Electrophysiological evidence for the existence of receptors for endothelin and vasopressin on cultured astrocytes of rat spinal cord and brainstem.
By means of intracellular recordings we have studied the actions of the vasoactive peptides endothelin-1 and -3 (ET-1, ET-3) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) on the membrane potential of astrocytes in explant cultures of rat spinal cord and brainstem. Addition of ET-1, ET-3 or AVP to the bathing solution at concentrations of 10(-8)-10(-6) M depolarized the membrane of the majority of glial cells studied. The AVP antagonist d(CH2)5(1), Tyr(Me)2, Arg8-vasopressin reversibly blocked the depolarizations by AVP. Our electrophysiological findings together with autoradiographic binding studies strongly suggest the existence of ET and AVP receptors on astrocytes.
Hösli
L
L
Department of Physiology, University of Basel, Switzerland.
Hösli
E
E
Lefkovits
M
M
Wagner
S
S
D000818:Animals; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004594:Electrophysiology; D016232:Endothelins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D011945:Receptors, Angiotensin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D017466:Receptors, Endothelin; D017483:Receptors, Vasopressin; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
D016232:Endothelins; D011945:Receptors, Angiotensin; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D017466:Receptors, Endothelin; D017483:Receptors, Vasopressin; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin; C025043:vasopressin, 1-(1-mercaptocyclohexaneacetic acid)-2-(O- methyl-L-tyrosine)-8-L-arginine-