We previously reported that adrenomedullin (AM) decreases blood pressure following microinjection into the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) of the rat. With the use of whole cell recordings in rat hypothalamic slice preparations, we characterized the effects of AM on electrophysiologically identified PVN neurons and described the membrane events underlying such actions.

AM hyperpolarized magnocellular (type I) neurons in a dose-dependent manner, a response associated with an increase in the frequency and amplitude of inhibitory postsynaptic potentials. Blockade of action potentials with tetrodotoxin (TTX) abolished AM effects on membrane potential and synaptic activity in magnocellular neurons, suggesting direct actions on inhibitory interneurons. Furthermore, blockade of inhibitory synaptic transmission with the GABA_A receptor antagonist bicuculline methiodide also abolished AM effects on membrane potential in magnocellular neurons. In contrast, parvocellular (type II) neurons depolarized following AM receptor activation. AM effects on parvocellular neurons were dose dependent and were maintained in the presence of TTX, indicating direct effects on this population of neurons. Voltage-clamp recordings from parvocellular neurons showed AM enhances a nonselective cationic conductance, suggesting a potential mechanism through which AM influences membrane potential.

These observations show clear population-specific actions of AM on separate identified groups of PVN neurons. Such effects on magnocellular neurons likely contribute to the hypotensive actions of this peptide in PVN. Although the effects on parvocellular neurons may also contribute to such cardiovascular effects of AM, it is more likely that actions on this population of PVN neurons underlie the previously demonstrated activational effects of AM on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.