| Electrophysiology of oxytocin actions on central neurons. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 1320838 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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The action of oxytocin on neurons located in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve was studied in brain slices in vitro. It acted postsynaptically and caused a reversible, concentration-dependent excitation of vagal motoneurons in rats. This effect is specific, since it could be mimicked by a selective agonist and suppressed by an oxytocin antagonist. Single-electrode voltage-clamp recordings from rat vagal motoneurons indicated that oxytocin generates a noninactivating inward current, whose amplitude increased as the membrane was depolarized. This current was insensitive to TTX, to a reduction of membrane calcium currents, and to a reversal in the transmembrane chloride gradient; and it was unaffected by several potassium channel blockers. By contrast, it was reversibly reduced by partially substituting extracellular sodium with equimolar N-methyl-D-glucamine. These results suggest that oxytocin exerts its neuronal action in the rat brainstem by generating a sustained voltage-dependent sodium current. Vasopressin activates a similar current when acting on motoneurons located in the facial nucleus of newborn rats. These fast, neurotransmitter-like actions of oxytocin and of vasopressin may provide an explanation--though not necessarily the sole explanation--for their central effects on maternal, sexual, and social behaviors. |
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Authors:
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J J Dreifuss; M Dubois-Dauphin; H Widmer; M Raggenbass |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Review |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences Volume: 652 ISSN: 0077-8923 ISO Abbreviation: Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. Publication Date: 1992 Jun |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 1992-08-10 Completed Date: 1992-08-10 Revised Date: 2006-11-15 |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 7506858 Medline TA: Ann N Y Acad Sci Country: UNITED STATES |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 46-57 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Department of Physiology, University Medical Center, Geneva, Switzerland. |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Animals Electrophysiology Male Oxytocin / physiology* Rats Synaptic Transmission / physiology* Vagus Nerve / physiology* Vasopressins / physiology* |
| Chemical | |
Reg. No./Substance:
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11000-17-2/Vasopressins; 50-56-6/Oxytocin |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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