A-type potassium current modulated by A1 adenosine receptor in frog melanotrophs

Differential modulation of repetitive firing and synchronous network activity in neocortical interneurons by inhibition of A-type K(+) channels and Ih

GABAergic interneurons provide the main source of inhibition in the neocortex and are important in regulating neocortical network activity. In the presence 4-aminopyridine (4-AP), CNQX, and D-APV, large amplitude GABAA-receptor mediated depolarizing responses were observed in the neocortex. GABAergic networks are comprised of several types of interneurons, each with its own protein expression pattern, firing properties, and inhibitory role in network activity. Voltage-gated ion channels, especially A-type K(+) channels, differentially regulate passive membrane properties, action potential (AP) waveform, and repetitive firing properties in interneurons depending on their composition and localization. HCN channels are known modulators of pyramidal cell intrinsic excitability and excitatory network activity. Little information is available regarding how HCN channels functionally modulate excitability of individual interneurons and inhibitory networks. In this study, we examined the effect of 4-AP on intrinsic excitability of fast-spiking basket cells (FS-BCs) and Martinotti cells (MCs). 4-AP increased the duration of APs in both FS-BCs and MCs. The repetitive firing properties of MCs were differentially affected compared to FS-BCs. We also examined the effect of Ih inhibition on synchronous GABAergic depolarizations and synaptic integration of depolarizing IPSPs. ZD 7288 enhanced the amplitude and area of evoked GABAergic responses in both cell types. Similarly, the frequency and area of spontaneous GABAergic depolarizations in both FS-BCs and MCs were increased in presence of ZD 7288. Synaptic integration of IPSPs in MCs was significantly enhanced, but remained unaltered in FS-BCs. These results indicate that 4-AP differentially alters the firing properties of interneurons, suggesting MCs and FS-BCs may have unique roles in GABAergic network synchronization. Enhancement of GABAergic network synchronization by ZD 7288 suggests that HCN channels attenuate inhibitory network activity.

Physiological characterization of formyl peptide receptor expressing cells in the mouse vomeronasal organ

The mouse vomeronasal organ (VNO) is a chemosensory structure that detects both hetero- and conspecific social cues. Based on largely monogenic expression of either type 1 or 2 vomeronasal receptors (V1Rs/V2Rs) or members of the formyl peptide receptor (FPR) family, the vomeronasal sensory epithelium harbors at least three neuronal subpopulations. While various neurophysiological properties of both V1R- and V2R-expressing neurons have been described using genetically engineered mouse models, the basic biophysical characteristics of the more recently identified FPR-expressing vomeronasal neurons have not been studied. Here, we employ a transgenic mouse strain that coexpresses an enhanced variant of yellow fluorescent protein together with FPR-rs3 allowing to identify and analyze FPR-rs3-expressing neurons in acute VNO tissue slices. Single neuron electrophysiological recordings allow comparative characterization of the biophysical properties inherent to a prototypical member of the FPR-expressing subpopulation of VNO neurons. In this study, we provide an in-depth analysis of both passive and active membrane properties, including detailed characterization of several types of voltage-activated conductances and action potential discharge patterns, in fluorescently labeled vs. unmarked vomeronasal neurons. Our results reveal striking similarities in the basic (electro) physiological architecture of both transgene-expressing and non-expressing neurons, confirming the suitability of this genetically engineered mouse model for future studies addressing more specialized issues in vomeronasal FPR neurobiology.

