Biomaterial Database

Pharmacological control of the pattern of activity in leech Retzius neurones. 1988

J A Dean, and L D Leake

Department of Biological Sciences, Portsmouth Polytechnic, Hants, UK.

1. Changes in the activity pattern of leech Retzius (R) cells were investigated using intracellular recording. 2. The presence of an after-hyperpolarisation (AHP) is closely related to activity pattern; regular firing being associated with an AHP, bursting with its absence. 3. Increasing external calcium (Cao), cyclic AMP levels or activity of kinase A enhanced the AHP. 4. Bursting was induced by low Cao, EGTA, barium, cobalt or injection of phorbol ester. 5. Reduction of Cao to zero caused long paroxysmal depolarising shifts of potential which could be reversed to bursting by cobalt, IBMX or injection of kinase A catalytic subunit. 6. The possible roles of a calcium-activated potassium channel and protein phosphorylation in regulating the activity of the cell are discussed.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007477	Ions	An atom or group of atoms that have a positive or negative electric charge due to a gain (negative charge) or loss (positive charge) of one or more electrons. Atoms with a positive charge are known as CATIONS; those with a negative charge are ANIONS.
D007865	Leeches	Annelids of the class Hirudinea. Some species, the bloodsuckers, may become temporarily parasitic upon animals, including man. Medicinal leeches (HIRUDO MEDICINALIS) have been used therapeutically for drawing blood since ancient times.	Hirudinea,Hirudineas,Leeche
D009474	Neurons	The basic cellular units of nervous tissue. Each neuron consists of a body, an axon, and dendrites. Their purpose is to receive, conduct, and transmit impulses in the NERVOUS SYSTEM.	Nerve Cells,Cell, Nerve,Cells, Nerve,Nerve Cell,Neuron
D010766	Phosphorylation	The introduction of a phosphoryl group into a compound through the formation of an ester bond between the compound and a phosphorus moiety.	Phosphorylations
D011506	Proteins	Linear POLYPEPTIDES that are synthesized on RIBOSOMES and may be further modified, crosslinked, cleaved, or assembled into complex proteins with several subunits. The specific sequence of AMINO ACIDS determines the shape the polypeptide will take, during PROTEIN FOLDING, and the function of the protein.	Gene Products, Protein,Gene Proteins,Protein,Protein Gene Products,Proteins, Gene
D002118	Calcium	A basic element found in nearly all tissues. It is a member of the alkaline earth family of metals with the atomic symbol Ca, atomic number 20, and atomic weight 40. Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body and combines with phosphorus to form calcium phosphate in the bones and teeth. It is essential for the normal functioning of nerves and muscles and plays a role in blood coagulation (as factor IV) and in many enzymatic processes.	Coagulation Factor IV,Factor IV,Blood Coagulation Factor IV,Calcium-40,Calcium 40,Factor IV, Coagulation
D003994	Bucladesine	A cyclic nucleotide derivative that mimics the action of endogenous CYCLIC AMP and is capable of permeating the cell membrane. It has vasodilator properties and is used as a cardiac stimulant. (From Merck Index, 11th ed)	Dibutyryl Adenosine-3',5'-Monophosphate,Dibutyryl Cyclic AMP,(But)(2) cAMP,Bucladesine, Barium (1:1) Salt,Bucladesine, Disodium Salt,Bucladesine, Monosodium Salt,Bucladesine, Sodium Salt,DBcAMP,Dibutyryl Adenosine 3,5 Monophosphate,N',O'-Dibutyryl-cAMP,N(6),0(2')-Dibutyryl Cyclic AMP,AMP, Dibutyryl Cyclic,Adenosine-3',5'-Monophosphate, Dibutyryl,Cyclic AMP, Dibutyryl,Dibutyryl Adenosine 3',5' Monophosphate,Disodium Salt Bucladesine,Monosodium Salt Bucladesine,N',O' Dibutyryl cAMP,Sodium Salt Bucladesine
D000200	Action Potentials	Abrupt changes in the membrane potential that sweep along the CELL MEMBRANE of excitable cells in response to excitation stimuli.	Spike Potentials,Nerve Impulses,Action Potential,Impulse, Nerve,Impulses, Nerve,Nerve Impulse,Potential, Action,Potential, Spike,Potentials, Action,Potentials, Spike,Spike Potential
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D015056	1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine	A potent cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase inhibitor; due to this action, the compound increases cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP in tissue and thereby activates CYCLIC NUCLEOTIDE-REGULATED PROTEIN KINASES	3-Isobutyl-1-methylxanthine,Isobutyltheophylline,IBMX,1 Methyl 3 isobutylxanthine,3 Isobutyl 1 methylxanthine