Inhibition and facilitation of antidromically identified tubero-infundibular neurones following stimulation of the median eminence in the rat. 1976

Y Sawaki, and K Yagi

1. Stimulation of the median eminence of female rats inhibited the spontaneous firing of antidromically identified tubero-infundibular units. Some units could be inhibited by stimuli subthreshold for the antidromic spike. A conditioning stimulus of subthreshold intensity for the antidromic spike also delayed or abolished the invasion of the soma and dendrites of the same unit by antidromic action potentials evoked by a suprathreshold stimulus given 2-10 msec later. 2. Although strychnine (0-2 mg/kg, i.v.) did not significantly alter the inhibition evoked by stimulation of the median eminence, it was abolished by picrotoxin (2-6 mg/kg, iv.). 3. In seven of the fifty-seven identified units examined stimulation of the median eminence facilitated the spontaneous firing. However, after an i.v. injection of picrotoxin the facilitory response was observed in thirty-seven of the forty-six units tested. Post-stimulus time histograms obtained from the same unit before and after an injection of picrotoxin demonstrated that the latency and duration of the facilitation did not always coincide with that of the inhibition. 4. After an injection of picrotoxin the field potential evoked by antidromic stimulation of the median eminence consisted of a small positive wave followed by a negative wave. Frequently the negative wave of the field potential was accompanied by a convulsive discharge. The latency of the negative wave appears to be identical to that of the facilitation seen in nearby single units. 5. The facilitation evoked by antidromic stimulation in the presence of picrotoxin was blocked by an i.v. injection of alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine (250 or 375 mg/kg). None of the nine units sampled from rats pre-treated with alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine injected twice I.P. (250 mg/kg for each) were facilitated by stimulation of the median eminence following I.V. picrotoxin, while eight of the eleven units sampled from control rats pre-treated with L-tyrosine could be facilitated by antidromic stimulation. 6. These results suggest that tuber-infundibular neurosecretory neurones are inhibited and facilitated by neural pathways which could involve the axon collaterals of the neruosecretory neurones which project to the external layer of the median eminence. It is also suggested that GABA-releasing neurones mediate the inhibition and catecholaminergic neurones are involved in the facilitory pathways. Presumably the facilitation is normally masked by the activity of the GABA-releasing neurones.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007030 Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System A collection of NEURONS, tracts of NERVE FIBERS, endocrine tissue, and blood vessels in the HYPOTHALAMUS and the PITUITARY GLAND. This hypothalamo-hypophyseal portal circulation provides the mechanism for hypothalamic neuroendocrine (HYPOTHALAMIC HORMONES) regulation of pituitary function and the release of various PITUITARY HORMONES into the systemic circulation to maintain HOMEOSTASIS. Hypothalamic Hypophyseal System,Hypothalamo-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis,Hypophyseal Portal System,Hypothalamic-Pituitary Unit,Hypothalamic Hypophyseal Systems,Hypothalamic Pituitary Unit,Hypothalamo Hypophyseal System,Hypothalamo Pituitary Adrenal Axis,Portal System, Hypophyseal
D007031 Hypothalamus Ventral part of the DIENCEPHALON extending from the region of the OPTIC CHIASM to the caudal border of the MAMMILLARY BODIES and forming the inferior and lateral walls of the THIRD VENTRICLE. Lamina Terminalis,Preoptico-Hypothalamic Area,Area, Preoptico-Hypothalamic,Areas, Preoptico-Hypothalamic,Preoptico Hypothalamic Area,Preoptico-Hypothalamic Areas
