Effects of piracetam on single central neurons.
Piracetam, when applied microiontophoretically and/or by hydropneumatic pump on the somatosensory cortex and hippocampus of the rat, affected neuronal activity by depressing or facilitating the spontaneous firing rate, depending on the area studied. Its effect were either additive or counteracting the actions of glutamate, gamma-aminobutyric acid and acetylcholine, when administered together on the same neuron, thus supporting the assumption that its action is directed towards specific membrane elements, presumably the synaptic sites.
Maillis
A
A
Department of Psychiatry, Athens University, Eginition Hospital, Greece.
Karayanidis
F
F
Koutsoukos
E
E
Angelopoulos
E
E
Stefanis
C
C
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005971:Glutamates / Q000494:pharmacology; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects*; D010889:Piracetam / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011760:Pyrrolidinones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000187:drug effects*; D013569:Synapses / Q000187:drug effects; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000494:pharmacology
D005971:Glutamates; D011760:Pyrrolidinones; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000109:Acetylcholine; D010889:Piracetam