Department of Physiology, Institute of Basic Medicine, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, China

Abstract 

Objective 
To study the central role of ginkgolide B (BN52021) in regulating cardiovascular function of nerve center by examining the effects of ginkgolide B on the electrical activity of rat paraventricular nucleus (PVN) neurons in hypothalamic slice preparation and to elucidate the mechanism involved. 
Methods 
Extracellular single-unit discharge recording technique. 
Results 
(1) In response to the application of ginkgolide B (0.1, 1, 10 μmol/L; n = 27) into the perfusate for 2 min, the spontaneous discharge rates (SDR) of 26 (26/27, 96.30%) neurons were significantly decreased in a dose-dependent manner. (2) Pretreatment with L-glutamate (L-Glu, 0.2 mmol/L) led to a marked increase in the SDR of all 8 (100%) neurons in an epileptiform pattern. The increased discharges were suppressed significantly after ginkgolide B (1 μmol/L) was applied into the perfusate for 2 min. (3) In 8 neurons, perfusion of the selective L-type calcium channel agonist, Bay K 8644 (0.1 μmol/L), induced a significant increase in the discharge rates of 8 (8/8, 100%) neurons, while ginkgolide B (1 μmol/L) applied into the perfusate, could inhibit the discharges of 8 (100%) neurons. (4) In 8 neurons, the broad potassium channels blocker, tetraethylammonium (TEA, 1 mmol/L) completely blocked the inhibitory effect of ginkgolide B (1 μmol/L). 
Conclusion 
These Results suggest that ginkgolide B can inhibit the electrical activity of paraventricular neurons. The inhibitory effect may be related to the blockade of L-type voltage-activated calcium channel and potentially concerned with delayed rectifier potassium channel (KDR).

Keywords

paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus; ginkgolide B; L-glutamate; Bay K 8644; TEA

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