谷氨酸促进大鼠海马神经元的内钙升高

谷氨酸能影响大鼠海马神经元胞内钙信号的变化,进而影响海马神经元神经冲动的发放和学习记忆过程。运用荧光测钙技术实时监测了大鼠海马神经元内钙信号的动态变化,同时分析了谷氨酸对其胞内钙信号的影响。试验表明：谷氨酸能够显著提高胞内游离钙离子的浓度;细胞外钙离子的存在、谷氨酸刺激时间及刺激频率的增加都能引起胞内钙信号不同程度的升高;但谷氨酸的过度刺激会引起钙离子浓度的超负荷,从而导致神经元结构和功能的损坏。     

构建钙荧光探针细胞用于探究胞浆和线粒体钙对ATP刺激的响应

目的:构建表达基因编辑钙探针(GECIs)的细胞系HeLa-GECIs,探究细胞应答外界ATP刺激中钙离子在细胞内的响应和变化。方法:分别用能够直接通过荧光强度反映细胞胞浆内和线粒体内钙离子相对浓度的2种钙探针cyto-GCaMP6和4mt-GCaMP6感染HeLa细胞,获得2种表达钙离子探针的HeLa细胞系;在感染了2种腺病毒探针24 h后,用共聚焦荧光显微镜检测荧光探针在HeLa细胞内的表达情况;在表达2种钙探针的细胞的培养基中加入外源ATP,用Time-lapse成像动态观测技术观察HeLa细胞内钙离子对外环境中ATP的响应。结果:共聚焦荧光显微镜观察,确定95%以上的细胞表达了对应的钙离子指示荧光探针;Time-lapse成像动态观测技术观察发现,在细胞培养基中加入ATP后,细胞胞浆钙探针荧光强度瞬时(3～6 s)升至10倍,200 s后逐渐降低到基础水平;线粒体钙到达峰值(4倍)的时间稍滞后(5～8 s),并且回落更慢,300 s时至1.5倍。在ATP受体P2X7抑制剂A438079预处理的实验组,上述胞浆钙和线粒体钙浓度上升不明显。结论:构建了能在活体细胞内通过荧光探针实时监测钙离子响应胞外ATP刺激的细胞实验体系,为进一步深入探究ATP等危险信号导致细胞的炎性损伤机制奠定了基础。     

腺病毒介导BDNF基因对无血清培养SH-SY5Y细胞的生物学作用研究

目的 :为了有效的将腺病毒介导的脑源性神经营养因子 (BDNF)用于神经损伤的保护治疗。方法 :在体外用BDNF重组腺病毒 (Ad BDNF)对SH SY5Y细胞进行感染 ,在无血清培养条件下对细胞的生长分化进行了形态学的观察 ,利用MTT法检测不同浓度的Ad BDNF对SH SY5Y细胞的促存活作用 ,并对细胞凋亡作用进行了检测。结果和结论 :腺病毒介导的BDNF可有效的促进感染后的SH SY5Y细胞的存活 ,生长和分化 ,并可有效的抑制无血清状态下细胞凋亡的发生     

胞外钙对豚鼠耳蜗Deiters细胞钾电流的调制

为观察胞外钙对豚鼠耳蜗单个离体Deiters细胞钾电流的调控作用并探讨其机制,实验记录了Deiters细胞在正常细胞外液和无钙外液中的全细胞钾电流(whole cell K^ currents,IK),并分析了其电生理学特性的改变。结果观察到,Deiters细胞与在正常细胞外液中相比,在祛除细胞外液中的Ca^2 后Ik电流幅值明显增加,弦电导值亦明显增加,但其平衡电位未明显改变。在无钙外液中Ik电流的反转电位向超极化方向明显移位,更接近于按照Ner-nst方程得出的K^ 理论平衡电位;而且其稳态激活曲线亦向超极化方向明显移位,但其激活趋势与正常相比无明显改变。此外,观察了Deiters细胞中钙抑制性钾电流的电流-电压关系和电导-电压关系,发现两者均呈“S”形,提示此钙抑制性钾电流可能存在2种不同的钾电导成分。由此,推测可能有两种机制参与胞外钙对Deiters细胞钾电流的调控：(1)Deiters细胞中的Ik通道可能存在一个Ca^2 敏感结构域,胞外Ca^2 可能通过改变此结构域而对Ik电流产生调制;(2)Deiters细胞中可能存在一种新型的双相门控性钾通道或钾通道耦联型受体或是一种新型的钾通道亚型,祛除胞外Ca^2 可激活此新型钾电导而对L电流产生调制。由此推测,在听觉形成过程中,胞外钙浓度下降可以对Deiters细胞的全细胞钾电流产生调制,从而更有利于Deiters细胞内K^ 外流,进而有效地缓冲外毛细胞周围的K^ 浓度：而且还可以使Deiters细胞产生更快的复极化并有利于维持其静息状态。     

