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. 2020 Apr 1;30(8):4402–4409. doi: 10.1093/cercor/bhaa027

Figure 3.

Figure 3

Strong optogenetic stimulation of VTA inputs induced a transient and modest increase of PFC pyramidal neuron excitability, which was turned into a long-lasting effect by blocking DARs or GABAA receptors. (A) Plots showing the averaged (mean ± SEM) sAP frequency before and after the 60-pulse train of light (20 ms, 3 Hz) stimulation in PFC pyramidal neurons in the absence or presence of the DAR antagonists (SCH23390, sulpiride, and L-745870) or the GABAA receptor antagonist bicuculline. A control neuron without light stimulation was also shown. The mean sAP frequency at the baseline (before light stimulation) of each group was normalized. (B) Representative traces of sAP in PFC pyramidal neurons at different time frames in different conditions. (C) The expanded view of sAP traces at the time points (indicated by arrows in B). (D) Bar graphs showing the percent changes of sAP frequencies in PFC pyramidal neurons at the 10th or 30th minute after light (20 ms, 3 Hz, 60 pulses) stimulation in the absence or presence of DAR antagonists or GABAA receptor antagonist bicuculline (10th minute, light = 131.5% ± 11.5%, n = 11 cells/4 rats; light+DAR antagonist = 159.8% ± 10.8%, n = 10 cells/4 rats; light+bicuculline = 188.9% ± 14.8%, n = 10 cells/4 rats); 30th minute, light = −33.6% ± 6.4%; light+DAR antagonist = 72.1% ± 6.9%; light+bicuculline = 97.2% ± 8.8%). ***P < 0.001, ANOVA.