Purinergic modulation of synaptic input to Purkinje neurons in rat cerebellar brain slices.

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is a cotransmitter and an extracellular neuromodulator in nervous systems, and it influences neural circuits and synaptic strength. We have studied a stimulating effect of ATP (100 micro m) on the synaptic input of Purkinje neurons in acute cerebellar brain slices of juvenile rats (p14-19). Bath application of ATP increased the frequency of spontaneous postsynaptic currents (sPSCs) almost twofold, and increased their amplitude.