Rhythms, synchrony and electrical coupling in the Locus coeruleus

Electrical coupling of neurones is believed to promote synchronized activity. It may, however, also be a requirement for the maintenance of endogenous rhythmic activity in some systems. In en bloc isolated brainstem-spinal cord of the neonatal rat simultaneous whole cell recordings from pairs of LC neurones (n = 47 pairs) disclosed for the most part strongly synchronized activity which could take the form of tonic spiking or phasic bursts. Simultaneous whole cell recording from LC neurones and glia also revealed synchronized waves of depolarization in 7 of 17 pairs. This synchrony was partly due to respiratory-phased synaptic input and partly due to mechanisms, which were not dependent on chemical synapses. The gap junction uncoupler carbenoxolone suppressed non-synaptic rhythmic activity in LC neurones, but did not suppress either respiratory-phased synaptic input to these neurones or their excitatory response to increased CO(2). We give preliminary direct evidence for the existence of a current pathway between LC neurones, which is inhibited by carbenoxolone. Within the LC nucleus carbenoxolone-sensitive electrical coupling, which may involve neurone-glia as well as neurone-neurone interactions, may be required not just for synchronization, but also for the maintenance of rhythm.