title: Motilin excites neurons in the cerebral cortex and spinal cord.
abstract: The 22 amino acid polypeptide motilin was tested by iontophoretic application onto neurons in the rat cerebral cortex and by perfusion over the isolated hemisected toad spinal cord. Motilin (25--150 nA) excited identified cortico-spinal neurons and other deep spontaneously firing cortical cells. Excitation developed relatively rapidly and lasted for up to 60 sec after the application. Motilin was a potent excitant (threshold concentration 2.5 x 10(-9) M) of neurons in the amphibian spinal cord, eliciting a depolarization of dorsal root terminals and motoneurons. Its effects were substantially reduced after tetrodotoxin, suggesting a primary site of action on spinal cord interneurons.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002024:Bufo marinus; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects*; D005768:Gastrointestinal Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005971:Glutamates / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009037:Motilin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects*; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D013779:Tetrodotoxin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D005768:Gastrointestinal Hormones; D005971:Glutamates; D013779:Tetrodotoxin; D009037:Motilin