FIGURE 3.

Lack of effects of astrocyte inhibition by FCA on evoked synaptic responses in a neuropathic model. Pre-treatment of brain slices with FCA (100 μM, 1 h) had no effect on the peak amplitude, area under the curve (AUC) or decay time of mono-synaptic excitatory post-synaptic currents (EPSCs) evoked by the electrical stimulation of PB input to CeLC neurons (A–D) recorded in brain slices obtained from neuropathic animals. Additionally, no change was observed in the paired-pulse ratio at the PB-CeLC synapse (E,F). Similarly, pre-incubation with FCA (100 μM, 1 h) did not affect the peak amplitude, AUC or decay time of glutamate-driven inhibitory post-synaptic currents (IPSCs) evoked by the electrical stimulation of PB afferents onto CeLC neurons (G–J) in the neuropathic pain condition. No significant change was observed in the excitation/inhibition (E/I) ratio (K,L). Symbols show means ± SEM, two-way ANOVA. Bar histograms show means ± SEM, unpaired t-tests. ACSF, n = 7; FCA, n = 8.