Effects of dihydropyridine calcium antagonists on rat midbrain dopaminergic neurones
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Key result
Bath-applied nifedipine and nimodipine inhibited the spontaneous firing discharge of action potentials in rat midbrain dopaminergic neurones in a concentration-dependent manner.
Why the study?
Do dihydropyridine calcium antagonists affect the spontaneous firing and action potential shape in rat midbrain dopaminergic neurones?
Population
54 dopaminergic cells from Albino Wistar rats in vitro.
Comparison
Bath applied nifedipine and nimodipine vs Control conditions
Design
Preclinical
Authors
Discussion
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Implication
Dihydropyridines may reduce midbrain dopaminergic firing in rodents; leaves open any clinical relevance or human translation.
Structured PICO
Do dihydropyridine calcium antagonists affect the spontaneous firing and action potential shape in rat midbrain dopaminergic neurones?
P
Population
54 dopaminergic cells isolated from the ventral mesencephalon of albino Wistar rats studied in vitro.
I
Intervention
Bath applied nifedipine and nimodipine (300 nM-30 microM)
C
Comparator
Control conditions (baseline before drug application)
O
Outcome
Spontaneous firing discharge of action potentials and shape of the action potentialsurrogate
Dihydropyridine calcium antagonists depress the rhythmic and bursting activity of dopaminergic cells and shorten the calcium action potential by blocking high-threshold calcium currents.
Limitations
- In vitro study on animal tissue, which may not fully translate to in vivo human physiology
- Did not systematically examine the effects of a wide range of nimodipine concentrations
Cite This Study
Mercuri et al. (1994) studied Normal rat midbrain dopaminergic neurones (in vitro) (n=54). Nifedipine and nimodipine vs. Control (baseline/washout) was evaluated on Spontaneous firing discharge of action potentials. Bath-applied nifedipine and nimodipine inhibited the spontaneous firing discharge of action potentials in rat midbrain dopaminergic neurones in a concentration-dependent manner.
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