Interferon inhibits synaptic potentiation in rat hippocampus.
The effects of rat interferon (IFN) on the electrically-induced potentiation of the synaptic transmission were studied in rat hippocampal slices by using extracellular field potential recordings. The treatment with rat IFN (120 U/ml) reduced the size of short-term potentiation (STP) and suppressed long-term potentiation (LTP). These IFN-induced effects were dose-dependent in the range of 50-500 U/ml. In addition, IFN slightly attenuated the potentiation when applied during the maintenance of LTP. Basal synaptic transmission was affected by IFN at concentrations greater than or equal to 250 U/ml. Following an acute exposure to IFN (500-200 U/ml), cultured embryonic neurones from rat hippocampus often exhibited an attenuation of N-methyl-D-aspartate-induced currents and a variation (increase or decrease) of voltage-activated Ca2+ current amplitude. A possible role of IFN as neuromodulator in mammalian brain during immune responses is discussed.
D'Arcangelo
G
G
Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Scienze Biochimiche, Università di Roma Tor Vergata, Italy.
Grassi
F
F
Ragozzino
D
D
Santoni
A
A
Tancredi
V
V
Eusebi
F
F
D000818:Animals; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000187:drug effects; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007372:Interferons / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D013569:Synapses / Q000187:drug effects*
D015220:Calcium Channels; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D007372:Interferons