Cortisol suppresses noradrenaline-induced excitatory responses of neurons in the paraventricular nucleus; an in vitro study.
The effects of cortisol on noradrenaline (NA)-induced responses of neurons in the parvocellular division of the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) were investigated in hypothalamic slices of rats. Cortisol (10(-5) M)-induced excitation in 7 out of 11 PVN neurons tested and inhibited 3 out of 8 PVN neurons which were not affected by NA. Cortisol alone did not affect the basal firing rate of the PVN neurons. We conclude that cortisol may have an inhibitory effect on neurons in the parvocellular division of the PVN through depression of the noradrenergic system.
Kasai
M
M
Department of Physiology, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, Kitakyushu, Japan.
Yamashita
H
H
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010286:Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D006854:Hydrocortisone; D009638:Norepinephrine