Papers

International journal
Mar 26, 2021

In Vivo Electrophysiology of Peptidergic Neurons in Deep Layers of the Lumbar Spinal Cord after Optogenetic Stimulation of Hypothalamic Paraventricular Oxytocin Neurons in Rats

International Journal of Molecular Sciences
  • Daisuke Uta
  • ,
  • Takumi Oti
  • ,
  • Tatsuya Sakamoto
  • ,
  • Hirotaka Sakamoto

Volume
22
Number
7
First page
3400
Last page
3400
Language
English
Publishing type
Research paper (scientific journal)
DOI
10.3390/ijms22073400
Publisher
MDPI AG

The spinal ejaculation generator (SEG) is located in the central gray (lamina X) of the rat lumbar spinal cord and plays a pivotal role in the ejaculatory reflex. We recently reported that SEG neurons express the oxytocin receptor and are activated by oxytocin projections from the paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus (PVH). However, it is unknown whether the SEG responds to oxytocin in vivo. In this study, we analyzed the characteristics of the brain–spinal cord neural circuit that controls male sexual function using a newly developed in vivo electrophysiological technique. Optogenetic stimulation of the PVH of rats expressing channel rhodopsin under the oxytocin receptor promoter increased the spontaneous firing of most lamina X SEG neurons. This is the first demonstration of the in vivo electrical response from the deeper (lamina X) neurons in the spinal cord. Furthermore, we succeeded in the in vivo whole-cell recordings of lamina X neurons. In vivo whole-cell recordings may reveal the features of lamina X SEG neurons, including differences in neurotransmitters and response to stimulation. Taken together, these results suggest that in vivo electrophysiological stimulation can elucidate the neurophysiological response of a variety of spinal neurons during male sexual behavior.

Link information
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22073400
PubMed
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33810239
PubMed Central
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8036474
URL
https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/7/3400/pdf
ID information
  • DOI : 10.3390/ijms22073400
  • eISSN : 1422-0067
  • Pubmed ID : 33810239
  • Pubmed Central ID : PMC8036474

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