in the reward system. The effects of naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal on signs of withdrawal, hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis activity, dopamine (DA) and noradrenaline (NA) turnover in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and activation of VTA dopaminergic neurons, were investigated in rats pretreated with vehicle or CP-154,526 (selective CRF1R antagonist). CP-154,526 attenuated the increases in body weight loss and suppressed some of withdrawal signs. Pretreatment with CRF1 receptor antagonist resulted in no significant modification of the increased NA turnover at NAc or plasma corticosterone levels that were seen during morphine withdrawal. However, blockade of CRF1 receptor significantly reduced morphine withdrawal-induced increases in plasma adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) levels, DA turnover and TH phosphorylation at Ser40 in the NAc. In addition, CP-154,526 reduced the number of TH containing neurons expressing c-Fos in the VTA after naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal. Altogether, these results support the idea that VTA dopaminergic neurons are activated in response to naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal and suggest that CRF1 receptors are involved in the activation of dopaminergic pathways which project to NAc.     

Dopaminergic neurons develop axonal projections to their target areas in organotypic co-cultures of the ventral mesencephalon and the striatum/prefrontal cortex

Mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons are known to project to the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and the striatum (STR). Organotypic slice co-cultures of the ventral tegmental area/substantia nigra (VTA/SN)-complex and the PFC or STR, respectively, were used to analyze the cytoarchitectural organization of the VTA/SN-complex and the innervation pattern of the target slices by dopaminergic fibers. After 10-28 days of culturing immunocytochemistry with antibodies against tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) was performed. The VTA/SN-complex revealed in vitro an organization of TH-positive cells similar to those observed in rat brains of comparable age. TH-immunoreactive cells exhibited their typical morphology and formed long processes. No TH-immunolabeled elements were found in single cultures of PFC and STR. Tracing of VTA/SN fibers with biocytin as well as TH-immunostaining showed numerous labeled fibers in the co-cultured slices. Extensive fiber crossing was observed in the co-cultures of the VTA/SN-complex and STR but only a sparse fiber bridge in the co-cultured slices of VTA/SN-complex and PFC. The VTA/SN-complex-PFC system obviously retained several of its in vivo characteristics, e.g. the fiber network in the prefrontal cortical subareas. Our results demonstrate that TH-immunoreactive neurons develop their typical innervation pattern in slice co-cultures of VTA/SN-complex and PFC or STR, respectively. This in vitro approach may be useful for investigations of the dopaminergic function in the VTA/SN-prefrontal pathway.     

Suppression of the morphine-induced rewarding effect in the rat with neuropathic pain: implication of the reduction in mu-opioid receptor functions in the ventral tegmental area

The present study was designed to investigate the rewarding effect, G-protein activation and dopamine (DA) release following partial sciatic nerve ligation in the rat. Here we show for the first time that morphine failed to produce a place preference in rats with nerve injury. Various studies provide arguments to support that the mesolimbic dopaminergic system, which projects from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) to the nucleus accumbens (N.Acc), is critical of the motivational effects of opioids. In the present study, there were no significant differences between sham-operated and sciatic nerve-ligated rats in the increases in guanosine-5'-o-(3-[35S]thio)triphosphate ([35S]GTPgammaS) binding to membranes of the N.Acc stimulated by either DA, the D1 receptor agonist SKF81297, the D2 receptor agonist N-propylnoraporphine or the D3 receptor agonist 7-hydroxy-2-dipropylaminotetralin (7-OH DPAT). In contrast, the increases in [35S]GTPgammaS binding to membranes of the VTA induced by either morphine or a selective micro -opioid receptor agonist [d-Ala2, NMePhe4, Gly(ol)5]enkephalin were significantly attenuated in nerve-ligated rats as compared with sham- operated rats. Furthermore, the enhancement of DA release in the N.Acc stimulated by morphine was significantly suppressed by sciatic nerve ligation. These findings suggest that attenuation of the morphine-induced place preference under neuropathic pain may result from a decrease in the morphine-induced DA release in the N.Acc with reduction in the mu-opioid receptor-mediated G-protein activation in the VTA.     

