Intracellular studies on transmitter effects on neurones in isolated brain slices

Abstract

In the study of transmitter mechanisms in the peripheral nervous system and the spinal cord, intracellular recording has been a great advantage. In contrast, studies on central synapses have often used more indirect techniques, often extracellular recording from a cell or a small group of cells. In particular, a large amount of information has been acquired by iontophoretic application of drugs, often with a multibarrel electrode system where the iontophoretic electrodes are coupled to a recording electrode. Because of the difficulties with proper intracellular recording from intact brain preparations, there are relatively few intracellular studies on central transmitter effects. This situation compares unfavourably with the many studies on spinal cord, and, in particular, on peripheral nervous tissue.