title: 5-hydroxyindole causes convulsions and increases transmitter release in the CA1 region of the rat hippocampus.
abstract: 1 5-hydroxyindole (5-OHi) is a proposed tryptophan metabolite able to cause convulsions when systemically injected into rodents. We studied its effects using microdialysis in vivo and electrophysiological approaches in vitro. 2 Local administration of 5-OHi into the CA1 region of the rat hippocampus, via a microdialysis probe, significantly increased glutamate concentrations in the dialysates. 3 In rat hippocampal slices, using extracellular recordings in the CA1 region, 5-OHi (30-300 microM) increased the amplitude of population spikes and fEPSPs. 4 In the same preparation, using intracellular recordings in CA1 pyramidal neurons, 5-OHi reduced the latency of firing induced by direct depolarization and increased both evoked excitatory and slow inhibitory postsynaptic potential amplitudes, without affecting the resting membrane potential, the after-hyperpolarization or the neuronal input resistance. It also altered GABA(A)-mediated neurotransmission by increasing the frequency and the amplitude of pharmacologically isolated spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (sIPSC). 5 In separate experiments, performed by measuring AMPA or NMDA-induced depolarization in cortical wedges, 5-OHi did not modify glutamate receptor agonist responses. 6 Our results show that 5-OHi causes convulsions, modifies the properties and the function of the hippocampal circuitry, and facilitates the output of both excitatory and inhibitory transmitters.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Emory University School of Medicine, 1510 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30322, U.S.A. gmannai@emory.edu
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mannaioni
authors.forename: Raffaella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Carpenedo
authors.forename: Flavio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Moroni
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D019706:Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007211:Indoles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D007211:Indoles; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; C026785:5-hydroxyindole