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BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Disturbed cortical gamma band oscillations (30-80 Hz) have been observed in schizophrenia: positive symptoms of the disease correlate with an increase in gamma oscillation power, whereas negative symptoms are associated with a decrease. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Here we investigated the effects of first and second generation antipsychotics (FGAs and SGAs, respectively) on gamma oscillations. The FGAs haloperidol, flupenthixol, chlorpromazine, chlorprothixene and the SGAs clozapine, risperidone, ziprasidone, amisulpride were applied on gamma oscillations induced by acetylcholine and physostigmine in the CA3 region of rat hippocampal slices. KEY RESULTS Antipsychotics inhibited the power of gamma oscillations and increased the bandwidth of the gamma band. Haloperidol and clozapine had the highest inhibitory effects. To determine which receptor is responsible for the alterations in gamma oscillations, the effects of the antipsychotics were plotted against their p Ki values for 19 receptors and analysed for correlation. Our results indicated that 5-HT3 receptors have an enhancing effect on gamma oscillations whereas dopamine D3 receptors inhibit them. To test this prediction, m-chlorophenylbiguanide, PD 128907 and CP 809101, selective agonists at 5-HT3, D3 and 5-HT2C receptors were applied and revealed that 5-HT3 receptors indeed enhanced the gamma power whereas D3 receptors reduced it. As predicted, 5-HT2C receptors had no effects on gamma oscillations. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS Our data suggest that antipsychotics alter hippocampal gamma oscillations by interacting with 5-HT3 and dopamine D3 receptors. Moreover, a correlation of receptor affinities with the biological effects can be used to predict targets for the pharmacological effects of multi-target drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Adenosine is considered an endogenous anticonvulsant. However, much less is known about the putative effects of its precursor, ATP, on epilepsy. Therefore, we tested whether ATP and its receptors are able to modulate epileptiform activity in the medial entorhinal cortex of the rat. Methods: Recurrent epileptiform discharges (REDs) were induced by elevating extracellular potassium concentration combined with application of bicuculline in brain slices from naive and pilocarpine-treated chronic epileptic rats. Field potentials were recorded from layer V/VI of the medial entorhinal cortex. Key Findings: REDs in slices from naive animals had a higher incidence and a shorter duration than in slices from chronic epileptic animals. Exogenous application of ATP reversibly reduced the incidence of REDs in naive and chronic epileptic slices via activation of adenosine A1 receptors without discernible P2 receptor effects. This effect was stronger in slices from chronic epileptic rats. In slices from naive rats, the P2X7 receptor antagonist A 740003 slightly but significantly reduced the amplitude of slow field potentials of REDs. In slices from chronic epileptic rats, none of the P2 receptor antagonists affected the parameters of REDs. Significance: Our results suggest that endogenously released ATP differentially modulates REDs by activation of A1 and P2X7 receptors. Although it has a minor proepileptic effect by direct activation of P2X7 receptors, its metabolite adenosine reduces the epileptiform activity via activation of A1 receptors. The exact effect of ATP on neural activity depends on the actual activity of ectonucleotidases and the expression level of the purinergic receptors, which both alter during epileptogenesis. In addition, our data suggest that P2X7 receptor antagonists have a minor antiepileptic effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whole cell patch clamp investigations were carried out to clarify the pH sensitivity of native and recombinant P2X3 receptors. In HEK293 cells permanently transfected with human (h) P2X3 receptors (HEK293-hP2X3 cells), an acidic pH shifted the concentration-response curve for α,β-methylene ATP (α,β-meATP) to the right and increased its maximum. An alkalic pH did not alter the effect of α,β-meATP. Further, a low pH value increased the activation time constant (̄on) of the α,β-meATP current; the fast and slow time constants of desensitization (̄des1, ̄des2) were at the same time also increased. Finally, acidification accelerated the recovery of P2X3 receptors from the desensitized state. Replacement of histidine 206, but not histidine 45, by alanine abolished the pH-induced effects on hP2X3 receptors transiently expressed in HEK293 cells. Changes in the intracellular pH had no effect