Release of neurotensin from rat spinal cord in vitro.
The release of immunoreactive neurotensin (I-NT) from the dorsal half of the rat spinal cord was studied in vitro. A basal release in the order of 0.03-0.06% per min of tissue content was found. Depolarization with K+ caused a dose-dependent increase, with 60 mM K+ causing a 7.7-fold stimulation of release. This K+-evoked release was strictly calcium-dependent. Veratridine (50 microM) produced a 4.9-fold increase which was inhibited by 0.3 microM tetrodotoxin. Noradrenaline, 5-hydroxytryptamine, glutamate, kainic acid, N-methyl-D-aspartate, or quisqualate did not stimulate release of I-NT. The results support a role of NT as a neurotransmitter or modulator in the spinal cord.
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology; D009496:Neurotensin / Q000378:metabolism*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000378:metabolism*; D013779:Tetrodotoxin / Q000494:pharmacology; D014701:Veratridine / Q000494:pharmacology
D000596:Amino Acids; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D009496:Neurotensin; D013779:Tetrodotoxin; D014701:Veratridine; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium