Figure 6.
The frequency of mEPSC onto parvocellular CRH neurons is diminished in slices from augmented early-life experience rats. A, Raw traces of recorded mEPSCs from control and augmented early-life experience P9 rats are presented. mEPSCs were recorded in the presence of TTX (1 μm) and bicuculline (30 μm). B, Quantification representing mEPSC frequency and amplitude from parvocellular-presumed CRH neurons. The frequency of mEPSC was 60% lower in neurons recorded from experience-augmented rats compared with controls, consistent with reduced numbers of presynaptic terminals (or reduced probability of release), accompanied by a mild increase in the amplitude of mEPSC indicative of minor postsynaptic changes. C, Raw traces of recorded mIPSCs of parvocellular neuron of control and augmented early-life experience P9 rats. mIPSCs were recorded in the presence of TTX (1 μm), CNQX (10 μm), and AP-5 (50 μm). D, Quantification representing mIPSC frequency and amplitude from parvocellular-presumed CRH neurons. The frequency of mIPSC was not affected by the augmented early-life experience, whereas amplitude of mIPSC was increased, indicative of postsynaptic changes. E, To identify the recorded neurons, they were filled with LY at the time of recording and processed for CRH immunostaining. Because of leakage of cell contents and the LY in recorded neurons, only a minority were dually labeled. Therefore, all recorded neurons considered for analysis came from the CRH-rich, dorsomedial parvocellular PVN field as shown. Scale bar, 200 μm. Data are represented as mean ± SEM. *p < 0.05. 3rd, Third ventricle.