Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 15, 2026

Preparation of Acute Spinal Cord Slices for Whole-cell Patch-clamp Recording in Substantia Gelatinosa Neurons
Published on: January 18, 2019
Effect of nitric oxide on hyperpolarization-activated current in substantia gelatinosa neurons of rats
Hye Young Kim1, Sang Jeong Kim, Jun Kim
1Department of Physiology, Kangwon National University College of Medicine, 192-1 Hyoza 2Dong, Chuncheon 200-701, Republic of Korea.
Abstract:
Central sensitization is the hyperexcitability of spinal processing after peripheral nerve injury or inflammation. This phenomenon may be associated with nitric oxide (NO) signal pathway in synapse. Here, we have investigated the effect of NO on hyperpolarization-activated inward current (I(h)) in substantia gelatinosa (SG) neurons, using the whole-cell patch clamp technique. I(h) was increased by the application of sodium nitro prusside (SNP, a NO donor) or 8Br-cGMP. The stimulatory effects of NO were abolished by guanylyl cyclase inhibitor, ODQ, suggesting that the effect of NO was mediated by cGMP. However, this effect of NO was not prevented by the pretreatment with KT5823, PKG inhibitor. Taken together, the activation of I(h) in SG neurons could be mediated by NO-cGMP dependent pathway. These results reveal an involvement of NO in excitability of SG neuron via the activation of I(h) may be associated with central sensitization.
Related Concept Videos
Nitric Oxide Signaling Pathway
Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism

