Figure 10 - Cellular properties of NTS neurons recorded in vitro on rat brainstem slices.

a: Typical rhythmic burst firing superimposed on cyclic depolarization of membrane potential, under bath application of N-methyl-D-aspartate (60M). Note that the burst of spikes may be followed by depolarizing afterpotentials typical of pacemaker-like properties. b: Delayed excitation in an NTS neuron. A control depolarizing pulse elicited repetitive firing (top trace). When it was preceded by a conditional hyperpolarizing pulse, the first spike in the burst was delayed (middle and bottom traces). Note that the delay was longer when the duration of the hyperpolarizing pulse increased. c: Postinhibitory rebound in a NTS neuron. Note the burst-firing pattern following the hyperpolarization of the NTS neuron. (Source: Adapted from Tell and Bradley¹⁶² and Tell and Jean.^{158, 159}, with permission.)