二性霉素B与β-escin混合穿孔电极液在人心房肌细胞SK2电流记录中的应用

目的:为研究钙离子对人心房肌细胞小电导钙激活钾通道电流(ISK2)的调节作用,建立用二性霉素B(amphotericin B)与β-escin穿孔的膜片钳(PPR)技术。方法:体外循环术中取得右心耳,应用急性酶分离获得单个人体心房肌细胞,用二性霉素B和/或β-escin作为穿孔电极液,进行穿孔膜片钳实验,在此模式下测试钙离子对人心房肌细胞SK2电流的调控作用,并用胞内钙测试系统验证穿孔前后胞内钙变化。结果:混合使用穿孔电极液6.88μg/mlβ-escin和150μg/ml二性霉素B与单独用150μg/ml二性霉素B或6.88μg/mlβ-escin相比,前一种方法细胞容易封接,能形成稳定的穿孔膜片钳记录模式,可观察到SK2电流有激活,且胞内钙测试系统检测时可观察到穿孔后电极液至细胞内的游离钙离子浓度的增加,F340/380增强。结论:适当浓度的二性霉素B与β-escin混合使用进行穿孔膜片钳实验是一种稳定的全细胞膜片的记录技术,可以用于胞内游离钙离子对SK2电流调控的研究。     

氟对成骨细胞样细胞胞内钙和钙通道电流的影响

目的 :观察氟 (Fluoride,F-)对培养的成骨细胞样细胞胞内钙和钙通道电流的影响。方法 :应用Fura 2负载的成骨细胞样细胞 ,通过紫外荧光分光光度仪测定细胞内游离钙的浓度 ,同时应用全细胞膜片钳技术记录成骨细胞样细胞钙通道的变化。结果 :氟可引起成骨细胞样细胞胞内钙增高 ,尤以 10 0ng/mlF-最为明显 ,与对照组比较差异显著 (P <0 .0 5 )。应用全细胞膜片钳技术发现 2 5ng/mlF-即可引起成骨细胞样细胞钙通道开放 ,随着染F-剂量的增加 ,Ca2 +通道电流的幅值增大 (P <0 .0 1) ,且F-对Ca2 +通道电流的兴奋作用呈剂量依赖性 (r =0 .9914)。结论 :F-可引起成骨细胞样细胞钙通道开放 ,从而导致细胞胞内钙浓度的增加。     

心房肌胞内钙浓度变化对心房颤动患者小电导钙激活钾通道电流的影响

目的：SK通道存在于心肌细胞上,其中SK2亚型主要表达在心房。SK2通道对胞内游离钙离子高度敏感,可快速将钙离子浓度的变化转换成细胞膜电位变化。本实验应用穿孔膜片钳技术记录人心肌细胞SK2电流,观察心房肌细胞SK2电流在窦性患者和心房颤动患者之间的差别,以及电极液中不同的钙浓度对两组细胞SK2电流的影响。方法：将接受体外循环手术的患者分为两组：心房颤动组和窦性心律组。以心房肌细胞为研究对象,用穿孔膜片钳技术记录人心肌细胞电流,观察窦性组与房颤组SK2通道电流的差异以及两组细胞SK2电流对电极液中钙敏感性的不同。结果：在全细胞穿孔膜片钳模式下,电极液中游离钙离子浓度为5×10-7mol/L时,记录到房颤组SK2通道电流明显大于窦性组,尤其是在超极化水平。膜电位在-130 mV时,窦性组与房颤组的SK2通道电流密度分别为（-2.92±0.35）pA/pF（n=6）,（-6.83±0.19）pA/pF（n=3,P〈0.05）。在电极液游离钙离子浓度分别为0 mol/L、5×10-7mol/L、10-6mol/L,膜电位为-130 mV时,窦性组SK2通道电流密度分别为（-1.43±0.33）pA/pF（n=7）,（-2.92±0.35）pA/pF（n=6）,（-10.11±2.15）pA/pF（n=8,P〈0.05）;房颤组SK2通道电流密度分别为（-2.17±0.40）pA/pF（n=4）（-6.83±0.19）pA/pF（n=3）（-14.47±2.89）pA/pF（n=4）（P〈0.05）。结论：人心房肌细胞SK2通道具有电压不敏感、内向整流、apamin敏感的特性。电极液中钙浓度相同的情况下,房颤组的SK2电流密度明显大于窦性组,SK2通道电流对钙离子的敏感性高于窦性组,提示SK2通道钙敏感性增加可能与心房颤动的发生发展密切相关。     

