scholarly journals Effect of Conantokin G on NMDA Receptor–Mediated Spontaneous EPSCs in Cultured Cortical Neurons

2006 ◽  
Vol 96 (3) ◽  
pp. 1084-1092 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anitha B. Alex ◽  
Anthony J. Baucum ◽  
Karen S. Wilcox
Keyword(s):  
Nmda Receptor ◽  
Nmda Receptors ◽  
Binding Site ◽  
Cortical Neurons ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Patch Clamp Technique ◽  
Concentration Dependent Manner ◽  
Whole Cell ◽  
Cultured Cortical Neurons

Conantokin G (Con G), derived from the venom of Conus geographus, is the most characterized natural peptide antagonist targeted to N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. Although Con G is known to bind to the glutamate binding site on the NR2 subunit of the receptor, it is unclear whether it can allosterically modulate the function of the receptor through the glycine binding site on the NR1 subunit. This study was designed to evaluate the action of Con G on NMDA receptor–mediated spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents (sEPSCs) and its modulation by glycine in cultured cortical neurons (13–19 days in vitro) using the whole cell patch-clamp technique. Con G inhibited NMDA receptor–mediated sEPSCs in a concentration-dependent manner. Also, the potency of Con G decreased as a function of time in culture. The inhibition of EPSCs observed after application of Con G in the presence of high (10 μM) and nominal (no added) concentrations of glycine was not different at 13 days in vitro (DIV). Furthermore, similar results were obtained with experiments on Con G–induced inhibition of NMDA-evoked whole cell currents. These results indicate that glycine concentrations do not have a direct effect on Con G–induced inhibition of NMDA currents. In addition, age dependency in the action of Con G on cortical neurons in vitro suggests that this model system would be useful in examining the effects of different agonists/antagonists on native synaptic NMDA receptors.

scholarly journals The Carbamate, Physostigmine does not Impair Axonal Transport in Rat Cortical Neurons

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
pp. 263310552110202
Author(s):  
Sean X Naughton ◽  
Wayne D Beck ◽  
Zhe Wei ◽  
Guangyu Wu ◽  
Peter W Baas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Axonal Transport ◽  
Cortical Neurons ◽  
Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors ◽  
Neurological Deficits ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Concentration Dependent Manner ◽  
Rat Cortical Neurons ◽  
Toxicological Mechanism

Among the various chemicals that are commonly used as pesticides, organophosphates (OPs), and to a lesser extent, carbamates, are most frequently associated with adverse long-term neurological consequences. OPs and the carbamate, pyridostigmine, used as a prophylactic drug against potential nerve agent attacks, have also been implicated in Gulf War Illness (GWI), which is often characterized by chronic neurological symptoms. While most OP- and carbamate-based pesticides, and pyridostigmine are relatively potent acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs), this toxicological mechanism is inadequate to explain their long-term health effects, especially when no signs of acute cholinergic toxicity are exhibited. Our previous work suggests that a potential mechanism of the long-term neurological deficits associated with OPs is impairment of axonal transport (AXT); however, we had not previously evaluated carbamates for this effect. Here we thus evaluated the carbamate, physostigmine (PHY), a highly potent AChEI, on AXT using an in vitro neuronal live imaging assay that we have previously found to be very sensitive to OP-related deficits in AXT. We first evaluated the OP, diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP) (concentration range 0.001-10.0 µM) as a reference compound that we found previously to impair AXT and subsequently evaluated PHY (concentration range 0.01-100 nM). As expected, DFP impaired AXT in a concentration-dependent manner, replicating our previously published results. In contrast, none of the concentrations of PHY (including concentrations well above the threshold for impairing AChE) impaired AXT. These data suggest that the long-term neurological deficits associated with some carbamates are not likely due to acute impairments of AXT.

