Methylcobalamin induces a long-lasting enhancement of the field potential in rat suprachiasmatic nucleus slices

Yukiko Nishikawa, Shigenobu Shibata*, Takao Shimazoe, Shigenori Watanabe

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Optic nerve stimulation has been reported to evoke a field potential (FP) in rat suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) slices. Methylcobalamin,δ-(5,6-dymethylbenzimidazolyl)-Co-methyl-cobamide (Me-B12) enhanced this FP and the enhancement lasted more than 1 h after washing out. Maximal enhancement (143.6 ± 9.8%) was achieved at a concentration of 10 μM. By contrast, cyanocobalamin containing CN- instead of CH3- showed no enhancement of the amplitude in the FP. Me-B12 induced enhhncement of FP was strongly blocked by an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, DL-2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (APV). These results indicate that CH3- in the Me-B12 is required to modulate the FP amplitude and the NMDA receptor is involved in the long-lasting FP enhancement induced by Me-B12. The present results suggest that Me-B12 modifies the photic entrainment of the circadian clock in the suprachiasmatic nucleus via an activation of NMDA receptors.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)199-202
Number of pages4
JournalNeuroscience Letters
Volume220
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1996 Dec 20

Keywords

  • Circadian rhythm
  • Methylcobalamin
  • N-Methyl-D-aspartate
  • Retinohypothalamic tract
  • Suprachiasmatic nucleus

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neuroscience(all)

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