Ion channels and signaling in the pituitary gland

Endocrine pituitary cells are neuronlike; they express numerous voltage-gated sodium, calcium, potassium, and chloride channels and fire action potentials spontaneously, accompanied by a rise in intracellular calcium. In some cells, spontaneous electrical activity is sufficient to drive the intracellular calcium concentration above the threshold for stimulus-secretion and stimulus-transcription coupling. In others, the function of these action potentials is to maintain the cells in a responsive state with cytosolic calcium near, but below, the threshold level. Some pituitary cells also express gap junction channels, which could be used for intercellular Ca(2+) signaling in these cells. Endocrine cells also express extracellular ligand-gated ion channels, and their activation by hypothalamic and intrapituitary hormones leads to amplification of the pacemaking activity and facilitation of calcium influx and hormone release. These cells also express numerous G protein-coupled receptors, which can stimulate or silence electrical activity and action potential-dependent calcium influx and hormone release. Other members of this receptor family can activate calcium channels in the endoplasmic reticulum, leading to a cell type-specific modulation of electrical activity. This review summarizes recent findings in this field and our current understanding of the complex relationship between voltage-gated ion channels, ligand-gated ion channels, gap junction channels, and G protein-coupled receptors in pituitary cells.

Citrobacter rodentium colitis evokes post-infectious hyperexcitability of mouse nociceptive colonic dorsal root ganglion neurons

To investigate the possible contribution of peripheral sensory mechanisms to abdominal pain following infectious colitis, we examined whether the Citrobacter rodentium mouse model of human E. coli infection caused hyperexcitability of nociceptive colonic dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons and whether these changes persisted following recovery from infection. Mice were gavaged with C. rodentium or distilled water. Perforated patch clamp recordings were obtained from acutely dissociated Fast Blue labelled colonic DRG neurons and afferent nerve recordings were obtained from colonic afferents during ramp colonic distensions. Recordings were obtained on day 10 (acute infection) and day 30 (infection resolved). Following gavage, colonic weights, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, stool cultures, and histological scoring established that infection caused colitis at day 10 which resolved by day 30 in most tissues. Electrophysiological recordings at day 10 demonstrated hyperexcitability of colonic DRG neurons (40% mean decrease in rheobase, P = 0.02; 50% mean increase in action potential discharge at twice rheobase, P = 0.02). At day 30, the increase in action potential discharge persisted (approximately 150% increase versus control; P = 0.04). In voltage clamp studies, transient outward (I(A)) and delayed rectifier (I(K)) currents were suppressed at day 10 and I(A) currents remained suppressed at day 30. Colonic afferent nerve recordings during colonic distension demonstrated enhanced firing at day 30 in infected animals. These studies demonstrate that acute infectious colitis evokes hyperexcitability of colonic DRG neurons which persists following resolution of the infection and that suppression of I(A) currents may play a role. Together, these findings suggest that peripheral pain mechanisms could contribute to post-infectious symptoms in conditions such as post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome.

Dual mechanisms of angiotensin-induced activation of mouse sympathetic neurones

Ang II directly activates neurones in sympathetic ganglia. Our goal was to define the electrophysiological basis of this activation. Neurones from mouse aortic-renal and coeliac ganglia were identified as either 'tonic' or 'phasic'. With injections of depolarizing currents, action potentials (APs) were abundant and sustained in tonic neurones (TNs) and scarce or absent in phasic neurones (PNs). Resting membrane potentials were equivalent in TNs (-48 +/- 2 mV, n = 18) and PNs (-48 +/- 1 mV, n = 23) while membrane resistance was significantly higher in TNs. Ang II depolarized and increased membrane resistance equally in both TNs (n = 8) and PNs (n = 8) but it induced APs only in TNs, and enhanced current-evoked APs much more markedly in TNs (P < 0.05). The AT1 receptor antagonist losartan (2 microm, n = 6) abolished all responses to Ang II, whereas the AT2 receptor blocker PD123,319 had no effect. The transient K+ current (IA), which was more than twice as large in TNs as in PNs, was significantly inhibited by Ang II in TNs only whereas the delayed sustained K+ current (IK), which was comparable in both TNs and PNs, was not inhibited. M currents were more prominent in PNs and were inhibited by Ang II. The IA channel blocker 4-aminopyridine triggered AP generation in TNs and prevented the Ang II-induced APs but not the depolarization. Blockade of M currents by oxotremorine M or linopirdine prevented the depolarizing action of Ang II. The protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor H7 (10 microm, n = 9) also prevented the Ang II-induced inhibition of IA and the generation APs but not the depolarization nor the inhibition of M currents. Conversely, the PKC agonist phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate mimicked the Ang II effects by triggering APs. The results indicate that Ang II may increase AP generation in sympathetic neurones by inducing a PKC-dependent inhibition of IA currents, and a PKC-independent depolarization through inhibition of M currents. The differential expression of various K+ channels and their sensitivity to phosphorylation by PKC may determine the degree of activation of sympathetic neurones and hence may influence the severity of the hypertensive response.

