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Excitatory effects of ATP on rat dorsomedial hypothalamic neurons
N Matsumoto1, M Sorimachi, N Akaike
1Cellular and System Physiology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.
Abstract:
We investigated P2X purinoceptors in rat dorsomedial hypothalamic (DMH) neurons using nystatin-perforated patch-clamp recordings and fura-2 microfluorometry. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) concentration-dependently evoked an inward current and increased cytosolic Ca(2+) ([Ca](i)). The rise in [Ca](i) was dependent on external Ca(2+) and Na(+), was blocked by Ca(2+) channel antagonists and had pharmacological properties consistent with P2X2 receptors. These results suggest that P2X receptor-mediated depolarization activates voltage-gated Ca(2+) channels, resulting in an increase in [Ca](i).

