An investigation of the relationship between occlusion, mastication and mental activity using in vivo patch clamp recording method

本课题试图为在体膜片钳技术提供一种微量移液器。不幸的是，很少有探针被获得以允许形成高电阻密封（千兆欧姆密封）。还需要另一种装置来到达体内标本的目标神经元。然而，这些微量移液器允许我们进行细胞外记录。在家兔丘脑腹后内侧核细胞外记录了对机械刺激的反应神经元活动。90%的记录神经元对与咬合和咀嚼相关的机械刺激有反应，也与心理活动有关。提示咬合和咀嚼时口面部的感觉信息对意识水平有影响。

In this project we try to provide a micropipette for the in vivo patch clamp technique. Unfortunately, few probes were obtained to allow forming the high resistance seal (giga-ohm seal). The other device was also needed to reach the objective neurons of the in vivo specimen. These micropipettes, however, allowed us performing extracellular recording. Neuronal activities responding mechanical stimulation to the oro-facial region were extracellularly recorded from the ventral posteromedial nucleus of the rabbit thalamus. Ninety percent of recorded neurons responded to mechanical stimuli associated with occluding and chewing and also related to the mental activity. These results suggested that sensory information from oro-facial region during occlusion and mastication influences on the level of consciousness.