Figure 5. Acute blockade of DA receptors does not affect properties of cortical Up-states in VTA-PFC-Hipp co-cultures.

A) Representative traces of cortical Up-states synaptically evoked by brief burst stimulation of the VTA (2–6 pulses at 20 Hz), before (top), during (middle) and 20 minutes after bath application of the DA receptor antagonists SCH23390 and sulpiride (both 5 µM). The insert shows a diagram of the recording configuration with the stimulation electrode in the VTA and the recording electrode in the PFC. B) Bath application of either the DA D1 receptor antagonist SCH23390 (5 µM) alone (n = 9), or in combination with the D2 receptor antagonist sulpiride (5 µM; n = 5) had no significant effect on Up-state duration, or the number of spikes during the first 500 ms of VTA-evoked Up-states.