Endothelin localizes in the dorsal horn and acts on the spinal neurones: Possible involvement of dihydropyridine-sensitive calcium channels and substance P release

Toshihiro Yoshizawa, Sadao Kimura, Ichiro Kanazawa, Yasuo Uchiyama, Masashi Yanagisawa, Tomoh Masaki

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

128 Scopus citations

Abstract

The neural effect of endothelin, a vasoconstrictor peptide from vascular endothelium, was investigated in the in vitro spinal cord preparation of the newborn rat. In addition, an immunohistochemical study of endothelin was performed in the porcine spinal cord. Endothelin produced ventral root depolarization in a dose-dependent manner in the newborn rat spinal cord. Endothelin (5 × 10-8 M)-induced depolarization was depressed by the dihydropyridine-sensitive Ca2+ channel blocker, nicardipine (10-7 M), or the substance P antagonist, spantide (5 × 10-6 M). These results suggest that endothelin may cause substance P release and that dihydropyridine-sensitive Ca2+ channels in the spinal cord may be involved in this process. Furthermore, endothelin-like immunoreactivity was localized in dot- and fibre-like structures and neurones in the dorsal horn of the porcine spinal cord. Therefore, it is suggested that endothelin or endothelin-related peptide(s) have a neuromodulatory function in the spinal cord.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)179-184
Number of pages6
JournalNeuroscience letters
Volume102
Issue number2-3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 31 1989

Keywords

  • Dihydropyridine-sensitive calcium channel
  • Endothelin
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Nicardipine
  • Spinal cord
  • Substance P

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience

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