Neurohypophysial peptides selectively depressed high voltage-activated Ca-current in snail neurons.

It was found that neurohypophysial peptides oxytocin and Lys-vasopressin selectively decreased the high voltage-activated component of the inward Ca-current in voltage-clamped Helix pomatia identified neurons in a dose- and time-dependent manner. This effect was unaffected or further enhanced applying phosphodiesterases inhibitors. It is suggested that suppression of high voltage-activated current was due to the activation of the adenylate cyclase system, likely protein kinase A.