Neurochemical attributes and taste responsiveness of neurons in the mediodorsal prefrontal cortex
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1
Pécs University, Medical School, Institute of Physiology and Neurophysiology Research Group of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (HAS), Hungary
The mediodorsal prefrontal cortex (mdPFC), constituent of the limbic circuitry, plays important roles in the central regulation of feeding. Little is known, however, about the complex chemosensitivity of neurons located in this structure. The purpose of our study, therefore, was to elucidate chemical properties, including taste responsiveness, of mdPFC neurons. Particular emphasis was put on clarifying their participation in the forebrain glucose-monitoring (GM) neural network, their dopamine (DA) sensitivity and their responsiveness to intraorally and intragastrically delivered chemicals, including monosodium L-glutamate (MSG).
To do so, extracellular single neuron activity of the rat mdPFC was recorded by means of tungsten wire multibarreled glass microelectrodes during 1) microelectrophoretic administration of chemicals, 2) gustatory stimulations, and 3) intragastric administration of MSG, D-glucose and sodium chloride.
One fourth of the neurons tested changed in activity in response to the microelectroosmotic application of D-glucose, i.e. these cells were identified as parts of the forebrain GM neural network. More than the fifth of all neurons here exhibited DA responsiveness, the inhibitory and excitatory firing rate changes were recorded in the same proportion. Gustatory stimulations elicited activity changes in 1/3 of the mdPFC neurons. Most frequently the salty, sour and umami taste stimuli resulted in firing rate changes, and majority of the gustatory cells were responsive to more than one tastant. Characteristic activity changes were also identified to the intragastric infusion of MSG.
Our data indicate that both endogenous and exogenous chemosensory signals converge in the mdPFC. The neurons here - especially the GM ones - process complex chemical information, and thus, appear to play significant integrative role in the central feeding control.
Supported by: Health Care Scientific Council (ETT 315/2006), OTKA K 68431, NKTH-RET-008/2005 MEDIPOLIS, Ajinomoto 51064 and HAS.
Conference:
IBRO International Workshop 2010, Pécs, Hungary, 21 Jan - 23 Jan, 2010.
Presentation Type:
Poster Presentation
Topic:
Homeostatic and neuroendocrine systems
Citation:
Nagy
B,
Szabó
I,
Takács
G,
Szalay
C,
Keresztes
D,
Hideg
B,
Fotakos
D,
Faragó
B and
Karádi
Z
(2010). Neurochemical attributes and taste responsiveness of neurons in the mediodorsal prefrontal cortex.
Front. Neurosci.
Conference Abstract:
IBRO International Workshop 2010.
doi: 10.3389/conf.fnins.2010.10.00109
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Received:
23 Apr 2010;
Published Online:
23 Apr 2010.
*
Correspondence:
Bernadett Nagy, Pécs University, Medical School, Institute of Physiology and Neurophysiology Research Group of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (HAS), Pécs, Hungary, bernadett.nagy@aok.pte.hu