REVIEW ARTICLE

Slow bursting activity in the selected structures of mammalian brain

Tomasz Błasiak

Published: 2002-05-15

GICID: 01.3001.0000.3502

Available language versions: en

Issue: Postepy Hig Med Dosw 2002; 56 (3)

Abstract

Slow bursting activity of the cells in the hypothalamus of the mammalian brain is described, with a special emphasis on the vasopressinergic neurons of the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei (SON/PVN). This patterned activity is compared to the one observed in the thalamic structure–the intergeniculate leaflet of the lateral geniculat nucleus (IGL). Histograms of activity, bimodal distributions of the frequencies, averaged bursts and a few other characteristic properties of the oscillatory activity observed in SON/PVN and IGL are shown. Slow bursting activity of the intergeniculate leaflet cells is suggested to have a same function as has patterned firing of hypothalamic cells. Peptidergic contents of IGL cells, possibly attenuated blood-brain barrier in the area of this structure and its role in the adjustment of the circadian rhythms are some of the arguments to support this hypothesis.