omega-AgaIVA-sensitive (P/Q-type) and -resistant (R-type) high-voltage-activated Ba(2+) currents in embryonic cockroach brain neurons

Protein phosphorylation maintains the normal function of cloned human Cav2.3 channels

Ca_v2.3 Ca²⁺ channels are subject to cytosolic regulation, which has been difficult to characterize in native cells. Neumaier et al. demonstrate the role of phosphorylation in the function of these channels and suggest a close relationship between voltage dependence and the phosphorylation state.

R-type currents mediated by native and recombinant Ca_v2.3 voltage-gated Ca²⁺ channels (VGCCs) exhibit facilitation (run-up) and subsequent decline (run-down) in whole-cell patch-clamp recordings. A better understanding of the two processes could provide insight into constitutive modulation of the channels in intact cells, but low expression levels and the need for pharmacological isolation have prevented investigations in native systems. Here, to circumvent these limitations, we use conventional and perforated-patch-clamp recordings in a recombinant expression system, which allows us to study the effects of cell dialysis in a reproducible manner. We show that the decline of currents carried by human Ca_v2.3+β₃ channel subunits during run-down is related to adenosine triphosphate (ATP) depletion, which reduces the number of functional channels and leads to a progressive shift of voltage-dependent gating to more negative potentials. Both effects can be counteracted by hydrolysable ATP, whose protective action is almost completely prevented by inhibition of serine/threonine but not tyrosine or lipid kinases. Protein kinase inhibition also mimics the effects of run-down in intact cells, reduces the peak current density, and hyperpolarizes the voltage dependence of gating. Together, our findings indicate that ATP promotes phosphorylation of either the channel or an associated protein, whereas dephosphorylation during cell dialysis results in run-down. These data also distinguish the effects of ATP on Ca_v2.3 channels from those on other VGCCs because neither direct nucleotide binding nor PIP₂ synthesis is required for protection from run-down. We conclude that protein phosphorylation is required for Ca_v2.3 channel function and could directly influence the normal features of current carried by these channels. Curiously, some of our findings also point to a role for leupeptin-sensitive proteases in run-up and possibly ATP protection from run-down. As such, the present study provides a reliable baseline for further studies on Ca_v2.3 channel regulation by protein kinases, phosphatases, and possibly proteases.

P/Q-type calcium channel modulators

P/Q-type calcium channels are high-voltage-gated calcium channels contributing to vesicle release at synaptic terminals. A number of neurological diseases have been attributed to malfunctioning of P/Q channels, including ataxia, migraine and Alzheimer's disease. To date, only two specific P/Q-type blockers are known: both are peptides deriving from the spider venom of Agelenopsis aperta, ω-agatoxins. Other peptidic calcium channel blockers with activity at P/Q channels are available, albeit with less selectivity. A number of low molecular weight compounds modulate P/Q-type currents with different characteristics, and some exhibit a peculiar bidirectional pattern of modulation. Interestingly, there are a number of therapeutics in clinical use, which also show P/Q channel activity. Because selectivity as well as the exact mode of action is different between all P/Q-type channel modulators, the interpretation of clinical and experimental data is complicated and needs a comprehensive understanding of their target profile. The situation is further complicated by the fact that information on potency varies vastly in the literature, which may be the result of different experimental systems, conditions or the splice variants of the P/Q channel. This review attempts to provide a comprehensive overview of the compounds available that affect the P/Q-type channel and should help with the interpretation of results of in vitro experiments and animal models. It also aims to explain some clinical observations by implementing current knowledge about P/Q channel modulation of therapeutically used non-selective drugs. Chances and challenges of the development of P/Q channel-selective molecules are discussed.

Ca²⁺-dependent ion channels underlying spontaneous activity in insect circadian pacemaker neurons

