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Presence of NK 3 ‐sensitive neurones in different proportions in the medial habenula of guinea‐pig, rat and gerbil
Author(s) -
Boden P.,
Woodruff G.N.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
british journal of pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.432
H-Index - 211
eISSN - 1476-5381
pISSN - 0007-1188
DOI - 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1994.tb13135.x
Subject(s) - gerbil , agonist , guinea pig , habenula , biology , endocrinology , medicine , pharmacology , central nervous system , receptor , biochemistry , ischemia
Electrophysiological recordings were made from neurones of the medial habenula (Mhb) in brain slices obtained from guinea‐pig, rat and gerbil brain. The selective NK 3 agonist, senktide, was used to determine the relative number of NK 3 ‐sensitive‐neurones in the Mhb of each species. The proportion of neurones responding to NK 1 (Sar 9 Met(O 2 ) 11 SP) and NK 2 (αAla 8 NKA(4–10) agonists was also assessed. All (65/65) of the guinea‐pig Mhb neurones tested were excited by the NK 3 agonist, but NK 1 and NK 2 agonists were without effect. NK 3 responses in the guinea‐pig were not altered by the presence of a selective NK 1 antagonist, CP‐99,994. NK 1 , NK 2 and NK 3 agonists were without effect on Mhb neurones from gerbil brain slices. In agreement with findings from previous studies, a population of rat Mhb neurones responded to NK 1 or NK 3 agonists alone or were excited by both. These data show that there is a difference in both the number of NK‐sensitive neurones and the type of NK response found in the medial habenula of the three species. The high sensitivity to an NK 3 agonist, combined with the apparent lack of NK 1 and NK 2 responses in the guinea‐pig Mhb makes this preparation ideal for studies of central NK 3 ‐mediated events.