Expression and modulation of the intermediate- conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channel in glioblastoma GL-15 cells.

We report here the expression and properties of the intermediate-conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) (IK(Ca)) channel in the GL-15 human glioblastoma cell line. Macroscopic IK(Ca) currents on GL-15 cells displayed a mean amplitude of 7.2+/-0.8 pA/pF at 0 mV, at day 1 after plating. The current was inhibited by clotrimazole (CTL, IC(50)=257 nM), TRAM-34 (IC(50)=55 nM), and charybdotoxin (CTX, IC(50)=10.3 nM). RT-PCR analysis demonstrated the expression of mRNA encoding the IK(Ca) channel in GL-15 cells. Unitary currents recorded using the inside-out configuration had a conductance of 25 pS, a K(D) for Ca(2+) of 188 nM at -100 mV, and no voltage dependence. We tested whether the IKCa channel expression in GL-15 cells could be the result of an increased ERK activity. Inhibition of the ERK pathway with the MEK antagonist PD98059 (25 muM, for 5 days) virtually suppressed the IK(Ca) current in GL-15 cells. PD98059 treatment also increased the length of cellular processes and up-regulated the astrocytic differentiative marker GFAP. A significant reduction of the IKCa current amplitude was also observed with time in culture, with mean currents of 7.17+/-0.75 pA/pF at 1-2 days, and 3.11+/-1.35 pA/pF at 5-6 days after plating. This time-dependent downregulation of the IK(Ca) current was not accompanied by changes in the ERK activity, as assessed by immunoblot analysis. Semiquantitative RT-PCR analysis demonstrated a ~35% reduction of the IK(Ca) channel mRNA resulting from ERK inhibition and a approximately 50% reduction with time in culture.     

Chronic sustained and intermittent hypoxia reduce function of ATP-sensitive potassium channels in nucleus of the solitary tract

Activation of neuronal ATP-sensitive potassium (K(ATP)) channels is an important mechanism that protects neurons and conserves neural function during hypoxia. We investigated hypoxia (bath gassed with 95% N(2)-5% CO(2) vs. 95% O(2)-5% CO(2) in control)-induced changes in K(ATP) current in second-order neurons of peripheral chemoreceptors in the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS). Hypoxia-induced K(ATP) currents were compared between normoxic (Norm) rats and rats exposed to 1 wk of either chronic sustained hypoxia (CSH) or chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH). Whole cell recordings of NTS second-order neurons identified after 4-(4-(dihexadecylamino)styryl)-N-methylpyridinium iodide (DiA) labeling of the carotid bodies were obtained in a brain stem slice. In Norm cells (n = 9), hypoxia (3 min) induced an outward current of 12.7 +/- 1.1 pA with a reversal potential of -73 +/- 2 mV. This current was completely blocked by the K(ATP) channel blocker tolbutamide (100 muM). Bath application of the K(ATP) channel opener diazoxide (200 muM, 3 min) evoked an outward current of 21.8 +/- 5.8 pA (n = 6). Hypoxia elicited a significantly smaller outward current in both CSH (5.9 +/- 1.4 pA, n = 11; P < 0.01) and CIH (6.8 +/- 1.7 pA, n = 6; P < 0.05) neurons. Diazoxide elicited a significantly smaller outward current in CSH (3.9 +/- 1.0 pA, n = 5; P < 0.05) and CIH (2.9 +/- 0.9 pA, n = 3; P < 0.05) neurons. Western blot analysis showed reduced levels of K(ATP) potassium channel subunits Kir6.1 and Kir6.2 in the NTS from CSH and CIH rats. These results suggest that hypoxia activates K(ATP) channels in NTS neurons receiving monosynaptic chemoreceptor afferent inputs. Chronic exposure to either sustained or intermittent hypoxia reduces K(ATP) channel function in NTS neurons. This may represent a neuronal adaptation that preserves neuronal excitability in crucial relay neurons in peripheral chemoreflex pathways.     

