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Effects of Activin‐A on Neurons Acutely Isolated from the Rat Supraoptic Nucleus
Author(s) -
Oliet Stephane H. R.,
Plotsky Paul M.,
Bourque Charles W.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
journal of neuroendocrinology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.062
H-Index - 116
eISSN - 1365-2826
pISSN - 0953-8194
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2826.1995.tb00806.x
Subject(s) - supraoptic nucleus , medicine , magnocellular cell , endocrinology , depolarization , electrophysiology , chemistry , membrane potential , nucleus , parvocellular cell , receptor , patch clamp , neuropeptide , vasopressin , hypothalamus , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry
Nerve fibers containing activin‐like immunoreactivity have been shown to be present within the area of the supraoptic nucleus. In this study, whole‐cell patch‐clamp recordings from supraoptic magnocellular neurosecretory cells were used to characterize the electrophysiological effects of this peptide. Nanomolar concentrations of recombinant activin‐A caused the appearance of a voltage‐independent current reversing near –40 mV. At resting potential, membrane depolarization caused by this current was sufficient to accelerate action potential discharge, suggesting that activin receptors expressed on magnocellular neurosecretory cells may play a role in the control of neurohypophysial hormone release.