An Investigation into the Effects of Peptide Neurotransmitters and Intracellular Second Messengers in Rat Central Neurons in Culture
Abstract
Studies addressing the interrelationship between intracellular messengers and neurotransmitters have been conducted on four types of nerve cell preparations from the mammalian central nervous system and from molluscan neurons using electrophysiological and high resolution digital imaging techniques. Preparations utilized were primary cell cultures from embryonic rat diencephalon and cerebellum, acutely dissociated neurons from the hippocampus of adult guinea pig, and brain slices from the cerebellum of adult guinea pig. Major research accomplishments are listed. 1) First measurements of calcium ion levels in living functional growth cones of mammalian and molluscan neurons and the demonstration of an optimum range of intracellular calcium promotes outgrowth. 2) First reported measurements of membrane conductances in granule neurons of the cerebellum and study of the developmental time course of these conductances. 3) First demonstration of persisting modulation of intracellular calcium levels by brief applications of neurotransmitters glutamate and GABA in Purkinje and granule neurons of the rat cerebellum. 4) First measurements of changes in free calcium levels produced by excitatory amino acid neurotransmitters in the dendrites of hippocampal neurons, a focus of research on memory mechanism. 5)First measurements of calcium levels and oscillations in neurons in the brain slice. 6) The development of membrane conductances and responsiveness to neurotransmitters and of expression of cell specific antigens has been studied in cerebellar Purkinje neurons in culture and in vivo.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 30, 1989
- Accession Number
- ADA211030
Entities
People
- John A. Connor