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In vivo patch‐clamp recording from locus coeruleus neurones in the rat brainstem
Author(s) -
Sugiyama Daisuke,
Hur Sung Won,
Pickering Anthony E.,
Kase Daisuke,
Kim Sang Jeong,
Kawamata Mikito,
Imoto Keiji,
Furue Hidemasa
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the journal of physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.802
H-Index - 240
eISSN - 1469-7793
pISSN - 0022-3751
DOI - 10.1113/jphysiol.2011.226407
Subject(s) - locus coeruleus , neuroscience , excitatory postsynaptic potential , brainstem , patch clamp , electrophysiology , arousal , stimulation , current clamp , cnqx , chemistry , biology , inhibitory postsynaptic potential , medicine , central nervous system , glutamate receptor , ampa receptor , receptor
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.