RGD Reference Report - Physiological and morphological properties of, and effect of substance P on, neurons in the A7 catecholamine cell group in rats. - Rat Genome Database

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Physiological and morphological properties of, and effect of substance P on, neurons in the A7 catecholamine cell group in rats.

Authors: Min, MY  Wu, YW  Shih, PY  Lu, HW  Lin, CC  Wu, Y  Li, MJ  Yang, HW 
Citation: Min MY, etal., Neuroscience. 2008 Jun 2;153(4):1020-33. Epub 2008 Mar 19.
RGD ID: 2304273
Pubmed: PMID:18440151   (View Abstract at PubMed)
DOI: DOI:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2008.03.011   (Journal Full-text)

The A7 catecholamine cell group consists of noradrenergic (NAergic) neurons that project to the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. Here, we characterized their morphology and physiology properties and tested the effect of substance P (Sub-P) on them, since the results of many morphological studies suggest that A7 neurons are densely innervated by Sub-P-releasing terminals from nuclei involved in the descending inhibitory system, such as the lateral hypothalamus and periaqueductal gray area. Whole cell recordings were made from neurons located approximately 200 microm rostral to the trigeminal motor nucleus (the presumed A7 area) in sagittal brainstem slices from rats aged 7-10 days. After recording, the neurons were injected with biocytin and immunostained with antibody against dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH). DBH-immunoreactive (ir) cells were presumed to be NAergic neurons. They had a large somata diameter ( approximately 20 microm) and relatively simple dendritic branching patterns. They fired action potentials (AP) spontaneously with or without blockade of synaptic inputs, and had similar properties to those of NAergic neurons in other areas, including the existence of calcium channel-mediated APs and a voltage-dependent delay in initiation of the AP (an indicator of the existence of A-type potassium currents) and an ability to be hyperpolarized by norepinephrine. Furthermore, in all DBH-ir neurons tested, Sub-P caused depolarization of the membrane potential and an increase in neuronal firing rate by acting on neurokinin-1 receptors. Non-DBH-ir neurons with a smaller somata size were also found in the A7 area. These showed great diversity in firing patterns and about half were depolarized by Sub-P. Morphological examination suggested that the non-DBH-ir neurons form contacts with DBH-ir neurons. These results provide the first description of the intrinsic regulation of membrane properties of, and the excitatory effect of Sub-P on, A7 area neurons, which play an important role in pain regulation.

Gene Ontology Annotations    Click to see Annotation Detail View

Biological Process
TermQualifierEvidenceWithReferenceNotesSourceOriginal Reference(s)
positive regulation of action potential  IDA 2304273 RGD 
positive regulation of action potential  IMP 2304273 RGD 

Cellular Component
TermQualifierEvidenceWithReferenceNotesSourceOriginal Reference(s)
neuronal cell body  IDA 2304273 RGD 

Objects Annotated

Genes (Rattus norvegicus)
Dbh  (dopamine beta-hydroxylase)
Tac1  (tachykinin, precursor 1)
Tacr1  (tachykinin receptor 1)


Additional Information