title: Effect of prostaglandins on parasympathetic neurons in the rat lumbosacral spinal cord.
abstract: Prostaglandin E(2)(PGE(2)) elicits a variety of effects by activating four subtypes of receptors, EP1, EP2, EP3 and EP4. We examined receptor subtypes mediating the effects of PGE(2) on parasympathetic preganglionic neurons that regulate the activity of pelvic visceral organs. In tonic parasympathetic preganglionic neurons in neonatal rat spinal slices, PGE(2) increased the firing frequency to depolarizing current pulses, induced after-discharges and inhibited spike after-hyperpolarization. PGE(2) did not affect phasic preganglionic neurons. An EP1 agonist inhibited after-hyperpolarizations and induced after-discharges, whereas EP4 agonist reduced after-hyperpolarization and increased evoked firing but did not induce after-discharges. EP2 and EP3 agonists were inactive. These results indicate that PGE(2) acting via EP1 and/or EP4 receptors modulates the excitability and/or excitatory synaptic input to tonic parasympathetic preganglionic neurons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Akita university, School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miura
authors.forename: Masahito
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kawatani
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maruyama
authors.forename: William C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: de Groat
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001643:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D002208:Caproates / Q000494:pharmacology; D003672:Defecation / Q000502:physiology; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008161:Lumbosacral Region; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010275:Parasympathetic Nervous System / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D010410:Penile Erection / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000294:innervation; D014554:Urination / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D001643:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds; D002208:Caproates; C122148:ONO 8711; D015232:Dinoprostone