Effect of extracellular adenosine 5'-triphosphate on principal neurons of the rat ventral tegmental area.
Intracellular recordings were made in a midbrain slice preparation of the rat brain containing the ventral tegmental area (VTA). Dopaminergic principal cells were identified by their electrophysiological properties and their hyperpolarizing responses to dopamine. Superfusion with dopamine (100 microM) caused hyperpolarization and a decrease of the apparent input resistance. By contrast, two structural analogues of ATP, 2-methylthio ATP (2-MeSATP; 10 microM) and alpha,beta-methylene ATP (alpha, beta-meATP; 30 microM) had no effect, when added to the superfusion medium. Pressure applied dopamine also hyperpolarized the membrane, while both 2-MeSATP and alpha,beta-meATP were ineffective. Hence, dopaminergic principal neurons of the VTA do not possess somatic P2 purinoceptors present on peripheral and central noradrenergic neurons.
Department of Pharmacology, University of Leipzig, Härtelstrasse 16-18, D-04107 Leizig, Germany.
W
W
Poelchen
D
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Sieler
K
K
Inoue
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P
Illes
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D004298:Dopamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011930:Reaction Time; D013681:Tegmentum Mesencephali / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013873:Thionucleotides / Q000494:pharmacology
D013873:Thionucleotides; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; C002630:alpha,beta-methyleneadenosine 5'-triphosphate; D004298:Dopamine; C008501:2-methylthio-ATP