scholarly journals Stimulus intensity-dependent recruitment of NaV1 subunits in action potential initiation in nerve terminals of vagal C-fibers innervating the esophagus

2020 ◽  
Vol 319 (4) ◽  
pp. G443-G453
Author(s):  
Fei Ru ◽  
Nikoleta Pavelkova ◽  
Jeffrey L. Krajewski ◽  
Jeff S. McDermott ◽  
Bradley J. Undem ◽  
...  

We report that pharmacologically distinguishable voltage-gated sodium channels (NaV1) mediate action potential initiation at low (innocuous) versus high (noxious) intensity of esophageal distention in nerve terminals of vagal nodose C-fibers. Action potential initiation at low intensity is entirely dependent on NaV1.7; however, additional tetrodotoxin (TTX)-sensitive NaV1s are recruited at higher intensity of distention. This is the first demonstration that NaV1s underlying action potential initiation in visceral C-fibers depend on the intensity of the stimulus.

2016 ◽  
Vol 113 (19) ◽  
pp. E2665-E2674 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Lorenzo Pablo ◽  
Chaojian Wang ◽  
Matthew M. Presby ◽  
Geoffrey S. Pitt

Clustering of voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) within the neuronal axon initial segment (AIS) is critical for efficient action potential initiation. Although initially inserted into both somatodendritic and axonal membranes, VGSCs are concentrated within the axon through mechanisms that include preferential axonal targeting and selective somatodendritic endocytosis. How the endocytic machinery specifically targets somatic VGSCs is unknown. Here, using knockdown strategies, we show that noncanonical FGF13 binds directly to VGSCs in hippocampal neurons to limit their somatodendritic surface expression, although exerting little effect on VGSCs within the AIS. In contrast, homologous FGF14, which is highly concentrated in the proximal axon, binds directly to VGSCs to promote their axonal localization. Single-point mutations in FGF13 or FGF14 abrogating VGSC interaction in vitro cannot support these specific functions in neurons. Thus, our data show how the concerted actions of FGF13 and FGF14 regulate the polarized localization of VGSCs that supports efficient action potential initiation.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mara Almog ◽  
Tal Barkai ◽  
Angelika Lampert ◽  
Alon Korngreen

AbstractExploring the properties of action potentials is a crucial step towards a better understanding of the computational properties of single neurons and neural networks. The voltage-gated sodium channel is a key player in action potential generation. A comprehensive grasp of the gating mechanism of this channel can shed light on the biophysics of action potential generation. Most models of voltage-gated sodium channels assume it obeys a concerted Hodgkin and Huxley kinetic gating scheme. Here we performed high resolution voltage-clamp experiments from nucleated patches extracted from the soma of layer 5 (L5) cortical pyramidal neurons in rat brain slices. We show that the gating mechanism does not follow traditional Hodgkin and Huxley kinetics and that much of the channel voltage-dependence is probably due to rapid closed-closed transitions that lead to substantial onset latency reminiscent of the Cole-Moore effect observed in voltage-gated potassium conductances. This may have key implications for the role of sodium channels in synaptic integration and action potential generation.


Processes ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 680 ◽  
Author(s):  
Woojin Kim

Oxaliplatin is a chemotherapeutic drug widely used to treat various types of tumors. However, it can induce a serious peripheral neuropathy characterized by cold and mechanical allodynia that can even disrupt the treatment schedule. Since the approval of the agent, many laboratories, including ours, have focused their research on finding a drug or method to decrease this side effect. However, to date no drug that can effectively reduce the pain without causing any adverse events has been developed, and the mechanism of the action of oxaliplatin is not clearly understood. On the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) sensory neurons, oxaliplatin is reported to modify their functions, such as the propagation of the action potential and induction of neuropathic pain. Voltage-gated sodium channels in the DRG neurons are important, as they play a major role in the excitability of the cell by initiating the action potential. Thus, in this small review, eight studies that investigated the effect of oxaliplatin on sodium channels of peripheral neurons have been included. Its effects on the duration of the action potential, peak of the sodium current, voltage–response relationship, inactivation current, and sensitivity to tetrodotoxin (TTX) are discussed.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth R. Tovar ◽  
Daniel C. Bridges ◽  
Bian Wu ◽  
Connor Randall ◽  
Morgane Audouard ◽  
...  

AbstractThe small caliber of central nervous system (CNS) axons makes routine study of axonal physiology relatively difficult. However, while recording extracellular action potentials from neurons cultured on planer multi-electrode arrays (MEAs) we found activity among groups of electrodes consistent with action potential propagation in single neurons. Action potential propagation was evident as widespread, repetitive cooccurrence of extracellular action potentials (eAPs) among groups of electrodes. These eAPs occurred with invariant sequences and inter-electrode latencies that were consistent with reported measures of action potential propagation in unmyelinated axons. Within co-active electrode groups, the inter-electrode eAP latencies were temperature sensitive, as expected for action potential propagation. Our data are consistent with these signals primarily reflecting axonal action potential propagation, from axons with a high density of voltage-gated sodium channels. Repeated codetection of eAPs by multiple electrodes confirmed these eAPs are from individual neurons and averaging these eAPs revealed sub-threshold events at other electrodes. The sequence of electrodes at which eAPs co-occur uniquely identifies these neurons, allowing us to monitor spiking of single identified neurons within neuronal ensembles. We recorded dynamic changes in single axon physiology such as simultaneous increases and decreases in excitability in different portions of single axonal arbors over several hours. Over several weeks, we measured changes in inter-electrode propagation latencies and ongoing changes in excitability in different regions of single axonal arbors. We recorded action potential propagation signals in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons which could thus be used to study axonal physiology in human disease models.Significance StatementStudying the physiology of central nervous system axons is limited by the technical challenges of recording from axons with pairs of patch or extracellular electrodes at two places along single axons. We studied action potential propagation in single axonal arbors with extracellular recording with multi-electrode arrays. These recordings were non-invasive and were done from several sites of small caliber axons and branches. Unlike conventional extracellular recording, we unambiguously identified and labelled the neuronal source of propagating action potentials. We manipulated and quantified action potential propagation and found a surprisingly high density of axonal voltage-gated sodium channels. Our experiments also demonstrate that the excitability of different portions of axonal arbors can be independently regulated on time scales from hours to weeks.


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