Pitcher T L, Wickens J R, Reynolds J N J
Basal Ganglia Research Group, Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Otago, PO Box 913, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand.
Neuroscience. 2007 Apr 25;146(1):135-42. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2007.01.003. Epub 2007 Feb 21.
The spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) and the Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) inbred rat strains display behavioral differences characterized by relative increases and decreases in levels of activity. Both strains have subsequently been utilized as animal models of hyperactive and hypoactive behavioral traits. The etiology of these behavioral characteristics is poorly understood, but may stem from alterations in the physiology of selected neural circuits or catecholamine systems. This study investigated the cellular properties of neurons from three genetically related strains: the SHR; WKY; and Wistar (WI). In vivo intracellular recordings were made under urethane anesthesia from spiny projection neurons in the striatum, a brain area involved in behavioral activation. Results obtained from 71 spiny projection neurons indicate that most cellular properties of these neurons were very similar across the three strains. However, the amplitude and half-duration of both spontaneously occurring and current-evoked action potentials were found to be significantly different between the SHR and WKY strains with neurons from the SHR firing action potentials of relatively greater amplitude and shorter duration. Action potential parameters measured from the WI rats were intermediate between the two other strains. These differences in action potentials between two behaviorally distinct strains may reflect altered functioning of particular membrane conductances.
自发性高血压大鼠（SHR）和Wistar-Kyoto（WKY）近交系大鼠表现出行为差异，其特征是活动水平相对增加和减少。这两个品系随后都被用作多动和少动行为特征的动物模型。这些行为特征的病因尚不清楚，但可能源于特定神经回路或儿茶酚胺系统生理学的改变。本研究调查了来自三个遗传相关品系的神经元的细胞特性：SHR；WKY；以及Wistar（WI）。在乌拉坦麻醉下，对纹状体中的棘状投射神经元进行体内细胞内记录，纹状体是一个参与行为激活的脑区。从71个棘状投射神经元获得的结果表明，这些神经元的大多数细胞特性在这三个品系中非常相似。然而，发现SHR和WKY品系之间自发产生的和电流诱发的动作电位的幅度和半持续时间存在显著差异，SHR的神经元产生的动作电位幅度相对较大，持续时间较短。从WI大鼠测量的动作电位参数介于其他两个品系之间。这两个行为不同的品系之间动作电位的这些差异可能反映了特定膜电导功能的改变。