D008473 Median Eminence Raised area at the infundibular region of the HYPOTHALAMUS at the floor of the BRAIN, ventral to the THIRD VENTRICLE and adjacent to the ARCUATE NUCLEUS OF HYPOTHALAMUS. It contains the terminals of hypothalamic neurons and the capillary network of hypophyseal portal system, thus serving as a neuroendocrine link between the brain and the PITUITARY GLAND. Eminentia Mediana,Medial Eminence,Eminence, Medial,Eminence, Median,Eminences, Medial,Eminentia Medianas,Medial Eminences,Mediana, Eminentia,Medianas, Eminentia
D009433 Neural Inhibition The function of opposing or restraining the excitation of neurons or their target excitable cells. Inhibition, Neural
D009474 Neurons The basic cellular units of nervous tissue. Each neuron consists of a body, an axon, and dendrites. Their purpose is to receive, conduct, and transmit impulses in the NERVOUS SYSTEM. Nerve Cells,Cell, Nerve,Cells, Nerve,Nerve Cell,Neuron
D009490 Neurosecretory Systems A system of NEURONS that has the specialized function to produce and secrete HORMONES, and that constitutes, in whole or in part, an ENDOCRINE SYSTEM or organ. Neuroendocrine System,Neuroendocrine Systems,Neurosecretory System,System, Neuroendocrine,System, Neurosecretory,Systems, Neuroendocrine,Systems, Neurosecretory
D010852 Picrotoxin A mixture of PICROTOXININ and PICROTIN that is a noncompetitive antagonist at GABA-A receptors acting as a convulsant. Picrotoxin blocks the GAMMA-AMINOBUTYRIC ACID-activated chloride ionophore. Although it is most often used as a research tool, it has been used as a CNS stimulant and an antidote in poisoning by CNS depressants, especially the barbiturates. 3,6-Methano-8H-1,5,7-trioxacyclopenta(ij)cycloprop(a)azulene-4,8(3H)-dione, hexahydro-2a-hydroxy-9-(1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl)-8b-methyl-, (1aR-(1aalpha,2abeta,3beta,6beta,6abeta,8aS*,8bbeta,9S*))-, compd. with (1aR-(1aalpha,2abeta,3beta,6beta,6abeta,8,Cocculin
D004558 Electric Stimulation Use of electric potential or currents to elicit biological responses. Stimulation, Electric,Electrical Stimulation,Electric Stimulations,Electrical Stimulations,Stimulation, Electrical,Stimulations, Electric,Stimulations, Electrical
D005071 Evoked Potentials Electrical responses recorded from nerve, muscle, SENSORY RECEPTOR, or area of the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM following stimulation. They range from less than a microvolt to several microvolts. The evoked potential can be auditory (EVOKED POTENTIALS, AUDITORY), somatosensory (EVOKED POTENTIALS, SOMATOSENSORY), visual (EVOKED POTENTIALS, VISUAL), or motor (EVOKED POTENTIALS, MOTOR), or other modalities that have been reported. Event Related Potential,Event-Related Potentials,Evoked Potential,N100 Evoked Potential,P50 Evoked Potential,N1 Wave,N100 Evoked Potentials,N2 Wave,N200 Evoked Potentials,N3 Wave,N300 Evoked Potentials,N4 Wave,N400 Evoked Potentials,P2 Wave,P200 Evoked Potentials,P50 Evoked Potentials,P50 Wave,P600 Evoked Potentials,Potentials, Event-Related,Event Related Potentials,Event-Related Potential,Evoked Potential, N100,Evoked Potential, N200,Evoked Potential, N300,Evoked Potential, N400,Evoked Potential, P200,Evoked Potential, P50,Evoked Potential, P600,Evoked Potentials, N100,Evoked Potentials, N200,Evoked Potentials, N300,Evoked Potentials, N400,Evoked Potentials, P200,Evoked Potentials, P50,Evoked Potentials, P600,N1 Waves,N2 Waves,N200 Evoked Potential,N3 Waves,N300 Evoked Potential,N4 Waves,N400 Evoked Potential,P2 Waves,P200 Evoked Potential,P50 Waves,P600 Evoked Potential,Potential, Event Related,Potential, Event-Related,Potential, Evoked,Potentials, Event Related,Potentials, Evoked,Potentials, N400 Evoked,Related Potential, Event,Related Potentials, Event,Wave, N1,Wave, N2,Wave, N3,Wave, N4,Wave, P2,Wave, P50,Waves, N1,Waves, N2,Waves, N3,Waves, N4,Waves, P2,Waves, P50
D005260 Female Females

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