Hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide–gated (HCN) channels, primarily their HCN4 subtype, are one of the promising targets for development cardioprotective agents. HCN channel blockers have a selective bradycardic effect, preserving myocardial contractility and diastolic function not affecting electrophysiological parameters heart. This review continues series reviews on analysis compou...

Variations in morphology and ionchannel expression largely determine the electrophysiological properties of neurons. To investigate whether such variations are sufficient to explain the electrophysiological variability of globus pallidus neurons recorded in brain slices, Günay et al. created 100,000 computer models using three realistic morphologies and variable levels of nine ionic conductance...

These studies were designed to examine the electrophysiological effects of diphenylhydantoin (Dilantin) on the heart of awake dogs. Recording electrodes were implanted over the sinoatrial node, bundle of His, and right bundle branch, and studies were performed 2 to 6 weeks following recovery. Diphenylhydantoin (10 mg/kg) increased heart rate, shortened A-V conduction time and had little or no e...

A piece of rat retina was mounted in an open chamber and perfused with a Ringer solution at 37 degrees C. The electroretinogram (ERG) was recorded between an extracellular microelectrode in contact with the rod outer segments and a reference electrode under the retina. The addition of 250-500 microM of glutamate to the media prevented the b-wave from decaying in amplitude with time. Minor compo...

The ventral tegmental area (VTA) has a central role in the neural processes that underlie motivation and behavioral reinforcement. Although thought to contain only dopamine and GABA neurons, the VTA also includes a recently discovered population of glutamate neurons identified through the expression of the vesicular glutamate transporter VGLUT2. A subset of VGLUT2(+) VTA neurons corelease dopam...

Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) can self-renew while maintaining their pluripotency. Direct reprogramming of adult somatic cells to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) has been reported. Although hESCs and human iPSCs have been shown to share a number of similarities, such basic properties as the electrophysiology of iPSCs have not been explored. Previously, we reported that several speci...

AIMS Optogenetics approaches, utilizing light-sensitive proteins, have emerged as unique experimental paradigms to modulate neuronal excitability. We aimed to evaluate whether a similar strategy could be used to control cardiac-tissue excitability. METHODS AND RESULTS A combined cell and gene therapy strategy was developed in which fibroblasts were transfected to express the light-activated d...

Anatomical studies have demonstrated that the lateral parabrachial nucleus (LPBN) is composed of at least seven separate subnuclei distinguished by cell morphology, spatial clustering, and afferent and efferent connectivity. We hypothesized that neurons within the subnuclear clusters of the LPBN might have distinct electrophysiological properties that correlate with cellular morphology. An in v...