title: Differential effects of PACAP-38 on synaptic responses in rat hippocampal CA1 region.
abstract: Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP-38) is a member of the vasointestinal polypeptide (VIP)/secretin/glucagon family of neuropeptides for which neuroregulatory functions have been postulated. PACAP-38 receptors are expressed in different brain regions, including hippocampus. In this study, we examined the dose-dependent effects of PACAP-38 on the excitatory postsynaptic field potential (fEPSP) evoked at the Schaffer collateral-CA1 synapse in rat hippocampal slices. Bath application of low dose (0.05 nM) of PACAP-38 induced long-lasting facilitation of the fEPSP. This enhancement was blocked by the cholinergic receptor antagonist atropine and partially by the NMDA receptor antagonist 2-amino-5-phosphonovalerate (APV) and therefore, shares a common mechanism with LTP. In contrast, a high dose (1 microM) of PACAP-38 induced a persistent depression of the fEPSP that was not blocked by antagonists of cholinergic receptors (i.e., atropine and mecamylamine), adenosine receptors (i.e., DCPCX), or glutamatergic NMDA receptors (APV). Intermediate doses (0.1-0.5 microM) of PACAP-38 produced an initial decrease of the fEPSP followed by an enhancement. This decrease was not blocked by atropine whereas the facilitation was. These results show that PACAP-38 modulates CA1 synaptic transmission in a dose-dependent manner and that the peptide interacts with cholinergic and glutamatergic systems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biochemistry G. Moruzzi, University of Pisa, San Zeno 31, I-56127 Pisa, Italy. marisar@dfb.unipi.it
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roberto
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Scuri
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brunelli
mesh_terms: D015763:2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001285:Atropine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D019706:Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000502:physiology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010275:Parasympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology; D051219:Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D013569:Synapses / Q000187:drug effects*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: C495403:Adcyap1 protein, rat; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists; D009479:Neuropeptides; D051219:Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D015763:2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate; D001285:Atropine