慢性间歇性低氧降低急性缺氧对大鼠肺动脉平滑肌细胞膜上电压门控性钾通道的抑制

为了从离子通道水平上探讨机体低氧适应的离子机制,本实验将雄性 SD 大鼠随机分为常氧对照组和慢性间歇性低氧组[氧浓度(10 ± 0.5) %, 间断缺氧每天 8 h]。用酶解法急性分离单个大鼠肺内动脉平滑肌细胞(pulmonary artery smoothmuscle cells, PASMCs),以全细胞膜片钳技术记录 PASMCs 膜上的电压门控性钾通道 (voltage-gated potassium channel, KV) 电流,观察急性缺氧对慢性间歇性低氧大鼠 PASMCs 的 KV 的影响, 为机体适应低氧能力提供实验依据。结果显示:⑴常氧对照组在电流钳下,急性缺氧可使膜电位明显去极化(由-47.2 ±2.6 mV 去极到 -26.7 ±1.2 mV ); 在电压钳下, 急性缺氧可显著抑制 KV电流( 60 mV 时, KV电流密度从 153.4 ± 9.5 pA/pF降到 70.1 ± 10.6 pA/pF), 峰电流的抑制率为(57.6 ± 3.3) %, 电流-电压关系曲线向右下移。⑵慢性间歇性低氧组KV电流密度随低氧时间延长而逐渐减少(慢性低氧10 d后就有显著性意义),电流- 电压关系曲线逐渐右下移。⑶急性缺氧对慢性间歇性低氧大鼠PASMCs KV电流的抑制作用随慢性间歇性低氧时间延长而逐渐减弱。上述观察结果提示慢性间歇性低氧减弱急性缺氧对 KV 的抑制, 这可能是机体低氧适应的一种重要机制。     

Prenatal stress on the kinetic properties of Ca2+ and K+ channels in offspring hippocampal CA3 pyramidal neurons

Prenatal stress is known to cause neuronal loss and oxidative damage in the hippocampus of offspring rats. To further understand the mechanisms, the present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of prenatal stress on the kinetic properties of high-voltage-activated (HVA) Ca(2+) and K(+) channels in freshly isolated hippocampal CA3 pyramidal neurons of offspring rats. Pregnant rats in the prenatal stress group were exposed to restraint stress on days 14-20 of pregnancy three times daily for 45 min. The patch clamp technique was employed to record HVA Ca(2+) and K(+) channel currents. Prenatal stress significantly increased HVA Ca(2+) channel disturbance including the maximal average HVA calcium peak current amplitude (-576.52+/-7.03 pA in control group and -702.05+/-6.82 pA in prenatal stress group, p<0.01), the maximal average HVA Ca(2+) current density (-40.89+/-0.31 pA/pF in control group and -49.44+/-0.37 pA/pF in prenatal stress group, p<0.01), and the maximal average integral current of the HVA Ca(2+) channel (106.81+/-4.20 nA ms in control group and 133.49+/-4.59 nA ms in prenatal stress group, p<0.01). The current-voltage relationship and conductance--voltage relationship of HVA Ca(2+) channels and potassium channels in offspring CA3 neurons were not affected by prenatal stress. These data suggest that exposure of animals to stressful experience during pregnancy can exert effects on calcium ion channels of offspring hippocampal neurons and that the calcium channel disturbance may play a role in prenatal stress-induced neuronal loss and oxidative damage in offspring brain.     

Decreased neuronal excitability in hippocampal neurons of mice exposed to cyclic hypoxia.

