Open AccessNitric oxide-related species inhibit evoked neurotransmission but enhance spontaneous miniature synaptic currents in central neuronal cultures
Author(s) -
Zhuo Pan,
Michael M. Segal,
Stuart A. Lipton
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.93.26.15423
Subject(s) - neurotransmission , excitatory postsynaptic potential , nitric oxide , biophysics , postsynaptic current , chemistry , endogeny , postsynaptic potential , neuroscience , inhibitory postsynaptic potential , biochemistry , biology , receptor , organic chemistry
Nitric oxide (NO.) does not react significantly with thiol groups under physiological conditions, whereas a variety of endogenous NO donor molecules facilitate rapid transfer to thiol of nitrosonium ion (NO+, with one less electron than NO.). Here, nitrosonium donors are shown to decrease the efficacy of evoked neurotransmission while increasing the frequency of spontaneous miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs). In contrast, pure NO donors have little effect (displaying at most only a slight increase) on the amplitude of evoked EPSCs and frequency of spontaneous mEPSCs in our preparations. These findings may help explain heretofore paradoxical observations that the NO moiety can either increase, decrease, or have no net effect on synaptic activity in various preparations.