title: Converging effects of Ginkgo biloba extract at the level of transmitter release, NMDA and sodium currents and dendritic spikes.
abstract: In this study, an attempt was made to integrate the effects of GINKGO BILOBA extract (GBE) in different experimental systems (IN VITRO cochlea, brain slice preparations and cortical cell culture) to elucidate whether these processes converge to promote neuroprotection or interfere with normal neural function. GBE increased the release of dopamine in the cochlea. NMDA-evoked currents were dose-dependently inhibited by rapid GBE application in cultured cortical cells. GBE moderately inhibited Na+ channels at depolarised holding potential in cortical cells. These inhibitory effects by GBE may sufficiently contribute to the prevention of excitotoxic damage in neurons. However, these channels also interact with memory formation at the cellular level. The lack of effect by GBE on dendritic spike initiation in neocortical layer 5 pyramidal neurons indicates that the integrative functions may remain intact during the inhibitory actions of GBE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Bernadett K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Szasz
authors.forename: Nora
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lenkey
authors.forename: Albert M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Barth
authors.forename: Arpad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mike
authors.forename: Zsolt
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Somogyvari
authors.forename: Orsolya
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Farkas
authors.forename: Balazs
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lendvai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D003051:Cochlea / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D003712:Dendrites / Q000378:metabolism; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D020441:Ginkgo biloba; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D051379:Mice; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000187:drug effects*; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism; D000096983:Ginkgo Extract
chemical_list: D004298:Dopamine; D010936:Plant Extracts; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D012964:Sodium; C121001:NR2B NMDA receptor; C063170:Ginkgo biloba extract; D000096983:Ginkgo Extract