An ex vivo Multi-Electrode Approach to Evaluate Endogenous Hormones and Receptor Subtype Pharmacology on Evoked and Spontaneous Neuronal Activity within the Ventromedial Hypothalamus; Translation from Female Receptivity

Here we present a novel, robust VMH in vitro technique that (i) is consistent with the hypothesis that glutamate via non-NMDA receptors inhibits lordosis; (ii) glutamate is under the endogenous tone of GABA and steroid hormones; (iii) inhibition of lordosis during metestrous and following ovariectomy potentiates glutamatergic neurotransmission; (iv) activation of Gq- and Gi-coupled receptors decreases and increases glutamate neurotransmission, respectively, with an inverse correlation on single-unit activity; (v) activation of Gs-coupled receptors has no direct effect on glutamate or single-unit activity; and (vi) potency, receptor subtypes and localization can be determined prior to in vivo studies. Booth C, Wayman CP, and Jackson VM. An ex vivo multi-electrode approach to evaluate endogenous hormones and receptor subtype pharmacology on evoked and spontaneous neuronal activity within the ventromedial hypothalamus; translation from female receptivity.