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Electrical responses of homing pigeon and guinea pig Purkinje cells to pineal indoleamines applied by microelectrophoresis

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Summary

The effects of microelectrophoretically applied melatonin (aMT), 5-methoxytryptophol (ML), 5-hydroxytryptophol (HL) and noradrenaline (NA) on the electrical activity of cerebellar Purkinje and other cells during both day- and nighttime were studied in urethane-anesthetized intact and pinealectomized homing pigeons and guinea pigs.

In the intact pigeon, equal numbers of Purkinje cells were excited and inhibited by aMT and ML, whilst the responses to HL were predominantly inhibitory. The responses varied significantly depending on whether the cells were tested during the day or at night (P<0.001). Pinealectomy abolished the observed day/night differences. In intact pigeons most of the other cerebellar units were inhibited by aMT and ML, whilst HL elicited an excitation in about 50% of the units.

In the guinea pig most of the Purkinje cells were inhibited by aMT and ML, whereas HL caused no response in most of the units. No significant 24-h rhythmicity in response to the indoles could be observed. The responses of the other cerebellar units were more complicated. aMT caused an excitation in most of the units, whilst the predominant response caused by ML was inhibition. Only 30% of these units responded to HL; the remainder showed no measurable responses.

It is apparent from these studies that pineal indoleamines may play a modulatory role in the cerebellum.

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Abbreviations

ECG :

electrocardiogram

GABA :

gamma-aminobutyric acid

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Author notes

  1. P. Semm

    Present address: Department of Zoology, University of Frankfurt, Siesmayerstrasse 70, D-6000, Frankfurt/Main, FRG

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, Neurophysiological Laboratory, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Postfach 3980, D-6500, Mainz, Federal Republic of Germany

    P. Semm & L. Vollrath

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Semm, P., Vollrath, L. Electrical responses of homing pigeon and guinea pig Purkinje cells to pineal indoleamines applied by microelectrophoresis. J. Comp. Physiol. 154, 675–681 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01350221

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