D. Simms et Jp. Gallagher, CHRONIC COCAINE ADMINISTRATION TO RATS ALTERS THE DISTRIBUTION OF CELL-TYPES RECORDED IN-VITRO WITHIN THE DORSOLATERAL SEPTAL NUCLEUS, Experimental Brain Research, 117(1), 1997, pp. 143-147
We investigated persistent changes in single-neuron activity in the do
rsolateral septal nucleus (DLSN) induced by chronic administration of
cocaine. Intracellular recording techniques were utilized with an in v
itro brain slice preparation to examine the effects of in vivo chronic
cocaine administration, for 7 days or 14 days, on the distribution of
electrophysiologically characterized DLSN cells. We have previously d
istinguished DLSN neurons into three major types (I, II, and III), bas
ed upon their action potential configuration and firing pattern. This
study demonstrated that type III neurons were overrepresented in brain
slices obtained from rats treated chronically with cocaine in vivo fo
r 14 days when compared with brain slices obtained from rats treated e
ither with cocaine for only 7 days or with saline and never exposed to
cocaine. These data provide further evidence that neurons undergo pla
stic changes following chronic cocaine administration.