A) Systemic dexmedetomidine (left trace, 0.1 μg/kg) and clonidine (right trace, 40 μg/kg) elicited barrages of spontaneous IPSCs (holding potential of 0 mV with a cesium-based based solution). The traces below are shown on an expanded time base to demonstrate the individual IPSCs.
B) Dexmedetomidine dose-dependently elicits barrages of spontaneous IPSCs.
C) Summary plot showing the enhancement of IPSCs (open circles) at dexmedetomidine doses (<10 μg/kg) that are lower than those required to induce outward currents (closed circles).
D) The cumulative probability plots for the inter-event interval and amplitude of spontaneous IPSCs (from the left trace in A). Dexmedetomidine at a dose of 0.1 μg/kg significantly increased the frequency (p < 0.01) and amplitude (p < 0.01) of spontaneous IPSCs (Kolmogorov-Smirnov test).