introduction: it is believed that locus coeruleus (lc) influences the sensory information processing. however, its role in cortical surround inhibitory mechanism is not understood. in this experiment, using controlled mechanical displacement of whiskers we investigated the effect of phasic electrical stimulation of lc on response of layer v barrel cortical neurons in anesthetized rat. methods: ...

previous studies have shown that the receptive field properties, spontaneous activity and spatio-temporal interactions of low-threshold mechanical somatosensory cells in the barrel cortex are influenced by c-fibers. in this study, we examined the effect of c-fiber depletion on response properties of barrel cortex neurons following experience dependent plasticity. methods: in this study, exterac...

Previous studies have shown that the receptive field properties, spontaneous activity and spatio-temporal interactions of low-threshold mechanical somatosensory cells in the barrel cortex are influenced by C-fibers. In this study, we examined the effect of C-fiber depletion on response properties of barrel cortex neurons following experience dependent plasticity. Methods: In this study, exte...

background: the rodent somatosensory barrel cortex is an ideal model to examine the effect of experience-dependent plasticity on developing brain circuitry. sensory deprivation such as whisker deprivation may affect neuroanatomical aspects of the brain during developmental processes. the present study designed to investigate the possible effects of whisker deprivation on the morphometric charac...

introduction: barrel cortex of rats is a part of somatosensory cortex, which receives information from facial whiskers. vibrisectomy by sensory deprivation leads to some changes in the barrel cortex, which have been known as experience dependent plasticity. on the other hand, norepinephrine (ne) and locus coeruleus, which is the main source of ne, influenced response properties of cortical barr...

introduction: neurons in layer ii and iii of the somatosensory cortex in rats show high frequency (33 ± 13 hz) of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mepscs) that their rates and amplitudes are independent of sodium channels. there are some changes in these currents in neurodegenerative and psychological disorders. regarding to well known roles of the neuromodulatory brain systems in th...

Introduction: Memantine as N-Methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor antagonist is used in some neurological disorders. It has been reported that memantine has modulatory effects on the somatosensory information processing in healthy subjects. This study investigated the effect of memantine on electrophysiological properties of barrel cortex neurons in male rats. Methods: Single unit recording ...

Introduction: Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is a chemical often used as a solvent for waterinsoluble drugs. In this study, we evaluated the effect of intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration of DMSO on neural response characteristics (in 1200–1500 μm depth) of the rat barrel cortex. Methods: DMSO solution was prepared in 10% v/v concentration and injected into the later...

introduction: in the present study the effect of nucleus basalis of meynert (nbm) destruction on the temporal characteristics of response integration evoked by multiple whisker stimulations in rat barrel cortex was studied. material and methods: wistar male rats weighing 250-350 g were used. the animals were randomly distributed into two groups: in the first group bilateral nbm lesions was indu...

In the present study, the effect of NBM lesion on the temporal characteristics of response integration evoked by multiple whisker stimulations in the barrel cortex of rats was studied. Nucleus basalis of Meynert (NBM) projects to widespread areas of the cortex and provides the major cholinergic input (80%) to the cerebral cortex. In this study we examined the effects of NBM lesion on the respon...