Electrical activity in the gamma frequency range is instrumental for temporal encoding on the millisecond scale in attentive vertebrate brains. Surprisingly, also circadian pacemaker neurons in the cockroach Rhyparobia maderae (Leucophaea maderae) employ fast spontaneous rhythmic activity in the gamma band frequency range (20-70  Hz) together with slow rhythmic activity. The ionic conductances controlling this fast spontaneous activity are still unknown. Here, Ca(2+) imaging combined with pharmacology was employed to analyse ion channels underlying spontaneous activity in dispersed circadian pacemakers of the adult accessory medulla, which controls circadian locomotor activity rhythms. Fast spontaneous Ca(2+) transients in circadian pacemakers accompany tetrodotoxin (TTX)-blockable spontaneous action potentials. In contrast to vertebrate pacemakers, the spontaneous depolarisations from rest appear to be rarely initiated via TTX-sensitive sustained Na(+) channels. Instead, they are predominantly driven by mibefradil-sensitive, low-voltage-activated Ca(2+) channels and DK-AH269-sensitive hyperpolarisation-activated, cyclic nucleotide-gated cation channels. Rhythmic depolarisations activate voltage-gated Na(+) channels and nifedipine-sensitive high-voltage-activated Ca(2+) channels. Together with Ca(2+) rises, the depolarisations open repolarising small-conductance but not large-conductance Ca(2+) -dependent K(+) channels. In contrast, we hypothesise that P/Q-type Ca(2+) channels coupled to large-conductance Ca(2+) -dependent K(+) channels are involved in input-dependent activity.

Development of a glial network in the olfactory nerve: role of calcium and neuronal activity

In adult olfactory nerves of mammals and moths, a network of glial cells ensheathes small bundles of olfactory receptor axons. In the developing antennal nerve (AN) of the moth Manduca sexta, the axons of olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) migrate from the olfactory sensory epithelium toward the antennal lobe. Here we explore developmental interactions between ORN axons and AN glial cells. During early stages in AN glial-cell migration, glial cells are highly dye coupled, dividing glia are readily found in the nerve and AN glial cells label strongly for glutamine synthetase. By the end of this period, dye-coupling is rare, glial proliferation has ceased, glutamine synthetase labeling is absent, and glial processes have begun to extend to enwrap bundles of axons, a process that continues throughout the remainder of metamorphic development. Whole-cell and perforated-patch recordings in vivo from AN glia at different stages of network formation revealed two potassium currents and an R-like calcium current. Chronic in vivo exposure to the R-type channel blocker SNX-482 halted or greatly reduced AN glial migration. Chronically blocking spontaneous Na-dependent activity by injection of tetrodotoxin reduced the glial calcium current implicating an activity-dependent interaction between ORNs and glial cells in the development of glial calcium currents.

Distinct Electrophysiological Properties in Subtypes of Nonspiking Olfactory Local Interneurons Correlate With Their Cell Type–Specific Ca2+ Current Profiles

A diverse population of local interneurons (LNs) helps to process, structure, and spatially represent olfactory information in the insect antennal lobe. In Periplaneta americana, we identified two subtypes of nonspiking local interneurons (type II LNs) by their distinct morphological and intrinsic electrophysiological properties. As an important step toward a better understanding of the cellular mechanisms that mediate odor information processing, we present a detailed analysis of their distinct voltage-activated Ca2+ currents, which clearly correlated with their distinct intrinsic electrophysiological properties. Both type II LNs did not posses voltage-activated Na+ currents and apparently innervated all glomeruli including the macroglomerulus. Type IIa LNs had significant longer and thicker low-order neurites and innervated each glomerulus entirely and homogeneously, whereas type IIb LNs innervated only parts of each glomerulus. All type II LNs were broadly tuned and responded to odorants of many chemical classes with graded changes in the membrane potential. Type IIa LNs responded with odor-specific elaborate patterns of excitation that could also include “spikelets” riding on the depolarizations and periods of inhibition. In contrast, type IIb LNs responded mostly with sustained, relatively smooth depolarizations. Consistent with the strong active membrane properties of type IIa LNs versus type IIb LNs, the voltage-activated Ca2+ current of type IIa LNs activated at more hyperpolarized membrane potentials and had a larger transient component.

Differences of Ca2+ handling properties in identified central olfactory neurons of the antennal lobe

Information processing in neurons depends on highly localized Ca2+ signals. The spatial and temporal dynamics of these signals are determined by a variety of cellular parameters including the calcium influx, calcium buffering and calcium extrusion. Our long-term goal is to better understand how intracellular Ca2+ dynamics are controlled and contribute to information processing in defined interneurons of the insect olfactory system. The latter has served as an excellent model to study general mechanisms of olfaction. Using patch-clamp recordings and fast optical imaging in combination with the 'added buffer approach', we analyzed the Ca2+ handling properties of different identified neuron types in Periplaneta americana's olfactory system. Our focus was on two types of local interneurons (LNs) with significant differences in intrinsic electrophysiological properties: (1) spiking LNs that generate 'normal' Na+ driven action potentials and (2) non-spiking LNs that do not express voltage-activated Na+ channels. We found that the distinct electrophysiological properties from different types of central olfactory interneurons are strongly correlated with their cell specific calcium handling properties: non-spiking LNs, in which Ca2+ is the only cation that enters the cell to contribute to membrane depolarization, had the highest endogenous Ca2+ binding ratio and Ca2+ extrusion rate.

