0000000000672997
AUTHOR
Erich Martin
Subthreshold oscillation of the membrane potential in magnocellular neurones of the rat supraoptic nucleus
The hypothalamic supraoptic nucleus (SON) contains two major populations of magnocellular neurosecretory neurones, producing and secreting vasopressin and oxytocin, respectively (for review see Poulain & Wakerley 1982). Neurones of a subpopulation of supraoptic neurosecretory cells share the capability of generating phasic bursts of action potentials. In these neurones, action potentials are succeeded by a depolarizing afterpotential (DAP; Andrew, 1987; Armstrong et al. 1994; Li et al. 1995). Depending on the discharge frequency, DAPs summate, eventually resulting in the generation of a plateau potential that gives rise to the discharge of a long-lasting train of action potentials. Thus, DA…
Components of after-hyperpolarization in magnocellular neurones of the rat supraoptic nucleusin vitro
1. The pharmacological sensitivity of hyperpolarizing components of spike train after-potentials was examined in sixty-one magnocellular neurones of the rat supraoptic nucleus using intracellular recording techniques in a brain slice preparation. 2. In 26 % of all neurones a slow after-hyperpolarization (AHP) was observed in addition to a fast AHP. In 31 % of all neurones a depolarizing after-potential (DAP) was observed. 3. The fast AHP was blocked by apamin whereas the slow AHP was blocked by charybdotoxin (ChTX). The DAP was enhanced by ChTX or a DAP was unmasked if not present during the control period. 4. Low concentrations of TEA (0.15-1.5 mM) induced effects on the slow AHP and the D…