钙依赖型蛋白激酶调节保卫细胞膜内向钾离子通道的实验证据

保卫细胞内钙离子浓度的变化对气孔保卫细胞质膜上的内向钾离子通道活性有显著调节作用,而钾离子通道活性的变化可导致细胞渗透压的改变,进而调节气孔的开闭运动。然而,钙离子通过何种机制实现对钾离子通道的调节尚不清楚。作者利用膜片钳全细胞记录方法探讨了钙依赖型蛋白激酶（ＣＤＰＫ）是否参与了钙离子调节保卫细胞钾离子通道的信号转导过程。当胞内钙离子浓度为１．５μｍｏｌ／Ｌ时,保卫细胞全细胞内向钾电流被抑制约６０％;同时加入ＣＤＰＫ的底物组蛋白ⅢＳ或ＣＤＰＫ的底物竞争性抑制剂鱼精蛋白可完全逆转钙离子的作用;但在胞内同时加入纯化的ＣＤＰＫ蛋白则可进一步促进钙离子对保卫细胞内向钾电流的抑制。研究结果初步证明,ＣＤＰＫ介导了钙离子调节保卫细胞内向钾离子通道的信号转导过程     

猪冠状动脉平滑肌细胞的自发瞬时外向电流的特性

自发瞬时外向电流（spontaneous transient outward currents,STOCs）在小动脉的肌源性调节中起着非常重要的作用。本文应用穿孔膜片钳技术记录了猪冠状动脉平滑肌细胞上的STOCs,研究了其基本特性以及调节。结果显示：STOCs有明显的电压依赖性和钙依赖性,其频率和幅度具有变异性。STOCs可以随机叠加在阶跃刺激方案和斜坡刺激方案引出的全细胞钾电流上。STOCs可被大电导钙激活钾（large-conductance Ca^2＋-activated potassium,BKCa）通道的特异性阻断剂ChTX、螯合胞外钙离子和50μmol／L ryanodine完全抑制。钙离子载体A23187可以明显增加STOCs的幅度和频率;而L型钙通道阻断剂verapamil和CdCl2对STOCs的影响很小。咖啡因使STOCs瞬时爆发性增加,然后抑制。钠离子载体可明显增加STOCs的频率;钠钙交换体选择性抑制剂KB．R7943可明显抑制STOCs。由此可以认为STOCs是BKCa通道介导的。STOCs的产生和激活依赖于经钠钙交换的钙内流和经肌浆网ryanodine受体介导的钙释放,钠钙交换可能决定钙库重载,而细胞膜下肌浆网的胞内钙释放（钙火花）所致的局部钙浓度瞬时增加激活与其相邻的BKCa通道,产生STOCs。     

急性低氧对豚鼠心室肌细胞L型钙通道的影响

应用常规膜片箝全细胞记录技术,研究心肌细胞的内向钙离子流时,钙通道的″ＲｕｎＤｏｗｎ″现象使记录时间较短,难以进行适当的实验分析。在分离的豚鼠心室肌细胞上应用制霉菌素全细胞记录技术,可减少″ＲｕｎＤｏｗｎ″现象,内向Ｌ－型钙电流可保持稳定达１００ｍｉｎ以上,显示内源性钙离子缓冲机制保持稳定。应用制霉菌素全细胞记录技术,急性低氧１０ｍｉｎ（Ｐｏ２４±０．７ｋＰａ）,Ｌ－型钙电流被抑制（钙电流峰值降低）,电压－电流曲线上移。复氧１０ｍｉｎ后,内向钙电流不能恢复,峰值低于对照水平。结果提示：急性低氧引起的心肌动作电位时程（ＡＰＤ）缩短时,不仅外向钾电流增加,而且也伴有内向钙电流的抑制过程,这些现象可能与心肌细胞的Ｌ－型钙通道的磷酸化在低氧时的部分抑制有关。     

