Electrophysiology of neurones projections from the rat A1 noradrenergic region to the medial preoptic/anterior hypothalamic area: lack of effect of the oestrous cycle on their excitability.

The neuronal excitability of presumed A1 noradrenergic neurones in the ventrolateral medulla (VLM) which directly project to the medial preoptic/anterior hypothalamic area was analysed in pro-oestrous and metoestrous female rats under urethane anaesthesia. No significant difference was detected between the two groups for the antidromic activation threshold, absolute refractory period, frequency of successful antidromic propagation into the somatodendritic membrane, duration of post-stimulus inhibition, or spontaneous firing rate of these neurones. These results do not support the idea that the neuronal somata of A1 noradrenergic neurones in the VLM show a pro-oestrous increase in excitability during the oestrous cycle, although limitations of the methodology employed do not completely rule out this possibility.