To study the physiological effects of chronic intermittent hypoxia on neuronal excitability and function in mice, we exposed animals to cyclic hypoxia for 8 h daily (12 cycles/h) for approximately 4 wk, starting at 2-3 days of age, and examined the properties of freshly dissociated hippocampal neurons in vitro. Compared with control (Con) hippocampal CA1 neurons, exposed (Cyc) neurons showed action potentials (AP) with a smaller amplitude and a longer duration and a more depolarized resting membrane potential. They also have a lower rate of spontaneous firing of AP and a higher rheobase. Furthermore, there was downregulation of the Na(+) current density in Cyc compared with Con neurons (356.09 +/- 54.03 pA/pF in Cyc neurons vs. 508.48 +/- 67.30 pA/pF in Con, P < 0.04). Na(+) channel characteristics, including activation, steady-state inactivation, and recovery from inactivation, were similar in both groups. The deactivation rate, however, was much larger in Cyc than in Con (at -100 mV, time constant for deactivation = 0.37 +/- 0.04 ms in Cyc neurons and 0.18 +/- 0.01 ms in Con neurons). We conclude that the decreased neuronal excitability in mice neurons treated with cyclic hypoxia is due, at least in part, to differences in passive properties (e.g., resting membrane potential) and in Na(+) channel expression and/or regulation. We hypothesize that this decreased excitability is an adaptive response that attempts to decrease the energy expenditure that is used for adjusting disturbances in ionic homeostasis in low-O(2) conditions.     

Four kinetically distinct depolarization-activated K+ currents in adult mouse ventricular myocytes

In the experiments here, the time- and voltage-dependent properties of the Ca2+-independent, depolarization-activated K+ currents in adult mouse ventricular myocytes were characterized in detail. In the majority (65 of 72, approximately 90%) of cells dispersed from the ventricles, analysis of the decay phases of the outward currents revealed three distinct K+ current components: a rapidly inactivating, transient outward K+ current, Ito,f (mean +/- SEM taudecay = 85 +/- 2 ms); a slowly (mean +/- SEM taudecay = 1,162 +/- 29 ms) inactivating K+ current, IK,slow; and a non inactivating, steady state current, Iss. In a small subset (7 of 72, approximately 10%) of cells, Ito,f was absent and a slowly inactivating (mean +/- SEM taudecay = 196 +/- 7 ms) transient outward current, referred to as Ito,s, was identified; the densities and properties of IK,slow and Iss in Ito,s-expressing cells are indistinguishable from the corresponding currents in cells with Ito,f. Microdissection techniques were used to remove tissue pieces from the left ventricular apex and from the ventricular septum to allow the hypothesis that there are regional differences in Ito,f and Ito,s expression to be tested directly. Electrophysiological recordings revealed that all cells isolated from the apex express Ito,f (n = 35); Ito,s is not detected in these cells (n = 35). In the septum, by contrast, all of the cells express Ito,s (n = 28) and in the majority (22 of 28, 80%) of cells, Ito,f is also present. The density of Ito,f (mean +/- SEM at +40 mV = 6.8 +/- 0.5 pA/pF, n = 22) in septum cells, however, is significantly (P < 0.001) lower than Ito,f density in cells from the apex (mean +/- SEM at +40 mV = 34.6 +/- 2.6 pA/pF, n = 35). In addition to differences in inactivation kinetics, Ito,f, Ito,s, and IK,slow display distinct rates of recovery (from inactivation), as well as differential sensitivities to 4-aminopyridine (4-AP), tetraethylammonium (TEA), and Heteropoda toxin-3. IK,slow, for example, is blocked selectively by low (10-50 microM) concentrations of 4-AP and by (>/=25 mM) TEA. Although both Ito,f and Ito,s are blocked by high (>100 microM) 4-AP concentrations and are relatively insensitive to TEA, Ito,f is selectively blocked by nanomolar concentrations of Heteropoda toxin-3, and Ito,s (as well as IK,slow and Iss) is unaffected. Iss is partially blocked by high concentrations of 4-AP or TEA. The functional implications of the distinct properties and expression patterns of Ito,f and Ito,s, as well as the likely molecular correlates of these (and the IK,slow and Iss) currents, are discussed.     

