scholarly journals Thapsigargin-induced Ca2+ mobilization in acutely isolated mouse lacrimal acinar cells is dependent on a basal level of Ins(1,4,5)P3 and is inhibited by heparin

1994 ◽  
Vol 299 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
P M Smith ◽  
D V Gallacher

The tumour-promoting agent thapsigargin has been shown to inhibit the microsomal Ca(2+)-ATPase and cause Ca2+ mobilization in a variety of cell types including exocrine acinar cells [Bird, Obie and Putney (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 18382-18386]. When applied to acutely isolated lacrimal acinar cells, thapsigargin caused a slow biphasic activation of both the Ca(2+)-dependent K+ and Cl- currents measured using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. If the only action of thapsigargin is to inhibit sequestration into Ca2+ pools, then Ca2+ mobilization following exposure to thapsigargin indicates that there is a significant ‘leak’ of Ca2+ into the cytoplasm, which is normally countered by Ca(2+)-ATPase activity. In the present study, we introduced the Ins(1,4,5)P3 receptor antagonist heparin (200 micrograms/ml) into lacrimal acinar cells via the patch-clamp pipette. Following a 5 min preincubation in the presence of heparin, neither acetylcholine (1 microM) nor thapsigargin (1 microM) caused any significant increase in either Ca(2+)-dependent current. Caffeine has been shown to suppress basal Ins(1,4,5)P3 levels in exocrine acinar cells [Toescu, O'Neill, Petersen and Eisner (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 23467-23470]. Preincubation with caffeine (10 mM) also inhibited the response to subsequent exposure to thapsigargin. These data suggest that, in acutely isolated lacrimal cells, the source of the Ca2+ leak which gives rise to Ca2+ mobilization following inhibition of Ca2+ re-uptake by thapsigargin is Ca2+ release, from Ins(1,4,5)P3-dependent Ca2+ pools, caused by resting Ins(1,4,5)P3 levels.

2013 ◽  
Vol 41 (05) ◽  
pp. 1043-1051 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hua Yin ◽  
Dong Hyu Cho ◽  
Soo Joung Park ◽  
Seong Kyu Han

The plant Withania somnifera (WS), also known as Ashwagandha, has been used widely in traditional medicine systems in India and Nepal (Ayurveda), and has been accepted to cure various ailments. In this study, the whole-cell patch clamp technique was performed to examine the mechanism of action of WS on the SG neurons of the Vc from mouse brainstem slices. In whole-cell patch clamp mode, methanol extract of Withania somnifera (mWS) induced short-lived and repeatable inward currents in all SG neurons tested (31.3±8.51 pA, n = 7) using a high chloride pipette solution. The mWS-induced inward currents were concentration dependent and maintained in the presence of tetrodotoxin (TTX), a voltage gated Na + channel blocker, CNQX, a non-NMDA glutamate receptor antagonist, AP5, an NMDA receptor antagonist and strychnine, a glycine receptor antagonist. The mWS induced currents were blocked by picrotoxin, a GABAA receptor antagonist. These results show that mWS has an inhibitory effects on SG neurons of the Vc through GABAA receptor-mediated activation of chloride ion channels, indicating that mWS contains compounds with sedative effects on the central nervous system. These results also suggest that mWS may be a potential target for modulating orofacial pain processing.


2000 ◽  
Vol 83 (4) ◽  
pp. 2349-2354 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ansalan Stewart ◽  
Robert C. Foehring

Our previous studies of calcium (Ca2+) currents in cortical pyramidal cells revealed that the percentage contribution of each Ca2+ current type to the whole cell Ca2+ current varies from cell to cell. The extent to which these currents are modulated by neurotransmitters is also variable. This study was directed at testing the hypothesis that a major source of this variability is recording from multiple populations of pyramidal cells. We used the whole cell patch-clamp technique to record from dissociated corticocortical, corticostriatal, and corticotectal projecting pyramidal cells. There were significant differences between the three pyramidal cell types in the mean percentage of L-, P-, and N-type Ca2+ currents. For both N- and P-type currents, the range of percentages expressed was small for corticostriatal and corticotectal cells as compared with cells which project to the corpus callosum or to the general population. The variance was significantly different between cell types for N- and P-type currents. These results suggest that an important source of the variability in the proportions of Ca2+ current types present in neocortical pyramidal neurons is recording from multiple populations of pyramidal cells.


