Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Single cell responses in cat visual cortex to visual stimulation during iontophoresis of noradrenaline

  • Published:
Experimental Brain Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

We studied how iontophoresis of noradrenaline (NA) changes responsiveness of individual cells in the feline visual cortex when their visual receptive fields are stimulated with the appropriate visual stimulus. We found three populations of cortical cells which either increased, decreased or did not change their visual responsiveness during NA iontophoresis. About equal numbers of cells belonged to each of these three groups. In the majority of such cells that changed visual responsiveness during NA iontophoresis and that had measurable amounts of spontaneous activity, the ratio of visually evoked to spontaneous activity (signal-to-noise ratio) improved during NA iontophoresis. This improvement was independent of the direction of changes in the response magnitude to visual stimulation. There was a differential effect of NA on simple and complex visual cortical cells: Although most simple cells (86%) clearly changed their responsiveness during NA iontophoresis, the effects were seen in only one-third of complex cells. Furthermore, the effects on complex cells were usually weak compared to those typically seen in simple cells. In some cases the effects of NA were more complicated than an overall enhancement or suppression of the cortical cell's responses to visual stimulation. The possible dual role of NA in the visual cortex is briefly discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Barlow HB, Blakemore C, Pettigrew JD (1967) The neural basis of binocular depth discrimination. J Physiol (Lond) 193: 327–342

    Google Scholar 

  • Bevan P, Bradshaw CM, Szabadi E (1977) The pharmacology of adrenergic neuronal responses in the cerebral cortex. Evidence for excitatory α- and inhibitory β-receptors. Br J Pharmacol 59: 535–541

    Google Scholar 

  • Blakemore C, Van Sluyters R (1974) Reversal of the physiological effects of monocular deprivation in kittens. Further evidence for a sensitive period. J Physiol (Lond) 237: 195–216

    Google Scholar 

  • Bloom FE (1978) Central noradrenergic systems: Physiology and pharmacology. In: Lipton ME, Killam KC, DiMascio A (eds) Psychopharmacology — A 20 year progress report. Raven Press, New York, pp 131–142

    Google Scholar 

  • Bloom FE, Algeri S, Groppetti A, Revuelta A, Costa E (1969) Lesions of central norepinephrine terminals with 6-OH-dopamine. Biochemistry and fine structure. Science 166: 1284–1286

    Google Scholar 

  • Breese GR, Traylor TD (1970) Effect of 6-hydroxydopamine on brain norepinephrine and dopamine: Evidence for selective degeneration of catecholamine neurons. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 174: 413–420

    Google Scholar 

  • Bunney BS, Aghajanian GK (1976) Dopamine and norepinephrine innervated cells in the rat prefrontal cortex. Pharmacological differentiation using microiontophoretic technicques. Life Sci 19: 1783–1792

    Google Scholar 

  • Foote SL, Freedman R, Oliver AP (1975) Effects of putative neurotransmitters on neuronal activity in monkey auditory cortex. Brain Res 86: 229–242

    Google Scholar 

  • Frederickson RCA, Jordan LM, Phillis JW (1971) The action of noradrenaline on cortical neurones. Effects of pH. Brain Res 35: 556–560

    Google Scholar 

  • Frederickson RCA, Jordan LM, Phillis JW (1972) A reappraisal of the action of noradrenaline and 5-hydroxytryptamine on cerebral cortical neurons. Comp Gen Pharmacol 3: 443–456

    Google Scholar 

  • Freedman R, Hoffer BJ, Woodward DJ, Puro D (1977) Interaction of norepinephrine with cerebellar activity evoked by mossy and climbing fibers. Exp Neurol 55: 269–288

    Google Scholar 

  • Gilbert CD, (1977) Laminar differences in receptive field properties of cells in cat primary visual cortex. J Physiol (Lond) 268: 391–422

    Google Scholar 

  • Gilbert CD, Kelley JP (1975) The projections of cells in different layers of the cat's visual cortex. J Comp Neurol 163: 81–106

    Google Scholar 

  • Heggelund P, Albus K (1978) Response variability and orientation discrimination of single cells in striate cortex of cat. Exp Brain Res 32: 197–211

    Google Scholar 

  • Heggelund P, Kasamatsu T (1981) Exogeneous noradrenaline increases the neuronal plasticity in cat visual cortex. Localized, continuous microperfusion and iontophoresis. In: Fehér O, Joó F (eds) Advances in physiological sciences, vol 36, Cellular analogies of conditioning and neural plasticity. Pergamon Press, New York, pp 233–242