Transient K<Superscript>+</Superscript> Current is Blocked by Lanthanum in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Drosophila</Emphasis> Neurons

The potassium A-current (IK_A) is important in regulating the membrane potential between action potentials. The whole-cell patch-clamp technique was applied to cultured Drosophila neurons derived from embryonic neuroblasts. IK_A was measured from neurons before and after application of 0.1 mM lanthanum to the external saline. IK_A was smaller in the lanthanum-containing saline (7±1 pA) than in the control saline (34±6 pA). Activation and inactivation of IK_A were unchanged by lanthanum. These results suggest that lanthanum neurotoxicity may lead to increased neuronal excitability. Moreover, given this inhibition of IK_A, lanthanum should not be used to block calcium current in studies of K⁺ currents.     

Chemosensitive conductance and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-induced conductance in snake vomeronasal receptor neurons

Snake vomeronasal receptor neurons in slice preparations were studied using the patch-clamp technique in the conventional and nystatin-perforated whole-cell configurations. The mean resting potential was approximately -70 mV; the average input resistance was 3 GOmega. Neurons required current injection of only 1-10 pA to display a variety of spiking patterns. Intracellular dialysis of 100 microM inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP(3)) evoked an inward current in 38% of neurons, with an average peak amplitude of 16.4 +/- 2.8 pA at a holding potential of -70mV. Application of 100 microM 3-deoxy-3-fluoro-D-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (F-IP(3)), a derivative of IP(3), also evoked an inward current in 4/8 (50%) neurons (32.6 +/- 58 pA at -70 mV, n = 4). The reversal potentials of the induced components were estimated to be -14 +/- 5 mV for IP(3) and -17 +/- 3 mV for F-IP(3). Bathing the neurons in 10 microM ruthenium red solution greatly reduced the IP(3)-evoked inward current to 1.6 +/- 1.1 pA at -70 mV (n = 6). With Cs(+)-containing internal solution, neither the Ca(2+)-ATPase inhibitor thapsigargin (1-50 microM) nor the Ca(2+)-ionophore ionomycin (10 microM) evoked a significant current response, suggesting that IP(3) can elicit current response in the neurons without mediation by intracellular Ca(2+) stores. Intracellular application of 1 mM cAMP evoked no detectable current response. Extracellular application of chemoattractant for snakes evoked a very large inward current. The reversal potential of the chemoattractant-induced current was similar to that of the IP(3)-induced current. The present results suggest that IP(3) may act as a second messenger in the transduction of chemoattractants in the garter snake vomeronasal organ.     

Expression of intermediate conductance potassium channel immunoreactivity in neurons and epithelial cells of the rat gastrointestinal tract

Recent functional evidence suggests that intermediate conductance calcium-activated potassium channels (IK channels) occur in neurons in the small intestine and in mucosal epithelial cells in the colon. This study was undertaken to investigate whether IK channel immunoreactivity occurs at these and at other sites in the gastrointestinal tract of the rat. IK channel immunoreactivity was found in nerve cell bodies throughout the gastrointestinal tract, from the esophagus to the rectum. It was revealed in the initial segments of the axons, but not in axon terminals. The majority of immunoreactive neurons had Dogiel type II morphology and in the myenteric plexus of the ileum all immunoreactive neurons were of this shape. Intrinsic primary afferent neurons in the rat small intestine are Dogiel type II neurons that are immunoreactive for calretinin, and it was found that almost all the IK channel immunoreactive neurons were also calretinin immunoreactive. IK channel immunoreactivity also occurred in calretinin-immunoreactive, Dogiel type II neurons in the caecum. Epithelial cells of the mucosal lining were immunoreactive in the esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines. In the intestines, the immunoreactivity occurred in transporting enterocytes, but not in mucous cells. Immunoreactivity was at both the apical and basolateral surfaces. A small proportion of mucosal endocrine cells was immunoreactive in the duodenum, ileum and caecum, but not in the stomach, proximal colon, distal colon or rectum. There was immunoreactivity of vascular endothelial cells. It is concluded that IK channels are located on cell bodies and proximal parts of axons of intrinsic primary afferent neurons, where, from functional studies, they would be predicted to lower neuronal excitability when opened in response to calcium entry. In the mucosa of the small and large intestine, IK channels are probably involved in control of potassium exchange, and in the esophageal and gastric mucosa they are possibly involved in control of cell volume in response to osmotic challenge.     

