Synaptic Responses of Superior Cervical Ganglion Neurons of Rats With Experimental Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSP) were recorded from the superior cervical ganglion neurons (SCG) in the rats with experimental streptozotocininduced diabetes (ESD). EPSP was inducted by electrical stimulation of the cervical sympathetic trunk. It was founded that the average value of the EPSP time constant decay in the rats with ESD was 15% higher. At the same time, the amplitudes of EPSP of SCG neurons and the hexamethonium blocking effect in the rats with ESD on 30th day after streptozotocin injection didn’t differ significantly from those in control rats. This may indicate specific functional disorders associated as with steady-state elevated blood glucose level in rats as SCG neurons nicotinic cholinergic receptors.