title: Cordycepin decreases activity of hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neuron through membrane hyperpolarization.
abstract: Cordycepin (3'-deoxyadenosine) is the main functional component of Cordycepins militaris, a renowned traditional Chinese medicine, which has been shown to possess anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic and neuro-protective effects. However, the effect of cordycepin on the central nervous system (CNS) remains unclear. In this study, the effects of cordycepin on neuronal activity were investigated on the CA1 pyramidal neurons in rat hippocampal brain slices using a whole-cell patch clamp technique. Our results revealed that cordycepin significantly decreased the frequency of both the spontaneous and evoked action potential (AP) firing. While AP spike width, the amplitude of fast after hyperpolarization (fAHP), and membrane input resistance were not altered by cordycepin, the neuronal membrane potential was hyperpolarized by cordycepin. Collectively, these results demonstrate that cordycepin reduces neuronal activity by inducing membrane hyperpolarization, indicating that cordycepin may be a potential therapeutic strategy for ischemic and other excitotoxic disorders.
authors: School of Life Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, PR China.
authors: Li-Hua
authors: LH
authors: Yao
authors: Chu-Hua
authors: CH
authors: Li
authors: Wen-Wen
authors: WW
authors: Yan
authors: Jun-Ni
authors: JN
authors: Huang
authors: Wen-Xiao
authors: WX
authors: Liu
authors: Peng
authors: P
authors: Xiao
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000473:pathology; D056547:CA1 Region, Hippocampal / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects*; D003839:Deoxyadenosines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D055724:Electrophysiological Phenomena; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D017966:Pyramidal Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D003839:Deoxyadenosines; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; C058120:cordycepin