    Google Scholar 

  • Hubel DH, Wiesel TN, (1962) Receptive fields, binocular interaction and functional architecture in the cat's visual cortex. J Physiol (Lond) 160: 106–154

    Google Scholar 

  • Hubel DH, Wiesel TN (1965) Binocular interaction instriate cortex of kitten reared with artificial squint. J Neurophysiol 28: 1041–1059

    Google Scholar 

  • Hubel DH, Wiesel TN (1970) The period of susceptibility to the physiological effects of unilateral eye closure in kittens. J Physiol (Lond) 206: 419–436

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson ES, Roberts MHT, Sobieszek A, Straughan DW (1969a) Noradrenaline sensitive cells in cat cerebral cortex. Int J Neuropharmacol 8: 549–566

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson ES, Roberts MHT, Straughan DW (1969b) The responses of cortical neurones to monamines under differing anaesthetic conditions. J Physiol (Lond) 203: 261–280

    Google Scholar 

  • Kasamatsu T (1979) Involvement of the β-adrenergic receptor in cortical plasticity. ARVO Abstracts Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci [Suppl] 18: 135

    Google Scholar 

  • Kasamatsu T (1980) A possible role for cyclic nucleotides in plasticity of visual cortex. Soc Neurosci Abstr 6: 494

    Google Scholar 

  • Kasamatsu T, Adey RW (1974) Excitability changes in various types of visual cortical units in freely behaving cats. Physiol Behav 13: 101–112

    Google Scholar 

  • Kasamatsu T, Pettigrew JD (1976) Depletion of brain catecholamines. Failure of ocular dominance shift after monocular acclusion in kittens. Science 194: 206–209

    Google Scholar 

  • Kasamatsu T, Pettigrew JD (1979) Preservation of binocularity after monocular deprivation in the striate cortex of kittens treated with 6-hydroxydopamine. J Comp Neurol 185: 139–162

    Google Scholar 

  • Kasamatsu T, Itakura T, Jonsson G (1979a) Spread of catecholamines perfused into visual cortex. Effective concentration for modification of cortical plasticity. Soc Neurosci Abstr 5: 269

    Google Scholar 

  • Kasamatsu T, Pettigrew JD, Ary M (1979b) Restoration of visual cortical plasticity of local microperfusion of norepinephrine. J Comp Neurol 185: 163–182

    Google Scholar 

  • Kasamatsu T, Itakura T, Jonsson G (1981a) Intracortical spread of exogenous catecholamines. Effective concentration for modifying cortical plasticity. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 217: 841–850

    Google Scholar 

  • Kasamatsu T, Pettigrew JD, Ary M (1981b) Cortical recovery from effects of monocular deprivation. Acceleration with norepinephrine and suppression with 6-hydroxydopamine. J Neurophysiol 45: 254–266

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelly JP, Van Essen DC, (1974) Cell structure and function in the visual cortex of the cat. J Physiol (Lond) 232: 515–547

    Google Scholar 

  • Krnjevíc K, Phillis JW (1963a) Actions of certain amines on cerebral cortical neurones. Br J Pharmacol 20: 471–490

    Google Scholar 

  • Krnjevíc K, Phillis JW (1963b) Iontophoretic studies of neurones in the mammalian cerebral cortex. J Physiol (Lond) 165: 274–304

    Google Scholar 

  • Lake N, Jordan LM, Phillis JW (1972) Studies on the mechanism of noradrenaline action in cat cerebral cortex. Nature 240: 249–250

    Google Scholar 

  • Lake N, Jordan LM, Phillis JW (1973) Evidence against cyclic adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (AMP) mediation of noradrenaline depression of cerebral cortical neurones. Brain Res 60: 411–421

    Google Scholar 

  • Leventhal AG (1979) Evidence that the different classes of relay cells of the cat's lateral geniculate nucleus terminate in different layers of the striate cortex. Exp Brain Res 37: 349–372

    Google Scholar 

  • Leventhal A, Hirsch H (1978) Receptive-field properties of neurons in different laminae of visual cortex of the cat. J Neurophysiol 41: 948–962

    Google Scholar 

  • Levick WR (1972) Another tungsten microelectrode. Med Biol Eng 10: 510–515

    Google Scholar 

  • Libet B (1979) Which postsynaptic action of dopamine is mediated by cyclic AMP? Life Sci 24: 1043–1058

    Google Scholar 

  • Madar Y, Segal M (1980) The functional role of the noradrenergic system in the visual cortex. Activation of noradrenergic pathway. Abstracts for a Satellite Symposium of the 29th International Congress of Physiological Sciences on “Visual mechanisms in Primates and Lower Mammals”. Braunlage, 1980. Exp Brain Res 41: A14

