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Electrophysiological properties of lateral reticular nucleus cells: I. Antidromic activation

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Summary

Antidromically activated intracellular and field potentials in the lateral reticular nucleus (LRN) of cat were recorded with microelectrode following stimulation of the inferior cerebellar peduncle.

LRN antidromic field potentials were well synchronized and relatively short duration negative waves. These potentials were observed only when the recording electrode was within the nucleus. No reversal of the negative potentials was detected outside of the nucleus.

Intracellular analysis revealed that antidromic firing of the LRN neuron is composed of M-IS-SD spikes. The IS-SD spike duration was short and sometimes followed by an afterpotential sequence of depolarization and hyperpolarization. Effects of depolarizing and hyperpolarizing currents, injected through the recording electrode, on the antidromic spike, membrane resistance and firing pattern were studied. Findings demonstrated that LRN cells are capable of high frequency firing with little accomodation. The membrane also displayed rectification properties. These results imply that LRN neurons are highly sensitive to depolarization signals and possess characteristics for providing background depolarization and tonic activation of their target neurons.

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Author notes

  1. K. Hatada

    Present address: Lafayette Clinic, 48201, Detroit, Michigan, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Morin Memorial Laboratory, Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA

    S. T. Kitai, D. T. Kennedy, J. F. Defrance & K. Hatada

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  1. S. T. Kitai
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  2. D. T. Kennedy
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  3. J. F. Defrance
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  4. K. Hatada
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Additional information

This study was supported by U.S. Public Health Service Grants NB 00405, RR 5384 and National Science Foundation Grant GB 35532.

The authors express their gratitude to Mss. D. Agresta, C. Casper and B. Pantelis for their patient and skillful assistance in histology, photography and preparation of this manuscript.

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Kitai, S.T., Kennedy, D.T., Defrance, J.F. et al. Electrophysiological properties of lateral reticular nucleus cells: I. Antidromic activation. Exp Brain Res 21, 403–418 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00237903

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