Cation current activated by hyperpolarization in a subset of rat nucleus accumbens neurons

1. Intracellular recordings were made from neurons in slices of rat nucleus accumbens in vitro. Membrane currents were measured in the potential range -60 to -120 mV with the use of a single-electrode, voltage-clamp amplifier. 2. A minority of neurons (28/285) was identified that had resting membrane potentials almost 20 mV less negative than the majority of the cells. These cells, but not the majority, had an inward current that activated slowly when the cells were hyperpolarized from -60 to -120 mV. The time constant of activation was approximately 3 s at -70 mV and 100 ms at -120 mV. 3. This inward current was completely blocked by external cesium (2 mM) but unaffected by barium. The current was reduced in solutions containing low-sodium concentration and increased in solutions with high-potassium concentration; its reversal potential was estimated to be -36 mV. 4. It is concluded that two types of neurons can be distinguished in the rat nucleus accumbens on the basis of the presence or absence of a cation current activated by hyperpolarization. This current (I(H), also called I(f) and I(Q)) caused the neurons to have less-polarized resting potentials than the majority of nucleus accumbens neurons.