Diclofenac, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, activates the transient outward K+ current in rat cerebellar granule cells

Diclofenac, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), has been widely investigated in terms of its pharmacological action, but less is known about its direct effect on ion channels. Here, the effect of diclofenac on voltage-dependent transient outward K+ currents (I(A)) in cultured rat cerebellar granule cells was investigated using the whole-cell voltage-clamp technique. At concentrations of 10(-5)-10(-3) M, diclofenac reversibly increased the I(A) amplitude in a dose-dependent manner and significantly modulated the steady-state inactivation properties of the I(A) channels, but did not alter the steady-state activation properties. Furthermore, diclofenac treatment resulted in a slightly accelerated recovery from I(A) channel inactivation. Intracellular application of diclofenac could mimic the effects induced by extracellular application, although once the intracellular response reached a plateau, extracellular application of diclofenac could induce further increases in the current. These observations indicate that diclofenac might exert its effects on the channel protein at both the inner and outer sides of the cell membrane. Our data provide the first evidence that diclofenac is able to activate transient outward potassium channels in neurons. Although further work will be necessary to define the exact mechanism of diclofenac-induced I(A) channel activation, this study provides evidence that the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, diclofenac, may play a novel neuronal role that is worthy of future study.

Ca(2+)-inactivated K+ current is modulated by endothelin-1 in B-16 murine melanoma cells

It is well established that endothelin-1 (ET-1) plays a role in differentiation and proliferation in a variety of cells such as fibroblasts and human melanoma cells via a receptor-mediated mechanism. However, whether ET-1 modulates ion channel activity in these cell types is still unknown. In this report, we recorded the voltage-dependent outward K+ current in cultured B16 melanoma cells using the patch-clamp technique. Biophysical and pharmacological properties of the K+ current, and the effect of ET-1 on the K+ current were investigated. When cells were loaded with a Ca(2+)-chelating agent (EGTA or BAPTA), the K+ current amplitude gradually increased with time after establishment of the whole cell configuration. Replacement of Ca2+ with Co2+ in the extracellular medium caused no significant modulation of the K+ current amplitude. Addition of BaCl2 or quinidine to the extracellular solution reduced the K+ current amplitude, whereas the K+ current was insensitive to tetraethylammonium. ET-1 (10 nM) reversibly decreased the K+ current amplitude and accelerated the decay of the K+ current. The ET-1-induced inhibitory effect displayed no desensitization following repeated ET-1 application. Pretreatment with pertussis toxin (PTX) or perfusion of cells with the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor H-7 abolished the inhibitory effect of ET-1 on the K+ current. We conclude that the outward K+ current recorded in murine B-16 melanoma cells represents a Ca(2+)-inactivated K+ current, and that the inhibitory effect of ET-1 on the K+ current may reveal a novel mechanism to control the differentiation and proliferation of melanoma cells.

Luzindole, a melatonin receptor antagonist, inhibits the transient outward K+ current in rat cerebellar granule cells

