Arachidonic acid augments potassium currents in rat neocortical neurones.
We analysed the effects induced by arachidonic acid on voltage-dependent outward currents generated by rat neocortical neurones in culture in the presence of Na+ and Ca2+ channel blockers. These currents, recorded with whole-cell voltage-clamping techniques, were presumably carried by K+ and were characterized by an early transient and a late persistent component. Extracellular application of arachidonic acid (50 microM) enhanced both components of the voltage-dependent K+ response by 15-29% (n > 20 cells). These effects were reversible and not observed when a low dose (50 microM) of indomethacin was present in the bath (n = 7 cells). We conclude that one or more of the arachidonic acid metabolites of the cyclooxygenase pathway might be involved in the modulation of outward currents in neocortical cells in culture.
Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Scienze Biochimiche, Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata, Italy.
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Zona
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Palma
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Pellerin
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Avoli
D000818:Animals; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects*; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D015221:Potassium Channels; D016718:Arachidonic Acid