title: Electrophysiological evidence for the existence of receptors for endothelin and vasopressin on cultured astrocytes of rat spinal cord and brainstem.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hösli
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hösli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lefkovits
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wagner
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: 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-