RESUMEN
Gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) is a bombesin-like peptide with a widespread distribution in mammalian CNS, where it has a role in food intake, circadian rhythm generation, fear memory, itch sensation and sexual behaviour. While it has been established that GRP predominantly excites neurons, details of the membrane mechanism involved in this action remain largely undefined. We used perforated patch clamp recording in acute brain slice preparations to investigate GRP-affected receptors and ionic conductances in neurons of the rat paraventricular thalamic nucleus (PVT). PVT is a component of the midline and intralaminar thalamus that participates in arousal, motivational drives and stress responses, and exhibits a prominence of GRP-like immunoreactive fibres. Exposure of PVT neurons to low nanomolar concentrations of GRP induced sustained TTX-resistant membrane depolarizations that could trigger rhythmic burst discharges or tonic firing. Membrane current analyses in voltage clamp revealed an underlying postsynaptic bombesin type 2 receptor-mediated inward current that resulted from the simultaneous suppression of a Ba(2+)-sensitive inward rectifier K(+) conductance and activation of a non-selective cation conductance with biophysical and pharmacological properties reminiscent of transient receptor potential vanilloid (TRPV) 1. A role for a TRPV1-like conductance was further implied by a significant suppressant influence of a TRPV1 antagonist on GRP-induced membrane depolarization and rhythmic burst or tonic firing. The results provide a detailed picture of the receptor and ionic conductances that are involved in GRP's excitatory action in midline thalamus.
Asunto(s)
Péptido Liberador de Gastrina/fisiología , Núcleos Talámicos de la Línea Media/fisiología , Neuronas/fisiología , Receptores de Bombesina/fisiología , Anilidas/farmacología , Animales , Capsaicina/farmacología , Cinamatos/farmacología , Masculino , Núcleos Talámicos de la Línea Media/citología , Canales de Potasio de Rectificación Interna/fisiología , Ratas , Ratas Wistar , Canales Catiónicos TRPV/antagonistas & inhibidores , Canales Catiónicos TRPV/fisiologíaRESUMEN
1. Intracellular sharp electrode and whole-cell patch-clamp recording from characterized paraventricular nucleus (PVN) neurones in rat hypothalamic slices were used to study the synaptic mechanism and associated neurotransmitters that mediate their response to suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) stimulation. 2. Electrical stimulation restricted to SCN evoked short-latency inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs) or combinations of IPSPs and excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) in all (n = 59) PVN neurones tested. Type I neurones (n = 18) were magnocellular and a majority (13/18) demonstrated monosynaptic IPSPs that reversed polarity at the chloride equilibrium potential and were sensitive to bicuculline. 3. Type II (n = 10) and III parvocellular (n = 13), and unclassifiable neurones (n = 18) displayed combinations of IPSPs and EPSPs following similar stimuli applied to SCN. IPSP blockade with bicuculline uncovered SCN-evoked monosynaptic dual-component EPSPs that were sensitive to N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and non-NMDA receptor antagonists. In addition, chemical microstimulation within SCN was associated with transient increases in spontaneous EPSPs recorded from these PVN neurones. 4. These data imply that the amino acids GABA and glutamate are important mediators of fast monosynaptic transmission from SCN to defined neurones in PVN, and are candidates for conveying circadian rhythmicity to PVN regulation of neuroendocrine and autonomic processes.