PACAP38 Modulates Activity of NMDA Receptors in Cultured Chick Cortical Neurons

1997 ◽  
Vol 78 (4) ◽  
pp. 2231-2234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guo Jun Liu ◽  
Barry W. Madsen
Keyword(s):  
Nmda Receptor ◽  
Nmda Receptors ◽  
Cortical Neurons ◽  
Second Messengers ◽  
Channel Activity ◽  
Patch Clamp Technique ◽  
Low Concentrations ◽  
Channel Opening ◽  
Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase ◽  
Intracellular Second Messengers

Liu, Guo Jun and Barry W. Madsen. PACAP38 modulates activity of NMDA receptors in cultured chick cortical neurons. J. Neurophysiol. 78: 2231–2234, 1997. The outside-out recording mode of the patch-clamp technique was used to study modulatory effects of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP38) on N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor activity in cultured chick cortical neurons. Biphasic concentration-dependent effects of PACAP38 on channel opening frequency induced by NMDA (20 μM) and glycine (1 μM) were found, with low concentrations (0.5–2 nM) of PACAP38 increasing activity and higher concentrations (10–1,000 nM) causing inhibition. These effects were reversible, reduced with higher concentrations of glycine (2–10 μM) but not by 200 μM NMDA, and inhibited by 10 μM 7-chlorokynurenic acid. In addition, 1 μM PACAP6–38 (a PACAP antagonist) inhibited channel activity due to 20 μM NMDA and 1 μM glycine by 66%, and this inhibition was reduced to 13% in the additional presence of 2 nM PACAP38. These observations suggest thatPACAP38 has a direct modulatory effect on the NMDA receptor that is independent of intracellular second messengers and probably mediated through the glycine coagonist site(s).

Dynorphin A Elicits an Increase in Intracellular Calcium in Cultured Neurons Via a Non-Opioid, Non-NMDA Mechanism

2000 ◽  
Vol 83 (5) ◽  
pp. 2610-2615 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qingbo Tang ◽  
Ronald M. Lynch ◽  
Frank Porreca ◽  
Josephine Lai
Keyword(s):  
Nmda Receptor ◽  
Nmda Receptors ◽  
Intracellular Calcium ◽  
Cortical Neurons ◽  
Excitatory Amino Acid ◽  
Receptor Activation ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Dynorphin A ◽  
Excitatory Effect

The opioid peptide dynorphin A is known to elicit a number of pathological effects that may result from neuronal excitotoxicity. An up-regulation of this peptide has also been causally related to the dysesthesia associated with inflammation and nerve injury. These effects of dynorphin A are not mediated through opioid receptor activation but can be effectively blocked by pretreatment with N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists, thus implicating the excitatory amino acid system as a mediator of the actions of dynorphin A and/or its fragments. A direct interaction between dynorphin A and the NMDA receptors has been well established; however the physiological relevance of this interaction remains equivocal. This study examined whether dynorphin A elicits a neuronal excitatory effect that may underlie its activation of the NMDA receptors. Calcium imaging of individual cultured cortical neurons showed that the nonopioid peptide dynorphin A(2-17) induced a time- and dose-dependent increase in intracellular calcium. This excitatory effect of dynorphin A(2-17) was insensitive to (+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5 H-dibenzo[ a,d]-cyclohepten-5,10-imine (MK-801) pretreatment in NMDA-responsive cells. Thus dynorphin A stimulates neuronal cells via a nonopioid, non-NMDA mechanism. This excitatory action of dynorphin A could modulate NMDA receptor activity in vivo by enhancing excitatory neurotransmitter release or by potentiating NMDA receptor function in a calcium-dependent manner. Further characterization of this novel site of action of dynorphin A may provide new insight into the underlying mechanisms of dynorphin excitotoxicity and its pathological role in neuropathy.