Methadone increases intracellular calcium in SH-SY5Y and SH-EP1-halpha7 cells by activating neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors

(-)-Methadone acts as an agonist at opioid receptors. Both (+)- and (-)-enantiomers of methadone have been suggested to be potent non-competitive antagonists of alpha3beta4 neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). In the present study, we have examined interactions of methadone with nAChRs by using receptor binding assays, patch-clamp recording and calcium fluorometry imaging with SH-SY5Y cells naturally expressing alpha7 and alpha3* nAChR subtypes and SH-EP1-halpha7 cells heterologously expressing human alpha7 nAChRs. Methadone potently inhibited binding of [3H]methyllycaconitine to alpha7 nAChRs and that of [3H]epibatidine to alpha3* nAChRs. Methadone pretreatment induced up-regulation of epibatidine binding sites in SH-SY5Y cells. Using whole-cell patch-clamp recording, both isomers of methadone activated cation currents via mecamylamine-sensitive nAChRs in SH-SY5Y cells. Nicotine and both (+)- and (-)-methadone evoked increases in [Ca2+]i in both fluo-3AM loaded cell lines, and these effects were blocked by mecamylamine and by the alpha7 selective antagonist methyllycaconitine, suggesting effects of methadone as alpha7-nAChR agonist. Sensitivity of sustained nicotine and methadone effects to blockade by CdCl2, ryanodine and xestospongin-c implicates voltage-operated Ca2+ channels and intracellular Ca2+ stores as downstream modulators of elevated [Ca2+]i. Collectively, our results suggest that methadone engages in complex and potentially pharmacologically significant interactions with nAChRs.     

溴氰菊酯对神经细胞钙通道和 钙库的激活作用

应用膜片钳全细胞记录方式和显微荧光测钙技术,以MN9D神经细胞为材料研究了溴氰菊酯的作用机理。低浓度(10^-9 mol/L～10^-7 mol/L)溴氰菊酯就能使神经细胞Ca²⁺电流显著增加。10^-9 mol/L,1 min时电流增加平均值为20.64%,5 min时为15.48%,表明溴氰菊酯能激活高电位激活钙通道(L型和N型),促使Ca²⁺内流,显微荧光测定细胞内自由钙离子浓度（［Ca²⁺］_I）发现,在含Ca²⁺和无Ca²⁺的胞外液中,溴氰菊酯均能使胞内自由钙离子数量增加,表明它能刺激胞内钙库释放Ca²⁺。［Ca²⁺］_I升高对细胞功能影响很大。     

Use of 1,2-Bis(2-Amino-5-Fluorophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N'',N''-Tetraacetic Acid (5FBAPTA) in the Measurement of Free Intracellular Calcium in the Brain by 19F-Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

We have applied the 19F-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) calcium indicator 1,2-bis(2-amino-5-fluoro-phenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (5FBAPTA) to the measurement of the free intracellular calcium concentration [( Ca2+]i) in superfused brain slices. A mean +/- SD control value of 380 +/- 71 nM (n = 18) was obtained at 37 degrees C using 2.4 mM extracellular Ca2+. Subcellular fractionation studies using [3H]5FBAPTA showed that after loading of its tetraacetoxymethyl ester, approximately 55% was de-esterified, with the other 45% remaining as the tetraester bound to membranes. Of the de-esterified 5FBAPTA, greater than 90% was in the cytosolic fractions, with less than 1% in the mitochondria or microsomes. The NMR-visible de-esterified 5FBAPTA slowly disappeared from the tissue with a t1/2 of 4 h. A time course after loading confirmed that the calculated [Ca2+]i was constant over a 5-h period, although the scatter of individual results was +/- 20%. The [Ca2+]i was increased by a high extracellular K+ concentration ([K+]e), by a low extracellular concentration of Na+, and by the calcium ionophore A23187. On recovery from high [K+]e, the [Ca2+]i "overshot" to values lower than the original control value. The [Ca2+]i was surpisingly resistant to changes in extracellular Ca2+ concentration.     

