*2.5. The Lack of Modulatory E*ff*ects of AITC on Inhibitory Synapses in the Caudal NTS*

In experiments where AMPA and NMDA receptors were blocked with DNQX (16 μM) and 2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (APV, 20 μM), respectively, added to ACSF, pressure application of AITC (500 μM) failed to alter either the frequency or the amplitude of mIPSCs (AITC, 97.86 ± 8.64%, *n* = 10, Figure 8). Therefore, AITC does not affect the release of inhibitory synaptic neurotransmitters.

**Figure 8.** AITC does not alter inhibitory synaptic transmission in the NTS. (**A**) Administration of AITC (500 μM) or capsaicin (i.e., CAP; 200 nM) did not have any effect on the frequency of mIPSCs (top trace). Bottom four traces: the same synaptic events are shown at a higher time resolution. (**B**,**C**) The cumulative probability plots show no significant changes (*p* < 0.0001, KS test) in the distributions of inter-event intervals (**B**) and amplitudes (**C**) of mIPSCs. (**D**) A summary graph illustrating a lack of effects of AITC on the mIPSC frequency (*n* = 10).
