Tsoi Sze Man. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 82-104). / Text in English; abstracts in English and Chinese. / Tsoi Sze Man. / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Overview of study --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Cerebellum --- p.2 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- General Structure of cerebellum --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Cell types of cerebellar cortex --- p.4 / Chapter 1.2.2.1 --- Basket cells --- p.5 / Chapter 1.2.2.2 --- Stellate cells --- p.6 / Chapter 1.2.2.3 --- Purkinje cells --- p.6 / Chapter 1.2.2.4 --- Granule cells --- p.7 / Chapter 1.2.2.5 --- Golgi cells --- p.8 / Chapter 1.2.2.6 --- Unipolar brush cells --- p.9 / Chapter 1.2.2.7 --- Deep cerebellar nuclear neurons --- p.11 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- The neuronal circuitry of the cerebellum --- p.12 / Chapter 1.2.4 --- Cerebellar function --- p.14 / Chapter 1.3 --- Cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) channels --- p.16 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Molecular characterization of CNG channels --- p.16 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Functional properties of CNG channels --- p.19 / Chapter 1.3.3 --- Expression of CNG channels in brain --- p.21 / Chapter 1.3.4 --- CNG channel and neuronal plasticity --- p.23 / Chapter 1.4 --- Hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels --- p.26 / Chapter 1.4.1 --- Molecular characterization of HCN channels --- p.27 / Chapter 1.4.2 --- Functional properties of HCN channels and Ih current --- p.29 / Chapter 1.4.3 --- Modulation by cyclic nucleotides --- p.31 / Chapter 1.4.4 --- Expression of HCN channels in brain --- p.33 / Chapter 1.4.5 --- Physiological roles of Ih current in central nervous system --- p.35 / Chapter 1.5 --- Aims of study --- p.38 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Material and Methods --- p.39 / Chapter 2.1 --- Immunohistochemistry Experiments --- p.39 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Animal preparation --- p.39 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Tissue preparation --- p.39 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- Primary and secondary antibodies --- p.40 / Chapter 2.1.4 --- Immunofluroescence staining --- p.41 / Chapter 2.1.5 --- Confocal laser scanning microscopy and data processing --- p.41 / Chapter 2.2 --- Whole cell patch clamp recordings --- p.42 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Brain slice preparation and identification of the cerebellar Purkinje neurons --- p.42 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Whole cell voltage- and current-clamp recordings --- p.43 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Drug solutions and delivery --- p.44 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Statistical analysis --- p.45 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Expression of Various Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated (CNG) Channel Subunits in Rat Cerebellum --- p.46 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.46 / Chapter 3.2 --- Results --- p.46 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Immunoreactivity of CNGA1 in cerebellum --- p.46 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Immunoreactivity of CNGA2 in cerebellum --- p.47 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Immunoreactivity of CNGA3 in cerebellum --- p.47 / Chapter 3.3 --- Discussion --- p.48 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Expression of Various Hyperpolarization-Activated Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated (HCN) Channel Subunits in Rat Cerebellum --- p.53 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.53 / Chapter 4.2 --- Results --- p.53 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Immunoreactivity of HCN 1 in cerebellum --- p.53 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Immunoreactivity of HCN2 in cerebellum --- p.55 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Immunoreactivity of HCN3 in cerebellum --- p.55 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- Immunoreactivity of HCN4 in cerebellum --- p.55 / Chapter 4.3 --- Discussion --- p.55 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Electrophysiological Recordings of Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Ionic Conductance in Rat Cerebellar Purkinje Neurons --- p.59 / Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction --- p.59 / Chapter 5.2 --- Results --- p.59 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Effect of cyclic nucleotides on the membrane potential of cerebellar Purkinje neurons --- p.59 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Ionic conductance of the cyclic nucleotide-induced inward current --- p.61 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- The mechanism of the cyclic nucleotide-induced inward current --- p.61 / Chapter 5.2.3.1 --- Site of action --- p.62 / Chapter 5.2.3.2 --- Involvement of CNG channels and HCN channels --- p.63 / Chapter 5.2.3.3 --- Involvement of protein kinase A (PKA) and protein kinase G (PKG) --- p.65 / Chapter 5.2.3.4 --- Involvement of inwardly rectifying potassium (Kir) channels and transient receptor potential (TRP) channels --- p.65 / Chapter 5.2.4 --- Effect of cyclic nucleotides on Ih current in Purkinje neurons --- p.67 / Chapter 5.3 --- Discussion --- p.68 / Chapter Chapter 6 --- Concluding remarks References --- p.78 / References --- p.82