Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Environmental Modulations of the Number of Midbrain Dopamine Neurons in Adult Mice
Published on: January 20, 2015
Hyperpolarization-activated, cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels in the regulation of midbrain dopamine systems
1Department of Neuropharmacology II, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China.
Abstract:
Hyperpolarization-activated, cyclic nucleotide-gated channels (HCN channels) are expressed widely in the brain and invovled in various neuronal activities, including the control of neuronal rhythmic activity, setting the resting membrane potential, as well as dendritic integration. HCN channels also participate in the regulation of spontaneous activity of midbrain dopamine (DA) neurons to some extent. In slice preparations of midbrain, a hyperpolarization-activated non-selective cation current (Ih) mediated by the channels has been proposed as an electrophysiological marker to identify DA neurons. Recent evidence, however, shows that the functional roles of HCN channels in midbrain DA neurons are obviously underestimated. Here, we review the recent advances in the studies of the functional roles of Ih in midbrain DA neurons and further, their involvement in drug addiction and Parkinson's disease.
More Related Videos
06:40Combined Infusion and Stimulation with Fast-Scan Cyclic Voltammetry (CIS-FSCV) to Assess Ventral Tegmental Area Receptor Regulation of Phasic Dopamine
Published on: April 23, 2020
07:31Profiling Voltage-gated Potassium Channel mRNA Expression in Nigral Neurons using Single-cell RT-PCR Techniques
Published on: September 27, 2011
Related Concept Videos
G-Protein Gated Ion Channels
Sensory organs,...
Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism
Mechanically-gated Ion Channels
Ligand-gated Ion Channels
Three Subfamilies of Ligand-gated Ion Channels
Ligand-gated ion channels fall into three subfamilies. The 'Cys-loop' includes the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glycine, and 5-hydroxytryptamine receptors. The second one is the 'Pore-loop' channels that include the...
Voltage-gated Ion Channels
Generally, all voltage-gated ion channels have a 'voltage-sensing domain' that spans the lipid bilayer. The charged residues in the sensor move in response to the membrane potential changes that open the channel allowing ions movement. There are several types of...
Cholinergic Receptors: Muscarinic
The subtypes M1, M3, and M5 couple with the Gq subunit and activate the phospholipase C (PLC) activity, mobilizing intracellular Ca2+. Activation...