title: Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide modifies the electrical activity of CA1 hippocampal neurons in the rat.
abstract: The effects of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) on neuronal excitability in the CA1 region of rat hippocampus were studied using in vivo and in vitro electrophysiological techniques. Extracellularly recorded spontaneous firing of CA1 neurons was transiently (2-7 min) increased by PACAP (106+/-32% enhancement, mean+/-SEM, n=11). Using whole-cell patch clamp, PACAP was tested on the resting membrane current of CA1 pyramidal neurons: PACAP activated a slow-onset (20-30 s) and long-lasting (over 20 min) inward current with a mean amplitude of 99+/-34 pA (mean+/-SD, n=8). These results indicate that PACAP induces depolarizing effects on CA1 hippocampal neurons. PACAP-induced long-lasting facilitation in the CA1 region might modify neuronal excitability and/or modulate the effect of other neurotransmitters.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiologiche, Università di Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Mauro
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cavallaro
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ciranna
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051219:Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide; D017966:Pyramidal Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: C495403:Adcyap1 protein, rat; D009479:Neuropeptides; D051219:Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide