title: Interferon inhibits synaptic potentiation in rat hippocampus.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Scienze Biochimiche, Università di Roma Tor Vergata, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: D'Arcangelo
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Grassi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ragozzino
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santoni
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tancredi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Eusebi
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D007372:Interferons