Figure 9.

Downregulation of PTPα does not alter intrinsic features of MSNs in the DMS. Mice were infused with Ltv-NS or Ltv-shPTPα in the DMS, striatal slices were prepared 4 weeks after infusion, and whole-cell current-clamp recordings were conducted in fluorescent neurons. A, Bar graph showing no significant differences in resting membrane potentials (RMP) between Ltv-NS- and Ltv-shPTPα-infected neurons. B, Representative traces of membrane potentials in response to a series of 1 s current injections in a Ltv-shPTPα-infected neuron. The injected currents were increased from −210 to 180 pA, in increments of 30 pA. C, Current–voltage (I-V) curves were plotted with membrane potentials in response to a series of current injections from −210 to 210 pA, in increments of 15 pA. The membrane potentials were measured during the last 100 ms of the current injection. No significant difference in the I-V relationship between Ltv-NS- and Ltv-shPTPα-infected neurons was observed. D, Bar graph comparing the rheobase currents of Ltv-NS- and Ltv-shPTPα-infected neurons. E, Excitability of Ltv-NS- and Ltv-shPTPα-infected neurons. Neurons were injected with 140, 190, 240, and 290 pA currents, and the firing frequency was measured. A–C, n = 7 (Ltv-NS) and 12 (Ltv-shPTPα). D, E, n = 7 (Ltv-NS) and 9 (Ltv-shPTPα).