Single-cell and multiunit activity in freely moving rats after corticosterone administration

With the purpose of correlating possible electrophysiologic changes in the brain with the negative feedback effect of glucocorticoids on neuroendocrine functions, the effects of corticosterone on multiunit (MUA) and single-cell activity in freely moving rats were studied in the hypothalamus, amygdala, and midbrain reticular formation. The hormone changed the MUA in all regions studied causing mainly an increase in the rate of firing. In the hypothalamus there was a predominance in overall inhibition, when the sensory responsiveness to acoustic stimulation was compared before and after corticosterone administration. No such effect was observed in the amygdala and midbrain reticular formation. The hormonally induced changes in MUA in the hypothalamus were confirmed by analysis of single-cell activity in the freely moving rats which showed also changes in the pattern of firing, as demonstrated by autocorrelations. These findings in the hypothalamus are significant and may represent the electrophysiologic correlates of changes in corticotrophin releasing factor in this region.