Slow bursting activity in the cells in the hypothalamus of the mammalian brain is described, with a special emphasis on the vasopressinergic neurons of the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei (SON/PVN). This patterned activity is compared to the one observed in the thalamic structure ? the intergeniculate leaflet of the lateral geniculate nucleus (IGL). Histograms of activity, bimodal distributions of the frequencies, averaged bursts and a few other characteristic properties of the oscillatory activity observed in SON/PVN and IGL are shown. Slow bursting activity of the intergeniculate leaflet cells is suggested to have a same function as has patterned firing of hypothalamic cells. Peptidergic contents of IGL cells, possibly attenuated blood-brain barrier in the area of this structure and its role in the adjustment of the circadian rhythms are some of the arguments to support this hypothesis.
JavaScript is turned off in your web browser. Turn it on to take full advantage of this site, then refresh the page.