Effects of activin-A on neurons acutely isolated from the rat supraoptic nucleus.
Nerve fibers containing activin-like immunoreactivity have been shown to be present within the area of the supraoptic nucleus. In this study, whole-cell patch-clamp recordings from supraoptic magnocellular neurosecretory cells were used to characterize the electrophysiological effects of this peptide. Nanomolar concentrations of recombinant activin-A caused the appearance of a voltage-independent current reversing near -40 mV. At resting potential, membrane depolarization caused by this current was sufficient to accelerate action potential discharge, suggesting that activin receptors expressed on magnocellular neurosecretory cells may play a role in the control of neurohypophysial hormone release.
Oliet
S H
SH
Centre for Research in Neuroscience, Montreal General Hospital, Canada.
Plotsky
P M
PM
Bourque
C W
CW
D028341:Activins; D000818:Animals; D007265:Inhibins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D051381:Rats; D013495:Supraoptic Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
D028341:Activins; D007265:Inhibins