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TRH potentiates excitatory actions of acetylcholine on cerebral cortical neurones

Nature volume 263, pages 523–524 (1976)Cite this article

Abstract

ANTAGONISM of barbiturate-induced sleeping time in experimental animals1 is one of the interesting pharmacological properties of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH; pyroglutamyl-histidyl-proline amide) which are independent of its effects on endocrine function. Moreover, this effect of TRH is reduced or inhibited by atropine, suggesting that cholinergic mechanisms contribute to some of the effects of TRH (ref. 1). It can be shown that general anaesthetics (barbiturates in particular) selectively reduce the sensitivity of cerebral cortical neurones to the excitatory actions of iontophoretically applied acetylcholine2–4. This anaesthetic interference with cholinergic, muscarinic excitations has been postulated to participate in the regulation of levels of consciousness5. In view of these considerations it might be predicted that TRH would alter the effects of acetylcholine (ACh) on cortical neurones and the experiments described below were designed to test this hypothesis. The results indicate that TRH potentiates the excitatory actions of ACh on cortical neurones.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Merck Institute for Therapeutic Research, West Point, Pennsylvania, 19486

    G. G. YARBROUGH

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  1. G. G. YARBROUGH
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YARBROUGH, G. TRH potentiates excitatory actions of acetylcholine on cerebral cortical neurones. Nature 263, 523–524 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1038/263523a0

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