Journal of neuroendocrinology
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J. Neuroendocrinol. · Jan 2014
Electrophysiological effects of kainic acid on vasopressin-enhanced green fluorescent protein and oxytocin-monomeric red fluorescent protein 1 neurones isolated from the supraoptic nucleus in transgenic rats.
The supraoptic nucleus (SON) contains two types of magnocellular neurosecretory cells: arginine vasopressin (AVP)-producing and oxytocin (OXT)-producing cells. We recently generated and characterised two transgenic rat lines: one expressing an AVP-enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) and the other expressing an OXT-monomeric red fluorescent protein 1 (mRFP1). These transgenic rats enable the visualisation of AVP or OXT neurones in the SON. ⋯ Furthermore, the difference between the AVP-eGFP and OXT-mRFP1 neurones in the ATPA currents was approximately equal to the difference in the KA currents. These findings suggest that the GluK1-containing KARs may be more highly expressed in OXT neurones than in AVP neurones. These results may provide new insight into the physiology and synaptic plasticity of SON neurones.