Effect of ICV pertussis toxin and N-ethylmaleimide on the levels of substance P and serotonin in brain and spinal cord of the rat.
The effects of single intracerebroventricular (icv) injections of either 0.5 microgram pertussis toxin or 5 micrograms N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) on the levels of immunoreactive substance P (ir-SP) and serotonin (5-HT) in the brain and spinal cord of rats have been assessed. At two and six days after pertussis toxin injection, the levels of ir-SP appeared significantly diminished in the spinal cord (about 34%). This reduction was even greater at two days after NEM injection (43%). These two agents did not alter the ir-SP of the midbrain and thalamus, whereas NEM increased the neuropeptide content in the pons-medulla. On the other hand, the thalamic content of serotonin was reduced two days after pertussis toxin (32%) or NEM (20%) injection. The indoleamine levels of the spinal cord were reduced by these treatments (20%), while in the midbrain a slight decrease could be observed. These findings suggest that pertussis toxin and NEM produce these effects by acting upon a common neural substrate.
Garzón
J
J
Cajal Institute, C.S.I.C., Madrid, Spain.
Lérida
M
M
Ulibarri
I
I
Sánchez-Blázquez
P
P
D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D005033:Ethylmaleimide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D008297:Male; D037342:Pertussis Toxin; D011149:Pons / Q000378:metabolism; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000378:metabolism*; D013373:Substance P / Q000378:metabolism*; D013788:Thalamus / Q000378:metabolism; D010566:Virulence Factors, Bordetella / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
D010566:Virulence Factors, Bordetella; D013373:Substance P; D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan; D037342:Pertussis Toxin; D005033:Ethylmaleimide