1993 ◽  
Vol 102 (5) ◽  
pp. 859-869 ◽  
Author(s):  
N B Datyner ◽  
I S Cohen

We have examined slow inactivation of L-type calcium current in canine Purkinje myocytes with the whole cell patch clamp technique. Slow inactivation is voltage dependent. It is negligible at -50 mV but can inactivate more than half of available iCaL at -10 mV. There are two major consequences of this slow inactivation. First, standard protocols for the measurement of T-type current can dramatically overestimate its contribution to total calcium current, and second, the position and steepness of the inactivation versus voltage curve for iCaL will depend on the method of measurement. Given the widespread attempts to identify calcium current components and characterize them biophysically, an important first step should be to determine the extent of slow inactivation of calcium current in each preparation.


2011 ◽  
Vol 35 (5) ◽  
pp. 500-506 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naoki Oshima ◽  
Hiroo Kumagai ◽  
Kamon Iigaya ◽  
Hiroshi Onimaru ◽  
Akira Kawai ◽  
...  

2006 ◽  
Vol 2006 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Granfeldt ◽  
Olle Harbecke ◽  
Åse Björstad ◽  
Anna Karlsson ◽  
Claes Dahlgren

We have investigated calcium-induced secretion in human neutrophils, using a whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Mobilization of subcellular granules to the cell membrane was followed as the change in membrane capacitance (△Cm). Both the magnitude and the kinetics of the response differed between low and high concentrations of Ca2+. A sustained secretion following a short lag phase was induced by high concentrations of Ca2+(100μM and higher). A stable plateau was reached after 5–7 minutes at△Cmvalues corresponding to values expected after all specific as well as azurophil granules have been mobilized. Capacitance values of the same magnitude could be obtained also at lower Ca2+concentrations, but typically no stable plateau was reached within the measuring time. In contrast to previous studies, we were unable to detect any pattern of secretion corresponding to a distinct submaximal response or selective mobilization of granule subsets specified by their Ca2+-sensitivity.


1992 ◽  
Vol 68 (4) ◽  
pp. 1359-1372 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Kamondi ◽  
J. A. Williams ◽  
B. Hutcheon ◽  
P. B. Reiner

1. The whole-cell patch-clamp technique was used to study the membrane properties of identified cholinergic and noncholinergic laterodorsal tegmental neurons in slices of rat brain maintained in vitro. 2. On the basis of their expression of the transient outward potassium current IA and the transient inward calcium current IT, three classes of neurons were observed: type I neurons exhibited a large IT; type II neurons exhibited a prominent IA; and type III neurons exhibited both IA and IT. 3. Combining intracellular deposition of biocytin with NADPH diaphorase histochemistry revealed that the vast majority of type III neurons were cholinergic, whereas only a minority of type I and type II neurons were cholinergic. Thus mesopontine cholinergic neurons possess intrinsic ionic currents capable of inducing burst firing. 4. Delineation of the intrinsic membrane properties of identified mesopontine cholinergic neurons, in concert with recent results regarding the responses of these neurons to neurotransmitter agents, has led us to present a unifying and mechanistic hypothesis of brain stem cholinergic function in the control of behavioral states.


Hypertension ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 62 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Naoki Oshima ◽  
Hiroshi Onimaru ◽  
Kojiro Yamamoto ◽  
Hanako Takechi ◽  
Yasuhiro Nishida ◽  
...  

