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Updated: Aug 14, 2026
Methods for the Discovery of Novel Compounds Modulating a Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid Receptor Type A Neurotransmission
Published on: August 16, 2018
Substance P selectively decreases paired pulse depression in the rat hippocampal slice
Kerrie N Wease1, Stephen N Davies
1Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, Scotland, UK. k.wease@abdn.ac.uk
Background:
Although being widespread in the hippocampus, the role tachykinins play in synaptic transmission is unclear. The effect of substance P on field potentials evoked by stimulation of the Schaffer collateral-commissural fibres and recorded from the CA1 region of the rat hippocampal slice were studied.
Results:
Perfusion of substance P (8 microM) had no effect on the fEPSP or population spike. Substance P did however cause a selective reduction in the paired pulse depression of population spikes evoked by paired stimulation at interpulse intervals of 20-80 msec. A comparison of the actions of other tachykinin receptor agonists gave an order of potency of substance P > [beta-Ala8]-neurokinin A (4-10) > senktide. The effect of substance P was reduced by the neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist SR140333, but not by the neurokinin-2 or neurokinin-3 receptor antagonists, MDL 29,913 or [Trp7, beta-Ala8]-neurokinin A (4-10).
Conclusion:
The order of potency of the agonists, and the effects of the antagonists, both indicate that the effect of substance P on paired pulse depression is mediated by neurokinin-1 receptors.