Calcium current diversity in physiologically different local interneuron types of the antennal lobe

Behavioral and physiological studies show that neuronal interactions among the glomeruli in the insect antennal lobe (AL) take place during the processing of odor information. These interactions are mediated by a complex network of inhibitory and excitatory local interneurons (LNs) that restructure the olfactory representation in the AL, thereby regulating the tuning profile of projection neurons. In Periplaneta americana, we characterized two LN types with distinctive physiological properties: (1) type I LNs that generated Na(+)-driven action potentials on odor stimulation and exhibited GABA-like immunoreactivity (GLIR) and (2) type II LNs, in which odor stimulation evoked depolarizations, but no Na(+)-driven action potentials (APs). Type II LNs did not express voltage-dependent transient Na(+) currents and accordingly would not trigger transmitter release by Na(+)-driven APs. Ninety percent of type II LNs did not exhibit GLIR. The distinct intrinsic firing properties were reflected in functional parameters of their voltage-activated Ca(2+) currents (I(Ca)). Consistent with graded synaptic release, we found a shift in the voltage for half-maximal activation of I(Ca) to more hyperpolarized membrane potentials in the type II LNs. These marked physiological differences between the two LN types imply consequences for their computational capacity, synaptic output kinetics, and thus their function in the olfactory circuit.

Octopaminergic modulation of the single Ca2+ channel currents in Kenyon cells isolated from the mushroom body of the cricket brain

Octopamine plays an important role in mediating reward signals in olfactory learning and memory formation in insect. However, its target molecules and signaling pathways are still unknown. In this study, we investigated the effects of octopamine on the voltage-activated Ca2+ channels expressed in native Kenyon cells isolated from the mushroom body of the cricket (Gryllus bimaculatus) brain. The cell-attached patch clamp recordings with 100 mM Ba2+ outside showed the presence of dihydropyridine (DHP) sensitive L-type Ca2+ channels with a single channel conductance of approximately 21+/-2 pS (n=12). The open probability (NPo) of single Ca2+ channel currents decreased by about 29+/-7% (n=6) by bath application of 10 microM octopamine. Octopamine-induced decrease in Po was imitated by bath application of 8-Br-cAMP, a membrane-permeable cAMP analog. Pre-treatment of Kenyon cells with the octopamine receptor antagonist phentolamine blocked the inhibitory effect of octopamine on Ca2+ channels. Pre-treatment of Kenyon cells with H-89, a selective inhibitor of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) attenuated the inhibitory effect of bath applied octopamine on Ca2+ channels. These results indicate that DHP-sensitive L-type Ca2+ channel is a target protein for octopamine and its modulation is mediated via cAMP and PKA-dependent signaling pathways in freshly isolated Kenyon cell in the cricket G. bimaculatus.

Functional Parameters of Voltage-Activated Ca2+Currents From Olfactory Interneurons in the Antennal Lobe ofPeriplaneta americana

Toward our goal to better understand the physiological parameters that mediate olfactory information processing on the cellular level, voltage-activated calcium currents ( ICa) in olfactory interneurons of the antennal lobe from adult cockroaches were analyzed under two conditions: 1) in acutely dissociated cells (in vitro) and 2) in an intact brain preparation (in situ). The study included an analysis of modulatory effects of potential inorganic and organic Ca2+channel blockers. ICawas isolated and identified using pharmacological, voltage, and ion substitution protocols. ICaconsisted of two components: transient and sustained. The decay of the transient component was largely Ca2+dependent. In vitro, ICahad an activation threshold of −50 mV with a maximal peak current at −7 mV and a half-maximal voltage ( V0.5act) for tail-current activation of −18 mV. In situ these parameters were significantly shifted to more depolarized membrane potentials: ICaactivated at −40 mV with a maximal peak current at 8 mV and a V0.5actfor tail-current activation of −11 mV. The sensitivity of ICato the divalent cations Cd2+, Co2+, and Ni2+was dose dependent. The most effective blocker was Cd2+with an IC50of 10−5M followed by Ni2+(IC50= 3.13 × 10−3M) and Co2+(IC50= 1.06 × 10−3M). The organic channel blockers verapamil, diltiazem, and nifedipine also blocked ICain a dose-dependent way and had differential effects on the current waveform. Verapamil blocked ICawith an IC50of 1.5 × 10−4M and diltiazem had an IC50of 2.87 × 10−4M. Nifedipine blocked ICaby 33% at a concentration of 10−4M.

