TNF-alpha increases the frequency of spontaneous miniature synaptic currents in cultured rat hippocampal neurons

Brain Res. 1994 Oct 3;659(1-2):226-30. doi: 10.1016/0006-8993(94)90883-4.

Abstract

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is a cytokine secreted by activated astrocytes and is known to alter evoked synaptic activity in slices of adult rat hippocampus. In this paper we show that TNF-alpha increases the frequency of spontaneous miniature synaptic currents in cultured hippocampal neurons, acting at nanomolar concentrations. In addition, we show that the mRNA for the 55 kDa TNF-alpha receptor (TNF-R1) is detected in embryonic rat hippocampal cultures, as well as in acutely dissected embryonic and adult rat hippocampi. Possible transduction pathways mediating the TNF-alpha effect are discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Cytosol / metabolism
  • Electric Conductivity
  • Hippocampus / cytology
  • Hippocampus / drug effects*
  • Hippocampus / physiology
  • Neurons / drug effects*
  • Neurons / physiology
  • Osmolar Concentration
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Rats / embryology
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Receptors, Cytokine / metabolism
  • Synapses / drug effects*
  • Synapses / physiology
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Receptors, Cytokine
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Calcium