Responses to Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid of Rat Visual Cortical Neurons in Tissue Slices

Abstract

This project was undertaken to establish the effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) on individual visual cortical neurons. Intracellular recordings were made from 148 Layer V neurons using slices of rat visual cortex. Slices (400 um thick) were warmed, oxygenated and perfused with artificial cerebrospinal fluid. GABA was ejected from a micropipette onto the soma and dendrites (n=87). Intracellular staining techniques were used to identify 20 of these cells morphologically. Pyramidal and nonpyramidal cells could be differentiated on the basis of their responses to afferent stimulation, but they did not appear to differ in their responses to intracellular current injection. Nor did they differ in their responses to GABA. All neurons tested responded to GABA ejected within 300 um of the soma, and three types of GABA responses were found.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 1986
Accession Number
ADA634996

Entities

People

  • Helen E. Scharfman

Organizations

  • Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

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  • Amino Acids
  • Brain
  • Cells
  • Cellular Structures
  • Cerebral Cortex
  • Chemistry
  • Health Services
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  • Nervous System
  • Neurons
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  • Biology

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