Solution structure of agelenin, an insecticidal peptide isolated from the spiderAgelena opulenta, and its structural similarities to insect-specific calcium channel inhibitors

Agelenin, isolated from the Agelenidae spider Agelena opulenta, is a peptide composed of 35 amino acids. We determined the three-dimensional structure of agelenin using two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy. The structure is composed of a short antiparallel beta-sheet and four beta-turns, which are stabilized by three disulfide bonds. Agelenin has characteristic residues, Phe9, Ser28 and Arg33, which are arranged similarly to the pharmacophore of the insect channel inhibitor, omega-atracotoxin-Hv1a. These observations suggest that agelenin and omega-atracotoxin-Hv1a bind to insect calcium channels in a similar manner. We also suggest that another mode of action may operate in the channel inhibition by omega-agatoxin-IVA and omega-atracotoxin-Hv2a.

Modulation of insect Cav channels by peptidic spider toxins

Insects have a much smaller repertoire of voltage-gated calcium (Ca(V)) channels than vertebrates. Drosophila melanogaster harbors only a single ortholog of each of the vertebrate Ca(V)1, Ca(V)2, and Ca(V)3 subtypes, although its basal inventory is expanded by alternative splicing and editing of Ca(V) channel transcripts. Nevertheless, there appears to be little functional plasticity within this limited panel of insect Ca(V) channels, since severe loss-of-function mutations in genes encoding the pore-forming alpha1 subunits in Drosophila are embryonic lethal. Since the primary role of spider venom is to paralyze or kill insect prey, it is not surprising that most, if not all, spider venoms contain peptides that potently modify the activity of these functionally critical insect Ca(V) channels. Unfortunately, it has proven difficult to determine the precise ion channel subtypes recognized by these peptide toxins since insect Ca(V) channels have significantly different pharmacology to their vertebrate counterparts, and cloned insect Ca(V) channels are not available for electrophysiological studies. However, biochemical and genetic studies indicate that some of these spider toxins might ultimately become the defining pharmacology for certain subtypes of insect Ca(V) channels. This review focuses on peptidic spider toxins that specifically target insect Ca(V) channels. In addition to providing novel molecular tools for ion channel characterization, some of these toxins are being used as leads to develop new methods for controlling insect pests.

Insect neuronal cultures: an experimental vehicle for studies of physiology, pharmacology and cell interactions

The current status of insect neuronal cultures is discussed and their contribution to our understanding of the insect nervous system is explored. Neuronal cultures have been developed from a wide range of insect species and from all developmental stages. These have been used to study the morphological development of insect neurones and some of the extrinsic factors that affect this process. In addition, they have been used to investigate the physiology of sodium, potassium and calcium channels and the pharmacology of acetylcholine and GABA receptors. Insect neurones have also been grown in culture with muscle and glial cells to study cell interactions.

In vitro development of P- and R-like calcium currents in insect (Periplaneta americana) embryonic brain neurons

Voltage-gated calcium currents are important for the survival and growth of embryonic cockroach brain neurons in primary culture. In the present experiments, we have studied, using the patch-clamp technique, the evolution with time in culture of the voltage-dependency and of the pharmacological properties of the calcium conductance of these neurons during the formation of a network. We have observed a progressive increase of the high-voltage-activated calcium conductance and a 10mV shift of the voltage-dependency of activation towards more negative potentials. The proportion of the R-like calcium current component increased during network formation. At the same time, the highly omega-AgaTxIVA-sensitive P-like component of the current is progressively replaced by a component which is less sensitive to the toxin. The origin and functional implications of these modifications are discussed.

Some aspects of the physiological role of ion channels in the nervous system

Recent analyses of the genomes of several animal species, including man, have revealed that a large number of ion channels are present in the nervous system. Our understanding of the physiological role of these channels in the nervous system has followed the evolution of biophysical techniques during the last century. The observation and the quantification of the electrical events associated with the operation of the ionic channels has been, and still is, one of the best tools to analyse the various aspects of their contribution to nerve function. For this reason, we have chosen to use electrophysiological recordings to illustrate some of the main functions of these channels. The properties and the roles of Na+ and K+ channels in neuronal resting and action potentials are illustrated in the case of the giant axons of the squid and the cockroach. The nature and role of the calcium currents in the bursting behaviour of the neurons are illustrated for Aplysia giant neurons. The relationship between presynaptic calcium currents and synaptic transmission is shown for the squid giant synapse. The involvement of calcium channels in survival and neurite outgrowth of cultured neurons is exemplified using embryonic cockroach brain neurons. This same neuronal preparation is used to illustrate ion channel noise and single-channel events associated with the binding of agonists to nicotinic receptors. Some features of the synaptic activity in the central nervous system are shown, with examples from the cercal nerve giant-axon preparation of the cockroach. The interplay of different ion conductances involved in the oscillatory behaviour of the Xenopus spinal motoneurons is illustrated and discussed. The last part of this review deals with ionic homeostasis in the brain and the function of glial cells, with examples from Necturus and squids.

Differential involvement of Ca(2+) channels in survival and neurite outgrowth of cultured embryonic cockroach brain neurons

The contribution of voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCC) to the development of cultured embryonic cockroach brain neurons was assessed using pharmacological agents. VGCC currents were recorded using the patch-clamp technique and were found to be blocked dose-dependently by micromolar concentrations of mibefradil. The activation and inactivation properties of the calcium channels enable a sizeable calcium current to flow at rest (about -30 and -20 mV in high-potassium culture media). As expected, the cytoplasmic-free calcium concentration was found to rise when the extracellular potassium concentration was raised from 3 to 15 and 30 mM. The effects of VGCC blockers and calcium chelators were different in fresh and in mature cultures in which the neurons were connected to each other to form a defined network. In fresh cultures, the two non-selective VGCC blockers (verapamil and mibefradil) induced a dose-dependent cell death that was proportional to their blocking effect on I(Ba). This effect could not be prevented by addition of fetal calf serum to the culture medium. A similar effect was obtained using intra- or extracellular calcium chelating agents (10 microM BAPTA-AM or 10 mM EGTA). Quite unexpectedly, blockade of the P/Q-like (omega-Aga WA-sensitive) component of the calcium current by 500 nM of omega-AgaTx IVA had no lethal effect, suggesting that the corresponding channels are not involved in the survival mechanism. As expected from their lack of effect on I(Ba), isradipine, nifedipine, and omega-CgTx GVIA did not induce cell death. When the neurons started growing neurites, their sensitivity to calcium channel blockade by mibefradil decreased, indicating a correlation between neurite outgrowth and resistance to calcium depletion. In mature cultures, the neurons became resistant to mibefradil, verapamil, and BAPTA-AM. However, these agents, as well as omega-AgaTx IVA, had a significant inhibitory effect on the increase in diameter of the connectives that linked adjacent clusters of neurons. This effect has been shown to result, in the case of mibefradil, from an inhibition of neurite outgrowth characterized by a significant reduction of the number of primary neurites and secondary branchings but not to a significant modification of the diameter of individual neurites. These results support the view that, as in vertebrates, calcium influx through VGCC plays an important role in survival and neurite outgrowth of cultured embryonic insect neurons. The differential contribution of the P/Q-like and R-like (omega-Aga WA-sensitive) calcium channels in these processes is discussed.

The neuromuscular junctions of the slow and the fast excitatory axon in the closer of the crab Eriphia spinifrons are endowed with different Ca2+ channel types and allow neuron-specific modulation of transmitter release by two neuropeptides

Most crustacean muscle fibers receive double excitatory innervation by functionally different motor neurons termed slow and fast. By using specific omega-toxins we show that the terminals of the slow closer excitor (SCE) and the fast closer excitor (FCE) at a crab muscle are endowed with different sets of presynaptic Ca(2+) channel types. omega-Agatoxin, a blocker of vertebrate P/Q-type channels, reduced the amplitude of EPSCs by decreasing the mean quantal content of transmitter release in both neurons by 70-85%, depending on the concentration. We provide the first evidence that omega-conotoxin-sensitive channels also participate in transmission at crustacean neuromuscular terminals and are colocalized with omega-agatoxin-sensitive channels in an axon-type-specific distribution. omega-Conotoxin, a blocker of vertebrate N-type channels, inhibited release by 20-25% only at FCE, not at SCE endings. Low concentrations of Ni(2+), which block vertebrate R-type channels, inhibited release in endings of the SCE by up to 35%, but had little effects in FCE endings. We found that two neuropeptides, the FMRFamide-like DF(2) and proctolin, which occur in many crustaceans, potentiated evoked transmitter release differentially. Proctolin increased release at SCE and FCE endings, and DF(2) increased release only at FCE endings. Selective blocking of Ca(2+) channels by different omega-toxins in the presence of peptides revealed that the target of proctolin-mediated modulation is the omega-agatoxin-sensitive channel (P/Q-like), that of DF(2) the omega-conotoxin-sensitive channel (N-like). The differential effects of these two peptides allows fine tuning of transmitter release at two functionally different motor neurons innervating the same muscle.