Expression Levels of the BDNF Gene and Histone Modifications Around Its Promoters in the Ventral Tegmental Area and Locus Ceruleus of Rats During Forced Abstinence from Morphine

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays a role in mediating molecular, cellular, and behavioral adaptations underlying drug addiction. Here, we examined the influence of withdrawal from repeated morphine treatment on the expression of BDNF mRNA in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and locus coeruleus (LC) of the rat brain. We also studied whether alternations in mRNA levels of BDNF in these tissues are associated with histone modifications around promoters II and III of the BDNF gene. Thus, chromatin immunoprecipitation (CHIP) and quantitative (q)-PCR were employed to assess acetylation of histone H3 at K9/K14 and trimethylation of histone H3 at K9. Results of qRT-PCR showed that levels of BDNF mRNA in both VTA and LC were significantly increased 7 days rather than 2 h or 24 h following the last injection of morphine. Consistently, CHIP and qPCR analysis revealed that on day 7 of morphine abstinence, both VTA and LC levels of histone methylation at BDNF promoters II and III of morphine treated rats were significantly lower than control animals. Morphine withdrawal caused only a significant increase in H3 acetylation at the promoter II in the LC. These data demonstrate the involvement of histone H3 methylation in the regulation of gene expression in the VTA and LC of rats during forced abstinence of morphine.     

Rapid Estradiol-17β Modulation of Opioid Actions on the Electrical and Secretory Activity of Rat Oxytocin Neurons In vivo

During pregnancy, emergence of endogenous opioid inhibition of oxytocin neurons is revealed by increased oxytocin secretion after administration of the opioid receptor antagonist, naloxone. Here we show that prolonged estradiol-17β and progesterone treatment (mimicking pregnancy levels) potentiates naloxone-induced oxytocin secretion in urethane-anesthetized virgin female rats. We further show that estradiol-17β alone rapidly modifies opioid interactions with oxytocin neurons, by recording their firing rate in anesthetized rats sensitized to naloxone by morphine dependence. Naloxone-induced morphine withdrawal strongly increased the firing rate of oxytocin neurons in morphine dependent rats. Estradiol-17β did not alter basal oxytocin neuron firing rate over 30 min, but amplified naloxone-induced increases in firing rate. Firing pattern analysis indicated that acute estradiol-17β increased oxytocin secretion in dependent rats by increasing action potential clustering without an overall increase in firing rate. Hence, rapid estradiol-17β actions might underpin enhanced oxytocin neuron responses to naloxone in pregnancy. Special issue article in honor of George Fink.     

5,7-双羟色胺损毁大鼠中缝背核后底丘脑核的神经活动增强

采用玻璃微电极在体细胞外记录法,观察了5,7-双羟色胺(5,7-dihydroxytryptamine,5,7-DHT)损毁大鼠中缝背核(dorsalraphenucleus,DRN)后,底丘脑核(subthalamicnucleus,STN)神经元电活动的变化。结果发现,对照组和DRN损毁组大鼠STN神经元的放电频率分别是(6.93±6.55)Hz和(11.27±9.31)Hz,DRN损毁组大鼠的放电频率显著高于对照组(P<0.01)。在对照组大鼠,13%的神经元呈现规则放电,46%为不规则放电,41%为爆发式放电;而在DRN损毁组大鼠,具有规则、不规则和爆发式放电的神经元比例分别为9%、14%和77%,爆发式放电的STN神经元比例明显高于对照组(P<0.01)。结果显示,DRN损毁后大鼠STN神经元的放电频率增高,爆发式放电增多,提示在正常大鼠DRN抑制STN神经元的活动。     

Electrophysiological evidence for a dopaminergic action of LSD: depression of unit activity in the substantia nigra of the rat.

LSD (25–50 μg/kg, i.v.) significantly decreased the firing rate of 78% of the dopamine-containing neurons in the substantia nigra of chloral hydrate anesthetized rats. In a subgroup of neurons (22%), LSD either had no clear effect or caused a slight excitation. On the other hand, brom-LSD (100 μg/kg, i.v.), a non-hallucinogenic congener of LSD, had no effect on 71% of dopaminergic cells and slightly reduced the firing rate with 29% of the units. Pretreatment with haloperidol (0.1 mg/kg) blocked the inhibitory effects of LSD, and haloperidol injected following LSD reversed its depressive effects. Non-dopaminergic neurons in the region of the substantia nigra typically showed large increases in firing rate in response to LSD administration. The inhibitory effects of LSD on dopamine-containing neurons are probably not attributable to the serotonergic properties of LSD, since 5-methoxy N,N dimethyltryptamine (25–100 μg/kg), which has central serotonergic properties similar to those of LSD, produced exclusively excitatory effects on the firing rate of dopaminergic cells. These electrophysiological results are consistent with recent behavioral and neurochemical data which suggest that LSD can act as a dopamine agonist in the CNS.     