Guinea pig visceral C-fiber neurons are diverse with respect to the K+ currents involved in action-potential repolarization

1994 ◽  
Vol 71 (2) ◽  
pp. 561-574 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. P. Christian ◽  
J. Togo ◽  
K. E. Naper
Keyword(s):  
Guinea Pig ◽  
Action Potential ◽  
Outward Current ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Concentration Dependent Manner ◽  
Whole Cell ◽  
C Fiber ◽  
K Current ◽  
Action Potential Repolarization

1. Intracellular recordings were made from C-fiber neurons identified by antidromic conduction velocity in intact guinea pig nodose ganglia maintained in vitro, and whole-cell patch clamp recordings were made from dissociated guinea pig nodose neurons to investigate the contribution of various K+ conductances to action-potential repolarization. 2. The repolarizing phase of the intracellularly recorded action potential was prolonged in a concentration-dependent manner by charybdotoxin (Chtx; EC50 = 39 nM) or iberiatoxin (Ibtx; EC50 = 48 nM) in a subpopulation of 16/36 C-fiber neurons. In a subset of these experiments, removal of extracellular Ca2+ reversibly prolonged action-potential duration (APD) in the same 4/9 intracellularly recorded C-fiber neurons affected by Chtx (> or = 100 nM). These convergent results support that a Ca(2+)-activated K+ current (IC) contributes to action-potential repolarization in a restricted subpopulation of C-fiber neurons. 3. Tetraethylammonium (TEA; 1-10 mM) increased APD considerably further in the presence of 100-250 nM Chtx or Ibtx, or in nominally Ca(2+)-free superfusate in 14/14 intracellularly recorded C-fiber neurons. TEA affected APD similarly in subpopulations of neurons with and without IC, suggesting that a voltage-dependent K+ current (IK) contributes significantly to action-potential repolarization in most nodose C-fiber neurons. 4. Substitution of Mn2+ for Ca2+ reduced outward whole-cell currents elicited by voltage command steps positive to -30 mV (2-25 ms) in a subpopulation of 21/36 dissociated nodose neurons, supporting the heterogeneous expression of IC. The kinetics of outward tail current relaxations (tau s of 1.5-2 ms) measured at the return of 2-3 ms depolarizing steps to -40 mV were indistinguishable in neurons with and without IC, precluding a separation of the nodose IC and IK by a difference in deactivation rates. 5. Chtx (10-250 nM) reduced in a subpopulation of 3/8 C-fiber neurons the total outward current elicited by voltage steps depolarized to -30 mV in single microelectrode voltage-clamp recordings. TEA (5-10 mM) further reduced outward current in the presence of 100-250 nM Chtx in all eight experiments. The Chtx-sensitive current was taken to represent IC, and the TEA-sensitive current, the IK component contributing to action-potential repolarization. 6. Rapidly inactivating current (IA) was implicated in action-potential repolarization in a subpopulation of intracellularly recorded C-fiber neurons. In 4/7 neurons, incremented hyperpolarizing prepulses negative to -50 mV progressively shortened APD.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Trapping Channel Block of NMDA-Activated Responses By Amantadine and Memantine

1997 ◽  
Vol 77 (1) ◽  
pp. 309-323 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas A. Blanpied ◽  
Faye A. Boeckman ◽  
Elias Aizenman ◽  
Jon W. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Nmda Receptor ◽  
Nmda Receptors ◽  
Cortical Neurons ◽  
Chinese Hamster ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Channel Block ◽  
Cultured Cortical Neurons ◽  
Simple Kinetic Model ◽  
Rat Cortical Neurons ◽  
Partial Trapping

