Mechanisms for periodic and synchronized activity of GnRH neurons

光学和多通道记录技术被用来阐明GnRH神经元的周期性和同步的神经元活动的机制。用电压敏感染料的光学成像显示，永生化GnRH神经元（GT 1 - 7细胞）的活动是同步的。当与其他细胞接触的细胞受到电刺激时，诱发的兴奋会传播到相邻的细胞。电压依赖性Na^+和Ca^<2+>通道阻断剂可以阻止刺激诱发兴奋的传播，但K^+通道阻断剂则不能。在培养的含有GnRH神经元的下丘脑神经元上进行多通道记录。这些神经元相互连接，形成神经元网络。同步的神经元活动被发现在神经元，使突触样接触。免疫组织化学鉴定显示，这些同步化的神经元含有GnRH和非GnRH神经元。本研究结果表明，GnRH神经元的活动不仅与其他GnRH神经元同步，而且与非GnRH神经元同步。

Optical and multi-channel recording techniques were used to clarify the mechanisms for periodic and synchronized neuronal activity of GnRH neurons. Optical imaging with a voltage-sensitive dye revealed that activities of immortalized GnRH neurons (GT1-7cells) were synchronized. When a cell in contact with other cells was stimulated electrically, the evoked excitation was propagated to neighboring cells. The propagation of stimulus-evoked excitation was prevented by voltage-dependent Na^+ and Ca^<2+> channel blockers, but not by K^+ channel blockers. Multi-channel recording was made in cultured hypothalamic neurons that contains GnRH neurons. These neurons connected with each other were forming neuronal networks. Synchronized neuronal activity was found in neurons that made synapse-like contact. Immunohistochemical identification revealed that these synchronized neurons contained both GnRH and non-GnRH neurons. The present results suggest that activity of GnRH neurons is synchronized with not only other GnRH neurons but also non-GnRH neurons.