XXXX activation of glutamatergic synaptic transmission in the @entity35 locus coeruleus in vitro.

@entity2227 @entity2951 @entity141 @entity1425 @entity4413 @entity5510 @entity35 @entity1063
The vanilloid receptor protein ( @entity5510 ) is a well-characterised integrator of noxious stimuli in peripheral sensory neurones. There is evidence for the presence of @entity5510 in the central nervous system, but little information as to its role there. In this study we have examined the actions of agonists for @entity5510 receptors in the @entity35 locus coeruleus (LC), using whole-cell patch-clamp recordings from acutely isolated neurones and neurones in slices. Superfusion with @entity2951 resulted in a concentration-dependent increase in the frequency of isolated miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs) in LC neurones. The mean amplitude of the mEPSCs was not affected by @entity2951 . The effects of @entity2951 (1 microM) were abolished by the @entity5510 receptor antagonists @entity4413 (10 microM) and iodoresiniferatoxin (300 nM). Removal of extracellular @entity141 abolished the @entity2951 -induced increase in frequency of mEPSCs. @entity2951 superfusion had no consistent effects on evoked excitatory postsynaptic currents. @entity2951 superfusion also resulted in the release of an adrenoceptor agonist in the LC but did not affect the membrane currents of acutely isolated LC neurones. These data demonstrate that the @entity5510 receptor appears to be located presynaptically on afferents to the LC, and that activation of @entity5510 may serve to potentiate the release of @entity2227 and @entity1425 / @entity1063 in this brain region.
