Preferential Inhibition of I h in Rat Trigeminal Ganglion Neurons by an Organic Blocker

The potency and specificity of a novel organic I _h current blocker DK-AH 268 (DK, Boehringer) was studied in cultured rat trigeminal ganglion neurons using whole-cell patch-clamp recording techniques. In neurons current-clamped at the resting potential, the application of 10 μm DK caused a slight hyperpolarization of the membrane potential and a small increase in the threshold for action potential discharge without any major change in the shape of the action potential. In voltage-clamped neurons, DK caused a reduction of a hyperpolarization-activated current. Current subtraction protocols revealed that the time-dependent, hyperpolarization-activated currents blocked by 10 μm DK or external Cs⁺ (3 mm) had virtually identical activation properties, suggesting that DK and Cs⁺ caused blockade of the same current, namely I _h . The block of I _h by DK was dose-dependent. At the intermediate and higher concentrations of DK (10 and 100 μm) a decrease in specificity was observed so that time-independent, inwardly rectifying and noninactivating, voltage-gated outward potassium currents were also reduced by DK but to a much lesser extent than the time-dependent, hyperpolarization-activated currents. Blockade of the time-dependent, hyperpolarization-activated currents by DK appeared to be use-dependent since it required hyperpolarization for the effect to take place. Relief of DK block was also aided by membrane hyperpolarization. Since both the time-dependent current blocked by DK and the Cs⁺-sensitive time-dependent current behaved as I _h , we conclude that 10 μm DK can preferentially reduce I _h without a major effect on other potassium currents. Thus, DK may be a useful agent in the investigation of the function of I _h in neurons. Received: 3 March 1995/Revised: 8 July 1997