title: 2-Aminoethanol as a possible neuromodulator in the pigeon optic tectum.
abstract: A mass fragmentographic method was used for determination of low molecular weight compounds in perfusates collected in vivo in the pigeon optic tectum by a push-pull cannula technique. 2-Aminoethanol (ethanolamine) could be collected under resting conditions (5.6 +/- 0.09 pmol/min). Electrical stimulation of optic nerve induced a 2.3-fold increase of the tectal ethanolamine outflow whereas that of GABA was not affected. Ethanolamine applied iontophoretically to tectal neurons did not influence their spontaneous discharge; however, their glutamate-induced excitation as well as the GABA-induced depression were enhanced if ethanolamine was applied simultaneously. It is suggested that optic nerve stimulation exerts a neuromodulatory effect on tectal neurons.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D010856:Columbidae; D013181:Cortical Spreading Depression; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D019856:Ethanolamine; D004983:Ethanolamines / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D013477:Superior Colliculi / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D004983:Ethanolamines; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D019856:Ethanolamine