GHRH and IL1β increase cytoplasmic Ca2+ levels in cultured hypothalamic GABAergic neurons

GHRH and IL1beta regulate steep via the hypothalamus. However, actions of these substances on neurons are poorly understood. In this study, we found both GHRH (100 nM) and IL1beta (1.2 pM) acutely increased cytosolic Ca2+ in 7.6 and 4.0% of cultured hypothalamic neurons tested, respectively, and 1.2% of neurons responded to both. The neurons that responded were mostly GABAergic (96, 81, and 100%, for GHRH, IL1beta, and dual-responsive neurons, respectively). (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.