The inhibitory effect of the melatonin receptor antagonist luzindole on voltage-activated transient outward K(+) current (I(K(A))) was investigated in cultured rat cerebellar granule cells using the whole cell voltage-clamp technique. At the concentration of 1 microM to 1 mM, luzindole reversibly inhibited I(K(A)) in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition to reducing the current amplitude of I(K(A)),luzindole accelerated the fast inactivation of I(K(A)) channels and shifted the curves of voltage-dependent steady-state activation and inactivation of I(K(A)) by +6.6 mV and -7.0 mV, respectively. The inhibitory effect of luzindole was neither use-dependent nor voltage-dependent, suggesting that the binding affinity of luzindole to I(K(A)) channels is state-dependent. Including luzindole in the pipette solution, or extracellular application of 4 P-PDOT, an antagonist of melatonin receptors, did not change the luzindole-induced inhibitory effect on the I(K(A)) current, indicating that luzindole exerts its channel blocking inhibitory action at the extracellular mouth of the channel, and that the effect is not due to action of the melatonin receptors. Our data are the first demonstration that luzindole is able to block transient outward K(+) channels in rat cerebellar granule cells in a state-dependent manner, likely associated with extracellular interaction of the drug with the I(K(A)) inactivation gate.

TGF-beta1 induces the expression of fast inactivating K+ (I(A)) channels in rat vascular myofibroblasts

It is well established that transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) can induce the transformation of fibroblasts to myofibroblasts. The molecular mechanisms of the phenotypic change remain unknown. The effect of TGF-beta1 on the expression of K(+) channels in cultured rat vascular fibroblasts was investigated by using the patch-clamp technique and quantitative RT-PCR. In fibroblasts, the only voltage-dependent outward K(+) current that can be electrophysiologically detected is non-inactivating. In myofibroblasts, induced by the treatment of fibroblasts with TGF-beta1, we report the emergence of an additional transient outward K(+) current The TGF-beta1-induced outward current is inhibited by 4-aminopyridine. K(V2.1), the transcript for a non-inactivating potassium channel gene, was detected by quantitative RT-PCT in both cultured fibroblasts and myofibroblasts. In contrast, the transcript of the transient I(A) gene, K(V4.1), can be detected only in myofibroblasts. The results suggest that TGF-beta1-induced phenotypic transformation of vascular fibroblasts to myofibroblasts is accompanied by the induction of I(A) channels.

Modulation of gonadotropin II release by K+ channel blockers in goldfish gonadotropes: a novel stimulatory action of 4-aminopyridine

The effects of K+ channel blockers on basal gonadotropin II (GTH-II) release were examined in cultured goldfish gonadotropes. Tetraethylammonium (TEA) inhibited basal GTH-II release, whereas 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) increased basal release, although both K+ channel blockers generated increases in [Ca2+]i. Other K+ channel blockers had no significant effect on GTH-II release. We examined whether Ca2+ entry that arises from blockade of K+ channels by 4-AP mediates the secretory response. Secretion evoked by 4-AP was slightly reduced by TEA but was unaffected by reducing Ca2+ entry using either an inhibitor of Ca2+ channels, verapamil, or nominally Ca2+-free medium. In contrast, the Ca2+ signal evoked by 4-AP was largely blocked by Ca2+-free medium, as predicted by its inhibitory action on K+ channels. Together, these data suggest that the hormone release response to 4-AP is independent of entry of extracellular Ca2+. Finally, the mechanism of hormone release evoked by 4-AP appeared to be independent of mechanism(s) evoked by caffeine since 4-AP did not affect caffeine-evoked release and caffeine did not affect 4-AP evoked release. That both 4-AP and TEA generated Ca2+ signals but affected hormone release in either an extracellular Ca2+ independent (4-AP) or inhibitory (TEA) manner suggests that Ca2+ entry is linked to GTH-II secretion in a highly nonlinear fashion.

4-aminopyridine, a specific blocker of K(+) channels, inhibited inward Na(+) current in rat cerebellar granule cells

