α2-Adrenergic receptor-mediated modulation of calcium current in neocortical pyramidal neurons

摘要: Abstract Noradrenergic projections to the cortex modulate a variety of cortical activities and calcium channels are one likely target for such modulation. We used whole-cell patch-clamp technique study noradrenergic modulation barium currents in acutely dissociated pyramidal neurons from rat sensorimotor cortex. Extracellular application specific agonists antagonists revealed that norepinephrine (NE) reduced Ca 2+ current. A major component this was due activation α 2 receptors. Activation -adrenergic receptors resulted fast, voltage-dependent pathway involving G i /G o G-proteins. This targeted N- P-type The partially reversed by repeated action potential waveforms (APWs). have been implicated synaptic transmission afterhyperpolarizations these cells. Our findings suggest NE can regulate cellular processes mechanisms sensitive spike activity.