Issue Archive

Resveratrol inhibits neuronal discharges in rat hippocampal CA1 area

Li Ming, Wang Qingshan, Chen Yi, Wang Zemin, Liu Zheng, Guo Shumei

Laboratory of Physiology

Abstract

The effects of resveratrol on the discharges of neurons in CA1 area of rat hippocampal slices were examined by using extracellular recording technique. The results are as follows: In response to the application of resveratrol (0.05, 0.5, 5.0 #mu#mol/L,n=52) into the superfusate for 2 min, the spontaneous discharge rate of 46/52 (88.5%) neurons was significantly decreased in a dosedependent manner; Application of L-glutamate (0.2 mmol/L) into the superfusate led to a marked increase in discharge rate of all 8 (100%) slices in an epileptiform pattern. The increased discharges weresuppressed by application of resveratrol (5.0 #mu#mol/L); In 7 slices, perfusion of the selective L-type calcium channel agonist, Bay K8644 (0.1 #mu#mol/L), induced a significant increase in the discharge rate of 6/7 (85.7%) slices. The increased discharges were suppressed by application of resveratrol (5.0 #mu#mol/L); In 9 slices,perfusion of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 50 #mu#mol/L) into the superfusate significantly augmented the discharge rate of 7/9 (77.8%) slices. Resveratrol (5.0 #mu#mol/L) applied into the superfusate reduced the increased discharges of all 7/7 (100%) neurons; In 10 units, the large-conductance Ca~(2+)-activated K~(+) channel blocker (tetraethylammonium chloride, TEA, 1 mmol/L) significantly increased the discharge rate of 9/10 (90%) slices. Resveratrol (5.0 #mu#mol/L) applied into the superfusate inhibited the discharges of 8/9 (88.9%) slices. These results suggest that resveratrol inhibits the electrical activity of CA1 neurons. This effect may be related to the blockade of L-type calcium channel and a subsequent reduction of calcium influx, and probably has no association with large-conductance Ca~(2+)-activated K~(+) channel.

Key words: Hippocampus;resveratrol;Calcium channel

Received: 　　Accepted:

Corresponding author: 　　E-mail:

Citing This Article：

Li Ming, Wang Qingshan, Chen Yi, Wang Zemin, Liu Zheng, Guo Shumei. Resveratrol inhibits neuronal discharges in rat hippocampal CA1 area. Acta Physiol Sin 2005; 57 (3): (in Chinese with English abstract).