on the amplitude or time course of the α,β-meATP currents. The voltage sensitivity and reversal potential of the currents activated by α,β-meATP were unaffected by extracellular acidification. Similar effects were observed in a subpopulation of rat dorsal root ganglion neurons expressing homomeric P2X3 receptor channels. It is suggested that acidification may have a dual effect on P2X3 channels, by decreasing the current amplitude at low agonist concentrations (because of a decrease in the rate of activation) and increasing it at high concentrations (because of a decrease in the rate of desensitization). Thereby, a differential regulation of pain sensation during e.g. inflammation may occur at the C fiber terminals of small DRG neurons in peripheral tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mixed striatal cell cultures containing neurons and glial cells were grown either in neurobasal medium (NBM) or Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM). Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings indicated that, if at all, only a single, low amplitude spike was evoked shortly after starting the injection of a depolarizing current pulse into NBM neurons. In contrast, DMEM neurons fired series of high amplitude action potentials, without apparent spike frequency adaptation. The possible reason for the observed action potential failure in NBM neurons was a low density of Na+ channels per unit of membrane surface area. However, both in NBM and DMEM neurons, ATP did not induce inward current responses via P2X receptor-channels, although GABAA and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-channels could be activated by muscimol and NMDA, respectively. Ca2+ imaging experiments by means of the Fura-2 method were utilized to measure intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) in neurons and glial cells. NBM, but not DMEM neurons responded to ATP with [Ca2+]i transients; glial cells grown in either culture medium were equally sensitive to ATP. ATP caused an increase of [Ca2+]i by a mechanism only partly dependent on external Ca2+; the residual ATP effect was blocked by cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) and was therefore due to the release of Ca2+ from its intracellular pools. The receptor involved was characterized by P2 receptor antagonists (PPADS, MRS 2179, AR-C69931MX) and was found to belong to the P2Y1 subtype. CPA caused an early [Ca2+]i response due to release from intracellular storage sites, followed by a late [Ca2+]i response due to the influx of this cation from the extracellular space, probably triggered by the opening of store-operated channels (SOCs) in the plasma membrane. It is concluded that in partial analogy with the effect of CPA, ATP releases [Ca2+]i via the Gq/phospholipase C/inositoltrisphosphate (IP3) pathway, thereby opening SOCs. It is hypothesized that this effect of ATP may have an important role for the proliferation and migration of striatal neuronal progenitors. J. Cell. Physiol. 209: 81–93, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings from cultured rat dorsal root ganglion neurons demonstrated that the P2Y1 receptor agonists adenosine 5′-O-2-thiodiphosphate (ADP-β-S) and 2-methylthio adenosine 5′-diphosphate (2-MeSADP) inhibit the α,β-methylene adenosine 5′-triphosphate (α,β-meATP)-induced P2X3 receptor-currents. This effect could be antagonized by the wide-spectrum G protein blocker GDP-β-S and the P2Y1 receptor antagonist MRS 2179. The P2Y12,13 receptor antagonist AR-C6993MX and pertussis toxin, a blocker of Gαi/o, did not interact with the effect of ADP-β-S. Hence, the results indicate that ADP-sensitive P2Y1 receptors of rat dorsal root ganglion neurons inhibit ionotropic P2X3 receptors via G protein-activation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The function of adenosine A2A receptors, localized at the enkephalin-containing GABAergic medium spiny neurons of the striatum, has been discussed controversially. Here we show that, in the absence of external Mg2+, the adenosine A2A receptor agonist CGS 21680 postsynaptically depressed the NMDA, but not the non-NMDA (AMPA/kainate) receptor-mediated fraction of the electrically evoked EPSCs in a subpopulation of striatal neurons. Current responses to locally applied NMDA but not AMPA were also inhibited by CGS 21680. However, in the presence of external Mg2+, the inhibition by CGS 21680 of the GABAA receptor-mediated IPSCs led to a depression of the EPSC/IPSC complexes. The current response to the locally applied GABAA receptor agonist muscimol was unaltered by CGS 21680. Whereas, the frequency of spontaneous (s)IPSCs was inhibited by CGS 21680, their amplitude was not changed. Hence, it is suggested that under these conditions the release rather than the postsynaptic effect of GABA was affected by CGS 21680. In conclusion, under Mg2+-free conditions, CGS 21680 appeared to postsynaptically inhibit the NMDA receptor-mediated component of the EPSC, while in the presence of external Mg2+ this effect turned into a presynaptic inhibition of the GABAA receptor-mediated IPSC. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

