Neuron Article Synchronized Network Oscillations in Rat Tuberoinfundibular Dopamine Neurons: Switch to Tonic Discharge by Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone David J. Lyons,1,* Emilia Horjales-Araujo,1 and Christian Broberger1,* 1Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden *Correspondence:
[email protected] (D.J.L.),
[email protected] (C.B.) DOI 10.1016/j.neuron.2009.12.024 SUMMARY most common form of pituitary tumor (Burrow et al., 1981), and by the hyperprolactinaemia and sometimes galactorrhea that The pituitary hormone, prolactin, triggers lactation in is a side effect of antipsychotic drugs with DA antagonist prop- nursing mothers. Under nonlactating conditions, erties (Clemens et al., 1974; Meltzer and Fang, 1976). Yet, to prolactin secretion is suppressed by powerful inhibi- date, the cellular and network electrophysiological properties tion from hypothalamic tuberoinfundibular dopamine of the TIDA cell population have not been described. These (TIDA) neurons. Although firing pattern has been sug- factors are potentially fundamental features of prolactin regula- gested as integral to neuroendocrine control, the tion since discharge pattern may determine the functional output of neuroendocrine control of the anterior pituitary, as is observed electrical behavior of TIDA cells remains unknown. in the magnocellular system (Wakerley and Lincoln, 1973; Hatton We demonstrate that rat TIDA neurons discharge et al., 1983). Thus, the periodic bursting pattern in hypothalamic rhythmically in a robust 0.05 Hz oscillation. The oscil- gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons is required for stimu- lation is phase locked between neurons, and while it lation of target gonadotrophs in the pituitary (Knobil, 1980). persists during chemical synaptic transmission When bursting is artificially replaced by continuous agonist stim- blockade, it is abolished by gap junction antagonists.