title: Substance P post-synaptically potentiates glutamate-induced currents in dorsal vagal neurons.
abstract: We examined the post-synaptic actions of glutamate, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and substance P on dorsal vagal neurons, using the patch-clamp technique on brainstem slices of young rats. The vagal neurons were identified electrically and histologically. All vagal neurons responded to glutamate and NDMA and about 30% to substance P, with dose-dependent inward currents. The glutamate-induced currents were blocked partially by either CPP (3((R)-2-carboxypiperazin-4-yl)-propyl-1-phosphonic acid) or CNQX (6-cyano-7-nitro-quinoxaline-2,3-dione), indicating that these currents resulted from the activation of at least two types of glutamate receptors: NMDA receptors and AMPA/kainate receptors. The NK1 receptor-selective antagonist, RP67580, blocked substance P-induced currents, suggesting that NK1 receptors do coexist with NMDA receptors and AMPA/Kainate receptors. Substance P potentiated the effects of glutamate. This potentiation lasted 10-20 min and was blocked by CPP and by RP67580, but not by CNQX, demonstrating that the increase in glutamate-induced currents resulted from the interaction between NK1 receptors and NMDA channels. These results provided the first evidence that the receptors for substance P and glutamate coexist on dorsal vagal neurons and interact with each other to modulate visceral efferent functions.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Neurobiologie, CNRS, 31 chemin Joseph Aiguier, 13402, Marseille Cedex 20, France.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: André
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Puizillout
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D005260:Female; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D016202:N-Methylaspartate / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D018040:Receptors, Neurokinin-1 / Q000502:physiology; D013373:Substance P / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology*; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D018040:Receptors, Neurokinin-1; D013373:Substance P; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D016202:N-Methylaspartate