Introduction: Opiates cause dependency via affect on central nervous system. Locus coeruleus nucleus is a main group of noradrenergic neurons in the brain that plays an important role in the expression of opioid withdrawal signs. During opioid withdrawal, brain waves change in addition to physical and behavioral signs. In this study, we examined the effects of locus coeruleus electrical sti...

introduction: opiates cause dependency via affect on central nervous system. locus coeruleus nucleus is a main group of noradrenergic neurons in the brain that plays an important role in the expression of opioid withdrawal signs. during opioid withdrawal, brain waves change in addition to physical and behavioral signs. in this study, we examined the effects of locus coeruleus electrical stimula...

Introduction: In the present work, spontaneous postsynaptic currents were assessed to investigate the postnatal development of excitatory postsynaptic currents in locus coeruleus neurons. Methods: In this study, AMPA and NMDA receptor-mediated spontaneous synaptic currents in the neurons of locus coeruleus were assessed using whole cell voltage-clamp recording during the first three weeks. ...

Previous studies have demonstrated that stressors alter cellular immune system function, and increase the activity of locus coeruleus neurons. Furthermore, stressors increase the release of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and locus coeruleus neurons are activated by CRH. Thus, the present study examined whether activation of the locus coeruleus by infusion of CRH modulates the function of...

Background There is increasing evidence suggesting that the Locus Coeruleus plays a role in pain-related anxiety. Indeed, we previously found that prolonged arthritis produces anxiety-like behavior in rats, along with enhanced expression of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (a marker of plasticity) in the Locus Coeruleus. However, it is unknown how this effect correlates ...

The effects of inhibition of locus coeruleus neuronal discharge activity on cortical and hippocampal electroencephalographic activity were examined in halothane-anesthetized rats. A combined recording/infusion probe was used to place 35-150-nl infusions of the alpha 2-noradrenergic agonist, clonidine (1 ng/nl) which inhibits locus coeruleus neuronal discharge activity, immediately adjacent to t...

The postictal state is generally followed by antinociception. It is known that connections between the dorsal raphe nucleus, the periaqueductal gray matter, and the locus coeruleus, an important noradrenergic brainstem nucleus, are involved in the descending control of ascending nociceptive pathways. The aim of the present study was to determine whether noradrenergic mechanisms in the locus coe...

The relationship between discharge rates of locus coeruleus noradrenergic neurons and rates of norepinephrine release was examined in the anesthetized rat. Neuronal discharge rates of locus coeruleus neurons were altered and quantified using a combined recording-infusion probe. Peri-locus coeruleus infusions of either the cholinergic agonist, bethanechol, or the a2-agonist, clonidine, were used...

Cataplexy, a symptom of narcolepsy, is a loss of muscle tone usually triggered by sudden, emotionally significant stimuli. We now report that locus coeruleus neurons cease discharge throughout cataplexy periods in canine narcoleptics. Locus coeruleus discharge rates during cataplexy were as low as or lower than those seen during rapid-eye-movement sleep. Prazosin, an alpha1 antagonist, and phys...