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Characterization of ionic currents of cells of the subfornical organ that project to the supraoptic nucleiThe subfornical organ (SFO) is a forebrain structure that converts peripheral blood-borne signals reflecting the hydrational state of the body to neural signals and then through efferent fibers conveys this information to several central nervous system structures. One of the forebrain areas receiving input from the SFO is the supraoptic nucleus (SON), a source of vasopressin synthesis and control of release from the posterior pituitary. Little is known of the transduction and transmission processes by which this conversion of systemic information to brain input occurs. As a step in elucidating these mechanisms, the present study characterized the ionic currents of dissociated cells of the SFO that were identified as neurons that send efferents to the SON. A retrograde tracer was injected into the SON area in eleven-day-old rats. After three days for retrograde transport of the label, the SFOs of these animals were dissociated and plated for tissue culture. The retrograde tracer was used to identify the soma of SFO cells projecting to the SON so that voltage-dependent ionic currents using whole-cell voltage clamp methods could be studied. The three types of currents in labeled SFO neurons were characterized as a 1) rapid, transient inward current that can be blocked by tetrodotoxin (TTX) characteristic of a sodium current; 2) slow-onset sustained outward current that can be blocked by tetraethylammonium (TEA) characteristic of a delayed rectifier potassium current; and 3) remaining outward current that has a rapid-onset and transient characteristic of a potassium A-type current. Copyright 1999 Elsevier Science B.V.
Document ID
20040142111
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Johnson, R. F.
(University of Iowa Iowa City, IA 52242, United States)
Beltz, T. G.
Jurzak, M.
Wachtel, R. E.
Johnson, A. K.
Date Acquired
August 22, 2013
Publication Date
January 30, 1999
Publication Information
Publication: Brain research
Volume: 817
Issue: 2-Jan
ISSN: 0006-8993
Subject Category
Life Sciences (General)
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: HL-57472
CONTRACT_GRANT: HL-14388
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
Non-NASA Center
NASA Discipline Regulatory Physiology

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