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Michael G Kozoriz

Publications and source records attributed to Michael G Kozoriz.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

Galanin modulates neuronal and synaptic properties in the rat supraoptic nucleus in a use and state dependent manner.

The magnocellular neurons of the hypothalamic supraoptic nucleus (SON) synthesize and secrete oxytocin (OXT) and vasopressin (AVP) from their dendrites. These peptides, and several other neurotransmitters, have been shown to modulate afferent glutamatergic neurotransmission in the SON. The neuropeptide, galanin (GAL) is also localized in SON magnocellular neurons and in afferent fibers in the nucleus. We show that GAL dose-dependently reduces evoked excitatory postsynaptic currents (eEPSCs), alters paired pulse ratio and decreases mEPSC frequency, but not amplitude or decay kinetics in both OXT and AVP neurons. GAL therefore modulates excitatory neurotransmission at a likely presynaptic receptor. Neither OXT/AVP, GABA(B) nor cannabinoid antagonists blocked this effect. A GAL2/3 agonist mimicked GAL's action while GAL1 antagonist did not block GAL's effect, suggesting that GAL2/3 receptors mediate the presynaptic effect. In nondehydrated rats GAL causes a small postsynaptic response, as assessed by input resistance measurements. When the rats were water deprived for 2 days the presynaptic response to GAL was unaltered; however, the postsynaptic decrease in input resistance and hyperpolarization was increased, an effect consistent with a previously described increase in GAL1 receptor expression in dehydration. A GAL1 receptor antagonist blocked the postsynaptic effects. Last, when a train of eEPSCs was elicited, GAL was found to inhibit the earlier events in a train but not the latter. This indicates that GAL may modulate a single synaptic event more effectively than trains of synaptic inputs, thereby acting as a high-pass filter.

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Vasopressin differentially modulates non-NMDA receptors in vasopressin and oxytocin neurons in the supraoptic nucleus.

Magnocellular neurons of the supraoptic nucleus release the neuropeptides oxytocin and vasopressin from their dendrites to regulate their synaptic inputs. This study aims to determine the cellular mechanism by which vasopressin modulates excitatory synaptic transmission. Presumably by electroporation through perforated patch, we were able to successfully introduce biocytin into cells in which we performed an electrophysiological study. This method enabled us to determine that roughly half of the recorded neurons were immunoreactive to oxytocin-associated neurophysin and showed two characteristic features: an inward rectification and a sustained outward rectification. The remaining half showed a linear voltage-current relationship and was immunoreactive to vasopressin-associated neurophysin. Using these electrophysiological characteristics and post hoc immunohistochemistry to identify vasopressin or oxytocin neurons, we found that vasopressin decreased evoked EPSCs in vasopressin neurons while increasing EPSCs in oxytocin neurons. In both types of neurons, EPSC decay constants were not affected, indicating that desensitization of non-NMDA receptors did not underlie the EPSC amplitude change. In vasopressin neurons, both vasopressin and a V1a receptor agonist, F-180, decreased AMPA-induced currents, an effect blocked by a V1a receptor antagonist SR49059. In oxytocin neurons, AMPA-induced currents were facilitated by vasopressin, whereas F-180 had no effect. An oxytocin receptor antagonist blocked the facilitatory effect of vasopressin. Thus, we conclude that vasopressin inhibits EPSCs in vasopressin neurons via postsynaptic V1a receptors, whereas it facilitates EPSCs in oxytocin neurons through oxytocin receptors.

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