Figure 3

AMPA-induced inward currents and focally evoked EPSCs in SG neurons of control and cancer-bearing mice. Representative traces of inward currents induced by bath-application of AMPA (10 μM) in control (left) and cancer-bearing mice (right) (A). The amplitude of AMPA-induced inward currents was significantly greater in cancer-bearing (n = 12) than control mice (n = 14), *P < 0.05 (unpaired t-test) (B). Representative averaged traces of EPSCs evoked by focal stimulation through an electrode positioned near the recorded neurons in control (left) and cancer-bearing (right) mice (C). The amplitude of the focal stimulation-evoked (AMPAR-) EPSCs was significantly larger in cancer-bearing mice (n = 7) than control mice (n = 15), *P < 0.05 (unpaired t-test) (D). The amplitude of the focal stimulation-evoked (NMDAR-) EPSCs was also significantly greater in cancer-bearing mice (n = 7) than control mice (n = 15), *P < 0.05 (unpaired t-test) (E). Relationship between the amplitudes of the focal AMPAR- and NMDAR-EPSCs evoked in single SG neurons of cancer-bearing mice (F). The amplitudes of the focal NMDAR- and AMPAR-EPSCs evoked in the same SG neurons of cancer-bearing mice were normalized to the average amplitudes of NMDAR- and AMPAR-EPSCs of control mice, respectively, and then the normalized amplitudes of NMDAR-EPSCs were plotted against those of AMPAR-EPSCs. The correlation coefficient of the linear regression for the normalized amplitudes of NMDAR- versus AMPAR-EPSCs was 0.20 (Linear regression; y = 0.17 × + 188.32, P > 0.05). Values represent means ± S.E.M.