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  • Title: Effects of ouabain on neuronal thermosensitivity in hypothalamic tissue slices.
    Author: Curras MC, Boulant JA.
    Journal: Am J Physiol; 1989 Jul; 257(1 Pt 2):R21-8. PubMed ID: 2750959.
    Abstract:
    To determine the role of the electrogenic Na+-K+ pump in neuronal thermosensitivity, single-unit activity was recorded in rat hypothalamic tissue slices before, during, and after perfusions containing 10(-5) or 10(-6) M ouabain, a specific pump inhibitor. Most neurons were recorded in the preoptic-anterior hypothalamus. Some neurons were also tested with high magnesium-low calcium perfusions to determine ouabain's effects on neuronal activity during synaptic blockade. When the neurons were characterized according to thermosensitivity, 24% were warm sensitive, 8% were cold sensitive, and 68% were temperature insensitive. Ouabain increased the firing rate of 60% of all neurons. Ouabain did not reduce the thermosensitivity of cold-sensitive and warm-sensitive neurons; however, temperature-insensitive neurons became more warm sensitive during ouabain perfusion. This increase in warm sensitivity did not occur with ouabain plus high Mg2+-low Ca2+ perfusion, suggesting that Ca2+ is important in this response. These results indicate that the Na-K pump is not responsible for the thermosensitivity of hypothalamic cold-sensitive or warm-sensitive neurons; however, this pump may be actively employed by many neurons that remain insensitive to temperature changes.
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