Blanpied, Thomas A., Faye Boeckman, Elias Aizenman, and Jon W. Johnson. Trapping channel block of NMDA-activated responses by amantadine and memantine. J. Neurophysiol. 77: 309–323, 1997. We investigated the mechanisms by which the antiparkinsonian and neuroprotective agents amantadine and memantine inhibit responses to N-methyl-d-aspartic acid (NMDA). Whole cell recordings were performed using cultured rat cortical neurons or Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells expressing NMDA receptors. Both amantadine and memantine blocked NMDA-activated channels by binding to a site at which they could be trapped after channel closure and agonist unbinding. For neuronal receptors, the IC50s of amantadine and memantine at −67 mV were 39 and 1.4 μM, respectively. When memantine and agonists were washed off after steady-state block, one-sixth of the blocked channels released rather than trapped the blocker; memantine exhibited “partial trapping.” Thus memantine appears to have a lesser tendency to be trapped than do phencyclidine or (5R,10S)-(+)-5m e t h y l - 1 0 , 1 1 - d i h y d r o - 5 H - d i b e n z o [ 1 , d ] c y c l i h e p t e n - 5 , 1 0 - i m i n e(MK-801). We next investigated mechanisms that might underlie partial trapping. Memantine blocked and could be trapped by recombinant NMDA receptors composed of NR1 and either NR2A or NR2B subunits. In these receptors, as in the native receptors, the drug was released from one-sixth of blocked channels rather than being trapped in all of them. The partial trapping we observed therefore was not due to variability in the action of memantine on a heterogeneous population of NMDA receptors in cultured cortical neurons. Amantadine and memantine each noncompetitively inhibited NMDA-activated responses by binding at a second site with roughly 100-fold lower affinity, but this form of inhibition had little effect on the extent to which memantine was trapped. A simple kinetic model of blocker action was used to demonstrate that partial trapping can result if the presence of memantine in the channel affects the gating transitions or agonist affinity of the NMDA receptor. Partial trapping guarantees that during synaptic communication in the presence of blocker, some channels will release the blocker between synaptic responses. The extent to which amantadine and memantine become trapped after channel block thus may influence their therapeutic effects and their modulation of NMDA-receptor-mediated excitatory postsynaptic potentials.

Glycine Binding Site of the Synaptic NMDA Receptor in Subpostremal NTS Neurons

2005 ◽  
Vol 94 (1) ◽  
pp. 147-152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vander Baptista ◽  
Wamberto Antonio Varanda
Keyword(s):  
Nmda Receptor ◽  
Binding Site ◽  
Reversal Potential ◽  
Postsynaptic Membrane ◽  
Bathing Solution ◽  
Total Charge ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Concentration Dependent Manner ◽  
Autonomic Reflex ◽  
Transverse Slice

The nucleus of the tractus solitarius (NTS) plays an important role in the control of several autonomic reflex functions and has glutamate and GABA as main neurotransmitters. In this work, we used patch-clamp recordings in transverse slice preparations from rats to study whether the glycine binding site of the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor is saturated or not in neurons of the subpostremal NTS. Except at hyperpolarized voltages and close to the reversal potential, glycine potentiated the NMDA responses in a concentration-dependent manner. The total charge transferred by glutamatergic currents was enhanced by glycine (500 μM; from 28 ± 13 to 42 ± 18 pC at +50 mV, n = 7, P < 0.05). Glycine increased the conductance of the postsynaptic membrane, without altering its reversal potential, both in the presence (from 2.4 ± 0.06 to 3.4 ± 0.09 nS; n = 7) and absence (from 3.1 ± 0.06 to 4.4 ± 0.10 nS; n = 8) of Mg2+ in the bathing solution. d-serine, in the presence of strychnine, also increased the amplitude of the NMDA component (by 68 ± 19%, P < 0.05, n = 5). The membrane potential was hyperpolarized (16 ± 6 mV, n = 8) by glycine, suggesting the presence of inhibitory glycinergic receptors. Our results indicate that the glycine site of the NMDA receptor in neurons of the subpostremal NTS is not saturated and that glycine may act as a modulator of the NMDA transmission in this nucleus.