The presence and effects of β-adrenergic receptors (β-ARs) on bulbospinal RVLM neurons are little examined. To directly investigate whether RVLM neurons have sensitivity to propranolol (a non-selective β-AR antagonist), metoprolol (a β1-AR antagonist), dobutamine (a β1-AR agonist), butoxamine (a β2-AR antagonist), and salbutamol (a β2-AR agonist), we examined changes in the membrane potentials (MPs) of bulbospinal RVLM neurons using whole-cell patch-clamp technique, during superfusion with these drugs. During propranolol superfusion eight of 17 RVLM neurons were depolarized, and nine of 17 RVLM neurons were hyperpolarized. In contrast, during metoprolol superfusion sixteen of 20 RVLM neurons were hyperpolarized, and during dobutamine superfusion five of 6 RVLM neurons were depolarized. During butoxamine superfusion eleven of 16 RVLM neurons were depolarized, and during salbutamol uperfusion all of 8 RVLM neurons were hyperpolarized. To clarify the character of RVLM neurons by themselves, superfusion with metoprolol or butoxamine, dissolved in a low-Ca 2+ , high-Mg 2+ solution, was performed. During metoprolol superfusion nine of 12 RVLM neurons were again hyperpolarized, and during butoxamine superfusion seven of 8 RVLM neurons were depolarized. These results suggest that β1- and β2-ARs are actually present on the RVLM neurons. β1-AR antagonists decreased the activity of bulbospinal RVLM neurons, and β2-AR antagonists increased it. To determine the presence of β1- and β2-ARs histologically, immunofluorescent examination including double staining was performed. All of 5 metoprolol-hyperpolarized neurons showed β1-AR immunoreactivity, and all of 3 butoxamine-depolarized neurons showed β2-AR immunoreactivity. Furthermore, two RVLM neurons, which were depolarized during metoprolol superfusion and were hyperpolarized during followed butoxamine superfusion, were examined for β1- and β2-ARs immunoreactivity. These neurons showed immunoreactivity for both β1- and β2-ARs, and most β1-ARs immunoreactive neurons in the RVLM had immunoreactivity for β2-ARs.Our findings suggest that β1-AR antagonists or β2-AR agonists may decrease blood pressure through decreasing activity of bulbospinal RVLM neurons.


2012 ◽  
Vol 302 (11) ◽  
pp. C1599-C1608 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kiril L. Hristov ◽  
Muyan Chen ◽  
Serge A. Y. Afeli ◽  
Qiuping Cheng ◽  
Eric S. Rovner ◽  
...  

The functional role of the voltage-gated K+ (KV) channels in human detrusor smooth muscle (DSM) is largely unexplored. Here, we provide molecular, electrophysiological, and functional evidence for the expression of KV2.1, KV2.2, and the electrically silent KV9.3 subunits in human DSM. Stromatoxin-1 (ScTx1), a selective inhibitor of KV2.1, KV2.2, and KV4.2 homotetrameric channels and of KV2.1/9.3 heterotetrameric channels, was used to examine the role of these channels in human DSM function. Human DSM tissues were obtained during open bladder surgeries from patients without a history of overactive bladder. Freshly isolated human DSM cells were studied using RT-PCR, immunocytochemistry, live-cell Ca2+ imaging, and the perforated whole cell patch-clamp technique. Isometric DSM tension recordings of human DSM isolated strips were conducted using tissue baths. RT-PCR experiments showed mRNA expression of KV2.1, KV2.2, and KV9.3 (but not KV4.2) channel subunits in human isolated DSM cells. KV2.1 and KV2.2 protein expression was confirmed by Western blot analysis and immunocytochemistry. Perforated whole cell patch-clamp experiments revealed that ScTx1 (100 nM) inhibited the amplitude of the voltage step-induced KV current in freshly isolated human DSM cells. ScTx1 (100 nM) significantly increased the intracellular Ca2+ level in DSM cells. In human DSM isolated strips, ScTx1 (100 nM) increased the spontaneous phasic contraction amplitude and muscle force, and enhanced the amplitude of the electrical field stimulation-induced contractions within the range of 3.5–30 Hz stimulation frequencies. These findings reveal that ScTx1-sensitive KV2-containing channels are key regulators of human DSM excitability and contractility and may represent new targets for pharmacological or genetic intervention for bladder dysfunction.


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