Hypoxic Excitability Changes and Sodium Currents in Hippocampus CA1 Neurons

1. The objective of the present study was to distinguish if inhibition of neuronal activity by hypoxia is related to a block of voltage-gated Na+ channels. 2. The effect of chemical hypoxia induced by cyanide (0.5 mM, 10 min perfusion) was studied with patch-clamp technique in visualized intact CA1 pyramidal neurons in rat brain slices. Action potentials were elicited in whole cell current-clamp recordings and the threshold was estimated by current pulses of 50-ms duration and incremental amplitudes (n = 31). The effect of cyanide on the Na+ current and conductance was studied in voltage clamp recordings from cell-attached patches (n = 13). 3. Cyanide perfusion during 10 min increased the threshold for excitation by 73 +/- 79 pA (p = 0.001), which differed from the effect in control cells (11 +/- 41 pA, ns). The change in current threshold was correlated to a change in membrane potential (r = -0.88, p < 0.0001). Cyanide had no significant effect on the peak amplitude, duration, or rate of rise of the action potential. 4. Cyanide perfusion did not change the Na+ current size, but caused a small decrease in ENa (-17 +/- 22 mV, ns) and a slight increase in Na+ conductance (+14 +/- 26%, ns), which differed (p = 0.045) from controls (-19 +/- 23 %, ns). 5. In conclusion, chemical hypoxia does not cause a decrease in Na+ conductance. The decreased excitability during hypoxia can be explained by an increase in the current threshold, which is correlated with the effect on the membrane potential.     

Properties of transient K+ currents and underlying single K+ channels in rat olfactory receptor neurons

The transient potassium current, IK(t), of enzymatically dissociated rat olfactory receptor neurons was studied using patch-clamp techniques. Upon depolarization from negative holding potentials, IK(t) activated rapidly and then inactivated with a time course described by the sum of two exponential components with time constants of 22.4 and 143 ms. Single-channel analysis revealed a further small component with a time constant of several seconds. Steady-state inactivation was complete at -20 mV and completely removed at -80 mV (midpoint -45 mV). Activation was significant at -40 mV and appeared to reach a maximum conductance at +40 mV (midpoint -13 mV). Deactivation was described by the sum of two voltage-dependent exponential components. Recovery from inactivation was extraordinarily slow (50 s at -100 mV) and the underlying processes appeared complex. IK(t) was reduced by 4-aminopyridine and tetraethylammonium applied externally. Increasing the external K+ concentration ([K+]o) from 5 to 25 mM partially removed IK(t) inactivation, usually without affecting activation kinetics. The elevated [K+]o also hyperpolarized the steady-state inactivation curve by 9 mV and significantly depolarized the voltage dependence of activation. Single transient K+ channels, with conductances of 17 and 26 pS, were observed in excised patches and often appeared to be localized into large clusters. These channels were similar to IK(t) in their kinetic, pharmacological, and voltage-dependent properties and their inactivation was also subject to modulation by [K+]o. The properties of IK(t) imply a role in action potential repolarization and suggest it may also be important in modulating spike parameters during neuronal burst firing. A simple method is also presented to correct for errors in the measurement of whole-cell resistance (Ro) that can result when patch-clamping very small cells. The analysis revealed a mean corrected Ro of 26 G omega for these cells.     