Discovery and structure of a potent and highly specific blocker of insect calcium channels

We have isolated a novel family of insect-selective neurotoxins that appear to be the most potent blockers of insect voltage-gated calcium channels reported to date. These toxins display exceptional phylogenetic specificity, with at least a 10,000-fold preference for insect versus vertebrate calcium channels. The structure of one of the toxins reveals a highly structured, disulfide-rich core and a structurally disordered C-terminal extension that is essential for channel blocking activity. Weak structural/functional homology with omega-agatoxin-IVA/B, the prototypic inhibitor of vertebrate P-type calcium channels, suggests that these two toxin families might share a similar mechanism of action despite their vastly different phylogenetic specificities.

Non-synaptic ion channels in insects--basic properties of currents and their modulation in neurons and skeletal muscles

Insects are favoured objects for studying information processing in restricted neuronal networks, e.g. motor pattern generation or sensory perception. The analysis of the underlying processes requires knowledge of the electrical properties of the cells involved. These properties are determined by the expression pattern of ionic channels and by the regulation of their function, e.g. by neuromodulators. We here review the presently available knowledge on insect non-synaptic ion channels and ionic currents in neurons and skeletal muscles. The first part of this article covers genetic and structural informations, the localization of channels, their electrophysiological and pharmacological properties, and known effects of second messengers and modulators such as neuropeptides or biogenic amines. In a second part we describe in detail modulation of ionic currents in three particularly well investigated preparations, i.e. Drosophila photoreceptor, cockroach DUM (dorsal unpaired median) neuron and locust jumping muscle. Ion channel structures are almost exclusively known for the fruitfly Drosophila, and most of the information on their function has also been obtained in this animal, mainly based on mutational analysis and investigation of heterologously expressed channels. Now the entire genome of Drosophila has been sequenced, it seems almost completely known which types of channel genes--and how many of them--exist in this animal. There is much knowledge of the various types of channels formed by 6-transmembrane--spanning segments (6TM channels) including those where four 6TM domains are joined within one large protein (e.g. classical Na+ channel). In comparison, two TM channels and 4TM (or tandem) channels so far have hardly been explored. There are, however, various well characterized ionic conductances, e.g. for Ca2+, Cl- or K+, in other insect preparations for which the channels are not yet known. In some of the larger insects, i.e. bee, cockroach, locust and moth, rather detailed information has been established on the role of ionic currents in certain physiological or behavioural contexts. On the whole, however, knowledge of non-synaptic ion channels in such insects is still fragmentary. Modulation of ion currents usually involves activation of more or less elaborate signal transduction cascades. The three detailed examples for modulation presented in the second part indicate, amongst other things, that one type of modulator usually leads to concerted changes of several ion currents and that the effects of different modulators in one type of cell may overlap. Modulators participate in the adaptive changes of the various cells responsible for different physiological or behavioural states. Further study of their effects on the single cell level should help to understand how small sets of cells cooperate in order to produce the appropriate output.

Properties and development of calcium currents in embryonic cockroach neurons

In freshly dissociated neurons from embryonic cockroach (Periplaneta americana L.) brains, voltage-dependent calcium currents appear early in development (E14). Their intensity increases progressively during embryonic life until eclosion (E35). Their time course and voltage dependency are characteristic of high voltage activated (HVA) currents although a 10 mV shift of the I/V curve towards more negative potentials was observed between E18 and E23. Their sensitivity to omega-AgaTx-IVA and omega-CgTx-GVIA and insensitivity to both amiloride and isradipine indicate that the corresponding channels are of the P/Q and N types. These channels, as well as a small proportion of toxin-resistant (R) channels (about 20%), are blocked by mibefradil and verapamil. The physiological significance of these currents and their modifications during embryonic life is discussed.