1: N-type Ca2+ channel modulation by an endogenous P2Y receptor was investigated by the whole-cell patch-clamp method in HEK 293 cells transfected with the functional rabbit N-type calcium channel. 2: The current responses (ICa(N)) to depolarizing voltage steps were depressed by ATP in a concentration-dependent manner. Inclusion of either guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiodiphosphate) or pertussis toxin into the pipette solution as well as a strongly depolarizing prepulse abolished the inhibitory action of ATP. 3: In order to identify the P2Y receptor subtype responsible for this effect, several preferential agonists and antagonists were studied. Whereas the concentration-response curves of ADP and adenosine 5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) indicated a higher potency of these agonists than that of ATP, a,ß-methylene ATP, UTP and UDP were considerably less active. The effect of ATP was abolished by the P2Y receptor antagonists suramin and N6-(2-methylthioethyl)-2-(3,3,3-trifluoropropylthio)-ß,?-dichloromethylene-ATP, but not by pyridoxalphosphate-6-azophenyl-2',4'-disulfonic acid, 2'deoxy-N6-methyladenosine-3',5'-diphosphate or 2-methylthio AMP. 4: Using reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction, mRNA for the P2Y1, P2Y4, P2Y6, P2Y11 and P2Y13 receptor subtypes, but not the P2Y2, and P2Y12 subtypes, was detected in HEK 293 cells. 5: Immunocytochemistry confirmed the presence of P2Y1, and to a minor extent that of P2Y4, but not of P2Y2 receptors. 6: Hence, it is tempting to speculate that P2Y13 receptors may inhibit N-type Ca2+ channels via the ß? subunits of the activated Gi protein.British Journal of Pharmacology (2004) 141, 141-151. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0705588 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of the adenosine A2A receptor agonist 2-p-(2-carboxyethyl)phenethyl-amino-5′-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (CGS 21680) on currents mediated by excitatory amino acid receptors were examined in rat striatal brain slices. In a Mg2+-free superfusion medium, CGS 21680 decreased the amplitude of excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) in about 70% of striatal neurons. The inhibitory effect of CGS 21680 disappeared both in the presence of the adenosine A2A receptor antagonist 8-(3-chlorostyryl) caffeine and the NMDA receptor antagonist 2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid (AP-5). NMDA-induced currents were also depressed by CGS 21680 in a subset of striatal cells, whereas α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionate (AMPA)-induced currents were not affected. The results suggest that adenosine A2A receptor agonists inhibit the NMDA component of the EPSC. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

It has been proposed that P2X3 receptors possess a unique mechanism of agonist-induced conformational transitions. Recovery from ATP-induced desensitization was found to be very slow; during this period a special agonist binding site was supposed to be formed which should bind the agonist with high affinity and promote desensitization without activation. The authors supposed that this high affinity binding site is absent from non-activated receptors. The theory was supported by an unexpected outcome of an experiment in which a low concentration of agonist was applied at different phases during recovery from desensitization. The inhibition by a low concentration of agonist was stronger when it was applied during the early phase of recovery when more desensitized receptors were present. The authors used different agonists for initial desensitization and for prolonged perfusion at low concentration. We repeated the experiment on HEK 293 cells expressing human P2X3 receptors with the same results. However, when we used the same agonist at both concentrations the inhibition was stronger when the low concentration was applied during the late phase. Simulations revealed that formation of high affinity binding sites does not require any unique mechanism and can be readily described by an allosteric mechanism. Furthermore, they predict that the unexpected phenomenon can only occur when a rapidly dissociating drug is replaced by a slowly dissociating drug on the receptor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The