title: The influence of (+/-)-kavain on population spikes and long-term potentiation in guinea pig hippocampal slices.
abstract: Little is known about the mechanisms of action of kava pyrones which are the pharmacological active compounds of the plant Piper methysticum Forst. We investigated the effects of the synthetic kava pyrone (+/-)-kavain on long-term potentiation (LTP) in the CA1-region of guinea pig hippocampal slices. (+/-)-Kavain reduced the amplitudes of extracellular field potential changes evoked by electrical stimulation in a concentration dependent manner. These effects were reversible. In experiments with LTP no changes were found in the presence of (+/-)-kavain. In conclusion, our findings suggest (+/-)-kavain to be an effective drug in modulating excitatory signals in the hippocampus of guinea pigs. Additionally, no alterations on synaptic plasticity in hippocampal neurons for this kava pyrone can be presumed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Freiburg, Germany. jens_langosch@psyallg.ukl.uni-freiburg.de
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Langosch
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Normann
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schirrmacher
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Walden
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D017774:Long-Term Potentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry*; D011753:Pyrones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011753:Pyrones; C011889:kavain