P2X receptors in mouse Leydig cells

2006 ◽  
Vol 290 (4) ◽  
pp. C1009-C1017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luiz Artur Poletto Chaves ◽  
Endrigo Piva Pontelli ◽  
Wamberto Antonio Varanda
Keyword(s):  
Leydig Cells ◽  
Pyridoxal Phosphate ◽  
Hill Coefficient ◽  
Disulfonic Acid ◽  
Inward Rectification ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Patch Clamp Technique ◽  
Concentration Dependent Manner ◽  
Apparent Dissociation Constant ◽  
Whole Cell

ATP-activated currents were studied in Leydig cells of mice with the patch-clamp technique. Whole cell currents were rapidly activating and slowly desensitizing (55% decrement from the peak value on exposure to 100 μM ATP for 60 s), requiring 3 min of washout to recover 100% of the response. The concentration-response relationships for ATP, adenosine 5′- O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (ATPγS), and 2-methylthio-ATP (2-MeS-ATP) were described by the Hill equation with a concentration evoking 50% of maximal ATP response ( Kd) of 44, 110, and 637 μM, respectively, and a Hill coefficient of 2. The order of efficacy of agonists was ATP ≥ ATPγS > 2-MeS-ATP > 2′,3′- O-(4-benzoylbenzoyl)-ATP (BzATP). αβ-Methylene-ATP (αβ-MeATP), GTP, UTP, cAMP, and adenosine were ineffective. Suramin and pyridoxal phosphate-6-azophenyl-2′,4′-disulfonic acid (PPADS) blocked the responses in a concentration-dependent manner. The ATP-activated currents were dependent on extracellular pH, being maximal at pH 6.5 and decreasing with both acidification and alkalinization (apparent dissociation constant (p Ka) of 5.9 and 7.4, respectively). The whole cell current-voltage relationship showed inward rectification and reversed near 0 mV. Experiments performed in bi-ionic conditions for measurement of reversal potentials showed that this channel is highly permeable to calcium [permeability ( P)Ca/ PNa = 5.32], but not to chloride ( PCl/ PNa = 0.03) or N-methyl-d-glucamine (NMDG) ( PNMDG/ PNa = 0.09). Unitary currents recorded in outside-out patches had a chord conductance of 27 pS (between −90 and −50 mV) and were inward rectifying. The average current passing through the excised patch decreased with time [time constant (τ) = 13 s], resembling desensitization of the macroscopic current. These findings indicate that the ATP receptor present in Leydig cells shows properties most similar to those of cloned homomeric P2X2.

Comparison of the Effects of Heparin and Hirudin on Thrombin Binding to the Normal and the De-Endothelialized Rabbit Aorta In Vitro

1991 ◽  
Vol 66 (02) ◽  
pp. 208-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark W C Hatton ◽  
Susan L Moar
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cell ◽  
Cell Membrane ◽  
Binding Site ◽  
Antithrombin Iii ◽  
Rabbit Aorta ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Concentration Dependent Manner ◽  
Separate Site ◽  
Protease Nexin

SummaryThe properties of heparin and hirudin to inhibit thrombin from binding to the freshly-excised rabbit aorta wall were compared in vitro. When aorta segments were incubated with 125I-thrombin (4.4 ± 0.4 nM) in the presence of heparin or hirudin, both anticoagulants inhibited 125I-thrombin binding to the endothelium in a concentration-dependent manner (IC50: 0.1 USP U heparin/ml; 0.1 ATU hirudin/ml). Endothelium-bound 125I-thrombin was displaced by either heparin (50% liberated at 4.1 U/ml) or hirudin (0.4 U/ml). Using de-endothelialized aortas, heparin inhibited thrombin binding by the exposed subendothelium (IC50: 1.8 U/ml) whereas hirudin was without effect. Neither heparin nor hirudin was able to significantly liberate thrombin bound to the exposed subendothelium. These observations suggest that both heparin and hirudin mask the binding site on thrombin to the endothelial cell membrane. A separate site on thrombin must bind to the subendothelium because only heparin inhibits binding. Thrombin, although bound reversibly to the endothelium, is bound irreversibly to the exposed subendothelium due, probably, to reaction with endogenous extracellular antithrombin activities (e.g. antithrombin-III, protease nexin-1).

