Excitation of substantia nigra pars compacta neurones by 5-hydroxy-tryptamine in-vitro
- 1 June 1991
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Wolters Kluwer Health in NeuroReport
- Vol. 2 (6) , 329-332
- https://doi.org/10.1097/00001756-199106000-00007
Abstract
Incoming serotonergic fibres are known to make direct synaptic contact with dopamine-containing neurones in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc). However, the effects of 5-HT (5-hydroxytryptamine) on these cells have not been thoroughly investigated. In the present study we show that application of 10–50 μM 5-HT increases the firing frequency of SNc neurones in-vitro, and produces inward rectification in a voltage region negative to −50mV. This effect is sensitive to extracellular Cs+, but not to Ba2+, and has similar properties as the intrinsic inward rectifier current, Ih. Antagonists of the 5-HT1A and 5-HT2 receptors were inefficacious. It is concluded that 5-HT excites SNc neurones via an enhancement of the conductance underlying Ih.Keywords
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