Abstract
Receptive field (RF) plasticity in primary auditory cortex of adult animals, specifically selective increased response to a tonal conditioned stimulus (CS) relative to other frequencies, can be induced both by behavioral conditioning and by pairing a tone with stimulation of the nucleus basalis (NB). This study determined whether cortical muscarinic receptors are necessary for NB-induced RF plasticity. Single units in layers II-IV were studied in Urethane anesthetized adult rats. The cortex was perfused with saline or saline+atropine sulfate. Conditioning, 30 trials of pairing a tone with NB stimulation, produced a significant CS-specific response increase (n=8). Local atropine blocked NB-induced RF plasticity, actually resulting in CS-specific response decrease (n=6). Therefore, NB-induced RF plasticity requires engagement of muscarinic receptors in auditory cortex.
Publication types
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Acetylcholine / metabolism
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Acoustic Stimulation
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Action Potentials / drug effects
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Action Potentials / physiology
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Animals
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Atropine / pharmacology
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Auditory Cortex / cytology
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Auditory Cortex / drug effects
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Auditory Cortex / metabolism*
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Auditory Perception / drug effects
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Auditory Perception / physiology*
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Basal Nucleus of Meynert / cytology
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Basal Nucleus of Meynert / metabolism*
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Cholinergic Fibers / drug effects
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Cholinergic Fibers / metabolism
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Conditioning, Psychological / drug effects
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Conditioning, Psychological / physiology*
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Electric Stimulation
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Male
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Muscarinic Antagonists / pharmacology
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Neural Pathways / cytology
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Neural Pathways / metabolism*
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Neuronal Plasticity / drug effects
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Neuronal Plasticity / physiology*
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Neurons / drug effects
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Neurons / metabolism
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Rats
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Rats, Sprague-Dawley
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Reaction Time / drug effects
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Reaction Time / physiology
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Receptors, Muscarinic / drug effects
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Receptors, Muscarinic / metabolism*
Substances
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Muscarinic Antagonists
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Receptors, Muscarinic
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Atropine
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Acetylcholine