Ethanol Modulates the Spontaneous Complex Spike Waveform of Cerebellar Purkinje Cells Recorded in Mice.

Cerebellar Purkinje cells (PCs) are sensitive to ethanol, but the effect of ethanol on spontaneous complex spike (CS) activity in these cells is currently unknown. Here, we investigated the effect of ethanol on spontaneous CS activity in PCs in urethane-anesthetized mice using patch-clamp recordings and pharmacological manipulation. Ethanol (300 mM) induced a decrease in the CS-evoked pause in simple spike (SS) firing and in the amplitude of the afterhyperpolarization (AHP) under current clamp conditions.

Anatomical and functional relationships between deep cerebellar nuclei and cerebellar cortical Crus II in vivo in mice.

We previously reported that an air-puff stimulation on the ipsilateral whisker pad evoked responses in molecular layer (ML) and Purkinje cell (PC) layer in cerebellar cortex folium Crus II. We used anterograde tracing and electrophysiological methods to investigate the anatomical and functional relationships between the trigeminal tactile response area in the cerebellar cortex Crus II and deep cerebellar nuclei (DCN) in living mice. We found that the axons of tactile activated PCs projected in anterior part (IntA) and posterior part (IntP), and dorsolateral hump (IntDL) of ipsilateral interposed cerebellar nucleus (ICN).

Effects of Propofol on the Dynamic Properties of Sensory Information Processing in the Mouse Cerebellar Cortical Molecular Layer in vivo.

Propofol is a global central nervous system depressant that affects information processing in the central nervous system. However, the effects of propofol on sensory information processing in the cerebellar cortical molecular layer are unknown. In this study, we examined the effects of propofol on the dynamics of sensory stimulation-evoked responses in the cerebellar molecular layer in urethane-anesthetized mice, using electrophysiological and pharmacological methods.

Propofol depresses cerebellar Purkinje cell activity via activation of GABA(A) and glycine receptors in vivo in mice.

Propofol is an intravenous sedative-hypnotic agen, which causes rapid and reliable loss of consciousness. Under in vitro conditions, propofol activates GABAA and glycine receptors in spinal cord, hippocampus and hypothalamus neurons. However, the effects of propofol on the cerebellar neuronal activity under in vivo conditions are currently unclear.