Biphasic effects of copper on neurotransmission in rat hippocampal neurons

The importance of copper in the CNS is well documented, but the mechanisms related to its brain functions are poorly understood. Copper is released at the synaptic cleft, where it may modulate neurotransmission. To understand the functional impact of copper on the neuronal network, we have analyzed the synaptic activity of primary rat hippocampal neurons by using different approaches including whole cell patch clamp, recording of calcium transients, immunofluorescence and western blot. Here, we show that copper produces biphasic changes in neurotransmission. When copper is acutely applied to the plate it blocks neurotransmission. Interestingly, when it is applied for 3 h to hippocampal neurons it mainly increases the frequency and amplitude of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA)ergic currents (control: 0.21 ± 0.05 Hz/22.9 ± 1.3 pA; copper: 0.68 ± 0.16 Hz/30.5 ± 2.5 pA), intracellular calcium transients (control: 0.05 ± 0.013 Hz; copper: 0.11 ± 0.02 Hz) and evoked AMPA currents (control: EC50 8.3 ± 0.5?μM; copper: EC50 2.9 ± 0.2 μM). Moreover, our results suggest that copper increases GluA1 subunit levels of the AMPA receptor through the anchorage of AMPA receptors to the plasma membrane as a result of PSD-95 accumulation. We also found that copper-treated neurons displayed an undistinguishable neurotransmission to control neurons after 24 h of treatment, indicating that changes in neurotransmission induced by copper at 3 h of incubation are homeostatically regulated after long-term exposure to the metal. Together, our data reveal an unexpected biphasic effect of copper on neurotransmission, which may be relevant to understand the effects of this ion in brain diseases that display copper dyshomeostasis such as that observed in Alzheimer's disease (AD).     

蝎毒耐热蛋白对大鼠急性分离海马神经元兴奋性的影响

应用全细胞膜片钳记录技术在电流钳模式下观察经持续高温等特殊处理后分离纯化的30～50 kDa蝎毒耐热蛋白(scorpion venom heat resistant protein,SVHRP)(国家发明专利,专利号ZL01 106166.92)对急性分离大鼠海马神经元兴奋性的影响.结果发现SVHRP可致海马神经元兴奋性降低.神经元经1×10-2 μg/mL SVHRP处理后动作电位发放模式改变,发放频率减少.在52个受检细胞中,有45个细胞产生位相放电(占86.54%);7个细胞产生重复放电(占13.46%).在产生位相放电的45个细胞中,有8个细胞在SVHRP处理后仍可以诱发出位相放电(占17.78%);37个细胞在SVHRP处理后无法诱导出位相放电(占82.22%),SVHRP处理后动作电位的产生与处理前相比,有显著差异(P＜0.01,n=45);在产生重复放电的7个细胞中,在1×10-2μg/mL SVHRP作用后均不能再次诱发出重复放电,而是产生一个动作电位或不再产生动作电位,药物处理前产生的动作电位个数为14.57±1.00,SVHRP处理后产生动作电位的个数为0.57±0.20,二者之间有显著性差异(P＜0.01,n=7).1×10-4 μg/mLSVHRP处理后,诱发动作电位产生的基强度由(75.10±8.99)pA增加到(119.85±12.73)pA(P＜0.01,n=8);阈电位由(-41.17±2.15)mV升至(-32.40±1.48)mV(P＜0.01,n=8);动作电位峰值由(68.49±2.33)mV下降至(54.71±0.81)mV(P＜0.01,n=8).由于神经元超兴奋性被认为是癫痫发作的基本机制之一,因此上述结果表明SVHRP有可能通过降低海马神经元兴奋性发挥其抗癫痫作用,这为蝎毒药物的进一步开发提供理论依据.     

大鼠背根节神经元后超极化中Ca^2＋激活K^＋电流的蜂毒明肽敏感成分 …

为了明确大鼠背根节(DRG)神经元中存在慢的Ca2+激活K+电流成分,本实验在新鲜分散的DRG神经元胞体上,采用全细胞电压箝技术,给予DRG神经元一定强度的去极化刺激,记录刺激结束后30 ms时的尾电流幅度.结果发现:(1)随着去极化时间从1 ms延长至180 ms时,尾电流幅度由9.3±2.8 pA逐渐增大至64.1±3.4 pA(P＜0.001);(2)当去极化结束后的复极化电位降低时,尾电流幅度先逐渐下降到零,然后改变方向,逆转电位约为-63 mV;(3)细胞外施加500μmol/L Cd2+或细胞内液中施加11 mmol/L EGYA时尾电流明显减小甚至完全消失;(4)尾电流中慢成分的幅度在细胞外给与200 nmol/L蜂毒明肽后,减小了约26.32±3.9%(P＜0.01);(5)细胞外施加10 mmol/L TEA,可明显降低尾电流中的快成分.结果提示,在DRG神经元后超极化中存在Ca2+激活K+电流的蜂毒明肽敏感成分--ⅠAiHP.     