HERG-Like Potassium Current Regulates the Resting Membrane Potential in Glomus Cells of the Rabbit Carotid Body

2000 ◽  
Vol 83 (3) ◽  
pp. 1150-1157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey L. Overholt ◽  
Eckhard Ficker ◽  
Tianen Yang ◽  
Hashim Shams ◽  
Gary R. Bright ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Carotid Body ◽  
Cell Voltage ◽  
Resting Membrane Potential ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Concentration Dependent Manner ◽  
Whole Cell ◽  
Glomus Cells ◽  
Tail Current

Direct evidence for a specific K+ channel underlying the resting membrane potential in glomus cells of the carotid body has been absent. The product of the human ether-a-go-go–related gene (HERG) produces inward rectifier currents that are known to contribute to the resting membrane potential in other neuronal cells. The goal of the present study was to determine whether carotid body glomus cells express HERG-like K+ current, and if so, to determine whether a HERG-like current regulates the resting membrane potential. Freshly dissociated rabbit glomus cells under whole cell voltage clamp exhibited slowly decaying outward currents that activated 20–30 mV positive to the resting membrane potential. Raising extracellular K+revealed a slowly deactivating inward tail current indicative of HERG-like K+ current. HERG-like currents were not found in cells resembling type II cells. The HERG-like current was blocked by dofetilide (DOF) in a concentration-dependent manner (IC50 = 13 ± 4 nM, mean ± SE) and high concentrations of Ba2+ (1 and 10 mM). The biophysical and pharmacological characteristics of this inward tail current suggest that it is conducted by a HERG-like channel. The steady-state activation properties of the HERG-like current ( V h = −44 ± 2 mV) suggest that it is active at the resting membrane potential in glomus cells. In whole cell, current-clamped glomus cells (average resting membrane potential, − 48 ± 4 mV), DOF, but not tetraethylammonium, caused a significant (13 mV) depolarizing shift in the resting membrane potential. Using fluorescence imaging, DOF increased [Ca2+]i in isolated glomus cells. In an in-vitro carotid body preparation, DOF increased basal sensory discharge in the carotid sinus nerve in a concentration-dependent manner. These results demonstrate that glomus cells express a HERG-like current that is active at, and responsible for controlling the resting membrane potential.

scholarly journals Stretch injury selectively enhances extrasynaptic, GluN2B-containing NMDA receptor function in cortical neurons

2013 ◽  
Vol 110 (1) ◽  
pp. 131-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carrie R. Ferrario ◽  
Blaise O. Ndukwe ◽  
Jianhua Ren ◽  
Leslie S. Satin ◽  
Paulette B. Goforth
Keyword(s):  
Nmda Receptor ◽  
Nmda Receptors ◽  
Ampa Receptor ◽  
Cortical Neurons ◽  
Mechanical Stretch ◽  
Receptor Activity ◽  
Network Activity ◽  
Stretch Injury

Alterations in the function and expression of NMDA receptors are observed after in vivo and in vitro traumatic brain injury. We recently reported that mechanical stretch injury in cortical neurons transiently increases the contribution of NMDA receptors to network activity and results in an increase in calcium-permeable AMPA (CP-AMPA) receptor-mediated transmission 4 h postinjury ( Goforth et al. 2011 ). Here, we evaluated changes in the function of synaptic vs. extrasynaptic GluN2B-containing NMDA receptors after injury. We also determined whether postinjury treatment with the GluN2B-selective antagonist Ro 25-6981 or memantine prevents injury-induced increases in CP-AMPA receptor activity. We found that injury increased extrasynaptic, GluN2B-containing NMDA receptor-mediated whole cell currents. In contrast, we found no differences in synaptic NMDA receptor-mediated transmission after injury. Furthermore, treatment with Ro 25-6981 or memantine after injury prevented injury-induced increases in CP-AMPA receptor-mediated activity. Together, our data suggest that increased NMDA receptor activity after injury is predominantly due to alterations in extrasynaptic, GluN2B-containing NMDA receptors and that activation of these receptors may contribute to the appearance of CP-AMPA receptors after injury.

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