title: Neurotensin induces an inward current in rat mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons.
abstract: Neurotensin (0.3-3 microM) depolarized the membrane and increased the firing discharge of dopaminergic cells in slices of the rat mesencephalon. Under voltage-clamp, at holding potentials from -50 to -60 mV (near the resting membrane potential), neurotensin produced a sustained inward shift in the holding current. This inward current was reduced with the hyperpolarization of the membrane to -125 mV. It was resistant to tetrodotoxin, but it was diminished following the perfusion with low sodium (choline chloride substitution) solution. It persisted in low calcium (0-0.5 mM). Changes in the intracellular concentration of chloride did not affect neurotensin-induced current. The neurotensin-induced inward current did not reverse at hyperpolarized potentials in 10.5 mM extracellular K+. It was also seen in the presence of the potassium channel blockers tetraethylammonium (10-20 mM), barium (1 mM), apamine (1 microM) and 4-aminopyridine (1-1.5 mM). Also the extracellular application of cesium (1-5 mM) had no effect on the cellular responsiveness to neurotensin. The action of neurotensin appears to be mediated, at least partially, by a TTX-insensitive but voltage-dependent inward current carried by sodium. The non-dopaminergic cells of the substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area were not affected by neurotensin.
authors.affiliation: Clinica Neurologica Dipartimento Sanitá Pubblica, Universitá di Roma Tor Vergata, Italy.
authors.forename: N B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Mercuri
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Stratta
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Calabresi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bernardi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology*; D004594:Electrophysiology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000187:drug effects; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009496:Neurotensin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D007473:Ion Channels; D009496:Neurotensin; D012964:Sodium; D002118:Calcium; D004298:Dopamine