title: Interferon-alpha, beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha enhance the frequency of miniature end-plate potentials at rat neuromuscular junction.
abstract: The effects of the two cytokines, rat interferon-alpha, beta and human tumor necrosis factor-alpha, were studied at the rat neuromuscular junction by using classical electrophysiological techniques. Both cytokines in a similar way at concentrations of 2,000 and 35,000 U/ml, respectively, increased transiently and with a relatively long delay (15 to 25 min) the frequency of miniature endplate potentials. The observed effects may be related to complex second messenger mechanisms and contribute to modulation and plasticity of neurotransmission.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio di Biofisica, I.R.E., Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Caratsch
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santoni
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Eusebi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003964:Diaphragm / Q000187:drug effects / Q000294:innervation; D004594:Electrophysiology; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D009045:Motor Endplate / Q000187:drug effects*; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000187:drug effects*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D007370:Interferon Type I; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha