title: Differential age-dependent expression of alpha2 adrenoceptor- and P2 purinoceptor-functions in rat locus coeruleus neurons.
abstract: Whole-cell patch clamp recordings were made in a pontine slice preparation of the rat brain containing the nucleus locus coeruleus (LC). In a first series of experiments, it was demonstrated that tyrosine hydroxylase-positive LC neurons of young (10-14 days of age) rats are multipolar with numerous dendrites. When pipettes filled with the marker molecule biocytin were used for recording, all cells exhibiting outward current responses to noradrenaline (100 microM) showed the morphology typical for LC neurons. At a holding potential of -80 mV, noradrenaline (100 microM) produced a comparably small outward current both in LC neurons of young (8-14 days) and older (18-23 days) rats. In contrast, 2-methylthio ATP (2-MeSATP; 100 microM) caused a relatively small inward current in the young animals, while inward current responses were much larger in most older animals (8 out of a total of 11). It is suggested that after birth there are probably no functional P2 purinoceptors present at LC neurons. Thereafter, P2 purinoceptor-function increases with age, reaching maturity only in animals older than 18 days.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wirkner
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Franke
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Illes
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D058647:Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Agonists; D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D008125:Locus Coeruleus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D058910:Purinergic P2 Receptor Agonists; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D018048:Receptors, Purinergic P2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D013873:Thionucleotides / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D058647:Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Agonists; D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D058910:Purinergic P2 Receptor Agonists; D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2; D018048:Receptors, Purinergic P2; D013873:Thionucleotides; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D009638:Norepinephrine; C008501:2-methylthio-ATP