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Cellular Mechanisms Of Cortisol-Induced Changes In Mauthner-Cell Excitability In The Startle Circuit Of Goldfish, Daniel R. Bronson, Thomas Preuss
Cellular Mechanisms Of Cortisol-Induced Changes In Mauthner-Cell Excitability In The Startle Circuit Of Goldfish, Daniel R. Bronson, Thomas Preuss
Publications and Research
Predator pressure and olfactory cues (alarm substance) have been shown to modulate Mauthner cell (M-cell) initiated startle escape responses (C-starts) in teleost fish. The regulation of such adaptive responses to potential threats is thought to involve the release of steroid hormones such as cortisol. However, the mechanism by which cortisol may regulate M-cell excitability is not known. Here, we used intrasomatic, in vivo recordings to elucidate the acute effects of cortisol on M-cell membrane properties and sound evoked post-synaptic potentials (PSPs). Cortisol tonically decreased threshold current in the M-cell within 10 min before trending towards baseline excitability over an hour …