Electrophysiological actions of N-[1-[4-(4-fluorophenoxy)butyl]-4-piperidinyl]-N-methyl-2-benzothiazolamin (R56865) on CA1 neurons of the rat hippocampal slice during hypoxia

The electrophysiological effects of N[1-[4-(4-fluorophenoxy)butyl]-4-piperi didinyl]-N-methyl-2-benzothiazolamine (R56865), a drug which protects heart cells from ischemia-induced arrhythmias, was studied on intracellularly-re corded CA1 neurons of the rat hippocampal slice under normal or hypoxic con ditions. On normoxic cells R56865 (1 mu M) reduced firing accommodation wit hout changing passive membrane properties, spike characteristics or synapti c transmission. On hypoxic cells R56865 selectively reduced the amplitude o f hypoxia-induced membrane depolarization and partly counteracted the depre ssion of synaptic transmission evoked by Schaffers col lateral stimulation. Despite its influence on repetitive firing properties, R56865 might be use ful to limit the extent of cellular depolarizing responses to hypoxia. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.