title: Actions of calcitonin gene-related peptide on rat spinal dorsal horn neurons.
abstract: The membrane actions of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and the effect on the Ca-dependent action potential of dorsal horn neurons have been investigated by means of an intracellular recording technique in the immature rat in vitro spinal cord slice-dorsal root ganglion preparation. Bath application of CGRP (10(-8)-10(-6) M for 1-10 min) produced a slow reversible depolarization in about one-third of the cells examined. Biphasic membrane response consisting of an initial hyperpolarization followed by a late prolonged depolarization was seen in a smaller proportion of tested cells. Both membrane responses were present, and even enhanced, when synaptic transmission and Na spikes were blocked by perfusing the slice with a TTX-containing Krebs solution. The CGRP-induced membrane changes were also present in media containing TTX and TEA. The CGRP-evoked depolarization was associated with an increase in the input resistance, and enhanced excitability in a majority of neurons tested. In addition, CGRP modified the duration of Ca-dependent action potentials of dorsal horn neurons, the most consistent change being a prolonged increase in the spike duration. Our results are consistent with a neurotransmitter or neuromodulator role for CGRP in the rat spinal dorsal horn.
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; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000502:physiology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D019789:Tetraethylammonium; D013757:Tetraethylammonium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D013779:Tetrodotoxin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D009479:Neuropeptides; D013757:Tetraethylammonium Compounds; D013779:Tetrodotoxin; D019789:Tetraethylammonium; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide