title: Calcitonin gene-related peptide enhances calcium current of rat dorsal root ganglion neurons and spinal excitatory synaptic transmission.
abstract: The actions of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) were examined on Ca2+-dependent action potentials and voltage-dependent Ca2+ currents in rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons in vitro. In addition, we tested the effect of CGRP on excitatory synaptic transmission in the rat spinal dorsal horn. CGRP produced a reversible increase in the amplitude and the duration of the Ca2+ spike of DRG neurons and directly increased the voltage-dependent Ca2+ current by enhancing both the transient and the sustained components of the current. The increase in the Ca2+ current is likely to be responsible for the increase in the Ca2+ spike and facilitation of excitatory synaptic transmission.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Iowa State University, Ames 50011.
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gerber
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Murase
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Randic
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000502:physiology*; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D009479:Neuropeptides; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D002118:Calcium