TY - JOUR
T1 - Activity of serotonin-containing neurons in nucleus centralis superior of freely moving cats
AU - Rasmussen, Kurt
AU - Heym, James
AU - Jacobs, Barry L.
N1 - Funding Information:
Abbreviations: NCS-nucleus centralis superior, AW-active waking, QW-quiet waking, SWS-slow-wave sleep, DRO-drowsy, DRN-dorsal raphe nucleus, NRP-nucleus raphe pallidus, NRM-nucleus raphe magnus, PSTH-peristimulus time histogram, LSD-lysergic acid diethylamide, 5-MeODMT-5-methoxy-N,Ndimethyltryptamine, PGO-pontogeniculooccipital. ’ This research was supported by National Institute of Mental Health grants MH 23433 and MH 15799. The authors thank Lisa Chubb and Dorothy Millen for their excellent technical assistance. Address ah reprint requests to Kurt Rasmussen.
PY - 1984/2
Y1 - 1984/2
N2 - Abstract: Serotonergic neurons were recorded in the nucleus centralis superior (NCS) in freely moving cats and were initially identified on-line by their slow and regular spontaneous activity (mean 2.55 ± 0.21 spikes/s). Discharge rates of NCS serotonergic neurons were highest during active waking (AW) (mean 2.94 ± 0.28 spikes/s), decreased during slow-wave sleep (middle of SWS: mean 1.38 ± 0.18 spikes/s), and were lowest during REM sleep (mean 0.46 ± 0.13 spikes/s). The activity of serotonergic NCS neurons did not significantly increase during transient elevations of the EMG during AW but did significantly decrease immediately preceding, and during the occurrence of, SWS spindles. These neurons were responsive to phasic auditory and visual stimuli, with most neurons showing excitatory responses. In response to a small dose of the serotoninspecific agonist 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (50 μg/kg, i.m.), NCS serotonergic neurons responded with a mean decrease in unit activity of 43.9 ± 6.1%. Among the NCS serotonergic neurons a subpopulation differed from the remaining serotonergic neurons in that they showed a much smaller decrease in unit activity across the sleep-wake cycle and responded with an inhibition of activity to phasic auditory and visual stimuli. The results of this study are compared with those previously reported for serotonergic neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus, nucleus raphe pallidus, and nucleus raphe magnus of freely moving cats.
AB - Abstract: Serotonergic neurons were recorded in the nucleus centralis superior (NCS) in freely moving cats and were initially identified on-line by their slow and regular spontaneous activity (mean 2.55 ± 0.21 spikes/s). Discharge rates of NCS serotonergic neurons were highest during active waking (AW) (mean 2.94 ± 0.28 spikes/s), decreased during slow-wave sleep (middle of SWS: mean 1.38 ± 0.18 spikes/s), and were lowest during REM sleep (mean 0.46 ± 0.13 spikes/s). The activity of serotonergic NCS neurons did not significantly increase during transient elevations of the EMG during AW but did significantly decrease immediately preceding, and during the occurrence of, SWS spindles. These neurons were responsive to phasic auditory and visual stimuli, with most neurons showing excitatory responses. In response to a small dose of the serotoninspecific agonist 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (50 μg/kg, i.m.), NCS serotonergic neurons responded with a mean decrease in unit activity of 43.9 ± 6.1%. Among the NCS serotonergic neurons a subpopulation differed from the remaining serotonergic neurons in that they showed a much smaller decrease in unit activity across the sleep-wake cycle and responded with an inhibition of activity to phasic auditory and visual stimuli. The results of this study are compared with those previously reported for serotonergic neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus, nucleus raphe pallidus, and nucleus raphe magnus of freely moving cats.
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U2 - 10.1016/S0014-4886(84)90100-6
DO - 10.1016/S0014-4886(84)90100-6
M3 - Article
C2 - 6692870
AN - SCOPUS:0021352291
SN - 0014-4886
VL - 83
SP - 302
EP - 317
JO - Experimental Neurology
JF - Experimental Neurology
IS - 2
ER -