Cho PS, Lee HK, Lee SH, Im JZ, Jung SJ. DAMGO modulates two-pore domain K(+) channels in the substantia gelatinosa neurons of rat spinal cord.
Korean J Physiol Pharmacol 2016;
20:525-31. [PMID:
27610039 PMCID:
PMC5014999 DOI:
10.4196/kjpp.2016.20.5.525]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2016] [Revised: 06/28/2016] [Accepted: 07/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The analgesic mechanism of opioids is known to decrease the excitability of substantia gelatinosa (SG) neurons receiving the synaptic inputs from primary nociceptive afferent fiber by increasing inwardly rectifying K+ current. In this study, we examined whether a µ-opioid agonist, [D-Ala2,N-Me-Phe4, Gly5-ol]-enkephalin (DAMGO), affects the two-pore domain K+ channel (K2P) current in rat SG neurons using a slice whole-cell patch clamp technique. Also we confirmed which subtypes of K2P channels were associated with DAMGO-induced currents, measuring the expression of K2P channel in whole spinal cord and SG region. DAMGO caused a robust hyperpolarization and outward current in the SG neurons, which developed almost instantaneously and did not show any time-dependent inactivation. Half of the SG neurons exhibited a linear I~V relationship of the DAMGO-induced current, whereas rest of the neurons displayed inward rectification. In SG neurons with a linear I~V relationship of DAMGO-induced current, the reversal potential was close to the K+ equilibrium potentials. The mRNA expression of TWIK (tandem of pore domains in a weak inwardly rectifying K+ channel) related acid-sensitive K+ channel (TASK) 1 and 3 was found in the SG region and a low pH (6.4) significantly blocked the DAMGO-induced K+ current. Taken together, the DAMGO-induced hyperpolarization at resting membrane potential and subsequent decrease in excitability of SG neurons can be carried by the two-pore domain K+ channel (TASK1 and 3) in addition to inwardly rectifying K+ channel.
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