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Steroid influences upon discharge frequencies of intact and isolated pacemakers of weakly electric fish

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Summary

The effects of gonadal steroids upon the discharge frequencies of the weakly electric fishApteronotus rostratus were examined. Androgens elicited frequency decreases, while estrogens had no effect. The androgen-induced decreases occurred with very short latencies and lasted only for several hours. The medullary nucleus that controls the discharge frequencies of these animals was subsequently isolated in an in vitro preparation. The effects of steroids were tested on the isolated pacemaker, and were found to be similar to those seen in intact animals. Thus, steroid effects upon discharge frequencies appear to be a consequence of direct effects upon the pacemaker. The short time course of the response suggests non-genomic effects of steroids upon neuronal activity in the pacemaker.

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  1. Scripps Institution of Oceanography, 92093, La Jolla, California, USA

    J. Harlan Meyer

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  1. J. Harlan Meyer
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Meyer, J.H. Steroid influences upon discharge frequencies of intact and isolated pacemakers of weakly electric fish. J. Comp. Physiol. 154, 659–668 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01350219

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