NMDA Enhances and Glutamate Attenuates Synchrony of Spontaneous Phase-Locked Locus Coeruleus Network Rhythm in Newborn Rat Brain Slices

Locus coeruleus (LC) neurons are controlled by glutamatergic inputs. Here, we studied in brain slices of neonatal rats NMDA and glutamate effects on phase-locked LC neuron spiking at ~1 Hz summating to ~0.2 s-lasting bell-shaped local field potential (LFP). NMDA: 10 μM accelerated LFP 1.7-fold, whereas 25 and 50 μM, respectively, increased its rate 3.2- and 4.6-fold while merging discrete events into 43 and 56% shorter oscillations. After 4–6 min, LFP oscillations stopped every 6 s for 1 s, resulting in ‘oscillation trains’. A dose of 32 μM depolarized neurons by 8.4 mV to cause 7.2-fold accelerated spiking at reduced jitter and enhanced synchrony with the LFP, as evident from cross-correlation. Glutamate: 25–50 μM made rhythm more irregular and the LFP pattern could transform into 2.7-fold longer-lasting multipeak discharge. In 100 μM, LFP amplitude and duration declined. In 25–50 μM, neurons depolarized by 5 mV to cause 3.7-fold acceleration of spiking that was less synchronized with LFP. Both agents: evoked ‘post-agonist depression’ of LFP that correlated with the amplitude and kinetics of V(m) hyperpolarization. The findings show that accelerated spiking during NMDA and glutamate is associated with enhanced or attenuated LC synchrony, respectively, causing distinct LFP pattern transformations. Shaping of LC population discharge dynamics by ionotropic glutamate receptors potentially fine-tunes its influence on brain functions.