Response of membrane potential and intracellular pH to hypercapnia in neurons and astrocytes from rat retrotrapezoid nucleus

We compared the response to hypercapnia (10%) in neurons and astrocytes among a distinct area of the retrotrapezoid nucleus (RTN), the mediocaudal RTN (mcRTN), and more intermediate and rostral RTN areas (irRTN) in medullary brain slices from neonatal rats. Hypercapnic acidosis (HA) caused pH(o) to decline from 7.45 to 7.15 and a maintained intracellular acidification of 0.15 +/- 0.02 pH unit in 90% of neurons from both areas (n = 16). HA excited 44% of mcRTN (7/16) and 38% of irRTN neurons (6/16), increasing firing rate by 167 +/- 75% (chemosensitivity index, CI, 256 +/- 72%) and 310 +/- 93% (CI 292 +/- 50%), respectively. These responses did not vary throughout neonatal development. We compared the responses of mcRTN neurons to HA (decreased pH(i) and pH(o)) and isohydric hypercapnia (IH; decreased pH(i) with constant pH(o)). Neurons excited by HA (firing rate increased 156 +/- 46%; n = 5) were similarly excited by IH (firing rate increased 167 +/- 38%; n = 5). In astrocytes from both RTN areas, HA caused a maintained intracellular acidification of 0.17 +/- 0.02 pH unit (n = 6) and a depolarization of 5 +/- 1 mV (n = 12). In summary, many neurons (42%) from the RTN are highly responsive (CI 248%) to HA; this may reflect both synaptically driven and intrinsic mechanisms of CO(2) sensitivity. Changes of pH(i) are more significant than changes of pH(o) in chemosensory signaling in RTN neurons. Finally, the lack of pH(i) regulation in response to HA suggests that astrocytes do not enhance extracellular acidification during hypercapnia in the RTN.     

Electrophysiological and microiontophoretic studies with buspirone: influence on the firing rate of central monoaminergic neurons and their responsiveness to dopamine, clonidine or GABA

The influence of an i.v. perfusion of buspirone on the firing rate of central monoaminergic neurons was studied in rats anaesthetized with chloral hydrate. Buspirone increased the firing rate of A10 dopaminergic neurons and blocked the inhibitory effect of iontophoretically applied dopamine on these neurons. A slight attenuation of the inhibitory effect of iontophoretically applied GABA was also observed. Buspirone increased the firing rate of locus coeruleus (LC) noradrenergic neurons and induced an attenuation of the inhibitory effect of iontophoretically applied clonidine. A slight attenuation of the inhibitory effect of iontophoretically applied GABA was also observed. Furthermore buspirone was a very potent inhibitor of the firing rate of dorsal raphe (DR) serotonergic neurons. It is concluded that activation of A10 neurons by buspirone is due to blockade of dopaminergic autoreceptors and that activation of LC neurons is related to blockade of alpha-2 autoreceptors. The significance of the interaction with gabaergic inhibition is unclear. The mechanisms involved in the inhibition of DR neurons remain to be investigated.     

Stimulation of midbrain dopaminergic structures modifies firing rates of rat lateral habenula neurons

Ventral tegmental area (VTA) and substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) are midbrain structures known to be involved in mediating reward in rodents. Lateral habenula (LHb) is considered as a negative reward source and it is reported that stimulation of the LHb rapidly induces inhibition of firing in midbrain dopamine neurons. Interestingly, the phasic fall in LHb neuronal activity may follow the excitation of dopamine neurons in response to reward-predicting stimuli. The VTA and SNpc give rise to dopaminergic projections that innervate the LHb, which is also known to be involved in processing painful stimuli. But it's unclear what physiological effects these inputs have on habenular function. In this study we distinguished the LHb pain-activated neurons of the Wistar rats and assessed their electrophysiological responsiveness to the stimulation of the VTA and SNpc with either single-pulse stimulation (300 μA, 0.5 Hz) or tetanic stimulation (80 μA, 25 Hz). Single-pulse stimulation that was delivered to either midbrain structure triggered transient inhibition of firing of ～90% of the LHb pain-activated neurons. However, tetanic stimulation of the VTA tended to evoke an elevation in neuronal firing rate. We conclude that LHb pain-activated neurons can receive diverse reward-related signals originating from midbrain dopaminergic structures, and thus participate in the regulation of the brain reward system via both positive and negative feedback mechanisms.     

Selective excitation of GABAergic neurons in the substantia nigra of the rat by orexin/hypocretin in vitro

Dysfunction of the orexin/hypocretin neurotransmitter system leads to the sleep disorder narcolepsy. Narcolepsy is characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness and the occurrence of cataplexy--a sudden loss of muscle tone triggered by emotionally arousing events. Both symptoms can be treated with drugs that act on dopaminergic systems. Here we have investigated the effect of orexins on the firing of dopaminergic and GABAergic neurons of the substantia nigra (SN) in brain slices. Surprisingly, dopaminergic neurons in pars compacta were unaffected by orexins. In contrast, bath application of orexin A (100 nM) or orexin B (5-300 nM) greatly increased the firing rate of GABAergic neurons in pars reticulata. The orexin B-mediated excitation was unaffected by blocking synaptic transmission (using low-Ca2+/high-Mg2+ solution). However, the effect of orexin B was reduced significantly by thapsigargin (1 microM) and inhibitors of protein kinase A. The presence of orexinergic fibres in the SN pars reticulata was demonstrated by immunohistochemical methods with the fibre density increasing in the rostrocaudal direction. The orexin excitation of SN reticulata cells may help to maintain their high firing rate during waking. Furthermore, the absence of orexin effects in narcolepsy may predispose affected individuals to attacks of cataplexy.     

Nigrostriatal effects of morphine in two mouse strains

The effects of morphine on nigrostriatal neurons (substantia nigra and caudate nucleus) were examined in mice of two strains (C58 and DBA), which differ in their locomotor response to morphine. The results did not support the hypothesis that the differences in locomotor response to morphine between the two strains are paralleled by differences in the response of nigrostriatal neurons to the same drug. The general effect of morphine on nigrostrial neurons, irrespective of strain, was to markedly depress their firing rate. Some nigrostriatal neurons initially speeded up but this effect was strain independent. This same general pattern was observed in some neurons recorded within the reticular formation. The results are discussed in relationship to the current concepts of morphine action on dopaminergic systems and the role of the nigrostriatal system in locomotor control.     

Defined cell groups in the rat suprachiasmatic nucleus have different day/night rhythms of single-unit activity in vivo

The electrical activity of the rat suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) was examined in anesthetized rats in vivo using single-unit electrophysiological techniques. The present data confirm the daily variation in the electrical activity of the SCN previously reported in vitro and in vivo using multiple-unit recording techniques. They further suggest that subpopulations of suprachiasmatic neurons with different neural connections have a different daily rhythm of activity. Neurons in the SCN region showed a significant rhythm of activity (p = 0.034; Kruskall-Wallis analysis of variance [KW-ANOVA]). The greatest activity occurred during the second part of the light period (ZT 10-12), and the lowest activity occurred in the early part of the light period (ZT 0-2). The subgroup of cells in the suprachiasmatic region with output projections to the arcuate nucleus (ARC) and/or supraoptic nucleus (SON) regions also showed a significant rhythm (p = 0.001; K-W ANOVA). Their activity appeared to show two peaks near the light-dark (ZT 10-12) and dark-light (ZT 22-24) transition periods with the lowest activity at ZT 16-18. This rhythm was significantly different (p = 0.016) from that of neurons without an output projection to the ARC and/or SON. Retinorecipient suprachiasmatic neurons appeared to have a less robust daily rhythm in their activity. The change in the firing behavior of the cells was not reflected simply by changes in mean firing rate. Examination of the coefficient of variation of the interspike interval distribution of cells at different times of day revealed changes in the firing pattern of cells in the SCN region that did not have output projections (p = 0.032; K-W ANOVA). The present results thus suggest that the SCN is composed of a heterogeneous population of neurons and that different rhythms of activity are expressed by neurons with different neural connections. There were changes in both firing pattern and firing rate.     

味觉刺激引起大鼠臂旁核神经元抑制性反应

本研究以轻度麻醉的大鼠为对象,应用细胞外微电极记录技术,观察并分析了脑桥臂旁核抑制性味觉神经元的自发活动及其对NaCl、HCl、盐酸奎宁（quinine HCl,QHCl））和蔗糖等四种基本味觉刺激的反应。共分析了18个具有自发活动的抑制性味觉神经元,自发放电频率分布在0．2～5．5Hz之间,平均放电频率（2．15±0．31）Hz。18个神经元中,1个神经元对单一味觉刺激呈抑制性反应,其余17个神经元对两种或两种以上的基本味觉刺激发生抑制性反应,且抑制具有潜伏期短、持续时间较长等特征。抑制持续时间5～80S,部分神经元表现为后抑制效应。根据神经元对四种基本味觉刺激呈抑制性反应的程度,将其分为NaCl优势神经元（n=8）,HCl优势神经元（n=3）,QHCl优势神经元n=3）和蔗糖优势神经元n=4）。其中NaCl优势神经元的反应谐宽最高（0．945）。这些神经元对欣快或厌恶刺激的区别能力较低。结果提示,在脑桥臂旁核存在对味觉刺激起抑制性反应的神经元,这些味觉神经元可能在味觉的调制及对欣快和厌恶刺激的编码中发挥重要的作用。