whole-cell patch-clamp technique was used to record current responses to nucleotides in HEK 293 cells transiently transfected with the human (h) P2X3 receptor. When GDP-β-S was included into the pipette solution, UTP at concentrations which did not alter the holding current, facilitated the α,β-methylene ATP (α,β-meATP)-induced current. The substitution of Ser/Thr residues situated within protein kinase C (PKC) consensus phosphorylation sites of the P2X3 receptor ecto-domain by the neutral amino acid Ala either abolished (T134A, S178A) or did not alter (T196A, S269A) the UTP-induced potentiation of the α,β-meATP current. The substitution of the same Ser/Thr residues in all four PKC sites by the negatively charged Asp prevented the potentiation by UTP. The Asp mutations abolished the first, fast offset time-constant, but did not alter, or in the case of S269D even increased, the second, slow offset time-constant; at the same time such mutations invariably increased the onset time-constant and massively depressed the peak current amplitude. None of the Ala mutations (with the exception of S269A) influenced the time-course of desensitisation or the peak current amplitude. It is concluded that constitutive activation of PKC sites at the ecto-domain of the hP2X3 receptor both abolishes the UTP-induced potentiation of the α,β-meATP current and accelerates its rate of desensitisation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Long-term depression (LTD) is a form of synaptic plasticity that may contribute to information storage in the central nervous system. Here we report that LTD can be elicited in layer 5 pyramidal neurons of the rat prefrontal cortex by pairing low frequency stimulation with a modest postsynaptic depolarization. The induction of LTD required the activation of both metabotropic glutamate receptors of the mGlu1 subtype and voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels (VSCCs) of the T/R, P/Q and N types, leading to the stimulation of intracellular inositol trisphosphate (IP3) receptors by IP3 and Ca2+. The subsequent release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores activated the protein phosphatase cascade involving calcineurin and protein phosphatase 1. The activation of purinergic P2Y1 receptors blocked LTD. This effect was prevented by P2Y1 receptor antagonists and was absent in mice lacking P2Y1 but not P2Y2 receptors. We also found that activation of P2Y1 receptors inhibits Ca2+ transients via VSCCs in the apical dendrites and spines of pyramidal neurons. In addition, we show that the release of ATP under hypoxia is able to inhibit LTD by acting on postsynaptic P2Y1 receptors. In conclusion, these data suggest that the reduction of Ca2+ influx via VSCCs caused by the activation of P2Y1 receptors by ATP is the possible mechanism for the inhibition of LTD in prefrontal cortex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists are widely used to pharmacologically model schizophrenia and have been recently established in the treatment of treatment-resistant major depression demonstrating that the pharmacology of this substance class is complex. Cortical gamma oscillations, a rhythmic neuronal activity associated with cognitive processes, are increased in schizophrenia and deteriorated in depressive disorders and are increasingly used as biomarker in these neuropsychiatric diseases. The opposite use of NMDA receptor antagonists in schizophrenia and depression raises the question how their effects are in accordance with the observed disease pathophysiology and if these effects show a consequent sex-specificity. In this study in rats, we investigated the effects of subchronic (14 days) intraperitoneal injections of the NMDA receptor antagonist MK-801 at a subanesthetic daily dose of 0.2 mg/kg on the behavioral phenotype of adult female and male rats and on pharmacologically induced gamma oscillations measured ex vivo from the hippocampus. We found that MK-801 treatment leads to impaired recognition memory in the novel object recognition test, increased stereotypic behavior and reduced grooming, predominantly in female rats. MK-801 also increased the peak power of hippocampal gamma oscillations induced by kainate or acetylcholine only in female rats, without affecting the peak frequency of the oscillations. The findings indicate that blockade of NMDA receptors enhances gamma oscillations predominantly in female rats and this effect is associated with behavioral changes in females. The results are in accordance with clinical electrophysiological findings and highlight the importance of hippocampal gamma oscillations as a biomarker in schizophrenia and depression., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Neuhäusel and Gerevich.)