Figure 6. Stk11 deletion in BLApn increases intrinsic excitability.
(A) Whole-cell recordings obtained from BLApn in ex vivo slices of Stk11f/f mice 10 days after injection of Cre or control virus. Stk11 neurons were targeted based on GFP expression and validated post-hoc based on Biocytin fills. (B) Firing rates plotted against input current (F–I). Error bars are SEM. Less current is needed to evoke firing in Stk11-KO neurons compared to Stk11-WT neurons (interpolated rheobase, F(1,64) = 10.6, p=0.0018). Two-way mixed ANOVA revealed significant main effects of knockout (F(1,64) = 27.48, p=2×10−6) and current (F(10,640) = 581.7, p=1.2×10−44) on firing rate, along with a statistically significant interaction (F(10,640) = 22.4, p=4×10−36). Post-hoc pairwise comparisons showed that the firing rates of Stk11-KO neurons were significantly greater than those of Stk11-WT neurons in response to current injections from 150 to 450 pA (p<0.001). (C) Stk11-KO neurons have increased input resistance (F = 14.41, p=3.3×10−4) and decreased threshold for generating action potential (F = 7.68, p=0.0073). Traces are sample responses to 300 pA current steps. Scale bar: 100 ms, 20 mV. See also Table 4.