Gastric ulcers reduce A-type potassium currents in rat gastric sensory ganglion neurons

Voltage-dependent potassium currents are important contributors to neuron excitability and thus also to hypersensitivity after tissue insult. We hypothesized that gastric ulcers would alter K(+) current properties in primary sensory neurons. The rat stomach was surgically exposed, and a retrograde tracer (1,1'-dioctadecyl-3,3,3,3'-tetramethylindocarbocyanine methanesulfonate) was injected into multiple sites in the stomach wall. Inflammation and ulcers were produced by 10 injections of 20% acetic acid (HAc) in the gastric wall. Saline (Sal) injections served as control. Nodose or T9-10 dorsal root ganglia (DRG) cells were harvested and cultured 7 days later to record whole cell K(+) currents. Gastric sensory neurons expressed transient and sustained outward currents. Gastric inflammation significantly decreased the A-type K(+) current density in DRG and nodose neurons (Sal vs. HAc-DRG: 82.9 +/- 7.9 vs. 46.5 +/- 6.1 pA/pF; nodose: 149.2 +/- 10.9 vs. 71.4 +/- 11.8 pA/pF), whereas the sustained current was not altered. In addition, there was a significant shift in the steady-state inactivation to more hyperpolarized potentials in nodose neurons (Sal vs. HAc: -76.3 +/- 1.0 vs. -83.6 +/- 2.2 mV) associated with an acceleration of inactivation kinetics. These data suggest that a reduction in K(+) currents contributes, in part, to increased neuron excitability that may lead to development of dyspeptic symptoms.     

Regulation of intrinsic excitability in hippocampal neurons by activity-dependent modulation of the KV2.1 potassium channel

K_V2.1 is the prominent somatodendritic sustained or delayed rectifier voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channel in mammalian central neurons, and is a target for activity-dependent modulation via calcineurin-dependent dephosphorylation. Using hanatoxin-mediated block of K_V2.1 we show that, in cultured rat hippocampal neurons, glutamate stimulation leads to significant hyperpolarizing shifts in the voltage-dependent activation and inactivation gating properties of the K_V2.1-component of delayed rectifier K⁺ (IK) currents. In computer models of hippocampal neurons, these glutamate-stimulated shifts in the gating of the K_V2.1-component of IK lead to a dramatic suppression of action potential firing frequency. Current-clamp experiments in cultured rat hippocampal neurons showed glutamate-stimulation induced a similar suppression of neuronal firing frequency. Membrane depolarization also resulted in similar hyperpolarizing shifts in the voltage-dependent gating properties of neuronal IK currents, and suppression of neuronal firing. The glutamate-induced effects on neuronal firing were eliminated by hanatoxin, but not by dendrotoxin-K, a blocker of K_V1.1-containing channels. These studies together demonstrate a specific contribution of modulation of K_V2.1 channels in the activity-dependent regulation of intrinsic neuronal excitability.     

Asymmetry in the lipid affinity of bihelical amphipathic peptides. A structural determinant for the specificity of ABCA1-dependent cholesterol efflux by peptides

