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The cerebellar norepinephrine system: inhibition, modulation, and gating
Journal article   Peer reviewed

The cerebellar norepinephrine system: inhibition, modulation, and gating

D J Woodward, H C Moises, B D Waterhouse, H H Yeh and J E Cheun
Progress in brain research, v 88(C), pp 331-341
1991
PMID: 1687621

Abstract

Action Potentials Afferent Pathways - physiology Animals Cerebellum - physiology Chlorides - physiology Cyclic AMP - physiology gamma-Aminobutyric Acid - physiology Glutamates - pharmacology Glutamic Acid Ion Channel Gating - physiology Iontophoresis - methods Locus Coeruleus - physiology Models, Neurological Motion Perception - physiology Norepinephrine - physiology Photic Stimulation Purkinje Cells - physiology Rats Second Messenger Systems Synaptic Transmission
A series of studies has been conducted to determine the mode of action on the cerebellar cortical circuitry of the norepinephrine (NE)-containing afferents from the locus coeruleus. NE has been known to exert an "inhibitory" action on the background firing observed in Purkinje cells, due presumably to a shift in conductances favoring hyperpolarization. An additional independent action at low threshold appears to be an enhancement of GABA, the inhibitory transmitter of cerebellar interneurons. Recent whole-cell patch-clamp studies on isolated Purkinje cells indicate that exposure to NE increases the chloride current caused by transient pulses of GABA applied iontophoretically. NE applied to Purkinje cells in the parafloccular lobule during stimulation by moving visual patterns revealed the capacity either to "gate" signals initially not expressed, or to amplify the gain of phasic excitations. The control of emergent circuit functions may be the functional consequence of the multiple modulatory functions of NE.

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