THE INFLUENCE OF (+ -)-KAVAIN ON POPULATION SPIKES AND LONG-TERM POTENTIATION IN GUINEA-PIG HIPPOCAMPAL SLICES/

Little is known about the mechanisms of action of kava pyrones which a re the pharmacological active compounds of the plant Piper methysticum Forst. We investigated the effects of the synthetic kava pyrone (+/-) -kavain on long-term potentiation (LTP) in the CA1-region of guinea pi g hippocampal slices. (+/-)-Kavain reduced the amplitudes of extracell ular field potential changes evoked by electrical stimulation in a con centration dependent manner. These effects were reversible. In experim ents with LTP no changes were found in the presence of (+/-)-kavain. I n conclusion, our findings suggest (+/-)-kavain to be an effective dru g in modulating excitatory signals in the hippocampus of guinea pigs. Additionally, no alterations on synaptic plasticity in hippocampal neu rons for this kava pyrone can be presumed. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science I nc. All rights reserved.