Fig. 4: The PVT provides net inhibition onto BNSTCRF neurons.
a–b LED power-response curves for optically-evoked EPSCs (oEPSCs, a) and IPSCs (oIPSCs, b) in the same BNSTCRF neurons (N’s = 2 M, 6 cells; 6 F, 13 cells). Data are presented as mean values + SEM. a 2xRM-ANOVA for oEPSCs: power (F5,85 = 48.74, P < 0.0001, not indicated), sex (P = 0.149), sex × power interaction (F5,85 = 2.58, *P = 0.032). Post hoc two-tailed t-tests with Holm-Sidak corrections reveal a significant difference between males and females for 25% power (t102 = 2.76, $P = 0.041) but no other LED powers (Ps > 0.55). b, 2xRM-ANOVA for oIPSCs: power (F5,85 = 54.09, P < 0.0001, not indicated), sex (P = 0.082), a sex × power interaction (F5,85 = 2.89, *P = 0.019), but no main effect of sex (P > 0.05). Post hoc two-tailed t-tests with Holm-Sidak corrections reveal a sex difference for 10% power (t102 = 2.94, $P = 0.024) but no other LED powers (Ps > 0.10). c oEPSC/oIPSC ratios in individual BNSTCRF neurons showing net synaptic inhibition (one-sample t-tests compared to 1: males: t10 = 5.50, ###P = 0.0001; females: t14 = 7.20, ####P < 0.0001) with no sex difference (two-tailed unpaired t-test: t24 = 0.11, P = 0.912). Data are presented as means ± SEM. d, Difference in the onset time of oIPSCs and oEPSCs (one-sample t-tests compared to 0: males: t9 = 3.32, ##P = 0.009; females: t15 = 3.01, ##P = 0.009), with no sex difference (two-tailed unpaired t-test: t24 = 0.76, P = 0.455). For c–d, N’s = 5 M, 11 cells; 8 F, 16 cells. e–f Optically-evoked postsynaptic potentials (oPSPs) in BNSTCRF neurons from ChR2+ PVT terminals. e Overlaid oPSP traces from basally inactive BNSTCRF neurons, with upward deflections indicating time-locked depolarizations and downward deflections indicating hyperpolarizations (males, top; females, bottom). f oPSP magnitude plotted as a function of resting membrane potential (RMP). Linear regression equations: males: Y = −0.109*X–7.53; females: Y = −0.049*X–4.23. N’s = 7 M, 12 cells; 6 F, 9 cells.