  • Moises HC, Woodward DJ, Hoffer BJ, Freedman R (1979) Interactions of norepinephrine with Purkinje cell responses to putative amino acid neurotransmitters applied by microiontophoresis. Exp Neurol 64: 493–515

    Google Scholar 

  • Palacios JM, Kuhar JJ (1980) Beta-adrenergic-receptor localization by light microscopic autoradiography. Science 208: 1378–1380

    Google Scholar 

  • Palmer LA, Rosenquist AC (1974) Visual receptive fields of single striate cortical units projecting to the superior colliculus in the cat. Brain Res 67: 27–42

    Google Scholar 

  • Pettigrew JD, Kasamatsu T (1978) Local perfusion of noradrenaline maintains visual cortical plasticity. Nature 271: 761–763

    Google Scholar 

  • Pettigrew JD, Nikara T, Bishop PO (1968) Responses to moving slits by single units in cat striate cortex. Exp Brain Res 6: 373–390

    Google Scholar 

  • Phillis JW, Kostopoulos GK (1977) Activation of a noradrenergic pathway from the brain stem to rat cerebral cortex. Gen Pharmacol 8: 207–211

    Google Scholar 

  • Reader TA (1978) The effect of dopamine, noradrenaline and serotonin in the visual cortex of the cat. Experientia 34: 1586–1588

    Google Scholar 

  • Reader TA, Jasper HH (1978) Biogenic amines in the CNS. Microiontophoretic studies in the occipital (visual) cortex of the cat. Abstracts for the 7th International Congress of Pharmacology. Paris, p 642

  • Reader TA, Ferron A, Descarries L, Jasper HH (1979) Modulatory role of biogenic amines in the cerebral cortex. Microiontophoretic studies. Brain Res 160: 217–230

    Google Scholar 

  • Rogawski MA, Aghajanian GK (1980) Activation of lateral geniculate neurons by norepinephrine. Mediation by an α-adrenergic receptor. Brain Res 182: 345–359

    Google Scholar 

  • Segal M, Bloom FE (1974a) The action of norepinephrine in the rat hippocampus. I. Iontophoretic studies. Brain Res 72: 79–97

    Google Scholar 

  • Segal M, Bloom FE (1974b) The action of norepinephrine in the rat hippocampus. II. Activation of the input pathway. Brain Res 72: 99–114

    Google Scholar 

  • Sillito AM (1977) Inhibitory processes underlying the directional specificity of simple, complex and hypercomplex cells in the cat's visual cortex. J Physiol (Lond) 271: 699–720

    Google Scholar 

  • Stone TW (1973) Pharmacology of pyramidal tract cells in the cerebral cortex. Noradrenaline and related substances. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol 278: 333–346

    Google Scholar 

  • Szabadi E, Bradshaw M, Bevan P (1977) Excitatory and depressant neuronal responses to noradrenaline, 5-hydroxytryptamine and mescaline. The role of the baseline firing rate. Brain Res 126: 580–583

    Google Scholar 

  • Ungerstedt U (1971) Histochemical studies on the effects of intracerebral and intraventricular injection of 6-hydroxydopamine on monoamine neurons in the rat brain. In: Malmfors T, Thoenen H (eds) 6-hydroxydopamine and catecholamine neurons. North-Holland, Amsterdam, pp 101–127

    Google Scholar 

  • Uretsky NJ, Iversen LL (1970) Effects of 6-hydroxydopamine on catecholamine containing neurons in the rat brain. J Neurochem 17: 269–278

    Google Scholar 

  • Waterhouse B, Woodward D (1980) Interaction of norepinephrine with cerebrocortical activity evoked by stimulation of somatosensory afferent pathways in the rat. Exp Neurol 67: 11–34

    Google Scholar 

  • Wiesel TN, Hubel DH (1963) Single cell responses in striate cortex of kittens deprived of vision in one eye. J Neurophysiol 26: 1003–1017

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Beckman Laboratories 216-76, Division of Biology, California Institute of Technology, 91125, Pasadena, CA, USA

    T. Kasamatsu MD

  2. Neurobiological Laboratory, University of Trondheim, N-7055, Dragvoll-Trondheim, Norway

    P. Heggelund

Authors
  1. T. Kasamatsu MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. P. Heggelund
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Supported by a USPH Grant EY 03409-01 (T.K.) and a grant from Norwegian Research Council for Science and the Humanities (P.H.)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kasamatsu, T., Heggelund, P. Single cell responses in cat visual cortex to visual stimulation during iontophoresis of noradrenaline. Exp Brain Res 45, 317–327 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01208591

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01208591

Key words

Search

Navigation