DYNAMIC PROPERTIES OF CARDIOVASCULAR NEURONS IN THE MNTS

束核背内侧区的神经元 孤束核（mNTS）是必不可少的压力反射，提供快速 心血管系统的动态调节， 心跳本研究的目的是调查 固有的点火特性和信号处理特性的 单个神经元和突触互连， 延髓心血管控制回路成年大鼠脑干将 以保留mNTS的角度切片，提供最大 的长度的孤立道，并将部分淹没在一个 灌注室，用于切片的灌注。研究 研究将确定：1）已知的Ca 2+激活的K+的影响 电流（IKCa）阻断剂对mNTS重复放电特性的影响 神经元，2）进行和诱发模式的方式， mNTS神经元的活动受到动态相互作用的影响 细胞内Ca ~（2+）和lKCa之间的关系; 3）相对Ca ~（2+）的影响 lKCa的强度（使用部分药理学阻断改变）， 这些自发的夹带和相位响应特性 振荡mNTS神经元。预计这些结果将 增强我们对mNTS功能特性的理解 神经元和生物物理机制有助于处理 压力感受器输入到这个延髓心血管回路。 此外，这些结果可能会揭示新的见解， 神经发生的临床问题，如高血压和心脏 心律失常

Neurons within the dorsomedial region of the nucleus of the tractus solitarius (mNTS) are essential to the baroreflex, which provides rapid dynamic regulation of the cardiovascular system within a single heartbeat. The objectives of this research are to investigate the intrinsic firing properties and signal processing characteristics of the individual neurons and synaptic interconnections which constitute this medullary cardiovascular control circuitry. Adult rat brainstem will be sectioned at an angle which preserves the mNTS, providing a maximum length of the solitary tract, and will be partially submerged in a perfusion chamber for superfusion of the slice. The research investigations will determine: 1) the effects of known Ca2+-activated K+ current (l KCa) blockers on the repetitive firing characteristics of mNTS neurons, 2) the manner in which the ongoing and evoked patterns of activity in mNTS neurons are influenced by the dynamic interaction between intracellular Ca2+ and lKCa, and 3) the effects of the relative strength of lKCa, (as altered using partial pharmacological block) upon the entrainment and phase-response properties of these spontaneously oscillating mNTS neurons. It is anticipated that these results will enhance our understanding of both the functional properties of mNTS neurons and the biophysical mechanisms contributing in the processing of baroreceptor inputs to this medullary cardiovascular circuitry. Furthermore, these results could potentially reveal new insights into the neurogenesis of such clinical issues as hypertension and cardiac dysrhythmias.