ApoA-I contains a tandem array of amphipathic helices with varying lipid affinity, which are critical in its ability to bind and remove lipids from cells by the ABCA1 transporter. In this study, the effect of asymmetry in the lipid affinity of amphipathic helices in a bihelical apoA-I mimetic peptide, 37pA, on lipid efflux by the ABCA1 transporter was examined. Seven peptide variants of 37pA were produced by substituting a varying number of hydrophobic amino acids for alanine on either one or both helices. The 5A peptide with five alanine substitutions in the second helix had decreased helical content compared with 37pA (5A, 12+/-1% helicity; 37pA, 28+/-2% helicity) and showed less self-association but, similar to the parent peptide, was able to readily solubilize phospholipid vesicles. Furthermore, 5A, unlike the parent peptide 37pA, was not hemolytic (37pA, 27+/-2% RBC lysis, 2 h, 18 microm). Finally, the 5A peptide stimulated cholesterol and phospholipid efflux by the ABCA1 transporter with higher specificity (ABCA1-transfected versus untransfected cells) than 37pA (5A, 9.7+/-0.77%, 18 h, 18 microm versus 1.5+/-0.27%, 18 h, 18 microm (p<0.0001); 37pA, 7.4+/-0.85%, 18 h, 18 microm versus 5.8+/-0.20%, 18 h, 18 microm (p=0.03)). In summary, we describe a novel bihelical peptide with asymmetry in the lipid affinity of its helices and properties similar to apoA-I in terms of specificity for cholesterol efflux by the ABCA1 transporter and low cytotoxicity.     

Vitamins C and E Modulate Neuronal Potassium Currents

We investigated the effects of vitamins C and E on the delayed-rectifier potassium current (IK_DR), which is important in repolarizing the membrane potential, and on the transient A-type potassium current (IK_A), which regulates neuronal firing frequency. The whole-cell patch-clamp technique was used to measure the currents from cultured Drosophila neurons derived from embryonic neuroblasts. The membrane potential was stepped to different voltages between −40 and +60 mV from a holding potential of −80 mV. IK_DR and IK_A measured in the vitamin C-containing solution (IK_DR 305 ± 16 pA, IK_A 11 ± 2 pA) were smaller than those measured in the control solution (488 ± 21 pA, IK_A 28 ± 3 pA). By contrast, IK_DR and IK_A measured in the vitamin E-containing solution (IK_DR 561 ± 21 pA, IK_A 31 ± 3 pA) were greater than those measured in the control solution (422 ± 15 pA, 17 ± 2 pA). These results indicate that vitamins C and E can modulate potassium current amplitudes and possibly lead to altered neuronal excitability.     

Astrocytes modulate thapsigargin-induced changes in calcium concentration and neuronal survival

When mature cerebellar granule neurons (CGN) grown in high K+ (25 mM K+, HK)-serum containing medium are subjected to the HK/serum deprivation, they are destined for neuronal death. In this study, we attempted to elucidate the roles of endoplasmic reticular (ER) Ca2+-store and co-cultured astrocytes in HK/serum deprivation induced neuronal death. Thapsigargin (TG), an inhibitor of ER Ca2+-ATPase was simultaneously applied with normal K+ (5 mM K+, NK) serum free medium, and its effects on neuronal death in either astrocyte-poor or astrocyterich culture were examined. By means of the fura-2 microfluorimetric technique, we monitored the changes of the intracellular Ca2+ concentration, [Ca2+]i, associated with neuronal death under various treatments. The results obtained showed that in astrocyte-poor cultures of mature CGN (10 days in vitro, DIV), the basal level of [Ca2+]i markedly decreased from 184 +/- 5 to 89.7 +/- 5 nM 24 h after HK/serum deprivation. Although treatment with TG slightly increased the [Ca2+]i to 117.6 +/- 4 nM, the survival rate of the neurons was even worse; it was reduced from 49 +/- 4% to 28 +/- 2%. In the astrocyte-rich cultures, HK/serum deprivation also caused a profound reduction of neuronal [Ca2+]i, from 166 +/- 3 to 90.2 +/- 6 nM, accompanied by even more serious neuronal death (95.5 +/- 1%). On the other hand, treatment with TG in astrocyterich cultures further lowered the [Ca2+]i to 65 +/- 2 nM but markedly improved the neuronal survival rate from 4.5 +/- 1% to 60 +/- 2% in a concentration-dependent manner. The strong implication of these findings is that ER Ca2+-store and astrocytes participate in modulating the responses of neurons to stress stimulation.