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Differential Effects of the Neurosteroid Pregnenolone Sulphate on Oxytocin and Vasopressin Neurones in Vitro

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Vasopressin and Oxytocin

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 449))

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Abstract

Pregnenolone sulphate (PS) is a neurosteroid, synthesised within the brain, which has been reported to alter glutamatergic transmission primarily through allosteric interaction with NMDA receptors[1]. Previous work from this laboratory has shown that PS enhances NMDA-induced phasic firing in supraoptic vasopressin (VP) neurones[2]. The present study extends these initial findings by: (i) examining the effect of PS (100 µM) on firing evoked by the natural ligand, glutamate, in both supraoptic oxytocin (OT) and VP neurones and (ii) comparing the action of PS on NMDA- and AMPA-induced firing in these two cell types.

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© 1998 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Wakerley, J.B., Richardson, C.M. (1998). Differential Effects of the Neurosteroid Pregnenolone Sulphate on Oxytocin and Vasopressin Neurones in Vitro . In: Zingg, H.H., Bourque, C.W., Bichet, D.G. (eds) Vasopressin and Oxytocin. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 449. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-4871-3_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-4871-3_13

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-7210-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-4871-3

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