The effects of 4-aminopyridine (4-AP), a specific blocker of outward K(+) current, on voltage-activated transient outward K(+) current (I(K(A))) and inward Na(+) current (I(Na)) were investigated on cultured rat cerebellar granule cells using the whole cell voltage-clamp technique. At the concentration of 1-5 mM, 4-AP inhibited both I(K(A)) and I(Na). It reduced the amplitude of peak Na(+) current without significant alteration of the steady-state activation and inactivation properties. The inhibitory effect was not enhanced by repeated depolarizing pulses (0.5 or 0.1 Hz), suggesting that the binding affinity of 4-AP on Na(+) channels is state-independent. In contrast, the effect of 4-AP on Na(+) channels appeared to be voltage-dependent, the weaker inhibition occurred at more depolarization. Moreover, 4-AP slowed both the activation and inactivation kinetics of Na(+) current. These effects were similar to those induced by alpha-scorpion toxin and sea anemone toxins on Na(+) channels in other cell model. Our data demonstrate for the first time that 4-AP is able to block not only A-type K(+) channels, but also Na(+) channels in rat cerebellar granule cells. It is concluded that the inhibition exerted by 4-AP on Na(+) current likely differs from that provoked by local anesthetics. The possibility that the binding site of neurotoxin receptor 3 may be involved is discussed.

Adenosine potentiates the delayed-rectifier potassium conductance but has no effect on the hyperpolarization-activated Ih current in frog melanotrophs

The effects of adenosine on the voltage-sensitive delayed-rectifier K+ (IK) currents and hyperpolarization-activated cationic inward current (Ih) were studied in cultured frog melanotrophs using the whole-cell configuration of the patch-clamp technique. The A1 receptor agonist R-N6-phenylisopropyl-adenosine (R-PIA; 50 microM) reversibly increased IK. Perfusion of dibutyryl-cAMP (1 mM) in the external solution did not modify the R-PIA-induced enhancement of IK. Pretreatment of melanotrophs with pertussis toxin (1 microg/ml; 12 h) totally abolished the R-PIA-evoked response. Application of hyperpolarizing voltage pulses from -60 to -120 mV to melanotrophs induced a two-component inward current corresponding to an Ih-like conductance. This conductance was characterized by a high K+ selectivity and a low Na+ permeability and was resistant to tetrodotoxin (1 microM). R-PIA had no effect on Ih. The present study demonstrates that in frog melanotrophs adenosine inhibits the electrical activity by activating IK through an A1 receptor subtype coupled to a pertussis toxin-sensitive pathway independent of the cAMP/PKA system. This study also demonstrates the existence of a Ih conductance in frog melanotrophs which is not modulated by A1 receptors.

A-type K+ current in neurons cultured from neonatal rat hypothalamus and brain stem: modulation by angiotensin II

The regulation of A-type K+ current (I(A)) and the single channel underlying I(A) in neonatal rat hypothalamus/brain stem cultured neurons were studied with the use of the patch-clamp technique. I(A) had a threshold of activation between -30 and -25 mV (n = 14). Steady-state inactivation of I(A) occurred between -80 and -70 mV and had a membrane voltage at which I(A) was half-maximum of -52.2 mV (n = 14). The mean values for the activation and inactivation (decay) time constants during a voltage step to +20 mV were 2.1 +/- 0.3 (SE) ms (n = 8) and 13.6 +/- 1.9 ms (n = 8), respectively. Single-channel recordings from outside-out patches revealed A-type K+ channels with voltage-dependent activation, 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) sensitivity, and inactivation kinetics similar to those of I(A). The single-channel conductance obtained from cell-attached patches was 15.8 +/- 1.3 pS (n = 4) in a physiological K+ gradient and 41.2 +/- 3.7 pS (n = 5) in symmetrical 140 mM K+. Angiotensin II (Ang II, 100 nM) reduced peak I(A) by approximately 20% during a voltage step to +20 mV (n = 8). Similarly, Ang II (100 nM) markedly reduced single A-type K+ channel activity by decreasing open probability (n = 4). The actions of Ang II on I(A) and single A-type K+ channels were reversible either by addition of the selective angiotensin type 1 (AT1) receptor antagonist losartan (1 microM) or on washout of the peptide. Thus the activation of AT1 receptors inhibits a tetraethylammonium-chloride-resistant, 4-AP-sensitive I(A) and single A-type K+ channels, and this may underlie some of the actions of Ang II on electrical activity of the brain.