Endothelin depolarizes membrane voltage and increases intracellular calcium concentration in human ciliary muscle cells

The ciliary muscle which is involved in accommodation and regulation of aqueous humour outflow resistance resembles smooth muscle in other parts of the body. In the present investigation we used an established primary cell line (H7CM) to study the effects of endothelin, a novel vasoconstrictor peptide, on membrane voltage (V) and intracellular calcium in cultured human ciliary muscle cells. Membrane voltage was measured in confluent monolayers of H7CM cells using conventional microelectrodes. Intracellular calcium concentration [( Ca]i) was measured in single H7CM cells using the fluorescent calcium indicator fura-2. Under resting conditions V averaged -66.9 +/- 0.7 mV (mean +/- SEM, n = 125). Endothelin (10(-10)-10(-6)M) induced a dose-dependent reversible membrane voltage depolarization and a dose-dependent rise in [Ca]i. The initial calcium peak was followed by a recovery phase during which oscillations of [Ca]i occurred. The initial calcium peak was not dependent on the presence of extracellular calcium and was not abolished in the presence of the calcium antagonist verapamil (10(-4)M). Thus it is probably mediated by a release of calcium from intracellular reservoirs. We conclude that cultured human ciliary muscle cells express a functional endothelin receptor.     

大鼠全脑缺血后海马CA1区锥体神经元L型钙通道电流的改变(英文)

已有研究表明在脑缺血期间及再灌流后早期,海马CA1锥体神经元细胞内钙浓度明显升高,这一钙超载被认为是缺血性脑损伤的重要机制之一.电压依赖性钙通道是介导正常CA1神经元钙内流的主要途径.实验观察了脑缺血再灌流后早期海马CA1锥体神经元电压依赖性L型钙通道的变化.以改良的四血管闭塞法制作大鼠 15min前脑缺血模型,在急性分离的海马CA1神经元上,采用膜片钳细胞贴附式记录L型电压依赖性钙通道电流.脑缺血后CA1神经元L型钙通道的总体平均电流明显增大,这是由于通道的开放概率增加所致.进一步分析单通道动力学显示,脑缺血后通道的开放时间变长,通道的开放频率增大.研究结果提示L型钙通道功能活动增强可能参与了缺血后海马CA1锥体神经元的细胞内钙浓度升高     

Exocytotic Release of [3H]-Acetylcholine by Ouabain Involves Intracellular Ca2+ Stores in Rat Brain Cortical Slices

1. The effect of ouabain on the release of [3H]acetylcholine ([3H]ACh) in rat brain cortical slices was investigated. 2. The ouabain-induced release of [3H]ACh was calcium-independent and not blocked by EGTA. 3. BAPTA-AM, a chelator of intracellular calcium, inhibited the ouabain effect suggesting the involvement of intracellular calcium stores. 4. Vesamicol, a drug that blocks the storage of acetylcholine in synaptic vesicles inhibited by 73% the ouabain-induced release of [3H] ACh, suggesting exocytotic release of the neurotransmitter. 5. Dantrolene and tetracaine, inhibitors of ryanodine and InP3 receptors, inhibited by 57 and 66% respectively, the ouabain-elicited release of [3H]ACh in brain cortical slices. 6. Confocal microscopy and calcium imaging showed that ouabain increased the levels of [Ca2+]i in cholinergic SN56 cells and that this increase was concentrated in the cell soma. 7. In conclusion, we suggested that ouabain causes Ca2+ release from intracellular stores that can increase [3H] ACh exocytosis from rat brain cortical slices.     

Transmembrane-mediated changes in [Ca2+] are involved in the signaling pathway leading to macrophage cytocidal differentiation: implications of localized changes in intracellular [Ca2+] and of interferon priming on Ca2+ utilization.

