Optogenetic stimulation of the median preoptic nucleus: Effects on hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus magnocellular neurons after chronic intermittent hypoxia exposure.

ABSTRACT: Median preoptic nucleus (MnPO) neurons projecting to the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) are linked to hypertension induced by chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH), a model of obstructive sleep apnea. The modulation of MnPO-driven synaptic activity in PVN magnocellular neurons (MNCs) by CIH remains unexamined. We hypothesized that single and repetitive activation of MnPO-PVN projections causes differential synaptic plasticity in MnPO-PVN synapses with and without CIH exposure. Adult male rats were prepared using an intersectional viral approach to induce Cre-dependent channelrhodopsin expression in PVN-projecting MnPO neurons. Two weeks after stereotaxic surgery, some rats were exposed to 7 days of CIH. All rats were anesthetized and their brains were prepared for in vitro electro

SUBMITTER: Paundralingga OT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12710162 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature