The spontaneous firing rates of dopamine-inhibited dorsomedial arcuate neurons exhibit a diurnal rhythm in brain slices obtained from ovariectomized plus estrogen-treated rats

► We record 131 dmARN neurons and test their response to DA between 1130 h and 1830 h. ► DA inhibits a significant number (63.4%) of dmARN neurons recorded. ► The basal firing rates of DA-inhibited neurons exhibit a diurnal rhythm. ► Long-term recording of DA-inhibited neurons reveals a diurnal change in firing rates. ► The diurnal change is correlated with the observed rhythmic activity of TIDA neurons.