Macrophage cytocidal activation requires the sequential impingement on the macrophage of a priming stimulus (interferon [IFN] alpha, beta, or gamma) and a triggering stimulus (such as polyinosinic acid:polycytidylic acid [poly [I:C]] or bacterial lipopolysaccharide). The mechanism of progression from the IFN-primed state to the cytocidal state is poorly understood. By quantifying the level of expression of a gene product (complement component factor B [Bf]) associated with cytocidal activation and through the use of phenotypically distinct populations of macrophages (unprimed and IFN-primed), we have investigated the functional necessity of changes in intracellular concentration of free calcium ions ([Ca2+]i) in signaling the transition from the primed to the cytocidal state. Elevating the [Ca2+]i by incubation of unprimed macrophages with the calcium ionophore, ionomycin, failed to induce the expression of Bf. By contrast, Bf was expressed at high levels when IFN-primed macrophages were exposed to ionomycin, suggesting that priming induced within the macrophages the capacity to respond to a nonspecific change in [Ca2+]i. Quantification of the [Ca2+]i in response to exposure to ionomycin revealed an initial transient elevation, followed by a secondary sustained component. No differences in these changes were observed between unprimed and IFN-primed macrophages. We therefore questioned if changes in [Ca2+]i were also implicated in the transition between the primed and the cytocidal state using the ligand, poly [I:C]. In contrast to ionomycin, incubation of IFN-primed macrophages with poly [I:C] did not sustain measurable increases in [Ca2+]i, yet fully stimulated the transition from the IFN primed to the cytocidal state. However, incubation of IFN-primed macrophages with poly [I:C] in the presence of 1) a Ca2+/ethylene glycol-bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid buffer calculated to clamp the extracellular concentration of free calcium ions to a value approximately equal to the resting [Ca2+]i; 2) the calcium channel blocker verapamil; or 3) the intracellular Ca2+ antagonists (W-7, W-13, and TMB-8) substantially inhibited the induction of Bf. Collectively, these data support the following conclusions. First, that changes in [Ca2+]i comprise an important element in the induction of progression from the IFN-primed to the cytocidal state. Second, the failure to detect global changes in [Ca2+]i in response to the ligand, poly [I:C], suggests that changes in [Ca2+]i or Ca2+ movement may occur in either a spatially restricted or in an asynchronous cyclical fashion and are not detected by population fluorescence measurements. Third, the source of the relevant Ca2+ is extracellular. Fourth, our findings suggest that priming influences macrophage functional responses at a locus that is distal to the changes in [Ca2+]i, thereby potentially allowing signaling processes to be utilized to initiate different cellular responses.     

麦芽酚对活性氧损伤人神经瘤细胞的保护作用

以人神经瘤细胞株 (SH SY5Y)为材料 ,使用过氧化氢 (H2 O2 )产生过量活性氧诱导SH SY5Y细胞株进入氧化应激状态 .研究麦芽酚对过量活性氧造成的SH SY5Y细胞株氧化损伤的保护作用 .分析活性氧对细胞膜蛋白和DNA的损伤 ,细胞线粒体功能变化 ,白介素 6 (IL 6 )的表达变化以及细胞核因子κB(NF κB)的激活 .结果显示 ,2mmol L麦芽酚保护细胞 2h后 ,对细胞膜蛋白和DNA的损伤均有明显的保护作用 ,减少了膜蛋白的氧化和细胞DNA片段化的形成 ,细胞线粒体功能损伤减小 ,细胞表达的IL 6减少 ,被激活的NF κB水平同时降低 .结果证明 ,麦芽酚可以有效保护活性氧对神经细胞的氧化损伤 ,维持细胞的正常生理功能     

Modulation of intracellular calcium changes and glutamate release by neuropeptide Y1 and Y2 receptors in the rat hippocampus: differential effects in CA1, CA3 and dentate gyrus

In the present work, we investigated the role of pre- and post-synaptic neuropeptide Y1 (NPY1) and Y2 receptors on the calcium responses and on glutamate release in the rat hippocampus. In cultured hippocampal neurones, we observed that only NPY1 receptors are involved in the modulation of intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)). In 88% of the neurones analysed, the increase in the [Ca(2+)](i), in response to depolarization with 50 mM KCl, was inhibited by 1 microM [Leu31,Pro34]NPY, whereas 300 nM NPY13-36 was without effect. However, studies with hippocampal synaptosomes showed that both NPY1 and Y2 receptors can modulate the [Ca(2+)](i) and glutamate release. The pharmacological characterization of the NPY-induced inhibition of glutamate release indicated that Y2 receptors play a predominant role, both in the modulation of Ca(2+)-dependent and -independent glutamate release. However, we could distinguish between Y1 and Y2 receptors by using [Leu31,Pro34]NPY and NPY13-36. Active pre-synaptic Y1 receptors are present in the dentate gyrus (DG) as well as in the CA3 subregion, but its activity was not revealed by using the endogenous agonist, NPY. Concerning the Y2 receptors, they are present in the three subregions (CA1, CA3 and DG) and were activated by either NPY13-36 or NPY. The present data support a predominant role for NPY2 receptors in mediating NPY-induced inhibition of glutamate release in the hippocampus, but the physiological relevance of the presently described DG and CA3 pre-synaptic NPY1 receptors remains to be clarified.