Electrophysiological properties of catecholaminergic neurons in the norepinephrine-deficient mouse

To determine how norepinephrine affects the basic physiological properties of catecholaminergic neurons, brain slices containing the substantia nigra pars compacta and locus coeruleus were studied with cell-attached and whole-cell recordings in control and dopamine β-hydroxylase knockout (Dbh −/−) mice that lack norepinephrine. In the cell-attached configuration, the spontaneous firing rate and pattern of locus coeruleus neurons recorded from Dbh −/− mice were the same as the firing rate and pattern recorded from heterozygous littermates (Dbh +/−). During whole-cell recordings, synaptic stimulation produced an α-2 receptor-mediated outward current in the locus coeruleus of control mice that was absent in Dbh −/− mice. Normal α-2 mediated outward currents were restored in Dbh −/− slices after pre-incubation with norepinephrine. Locus coeruleus neurons also displayed similar changes in holding current in response to bath application of norepinephrine, UK 14304, and methionine-enkephalin. Dopamine neurons recorded in the substantia nigra pars compacta similarly showed no differences between slices harvested from Dbh −/− and control mice. These results indicate that endogenous norepinephrine is not necessary for the expression of catecholaminergic neuron firing properties or responses to direct agonists, but is necessary for auto-inhibition mediated by indirect α-2 receptor stimulation.